Dear WCS Students, Families, Staff and Community Members,

As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the dedication, hard work, and support that each of you brings to our community. This year has been filled with growth, challenges, and countless moments of inspiration, and we could not have made it through without the contributions of every individual.

To our students: your resilience and commitment to learning have been truly inspiring. We are so proud of everything you have achieved and look forward to the bright future ahead of you.

To our families: thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Your partnership plays a vital role in the success of our students, and we are grateful for your continued involvement.

To our faculty and staff: your passion, dedication, and care make our institution a wonderful place to learn and grow. Your efforts truly shape the experiences of our students, and we are lucky to have such a talented and devoted team.

As we take this time to rest, reflect, and recharge, I hope that you find moments of joy and relaxation with the people who matter most to you.

Calendar of Events

Please be certain to refer to the WCS District Calendar on our website often to ensure you don't miss any upcoming events!

Our December District Newsletter contains numerous highlights, pertinent updates and information about upcoming events/activities. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about the information contained in this newsletter or otherwise.

May the holidays bring you warmth, happiness, and the opportunity to relax and enjoy all that the season has to offer. Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!

Elizabeth Bridget Ashton
Superintendent, Williamson Central School District
4184 Miller Street
Williamson, NY 14589
Bashton@williamsoncentral.org
#WilliamsonPROUD

At WCS, we are steadfast in our resolve to engage in continuous improvement and to secure optimal outcomes for all of our students. We want each and every Marauder to have equal access to learning, opportunity, and life's chances for success.

As you are likely aware, the Board of Education acts officially to create a shared vision for the future and to establish direction for the district to achieve highest levels of student performance. This past summer the administrative team and Board of Education spent countless hours reviewing, analyzing, and discussing student performance data and the district’s Annual Report. As a result of our time together, the Board of Education provided the direction and vision for the short and long term work in front of us, as outlined in the below Essential Objectives document.

The home-school partnership is critical to the development of a successful educational experience for students. When we work together, we are able to create a unified support system that enhances student learning and development in numerous and varied ways.

Please feel free to reach out to your child(ren)'s teacher(s) and/or your building leaders by phone or email if you have questions, concerns or "shout outs" about the work happening at WCS. Please be certain to use the chain of contact so that you can receive a timely response from the staff member that is most directly involved in the situation.

Who Should You Contact?

• The WCS Chain of Contact provides you a pathway of contact information regarding instructional and operational areas in the district.

• Note: A partial Directory of phone numbers is also accessible on the district webpage.

Digital Platforms to Support Staying Connected with WCS:

• ParentSquare
• SchoolTool
• Schoology
• WCS Website Note: Both the MS and HS post their daily announcements on their webpages. There are also numerous helpful links there for you.
• District Monthly Newsletter

Mark your calendars for these upcoming performances:

• 7/8 Band and Chorus Holiday Concert: Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 PM in the MS Auditorium
• 5/6 Band and Chorus Holiday Concert: Tuesday, December 17th at 7:00 PM in the MS Auditorium
• High School Winter Band and Chorus Concert: Thursday, Dec., 19th @ 7:00 PM in the HS Auditorium

Join us to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our young musicians!

Check out some pictures on the website from our most recent musical events that happened right here at Williamson CSD!

11/26: Downbeat Percussion, Clinic for percussionists 4-12th grade

12/6-12/8: Elementary Musical, Finding Nemo

12/7: RPO Holiday Performance

12/10: 4th Grade Band and Chorus Concert

Submitted by Meagan France

See link below.

Greetings from the Middle School,

As we approach our winter holiday break, it is a time to reflect on the close of 2024 and our year thus far. The Middle School continues to be a hub of activity. The Middle School has made a commitment to Project Based Learning. This learning enhances real world skills, and enhances the students’ investment in their own education.

In classes, our teachers have worked to emphasize ‘hands on’ learning and activities. Our sixth grade class took a trip to Mars! To enhance their learning, students take a field trip to the Rochester Science Center, where they explore interactive exhibits on topics like space, biology, and technology. During the trip, they also take part in an immersive virtual experience that simulates a journey to Mars, allowing them to explore the planet and learn about space exploration in a hands-on way. Students each had roles to play as Mission Command took them to the red planet and back. Upon return to the Middle School, students reported their enjoyment of the trip!

