THE SCHOOL BELL

by Carter Smith

Actually, they did not retreat, they met at their annual retreat on Monday of this week and spent the day reviewing the year and setting goals for next year.

I thought I would hit some high points of the discussion. So much has been accomplished this year and we have more work to do.

Committee Work

We talked about some committee work of teachers and administrators that was required by NCLB - remember that legislation? It is still with us, or the remnants are, while we wait to see where the federal legislature goes next in reauthorizing. Maybe more testing?

Cynicism aside, the committees did some good work. One group looked at our new data management system in Chittenden South and made some plans to train others on how to use the system to our full advantage to track and report on student progress. Another group worked on finding creative ways to help teachers find time to plan units of instruction together. A third group worked on how best to make decisions about providing extra support for struggling learners.

Technology

We reviewed our use of technology this year and reported from the teams who piloted additional devices(laptops) in their classrooms. One teacher said “The culture of the classroom has shifted from devices being a toy or reward to being a tool.” Another team reported that “Students have a new sense of independence and ownership around their learning.”

The tech committee reported ”Our faculty does amazing work with the devices we’re so fortunate to have. There are exciting things happening in regard to technology integration in both schools in Williston. Through the use of the technology we do have, teachers are opening doors to learning for our children.”

After School programs

We celebrated the work of several teachers in the after school program called Spark. In one program students work in small groups with highly trained teachers, after school for 90 minutes of uninterrupted time, three times a week. They use a Scholastic program called Read 180 and attend a field trip to celebrate their hard work 3 times a year. Of the 12 students attending the average rate of progress was between two and three years growth! We will be sending several students to CVU as readers, having achieved two to four years growth in reading over the past year.

continue reading

All Allen Brook School library books are due on Monday, June 8, 2015. Happily, the library will be open again this summer for checking out books on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 12:00 (with storytime at 10:00) starting on June 24th.

All Williston Central School library books should have been returned to the library by now. If any are still at your house, we would really appreciate your sending them to school with your child. Thanks very much!

Last Chance to Enter the “Contract for Life” Raffle

Connecting Youth in Chittenden South

Drugs and alcohol are not easy topics to bring up. Especially with children and teens who may often seem like they’re not listening—or don’t care what you have to say.

But the truth is that children care deeply about their parents’ opinions—even if they don’t show it directly. In fact, the #1 reason kids give for not drinking is that they don’t want to disappoint their parents. And children who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are significantly less likely to use drugs.

Plus, talking about mental health issues can help bring to light feelings that are too often kept secret, making them less scary and leaving the door open for your child to talk to you about her concerns. For more information about the prevention of mental health disorders, visit the Vermont Department of Mental Health and the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center.

It’s never too early—or too late—to start the conversation. Here are some tips that may help:

· Download the “Contract for Life” and fill out it together with your 5th-8th grader. Turn the contract in to the house TA by Wednesday, June 10th and be entered into a drawing for many great local prizes (click here to read on:)

Click here for the Contract for Life.

Click here for the FAP home page and meeting minutes.

Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/willistonfap

All student accounts must be in good standing before the last day of school. If your student has a negative balance, please get a payment in right away and plan ahead for future purchases. Negative balances must be paid off before the last day of school.

Information for graduating 8th graders..
There will be no charging at all for 8th graders for the remainder of the year. If your 8th grader has a negative balance please pay it off right away and plan ahead for future purchases. Your students may either prepay for purchases, bring cash,
or bring food from home. All positive balances will be automatically transferred to CVU. You must maintain a positive balance at all times to make any purchases from CVU.

The SmartPay feature of mylunchmoney.com will be temporarily disabled as of 6/1/2015 to prevent inadvertently overfilling a student’s account with only a few days remaining. You may still make payments manually on mylunchmoney.com up until 6/19/2015.

