THE SCHOOL BELL

Greg Marino, Lead Principal

Welcome to the premier installment of the 2021-2022 School Bell e-newsletter! Though Wednesday has been the historical day for the release of the School Bell, we have shifted over to Fridays as our new publishing day. And yet, you are receiving this on a Tuesday morning! Well, from this point forward, you can count on this weekly update to find its way to your inbox each week on Friday afternoons. I encourage you to please take a few minutes to review “The Bell”, as we like to call it, as it contains helpful information about all aspects of our PreK - 8 learning community!

Even with the recent positive Covid-19 case activity over the weekend, there is much to celebrate together. If you have not yet seen or read the letter we sent out last night about the recent positive cases associated with ABS, you can find the letter linked here. Our schools and families will need to continue to join our efforts in combating the spread of the virus. It is a community effort for sure.

We are so grateful and excited for what has been an exceptional start of a new school year. With our first full week of school now behind us our classroom and school communities are beginning to form and grow in strength. In our 3rd-4th grade kick-off assemblies this past week, we welcomed students back to the new school year, and our 3rd graders to their new school. I spoke to the students about the word community, using the word, family, as the closest descriptor for how our Williston community functions. In short, we take care of each other. We are always looking out for one another, and seek to help when we see someone in our family who needs help or just a little boost. We treat each other with kindness. It is the job of everybody in the community to do this - we are all doing our part to help each other and the community to thrive. This simple message really resonates with students because it is both reassuring and empowering. “Someone is always looking out for me, and I need to keep a lookout for people who may need my help.” Those are two thoughts we want all Williston students to really internalize.

In our welcome back with faculty and staff during preservice we addressed the same basic theme. We talked about the idea that our culture is not something “that is” or something that “we have”. Our school and community culture is something that we do. Culture is a living and breathing composite of all of the thousands of behaviors and habits that all of the community’s members do each day. It is dependent on each of us to do the small, simple, but intentional things for ourselves and for each other. It is something we can take pride in, but something never to become complacent about - because it is alive and fluid. As part of the activity in a virtual meeting with over 120 participants, staff used the virtual chat tool to finish the prompt, “We are a school where _____” I took the inspiring responses and entered them into a “wordle” generator which resulted in the image below.

You and your family are such an important part of all those things “we do”, the habits of behavior that amount to how we take care of each other and how people feel when they are in the community; the feeling that someone is watching out for your wellbeing and that you are on the lookout for someone who might need a little boost. I'm so grateful for the culture that we build together. Thank you for your help. It’s something that we do - together!

If you have a child who is experiencing anxiety, depression or other social and emotional challenges, Amy will be on hand to offer her support and guidance and be armed with useful resources in the community if you need/want them. For more information, click here.

You can pop in for a quick question or to chat through a situation. Amy would love to try to help! Here is the link to join: http://meet.google.com/nfm-tovh-bjz

Is your child interested in science and the world around them? Are you looking for a way to be a part of your child’s classroom experience each month? Consider being a Four Winds Volunteer! Your child’s classroom is looking for parents to lead monthly Four Winds science lessons starting this fall.

What is Four Winds?

Four Winds is a parent-led program created by the Four Winds Nature Institute (https://fwni.org) designed to give young students an opportunity to study nature both in and around the school. Children learn science concepts and practice science skills such as asking questions, making observations, and communicating information. Using prepared materials and an entertaining puppet show, parents will present information about a topic and guide the children through hands-on activities.

What are the topics being covered this year?

The theme for the 2021-2022 school year is Ecosystems. Topics include:

• Signs of Leaf Eaters (Sept.)

• Life in the Dirt (Oct.)

• Snags and Rotting Logs (Nov.)

• Squirrel Tales (Jan.)

• Staying Warm (Feb.)

• White-tailed Deer (March)

• Forest Birds (April)

• Streams (May)
  

What is the parent commitment?

Parents organize and lead one lesson each month, lasting about 45-60 minutes in Kindergarten and up to 90 minutes for 1st through 4th grade classrooms. Volunteers attend monthly training sessions which are typically held from 8:30-10:30am on the second Wednesday of each month at WCS. Can’t make the training? There is a Four Winds Blog where written materials can be accessed. Teachers appreciate the time volunteers spend carefully preparing for lessons. For more information visit our website at: https://sites.google.com/cvsdvt.org/willistonfourwinds/home

How can I get involved?

Sign up to be a Four Winds Volunteer by filling out this quick form or email the the Williston Four Winds Coordinators at: wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org

We look forward to exploring science with you and your children in the year ahead!

Sincerely,

Deb Rosenfeld and Amanda Carr

Williston Schools Four Winds Coordinators

wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org

CVSD is seeking energetic people to join our team as paraprofessionals in early education, elementary education and middle school classrooms in Williston this year.