Fifth grade students also engaged in a fun and unique Project based learning event. In an effort to hone and apply their math skills, all 5th grade students were given a preselected menu of breakfast items to order. The “price” was attached. After making their selections and ordering, students were required to add the entire cost and determine the tax as well as the percentage and dollar amount of the tip. Students applied their knowledge of adding, percentages and making change. At the end of the project, our 5th grade students had a delightful pancake breakfast!

Prior to our holiday break, our 7th and 8th grade teams will be exploring individualized learning. The 7th graders will be focusing on My School, My Town, My Community. Our 8th grade students will be bringing their favorite recipes from home and creating their own recipe book. They may also be creating some delicious dishes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rockow and Mr. Lock are working together to create a new Weight Room Club. The club will prioritize teaching students the fundamentals of weightlifting. The club will provide guidance on proper lifting techniques, ensuring that students develop safe and effective exercise habits. This initiative is designed not only to improve physical fitness but also to promote discipline and confidence. By combining nutrition, science, and fitness, these activities create a holistic learning experience that encourages students to explore new interests while staying healthy.

The Middle School has made it a priority to enhance our students’ learning experience by placing a value on the application of skills. Our students are active participants in their own education!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (315) 589-9665.

Ms Taylor-Middle School Building Principal

Winter has arrived and with it the holiday season. The holiday season has wonderful traditions and celebrations, both at school and at home. This time of the year also tends to be very hectic, so hopefully there is “quiet” time to enjoy a story or a movie with your child (and family) when you can!

A few extraordinary events here at school you don’t want to miss….

• The Elementary Musical: Finding Nemo Jr – Friday December 6th and Saturday December 7th at 7:00 at the MIDDLE SCHOOL. There is also a Sunday matinee at 2:00.

• 4th Grade Band and Chorus Holiday Concert on Tuesday December 10th at 7:00 at the HIGH SCHOOL

Thank you to all our families for the gift of your children each day here at the elementary school. The teachers and staff here are lucky to share the gift of your child with you this season and all through the year.

Looking forward to a wonderful year for the 2024-2023 school year!

Miss Ellen Saxby

Williamson Elementary Principal

Welcome to the Mental Health Office in the elementary school! We are licensed mental health clinicians here to support students who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, behaviors, grief/loss, and a variety of other issues. Please call the main office if you'd like more information. Happy holidays!

Strengthening Literacy Together: A Spotlight on Our District’s Approach

As partners in your student’s education, we are excited to highlight a few examples demonstrating the incredible work being done within our instructional program to support strong literacy skills across all grade levels. From engaging classroom activities to technology integration, we are dedicated to helping every student become a confident and capable reader. Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning. Together, we can inspire a passion for reading and writing that extends beyond the classroom.

Elementary School:

• Science instruction at the Elementary School supports literacy by focusing on developing students’ vocabulary and background knowledge.

• Within our science curriculum, students are learning content-specific (Tier 3) and cross-content academic (Tier 2) vocabulary.

• Teachers are identifying vocabulary terms from each Mystery Science lesson and explicitly teaching them to students during or following lessons.

• Teachers aim to increase student understanding and use of science vocabulary by creating science word walls in classrooms.

• Teachers are also building their students’ background knowledge using Scholastic News magazines, Mystery Science mini-lessons, read-alouds, and extension activities. Students are enjoying observing, experimenting, and working with their peers to learn more about the world around them!

• In Physical Education classes, students have opportunities to connect with “words of the week.” Students think about the word, talk with their peers, ask questions, and apply the vocabulary word to movements and activities. The vocabulary words are posted on the wall and referred to throughout each unit.

Middle School:

• Students participate in various activities focused on strengthening their understanding and use of social studies vocabulary.

• Teachers integrate technology platforms, such as Padlet, designed to support the development of vocabulary lists that students can create collaboratively.

• In some classrooms, students are using the Frayer Model to break down vocabulary.

• Across all grades, students are analyzing primary and secondary sources, making connections, and deepening comprehension, which is leading to richer class discussions.

High School:

• Math teachers are utilizing various strategies to support comprehension and vocabulary.