If your graduating 8th grader is not going to CVU, please let us know as soon as possible. In that case, we will attempt to transfer any positive account balance to a younger sibling in our district. If that is not possible, we will automatically refund any balance $10 or greater. If your student’s balance is less than $10 you may request a refund in writing or by email to Scott Wagner. Any unrequested balances will be transferred into the WCS Sunshine Fund on 6/19/2015.

Thanks very much for your attention to this important end of the year information. Have a great summer and congratulations! Scott Wagner

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO THIS FRIDAY JUNE 5TH!

Don’t miss your chance to get your game tix!

Saturday, July 11th at 6:05p.m.

Grandstand tickets are $6 each.

50% of ticket sales go back to Williston Schools!

Tickets can be exchanged for another game if your plans change, so why not buy them from your school?

New this year! Order online! Williston is seated in Section 101

https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.asp?EventID=120926&promocode=wfap

For more information click here

Explore this link for a summer activity program for kids that many teachers use for brain break activities. The website is http://camp.gonoodle.com/

Go Noodle Summer Camp

Fun Day offers activities emphasizing cooperation, teamwork, and fun! Small groups (10-12 students) will move between stations with activities such as water balloon toss, relays, track & field events, bottle throw, obstacle course & more. The day is designed for students to enjoy being active with classmates as the school year comes to a close.

Your support will be greatly appreciated by volunteering to either run a station or help with making water balloons. No experience required or special knowledge, just your enthusiasm, energy, and presence. We really need help with making the water balloons! If you aren't able to help that day, volunteers can make water balloons at your own home & deliver on the morning of June 8 to the WCS old gym. Please fill out the slip and mark off whatever you are able to help with.

The morning groups for Fun Day will be 1st and 2nd graders (Synergy, Harmony & Horizon). The afternoon groups will be 3rd and 4th graders (Equinox, Kaleidoscope, & Mosaic).

__________________________________________________________________________________

Fun Day (Mon.) June 8 (rain date June 9)

I can help on Fun Day

____ 9:00-11:00 Synergy, Harmony, & Horizon

____ 12:30-2:30 Equinox, Kaleidoscope, & Mosaic

____ I will help with water balloons

Name_________________ Phone ________________________________________

email _____________________________________________

please return to your classroom teacher

Part 2 Summer Camps

Kickstart Kindergarten

Wednesday, June 3rd at

2:00pm and 6:30pm in the WCS auditorium.

The musicians are required to wear concert attire* for both concerts.

The musicians need to arrive at WCS at 6:10pm for the evening concert.

*What is concert attire?

Boys: long pants, shirt with collar, and a tie

Girls: dress or skirt of appropriate length, or dressy pants, with an appropriate top

Shorts, t shirts, hats, athletic wear, flip flops, and jeans are not appropriate.

Please do not wear them.

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

Click here for the Remind 3/4 flyer.

We have two exciting performances on this day. The details for each performance are different so please Click here to read more.

****Please pick up your child’s medications***

Everything must go!

As the school year comes to an end, we’d like to remind you to think about picking up any medications your child has in either of our Health Offices. This includes any medications that your child may need next year, as we cannot store medication in the Health Offices over the summer. Prescription medications must be picked up by a parent. Please call your child’s Health Office to make arrangements to get these medications home.

Thank you, and have a great summer!

Immunization Reminder for Parents/Guardians of Students Entering 7th Grade in the Fall of 2015

Vermont’s immunization regulation requires parents to provide documentation of one dose of Tdap vaccine and two doses of Varicella before 7th grade entry. If your child receives vaccinations over the summer please send an updated immunization record to the Health Office. If a student doesn't meet the vaccine requirements, or have a current exemption on file, they may by temporarily admitted only after approval of the school nurse or administrator. Failure to meet requirements may result in exclusion. Please click on links below for more information regarding state requirements for immunizations.

http://healthvermont.gov/hc/imm/documents/vaccines_preteens.pdf
http://healthvermont.gov/hc/imm/documents/vt_immunization_law_qa.pdf