Preschool:

Our preschool is currently looking for a part time paraprofessional on Mondays and Tuesdays and a long term sub paraprofessional for our team, Mondays through Thursdays beginning mid-September and ending with the December break. We are seeking warm, highly organized, and dynamic individuals to support an inclusive preschool classroom. Candidates must be skilled, caring individuals able to provide support for individual and small groups of students in personal development, behavior, and social-emotional skills.

All candidates will be an advocate of inclusive education, a problem-solver and strong collaborator, and a positive team member. The ability to promote child growth and foster independence and a willingness to learn is essential. Please note that lifting may be a requirement for this job. Position may include supporting students on the bus ride to or from school.

Please contact Shelley Henson, shenson@cvsdvt.org, Director of Early Education if you are interested or have questions.

Elementary and Middle School Levels:

We are still seeking several energetic folks to join our team! We are looking for skilled, caring individuals to provide support for individual and small groups of students in personal development, behavior support, and social-emotional skills.

We have positions available in the following categories:

Non-Intensive ($14.28-$15.91 - last year's rates, will likely increase)

Intensive ($17.28-$18.91- last year's rates, will likely increase)

Specialist ($21.78-$23.41 - last year's rates, will likely increase)

Paraprofessionals are contracted 6.5 hours a day for 194 school days and begin as soon as possible.

There is a different pay scale for each of these, as well as a different level of expertise needed. However, we CAN train folks and we have money available for PD along with GREAT benefits and student schedule.

Any interested folks can reach out directly to Sarah Crum, Director of Special Ed (scrum@cvsdvt.org or 802-871-6140).

CVSD is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Popular classes fill quickly! Sign up today, tell your family and friends, and please help spread the word about our AWESOME classes!

· 202 awesome classes

· Back to in-person learning at CVU!

· 42 Online classes via Zoom

· 27 New instructors!

· 100% FUN- Bring a friend & sign up today!

Resources to keep accessible:

• First Call - 488-7777: phone support, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals
• In Crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) (National Hopeline Network: USA)
• 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (National Suicide Prevention Lifelife: USA)
• 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

A note from the administration: As we conclude our second week of school we are seeing a few things that we need to fix up for our arrival and dismissal procedures to make them run safely and efficiently.

• Please stay in your vehicle and avoid extended chats with the adults as we are trying to efficiently move people through the pick up line. Please do not leave your car unattended in the lane at any time. We also prefer you NOT park your vehicle to come and retrieve your child. Our way of ensuring your child gets to you safely is that exchange at your vehicle for the adult to see.
• Please pull all the way up to the curb for pick up as others are waiting to move up behind you.
• Avoid "double-parking"/parking diagonally
• Please drop off and pick up your child at their team’s designated location ensuring that you leave space for the other team locations.
  
• Please arrive between 7:30-7:55am
  
• For safety, all students must exit the passenger side of the vehicle
  
• Your child must have their mask on when entering the school
  
• Please drive attentively, slowly, and safely, following directions of school staff
  

We appreciate all you can do to follow these guidelines to ensure a safe and smooth transition in and out of school!

Please refer to this map for the correct location to drop off/pick up your student:

Arrival /Dismissal Map / Diagram

WCS Library is so happy to welcome ALL students back inside! 3rd & 4th grade classes have begun their weekly read aloud & book choosing visits to the library.

5th-8th grade students drop in & visit flexibly as they choose to browse for books.

Using seating charts & a Google sign-in form, we know who's stopped by for a visit & can be safe. We're so glad to welcome readers back in the library!

Welcome readers to a school year filled with curiosity and joy! Our school library has over 15,000 books just ripe for picking. We love helping students learn to read and read to learn. Children visit the library each week with their class for storytime and book exchanges. We have no limits, no fees, and no fines here. Building happy and engaged readers is our number one goal. Please feel free to call or email me throughout our school year for book recommendations, research requests, and wonderings. Thank you for sharing your child with us!

Cara Clopton

(Pronouns: she/her/hers)

School Librarian PreK-2

802-871-6282 library

ABS Library Website. https://sites.google.com/cvsdvt.org/abs-library/i-am-a-reader

"When I say to a parent, "read to a child," I don't want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate." ---Mem Fox

Monday, September 6, 2021- No School, Labor Day

Thursday, September 9, 2021- 3rd and 4th grade curriculum night- 6:30pm

Thursday, September 16, 2021- No School, Yom Kippur

Tuesday, September 21, 2021- WCS Picture Day

Wednesday, September 22, 2021- ABS Picture Day

Thursday, September 30, 2021- 5th-8th grade curriculum night- 6:30pm

• Williston Facebook Page
  
• CVSD Facebook Page

• CVSD on Twitter
  

• CVSD on LinkedIn
• Did you know CVSD has a blog? http://cvsdstory.blogspot.com
  
• CVSD Handbook
• Bus Information
• Technology Help Desk

Email: alongley@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org
Location: 195 Central School Drive, Williston
Phone: (802) 878-2762
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Williston-School-District-1483758238612170/timeline/
Twitter: @wsdvt