• Students use the Frayer Model for vocabulary, working collaboratively to define new words and identify examples, non examples, and characteristics.

• Students analyze word parts when introduced to new vocabulary.

• Teachers and students create word walls to make connections between words and mathematical concepts.

• Teachers embed explicit instruction for breaking down word problems in order to enhance comprehension application of mathematical concepts.

The Williamson CSD is proud to be a part of the Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES Consortium for Trauma, Illness, and Grief response. The purpose of the trauma, illness, and grief (or TIG) response teams is to provide crisis response to schools in order to help students and staff cope with emotions and feelings resulting from a school or community related crisis. All TIG responders participate in an initial five day training to ensure consistency in response. Subsequently, TIG responders participate in ongoing exercises to remain informed and ready to support during a crisis as appropriate. In the event of an unfortunate crisis or tragedy, our TIG teams will be convened immediately to provide support to our staff and students.

What is MTSS or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support?

MTSS is a multi-step process of providing instruction and support to promote the academic and behavioral success of all children. This process has three tiers, all of which provide differing levels of support for our students.

• Tier 1: Providers utilize high quality curriculum and instruction in the general education classroom for academics and behavior.
• Tier 2: Staff provide supplemental academic and/or behavioral interventions to students who require additional support.
• Tier 3: Personalized academic and behavioral interventions are implemented to support students with the greatest needs.

Tier 1 Instruction

ALL students receive Tier 1 instruction using high quality materials and strategies used in the classroom for instruction.

Highlighting Tier 2 and 3 Instruction

Within the MTSS framework, SOME students will receive Tier 2 or Tier 3 instruction. With that in mind be sure to look for:

• Small group and/or personalized opportunities for learning in deficit areas. This additional practice does not replace tier 1 instruction but is in addition to primary instruction.

• Tier 2 and 3 instruction requires frequent check-ins with students to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

• Regular review of intervention data and progress reports. Modifications to the interventions based on student response to instruction.

• The “I Do, We Do, You Do” model demonstrates the gradual increase and/or decrease of support provided to a student at each tier. In the “I Do” phase, the teacher models ideas and techniques. In the “We Do” phase the students practice the skill under supervision. In the final phase, “You Do”, students work independently to apply what they have learned.

• Look for communication from teachers regularly and reach out with any questions you may have. As your child ages, empower them to communicate directly with their teachers.

How can I support my child’s progress at home?

There are many ways parents can support what their child is doing in school. All children develop at their own pace so it is important to monitor and assist with these skills as needed. As your child ages, so will their independence with these skills. Consider the following:

1. Invite your child to plan ahead and prepare for the school day and/or out of school activities. This becomes increasingly important as your child takes on responsibilities/extracurriculars in school.

2. Look for communication from teachers regularly and reach out with any questions you may have. As your child ages, empower them to communicate with their teachers as well.

3. Kids need to be able to pay attention and focus in and out of school. Focusing on what a person is saying, holding onto the information in their head, and acting on it is a skill worth practicing!

4. In school (and in life) it is important to start and finish a task in a reasonable amount of time. Find ways at home to model and practice time management.

5. Flexible thinking allows our children to understand there is more than one way to do something. Building this skill helps kids solve problems and work with others.

6. As kids develop self-control, they get better at taking turns, sharing, and calming down. It also helps kids to stop and think before they act.

To read more about these supports click HERE for literature from Parent Powered. I encourage you to reach out to your teachers, counselors and building administrators if you have any questions or suggestions on how to best support your family. As always, many thanks for your efforts.

Tips for Chromebook usage/storage during break:

• When storing your Chromebook over a break, the key is to keep it charged, store it in a cool, dry place, and consider powering it off completely to maximize battery life.
• This time is a good time to clean the devices. To clean a Chromebook, power it off, then gently wipe the screen with a soft, slightly damp microfiber cloth, and use a slightly damp cloth to clean the rest of the device, avoiding excessive moisture around the ports and keyboard; for stubborn dirt, use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol diluted with water on the cleaning cloth.
• If when getting ready to come back to school the device doesn’t power on, perform this step: While plugged in, hold down the power button for 10 seconds or so, this should allow the device to come out of its deep sleep state.

