Wildcat Buzz

1. First Day of PreK - Welcome Back! - Tues 9/3

2. Be sure to complete all Annual Update Forms in PowerSchool, info/links below

3. WCS Library volunteer opportunity, details below

Important Upcoming Dates to Note

09/02 - NO SCHOOL / LABOR DAY

09/03 - First Day of PreK

09/05 - Williston Families as Partners Monthly Meeting, 8:30-10:30am @ WCS Community Room

09/09 - Ice Cream Social at WCS, 6-7pm

09/16 - WCS Picture Day

09/17 - ABS Picture Day

09/19 - Middle School Open House, 6:30-7:30pm @WCS

09/26 - 3rd & 4th Grade Open House, 6:30-7:30pm @WCS

10/01 - K - 2 Open House, 6-7pm @ABS

10/10 - NO SCHOOL for Students /Conferences & Inservice

10/11 - NO SCHOOL

Bus Doors Open - 7:35 am

Start of School Day - 7:50 am

* Early Arrivals: Any students arriving between 7:25 - 7:35 must remain in the cafeteria where they will be supervised until the first bus arrives.

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Kindergarten Dismissal begins at 2:25pm (1:25 on Wednesdays)

First & Second Grade Dismissal begins at 2:30

Buses depart at 2:35 pm

Bus Doors Open - 7:45 am

Start of School Day - 8:00 am

*Early Arrivals: If an early arrival is necessary (starting at 7:30 am) 3rd & 4th graders must wait in the lobby near the west entrance and 5th-8th graders will be in the lobby near the main entrance.

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Students will be dismissed at the following times

2:35 - 2:45 - Grades 3 & 4 Dismissed (1:35-1:45 on Wednesday)

2:40 - 5th thru 8th Dismissal for buses only

2:40 - 2:45 - Buses load and depart

2:45 - 2:50 - Grades 5-8 Dismissal for all students not riding the bus

by Greg Marino, Williston Schools Lead Principal

Wow - What an amazing start!

It has been incredible to be a part of the amazing beginning we have had in both schools.

These first few days of school are truly a gift for us as administrators. Since we don’t yet have many of our routine and recurring meetings up and running we have the wonderful opportunity to be out and about in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and out at recess. It is a powerful reminder of how important it is for me and our leadership team to dedicate some of our calendar time each week just to be in spaces with students and staff. In fact, Increasing this weekly time to be out and in classrooms is one of my own professional goals this year.

In my travels I have had the great privilege of witnessing our faculty, staff, and students come together to build community. I’ve seen more high fives, fist bumps, hugs, and “hey there’s” this week than ever. The vibe has been so positive that it’s a bit hard to find words to do it justice. However, watching and engaging in hundreds upon hundreds of micro-interactions over the last 5 days there have been a few feelings / sentiments that have risen to the surface.

• We belong here together in this community!

• It’s good to see you!

• People care about me!

• It feels good to be together again!

With this as our foundation I believe we are poised to have an amazing year. I am grateful for your partnership as parents and caregivers. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

In order to keep all students safe and accounted for, we need every student's annual forms reviewed, updated, and submitted in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you have not yet completed the forms for the 24-25 school year, please take the time to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account to do so as soon as possible. All Four Forms should be reviewed, updated if needed, and submitted.

Click here for detailed instructions if needed.

If you have a smartphone, the easiest way to review and submit forms is through the PowerSchool Mobile App. Use these directions to use the PowerSchool Mobile App

Important: Students will not be able to participate in any field trips without completed forms!

Welcome to a great school year together. I love serving as your Allen Brook School Librarian. I'm here to help students and families stay curious and read, read, read!

Each student has a colorful library book bag to transport ABS library books to and from their home(s). Kids will select 2 books each week during library time with me to read with caregivers. Lose a library book? It's not a problem. ABS does not charge fines or fees. Our goal is to promote reading and LOVE of libraries!

Additional book exchange open times for all students and employees:

Mondays-Fridays: 7:35-8:30 AM

Mondays & Tuesdays...Thursdays & Fridays: 1:05-2:25 PM

Wednesdays: 1:05-1:25 PM (due to early release)

A child might visit the library several times in a week for extra book exchanges. YES! They are becoming super readers!