HPV FILM PREMIERE

Wednesday, June 3; 5:30-8:00 p.m., film beginning at 6:00
Davis Auditorium, UVM Medical Center
Narrated by Vanessa Williams, Someone You Love reveals how dangerous the HPV virus can be, potentially causing six different types of cancers in both men and women. For more information about the film and to view a trailer, please visit www.hpvepidemic.com or contact Allison Hicks at ahicks@freepap.org

Chorus Concert (gr. 3-4) / Wed. June 3 / 6:30 pm

Beginner Band Concert / Thur. June 4

Step up Activities for gr. K-1 / Fri. June 5 / 8:30-9:30 am

Fun Day, gr. 1-2 / Mon. June 8 / 8:30-9:30 am / WCS

Fun Day gr. 3-4 / Mon. June 8 / 12:30-2:30 pm / WCS

Parent Orientation for gr. 2 to 3 / Mon. June 8 / 6:30-7:30 pm / WCS Auditorium

Step Up for Middle School, 8th gr. Yearbook Signing / Wed. June 10 / 8:15-9 am

Eighth Grade Graduation / Thur. June 11 / 6:30- 9 pm

Last Day of School / Tues. June 16 / ABS dismissal at 11:35 / WCS dismissal at 11:55

Click here for athletics

Click here for the June Newsletter.

Amazing Park Challenge- New Program

Check out this new program. We are teaming up with area Rec. Depts. to offer this great on your own opportunity to visit area parks and participate in fun challenges. Register your family today. Kickoff is this Sunday, June 7th. Follow this link for details and to register- http://www.willistonrec.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29914.

Technology Camps

The Rec. Dept. is offering a variety of Technology Camps this summer. Our lineup includes Rocketry Camp, Science Camps, Engineering Camp, Hyper Peppy Robots and All Terrain Tracker Camp. Camp offerings vary in grades but we have camps for youngsters completing grades K-8th. Most camps are half day, 3.5 hours, but pair that with another half day camp, in the same week, and get the hour at lunch for free and make a whole day of camps for your child. Visit our website to check out the camps and to register- www.willistonrec.org.

Upcoming Youth Programs

We still have openings in the following youth programs and are accepting registration now. Follow the links for more details and to register:

Track & Field- http://www.willistonrec.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29844

Fishing Clinics- http://www.willistonrec.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29845

Golf Clinics- http://www.willistonrec.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29843

Bookmobile Routes Changing – Get the Bookmobile in Your Neighborhood

Dottie III, the library’s new bookmobile, will begin summer service on July 7 and run through August 27. Dottie III will provide expanded service to adults as well as kids.

At this time the library is evaluating neighborhoods for the summer bookmobile service. ALL neighborhoods are up for reevaluation. Guidelines for neighborhood visits include a minimum of ten households. Streets must be wide enough for the bookmobile to safely park to the side or offer communal areas such as parking lots or club/pool houses with parking for the vehicle to easily maneuver within. It is expected that families will vacation and kids will go to camp, but if your neighborhood clears out during the months of July and August it won’t be a good fit for bookmobile service.

Petitions with household names and addresses desiring service will receive first consideration. Bookmobile staff will take a drive through the neighborhoods being considered. Submit your petition by June 5 to marti@williston.lib.vt.us or Attn: Bookmobile Visits, 21 Library Lane, Williston, VT 05495

Contact Jill Coffrin, Youth Librarian, if you have questions. Thank you for your help!

Click here to access the DAML web site listing of events.
Click here for the Bell listing of DAML events scheduled for children.

Click here for the DAML newsletters.

Click here for Community Events.

This week includes:

Food Drive by Girl Scout Troup 30001

Private summer tutors

Events at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Williston Summer Art Camp 2015

May 27, 2015

May 20, 2015

May 13, 2015

Allen Brook School and Williston Central School

Email: cpavlik@cssu.org
Website: www.wsdvt.org
Location: 195 Central School Drive, Williston
Phone: (802) 878-2762
Twitter: @wsdvt