Managing Stress During the Holiday Season

As we approach the holiday season, it's important to remember that while this time of year can be filled with joy and excitement, it can also bring added stress for families. Balancing school commitments, holiday preparations, and the desire to create special memories can feel overwhelming. To help manage stress, it's essential to prioritize self-care, set realistic expectations, and embrace the value of downtime. Encourage your family to take breaks, enjoy simple moments together, and practice mindfulness to stay present. A great mindfulness tip for families is to practice "mindful listening" together. Set aside a few minutes to sit quietly with each other, taking turns sharing something on your mind while the other listens without interruptions. This simple practice can help foster connection, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm. Remember, it's okay to ask for help and to say no to attending non-essential activities. By finding a balance and focusing on what truly matters, the holiday season can become a time of connection and joy, not added pressure!

New York State Public Health Law (PHL) § 613, requires schools to inform families about influenza (flu) and the benefits of flu vaccinations. Please take a moment to refer to the October District Newsletter for detailed information or refer to the following:

• CDC - Flu
• Parents - Fight Flu CDC

COVID-19

If your child has symptoms associated with COVID-19 and/or tests positive for COVID-19, Williamson Central School District follows CDC recommendations for respiratory viruses,
Students can return to school when they meet the following criteria:

• Exhibit significant improvement of symptoms

AND

• Are fever free for at least 24 hours without taking fever reducing medications

Consult with your child’s school nurse if you have any questions.

We appreciate and thank you for following these CDC guidelines so that we can keep our schools healthy!

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month, a time to learn about how the winter season can affect our mood and energy. It is more than just the “winter blues”. As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, some people may feel more tired, sad, or stressed. It’s important to know that these feelings are normal for some, but there are ways to feel better. Getting outside in the sunlight, staying active, and talking about your feelings can help. If you or your child are feeling down, it’s okay to ask for support. Let’s take care of our mental health this winter season!

Learn more about SAD and what resources are available to help

December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month, a great reminder to make sure the gifts we give are safe for our children. When choosing toys, look for ones that are age-appropriate, non-toxic, and free of small parts that could be a choking hazard. Always read labels and instructions to make sure toys are safe to use. It's also a good idea to supervise playtime, especially with new toys. By choosing safe gifts, we can help make this holiday season fun and worry-free for our kids!

Learn more about National Safe Toys and Gifts Month at New York State Department of Health

In the spring, you should have received information from your student’s health office containing a new Over the Counter form and a Release of Information form. We recommend completing and returning these forms to your student’s health office as soon as possible.

In order to help students remain in school, we are now keeping certain medications in stock in the health offices (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Tums, etc.). These medications can be given if the Over the Counter form is on file for your child. The form needs to be signed by both a parent/guardian and a healthcare provider.

School Health Office Personnel often have to contact your student’s healthcare provider for physicals, clarification on orders, etc. Most healthcare providers now require a Release of Information form to be on file or they will not be able to send the required information to the health office.

Link to OTC form

Link to Release of Information Form

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your student’s health office. Best wishes for a joyful and healthy holiday season filled with peace, love, and special moments together!

Bethany R. Moore, RN BSN

High School Nurse

Nurse Coordinator

315-589-9625

bmoore@williamsoncentral.org

315-410-5470 (fax)

Nick Weis, RN BSN

Middle School Nurse

315-589-9665, ext. 3521

315-410-5586 (fax)

Hayley Musclow, RN

Elementary School Nurse

315-589-9668 option 3

hmusclow@williamsoncentral.org

315-410-5343 (fax)

• District Office
• Buildings and Grounds
• Elementary School Nurse
• Elementary, alternate location
• Middle School Nurse
• Middle School, alternate location
• High School Nurse
• High School, alternate location
• High School Athletics locations
• Floater

Coach --> Athletic Director --> Building Principal --> Superintendent --> Board of Education

There may be times when you have questions or concerns about your child's participation in athletics. Please be certain to use this chain of command so that you can receive a timely response from the staff member that is most directly involved in the situation.

When approaching a coach about an athletics concern, parents/guardians are encouraged to exercise the "24 hour rule" and to request a meeting or phone call outside of the practice/athletic competition environment.