Each library lesson, our students will:

1. Share a read aloud time or learn a new reading strategy together

2. Exchange books

3. Have time for cooperative play with peers

You may wish to bookmark our ABS Library website: https://sites.google.com/cvsdvt.org/abs-library/i-am-a-reader

Any time a student is going to be absent, or has a change to their dismissal/end of day plan,

please notify the following:

1. The classroom teacher

2. Front Office: absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org

3. ABS Team Assistant Celeste Plouffe: cplouffe@cvsdvt.org

4. School Nurse (if due to illness): slove@cvsdvt.org

Reminder: If there is any change to your student's typical end of day plan, please be sure to contact the school BEFORE 1:00PM (or 12:00 pm on Wednesdays). Changes in your student(s) schedule will not be accepted after this time unless it is an emergency.

In order to maintain our learning environment, electronic games, cell phones, Airpods, smartwatches etc. are expected to be put away for each school day. They are allowed on the bus to and from school. Students may keep them in their backpack at their own risk or put them in a locked location provided by their team. We highly recommend students use the locked boxes as we are not responsible for stolen items.

• Do you have an eye for detail?

• Are you an alphabetizing whiz?

• Want an inside view of what’s going on in our school?

The WCS Library is looking for parent and/or community volunteers! We are seeking community members who could commit to a regular schedule to help shelve books.

If you are interested, please contact school librarian Ellen Arapakos at earapakos@cvsdvt.org or (802) 871-6191.

Do you think kids are fun? Does spending time with children bring you joy? Are you interested in giving back to your community? Then you’d probably be a good mentor!

CY Mentors at WCS are caring adults who spend a regularly scheduled hour with their middle school student mentees each week that school is in session. They participate in many activities together on school grounds, including games, arts and crafts, sports cooking, and conversation.

Mentors bring with them a sense of shared fun, new experiences and great listening skills. Mentors bring encouragement and options for expanding a young person’s regard for themselves and their world. By sharing yourself with your mentee you can inspire them to create a richer future for themselves.

If you would like to give back to the community in this incredibly meaningful way, please be in touch! We would love to hear from you. Please contact Rebecca Martell, WCS Mentoring Coordinator at rmartell@cvsdvt.org or (802) 871-6046.

Here’s what WCS MENTORS have said about their Mentoring Experience:

It was an incredible year. I was amazed at how well the program worked. I greatly appreciate all the work that went into making it happen and also making it happen so seamlessly. Wow!

~WCS Mentor

In general, how do you rate this program? Excellent – 100%

Having a mentee has made a positive impact in my life. 94% agree

I have noticed positive changes in my mentee since we started. 94% agree

I have had enough support to deal with the challenges of mentoring. 100% agree

I would recommend mentoring to a friend or colleague. 100% agree

When:

• Tuesdays after school, 2:50-4:00.

• Rehearsals for Session 1 begin on Tuesday, September 24th.

• The first two rehearsals are “open enrollment.” (9/24 and 10/1) Students may come to sit in and check it out with no obligation.

• Starting Tuesday, October 8th, students must make a final decision to be a chorus member or not. Chorus members must attend all rehearsals. Absences due to medical, religious, or family reasons are excused.

• Non-members are not permitted to attend rehearsals.

Where:

• WCS Music/Chorus room

• Students should bring a snack to eat between school dismissal and the start of chorus rehearsal. No food is permitted inside the rehearsal room. Only water is allowed.

• There is a 4:20 activity bus available to take students home. Supervision is provided between 4:00 and 4:20.

Other Information:

• The chorus performances for session 1 will be on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm.

• The chorus sings a variety of music from different time periods, cultures, and styles. The students will be singing in different languages, meters, and tonalities. The songs range in level of difficulty.

• No audition- just a love for singing!

• No cost.

• Sign-up forms will be coming home in your child’s take-home folder. (Or use this online form instead!)

Please contact Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H) with any questions or concerns. dtrasciatti@cvsdvt.org

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 247 - 365 for call or text
• COVID Counselors @ VT-211
• 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.