1. New Website Coming Soon - Launches Monday

2. Williston Families as Partners Letter

3. Early Winter Break: 12/23 - 1/1

Important Upcoming Dates to Note

12/23 - Early Winter Break begins

01/02 - Back To School, Happy New Year!

01/06 - WCS Drama Program, Parent Information Night, WCS Auditorium

01/14 - Intergen Book Groups

01/20 - No School / Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

by Greg Marino, Williston Schools Lead Principal

A Note About the Budget

Dear Williston Parents and Caregivers,

As many of you may know, we are in the midst of another very challenging budget process. The current budget climate has resulted in the need for all CVSD schools to propose reductions in staffing, programming, and other expenditures. At Tuesday night’s School Board meeting, Interim Superintendent, Adam Bunting, presented an overview of a proposed instructional program budget for the next school year which included a list of proposed reductions in staffing. Those slides are linked here. The positions identified for reduction on this proposed list represent real people and real programming. It would be disingenuous to say these proposals have not cast a shadow over the morale of our faculty and staff in recent days. We know that our schools will need to reenvision how it meets the needs of all students without these positions and people in the system. Though we can assure you that great care, thought, and deliberation has gone into the difficult decisions and proposals brought thus far in the process, we will not say that we know in this moment precisely how we will meet all the challenges that lie ahead. They will demand the support, partnership, and collective intelligence and creativity of our whole community.

With this in mind, I encourage all of you to become as informed as possible about the budget process. All budget meetings are open and public meetings and can be attended in person at CVU or virtually via ZOOM. You can find all information about the school budget, including recordings of the meetings on the district’s budget webpage. The next budget meeting will be on 12/17 at 6:15 pm. If you have questions about anything you see or hear related to the budget, please do not hesitate to reach out. We want you to have the answers to your questions so that you can be an informed participant in this community process. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support.

All end of day or attendance changes must be communicated to the Front Office of your student's school. It is important that all drop-offs and pick-ups check in with the front office so students are accounted for at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.

Allen Brook School: absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org

Williston Central School: wcsattendance@cvsdvt.org

Be sure you see all there is to see...

Williston Rec, DAML, Community Events, Buzz at ABS, WCS Wildcat What's Up, Bus Information, WFAP & Four Winds, and more! Don't see it all? click VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE at the end of your email

The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2025-26 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which runs 4 partial days per week. Our school-based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).

Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2025, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery. Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program access their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program.

All applications must be received by February 7, 2025, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under PreK Enrollment. Paper applications are available upon request.

For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, and cognition. More information about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also available on the website.

Save the Date: January 9, 2025, 5-8 p.m. at CVU

Join students from across the Champlain Valley School District for an evening of entertainment and celebration, showcasing performing and visual arts from the district’s six schools. After a six-year break, this annual tradition returns to CVU on Thursday, January 9, 2025, transforming the high school halls and theater into a vibrant gallery of learning, innovation and inspiration.

The 13th-annual Celebrate the Arts Night brings together art, music, theater, media arts, foods, business, design and technology in a one-night-only exhibition of student creativity.

More details to come

We are looking for one or two bus aides to support a 12th grade student for their bus rides to and from school every day. Aide(s) will board the bus in Williston and ride for the duration of the route supporting the student while they're on the bus. All candidates should apply to job posting on School Spring.

December's Recipe: DIY Tea

Ingredients available include-

rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, mint, lemon

* If you have any allergy / dietary concerns for the recipe, please contact your classroom teacher.

Dear Williston School Community,

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge all of the hard work that our Williston teachers, educators, assistants and staff members have done to help our students learn and grow in 2024.

While it is in no way expected or required, we know some individuals like to show their appreciation and thanks during the holiday season by sending cards, drawing pictures, writing notes, making small tokens or giving gifts. If this idea interests you and you would like some helpful and meaningful suggestions, please take a look at the information provided.

Thank you for helping us recognize, acknowledge and support these incredible educators, assistants, staff members and heroes during this time of year.

Happy Holidays,

The Williston Families As Partners Group

Communication with parents and caregivers is a key component in maintaining family engagement and support. Currently, every teacher/team and school communicates regularly in some way to families. Emails, blogs, newsletters, websites, and Facebook are a few of these methods. If you reach out to a person who works in the district, you can expect a response to your communication within two (2) school days (keeping in mind that weekends and the days school is not in session are not included). In the event that a response will take more time, district employees may acknowledge receipt of your email, call, or otherwise contact you with information about when they will be able to provide resolution to your request. Please remember that if you have a concern, please go to the person most directly involved first. You are also encouraged to use the CVSD Connect With Us page.

• First Call - 488-7777: phone support, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals
• In Crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) (National Hopeline Network: USA)
• National Suicide Prevention Life line- 1-800-273-TALK (8255), call or chat online
• Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
• Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
• UVM Breathe In Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
• Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
• Vermont Support Line (833) 888-2557) - peer support warmline open 24/7 - 365 for call or text
• Teen Crisis Text Line - Crisis Text Line provides free emotional support and information to teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal. You can text with a trained specialist 24 hours a day. Text “HOME” to 741741.
• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide - Website where you can find information to help yourself or a friend who may be having thoughts of suicide.
• Trevor Lifeline - 1-866- 488-7386 - provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. It offers free, 24/7, confidential counseling. TrevorText—text START to 678-678; TrevorChat—instant messaging at TheTrevorProject.org/help. It also runs TrevorSpace, an affirming social networking site for LGBTQ youth at TrevorSpace.