As you move further along the chain of command, the staff is less directly involved and usually needs time to research the situation before they can give you an answer. If you do not hear back from the person you have contacted within 24 hours, it is time to move along to the next level of the chain. We do not expect your questions or concerns to go unanswered for a long period of time.

We all look forward to a wonderful school year with few complaints. Please note that compliments or acknowledgements of positive events can be directed to everyone along the chain. All of us appreciate hearing that there is something good that has happened!

Andy Kritall, Athletic Director
(315) 589-9621

• District Office
• Buildings and Grounds
• Elementary School Nurse
• Elementary, alternate location
• Middle School Nurse
• Middle School, alternate location
• High School Nurse
• High School, alternate location
• High School Athletics locations
• Floater

NYSPHSAA Spectator Expectations

• The New York State High School Athletics Association developed and will require that all school districts implement and enforce Sportsmanship Standards, effective Fall 2023.

• NYSPHSAA Expectation Statement: Officials, just like student athletes and coaches, are critical to interscholastic sports programs. Without officials, NYSPHSAA and its member schools would not be able to provide interscholastic sports in the manner that is desired and expected by student athletes, coaches, and parents. In addition to abiding by the HCS Code of Conduct, spectators are expected to “Be Loud, Be Proud, and Be Positive.” Negative comments and inappropriate behaviors by spectators are required to be addressed by all and any school supervisors and administrators, as a member of NYSPHSAA in the following non-sequential order depending on the comments or behavior:

• First warning – Directing the spectator or group of spectators to refrain from any negative comments or actions.

• Second warning – A personal discussion with the spectators or group of spectators on the above NYSPHSAA expectations and reminding the spectators or group of spectators of the next step - removal of the game or event - will be utilized if the behavior continues.

• Removal from the contest – The spectator or group of spectators will be directed to leave the facility for the remainder of the game or event.

• If spectators or group of spectators refuse to leave the game or event, play will be stopped until they vacate the premise.

• Penalty for being removed from a game or event: Any spectator removed from a game or event will have a minimum penalty of completing the NFHS Parent Credential course or a one game suspension before they are allowed to attend any interscholastic event, home or away.

• Once the course is completed the spectator will provide a certificate of completion to the athletic department office.

• Schools are required to communicate with the offending spectator on the NYSPHSAA Sportsmanship Spectator Expectations.

• Spectators may be prohibited from attending current and future interscholastic contests based on their behavior. (Oct. 2022)

• Depending on the severity of the behavior/comments or future disqualifications by the offending spectator NYSPHSAA and the Section may get directly involved in the situation. (May 2023)

The Free & Reduced Application is on our website along with menus and other pertinent information. To access the Food Service website for the Williamson Central School District, do as follows:

• Click Departments, then
• Click on Food & Nutrition Services.

WCS has incorporated the Safe School Helpline as another means of communication for our learning community regarding safety concerns. The Safe School Hotline is yet another safety net and security measure designed to support the mental health needs of our students and community. Students may use the Safe School Helpline to report threats of violence, suicide and illegal activity that could harm students in our schools. It is a convenient, confidential way for anyone to report information about situations that might affect safety at our school. You can call the number any time of the day or night to report concerns about unsafe or potentially disruptive activities or situations including drug or alcohol abuse, weapons, or threats. All calls are completely confidential.

How can I report information?

Safe School Helpline: (800) 418-6423 EXT. 359

Online at: https://www.safeschoolhelpline.com/

Please watch the below video to learn more about the Safe School Helpline:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjy3ivG2uwg

Any incident of student misconduct may be linked to our Code of Conduct, but depending on the nature of misconduct may also intersect with DASA or the Sexual Harassment BOE Policy. The following is being shared in attempt to provide clarity for all WCS families.

WCS Code of Conduct:

• Per SED, the Board of Education of every school district within New York State is required to adopt and amend, as appropriate, a Code of Conduct for the maintenance of order on school property, including a school function, which shall govern the conduct of students, teachers and other school personnel as well as visitors and shall provide for the enforcement thereof.
• Any and all student misconduct may be investigated and enforced under the district’s Code of Conduct. Investigation and enforcement of Code of Conduct violations is the responsibility of building level administration, and may be supported by a Dean of Students and/or other support staff.
• The Code of Conduct articulates the range of progressive dispositions for offenses, and the district strives for consistency in its application.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Policy:

• The DASA legislation is intended to provide students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. Please review the above link for more information on DASA.
• Protected classes in the DASA legislation include: race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex.
• Behaviors outlined in DASA are also identified as prohibited student conduct within the WCS Code of Conduct. As such, any such misconduct may be investigated and enforced under the district’s Code of Conduct.
• Please report any DASA concerns as outlined below:
  • Contact your building level administrator. Administration welcomes and encourages direct and open lines of communication with students and families.
  • Tell a trusted adult, such as any member of the mental health staff or a teacher. School personnel are required to notify an administrator in the event of such a report.
  • Complete the Incident Reporting Form located on our website. Building principals actively monitor this tool for reports of peer conflict, misconduct, bullying, and/or harassment.
• District appointed DASA Coordinators conduct DASA investigations. The WCS DASA Coordinators include the following staff members:
  • Ingrid Wander ESDASA@williamsoncentral.org
  • Amy Hanna MSDASA@williamsoncentral.org
  • Mark Blair HSDASA@williamsoncentral.org
• While the DASA Coordinator may conduct the investigation, our building level administrators are responsible for disposition of any "founded" DASA complaint.

Sexual Harassment (Student) Policy:

• Title IX is a federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Please review the above link for more information.
• In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Education adopted new regulations to revise the definition of sexual harassment prohibited under Title IX, and also created new procedures for investigating allegations of sexual harassment covered by Title IX.
• Behaviors outlined in Title IX are also identified as prohibited student conduct within the WCS Code of Conduct. As such, any such misconduct may be investigated and enforced under the district’s Code of Conduct.
• Please note, however, in the event of a report of sexual harassment, the family of a student victim will be contacted by a district appointed Title IX Coordinator to discuss investigation options, time parameters for a formal Title IX investigation, and other considerations (such as confidentiality) of such an investigation.
• In the event a Title IX complaint is filed, the family of the alleged offender will also be contacted by district appointed Title IX Coordinator to discuss the investigation, time parameters and other considerations.
• The WCS Title IX Coordinators include:
  • Rob Snyder, High School Principal
  • Kate Taylor, Middle School Principal
  • Bryon Rockow, Middle School Assistant Principal
• Questions about Title IX information may be directed to the individuals named above or to wcstitleix@williamsoncentral.org.
• Title IX concerns should be reported as previously outlined above (and reinforced here):
  • Contact your building level administrator. Building administration welcome and encourage direct and open lines of communication with students and families. As Title IX Investigators, they also are “the lead” in any investigation and/or development of action steps to redress issues.
  • Tell a trusted adult, such as any member of the mental health staff or a teacher. School personnel are required to notify an administrator in the event of such a report.
  • Follow the Title IX Grievance process outlined on the website.
• Building level administrators are responsible for the disposition of any "founded" Title IX complaint.

To support student safety and encourage scholarly behaviors when using devices, the Williamson Central School District incorporated online services provided by GoGuardian a number of years ago. It may be helpful to know that over 10,000 other schools use GoGuardian to protect 5.5 million students across the world, and the Global Educator Institute has endorsed the GoGuardian Teacher product.

How are we using GoGuardian?

• WCS has chosen GoGuardian services to:

1. Help protect students against harmful and inappropriate online material
2. Help students stay “scholarly” and more focused when learning online
3. Help assess students’ progress towards class assignments

When and how does GoGuardian operate?

• GoGuardian’s web-based services operate on our school’s managed G Suite for Education Chrome accounts (i.e. when a student is logged into Chrome or a Chromebook with his/her school email address).
• GoGuardian Teacher enables teachers to use GoGuardian Teacher with students in their classes only during school hours from Monday through Friday.
• GoGuardian also enables the district to monitor student usage 24/7. When Beacon detects that a student is browsing content related to Self-Harm or Suicide, a notification will be sent to users in order of the Escalation List up to five times or until an action is taken on the alert card. Disclaimer: Regardless of school monitoring specific to reference of self harm, it is simply not possible to catch all activity. Parents maintain responsibility to supervise their children’s use of devices.

What are the school’s responsibilities?

• WCS selected GoGuardian services to help our students stay safer and more scholarly online. We will work with students during class time to help teach them digital responsibility and safety. Additionally, we will train teachers about how to operate GoGuardian and about our policies and procedures to help protect student privacy.

What are my parental/guardian and child’s responsibilities?

• We ask that students uses their school-managed Google accounts and school-managed devices for educational purposes within the boundaries of the WCS Acceptable Use Policy and Agreement.
• When a student is off campus, parents are responsible for supervising internet access and usage. We encourage you to discuss rules for appropriate internet usage with your child, and to reinforce lessons of digital citizenship and safety with him or her. We also highly encourage you to report any potential cyberbullying or other sensitive issues to us.

How does GoGuardian help protect my child’s privacy?

• To help your child remain scholarly and safe online, GoGuardian collects certain personally identifiable information about your child.
• GoGuardian has consulted with privacy experts, participates in privacy organizations, is a proud signatory of the Student Privacy Pledge, and has been awarded certifications by iKeepSafe for complying with both the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and California student privacy laws. For more detailed information about GoGuardian, you may visit GoGuardian’s website, Trust & Privacy Center, GoGuardian’s Product Privacy Policy, and the attached COPPA Notice and Disclosure Form.

This Friday, December 13th the PTSA will be hosting a free community movie night at the High School Auditorium showing The Grinch (2018). Light concessions will be available for purchase.

A heartfelt thank you to the Williamson Central School District Middle School Volunteer Club for their incredibly generous donation of $300 to the Williamson PTSA! To see these young students learning the value of volunteering and making a difference by giving back to their community is nothing short of amazing.

The Williamson PTSA recently received two awards from the NYS PTA - the Savvy Membership Award for October 2024 and the Trailblazer Membership Award for the 2024-2025 year! These achievements highlight the dedication of our current and past years' volunteers who have helped get us to where we are today.

Thank you for supporting our fall events!

• Our Safe Trick-or-Treat event in October welcomed over 300 people to the High School to roam the halls and visit with our 20+ event sponsors picking up goodies along the way

• The Cards For a Cause greeting card fundraiser was a great success and we look forward to bringing this back in future years.

2024-2025 Officers:

Veronica Weber - President

Lucia Copeland - Vice President

Alysha Peets - Treasurer

Patty Kimerly - Secretary

2024-2025 Meeting dates:

September 17

October 8

November 12

January 14

February 11

March 11

April 8

May 13

June 10

Please join PTSA as a member to help support our students, staff and families!

ES Community School Coordinator: Erin Rowley

erowley@williamsoncentral.org

315-589-9668

MS Community School Coordinator: Lisa Ryan

lryan@williamsoncentral.org

315-589-9665

The Williamson Central School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are currently seeking to hire SUBSTITUTES in the following areas:

• School Nurse
• Teachers
• Teacher Assistants
• Monitors (Hall/Cafeteria/Transportation)
• Bus Drivers
• Cleaners
• Typists
• Food Service Workers

Please complete the application as outlined on our website.

For Questions, Contact:

• Nikki Oathout Phone: (315) 589-9661, Email: noathout@williamsoncentral.org

BOE Meetings begin at 6:30pm and are scheduled in the Board of Education Conference Room at the Middle School. Our Board Meetings are all live-streamed to YouTube. Click here to be taken to the Williamson Central School District YouTube Page.

You may find additional information about the WCS Board of Education on the district website.

• July 8, 2024 Organizational
• Meeting July 1st
• July 19, 2024
• August 7, 2024
• August 28, 2024
• September 18, 2024
• October 16, 2024
• November 6, 2024
• December 4, 2024
• January 8, 2025
• January 28, 2025
• February 12, 2025
• March 4, 2025
• March 19, 2025
• April 9, 2025
• April 23, 2025
• May 7, 2025 Budget Hearing
• May 28, 2025
• June 18, 2025

Special Meeting Dates:

• May 20, 2025 - Annual Meeting/Board Member Election 1-9 p.m.

ELA - April 30/May 1

Math - May 12/13

Email: bashton@williamsoncentral.org
Website: https://www.williamsoncentral.org/

Location: 4184 Miller Street (P.O. Box 900) Williamson, NY 14589

Phone: 315-589-9661
Twitter: @EBridgetAshton