THE SCHOOL BELL

The Power of Teamwork, Renovation Information Night

by Greg Marino

The power of teamwork is not something that many of us would need much convincing about. Hopefully we have all had an experience being a part of something much bigger than ourselves; something that required much more than just us doing our part with quality and precision. We know that to accomplish something truly exceptional it often takes the work of a well-functioning team of people dedicated to a common purpose and goal. The images I’ve included here truly help to bring this point home for me. (The image above is of the astronaut crew of the Apollo 13 mission). I am so fortunate in my role as District Principal to have the regular opportunity to witness team work at its best right here in our two amazing schools. There are visible student and adult examples of this exceptional teamwork each week. Whether it is one of our fine athletic teams, or students engaged in collaborative learning projects, or adults engaged in collaborative problem-solving in support of student learning, there is never a shortage of modelling effective teamwork here at WSD. One shining example of incredible teamwork currently front and center is the School Drama Club’s musical production of The Sound of Music. Over 70 students have been working diligently over the past few months - both under the lights on stage, as well as behind the scenes with the stage and production crews to bring this musical classic to life. Congratulations to Director, Sean Moran, and his entire team on pulling together a wonderful show that I know audiences will love. Some ABS students were treated to the debut performances and the reviews have been stellar so far!

WCS Renovation Info Night:

Another very busy team taking on an ambitious challenge is the WCS Renovation Project Team. As you have heard in previous editions of The Bell, this team has been hard at work on planning and preparation for WCS Renovation scheduled to begin at the start of this summer. On behalf of the team, I would like to invite you to a parent information session about the project on Wednesday, April 19, 6:30 - 7:45. Come and meet key members of the team, including representatives from our architecture and construction firms. You will learn about the scope of the project, construction schedule, classroom moves and relocations, and other important details related to the project. There will also be time put aside to answer your specific questions. I hope you will consider attending what I expect to be a very informative event.

As always, I thank you for your continued partnership in the education of our children.

Wednesday, April 12, we will celebrate the work our Artist in Residence has done with our students. Many thanks to Sally Duback and Andy Duback for the work they have done to make this mosaic a reality. The celebration will take place from 5:00 pm to 6:00pm in the Allen Brook Court Yard

Williston Central School Proudly Presents: The Sound of Music

Showtimes:

Friday April 7th at 7pm

Saturday April 8th - matinee at 1pm and evening performance at 7pm

Go to WSD website-School Information-Drama ....to order tickets

It's that time of year when the school starts planning for next year's student placements. If our child is in one of the grades that will be transitioning to a new team and teacher next year (Kindergarten, grades 2 or 4), we would like your input to help us make informed decisions on behalf of all the children.

To find information about the placement process and the input form please go to the schools' web site (www.wsdvt.org) and click on the 2017-2018 Placement Input headline on the right side of the page. The individual links are also below.

Parent/Guardian Input form:

Current Kindergarten Students

Current 2nd Grade Students

Current 4th Grade Students

Placement Information:

Kindergarten Placement Information

2nd grade Placement Information

4th Grade Placement Information

If you have any trouble with any of the links please contact the school. We look forward to hearing from you by April 21.

Congratulations to all of the winners of this year's LuckyU Raffle! Student winners will hear from either his/her classroom teacher or the activity host(s) within the next week, if you have not already, and activities will begin to happen over the next few weeks. In many cases events must work around school schedules as well as weather so your patience is much appreciated. For the third year in a row, this event sold over 4000 tickets! Teachers and staff from both schools are volunteering their time, creativity and resources with our students, and without all of them this event truly would not be possible. Having so many students eager to spend time with the Williston Schools faculty and staff shows how truly Lucky we are. Thank you to all those who signed up to host a raffle event - your willingness to continue to go above and beyond is very much appreciated. A huge Thank You to all of the parents who volunteered to help sell tickets - both early morning at ABS and lunchtime at WCS.

Williston FAP is pleased to present Emily Reyns, who will speak to nutrition and physical exercise as a means to create a further connection to ourselves and others, all through a lens of dance movement therapy. This event will take place at the ABS cafeteria on April 17th at 6:30 pm.

Emily Reyns, MA, R-DMT, MHC Emily is a registered dance movement therapist and mental health counselor who focuses her work on the mind body connection and the physical connection we have to our environments, including our empathetic response to others.

Congratulations! The following students, from WCS and ABS, have art work on display at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. There are 28 framed pieces in 2 rooms, and 3 cases filled with outstanding 3D work. The display will be up for the Month of April.

The University of Vermont College of Medicine’s Chapter of the American Women’s Medical Association will be hosting their annual Girls’ Science Discovery Day on Saturday, May 6th, 2017 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the UVM College of Medicine in Burlington, VT. Williston Central School has been invited to bring three seventh or eighth grade girls to the event.

The day consists of a keynote address, interactive workshops run by faculty and medical students, and an ice cream social. Workshops from previous years have included learning about the immune system, medical imaging, and anatomy. Activities have included viewing human organs, casting an arm and drawing blood from a dummy. For more information, click here.

Any girls interested in attending should complete the Google Survey found here before 8:00 am on Friday, April 7th. Further questions can be directed to Amy Skapof at askapof@cssu.org. If we have more than three interested and enthusiastic candidates we will draw names on Friday, April 7th. Those chosen to attend will be contacted by April 10th with more details.

Nationwide voluntary recall of EpiPen and EpiPen Jr.

Keep and use your current EpiPens if needed until you get a replacement!

*Notice: Please read the entire FPA notice linked HERE.
https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm550170.htm

• If you have EpiPens from lots that are not included in this recall, you do not need to replace your EpiPen prior to its expiration date.
  

Contact Mylan at 800-796-9526 or customer.service@mylan.com with any questions

Wednesday, April 19 / 6:30pm at Williston Central School

I’m Emily Margi and for part of my 8th grade challenge, I am collecting donations for COTS (Committee On Temporary Shelter). COTS provides emergency shelter, services, and housing for people who are homeless or marginally housed in Vermont. A donation box will be placed outside the main office at Williston Central School. The donation box will be there for two weeks starting Monday, March 27.

Items in need by COTS are:

• New, unopened toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, toothbrushes, deodorant, foot powder, lotion, baby wipes, sunscreen, etc)

• New, unopened cleaning products (disinfecting wipes, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, paper towels, dish soap, sponges, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, laundry baskets)

• New powdered infant formula (i.e. Enfamil, Similac)

• New hats and Gloves for adults

Thanks for supporting COTS,

Emily Margi

My name is Olivia Cabral, and I am in 8th grade. For my Eighth Grade Challenge, I am holding a book drive for the Bookmobile and the Summer Reading Program. If you would like to donate some books, they would need to be new or like-new condition. They can be books for all ages. I hope to help the community to enhance the literary skills of people of all ages with your donations. So, if you have any books in good condition that you have and would like to donate, please put them in my book box outside of the main office at WCS. The donation box is bright blue and it has a white poster on it with the words “Book Drive” in silver letters. Keep an eye out for it! The book box will be there from March 27-31. Thank you so much!

Thursday, April 20th @ 6pm & 7pm

With the merger of our governing boards comes Intra-district School Choice options for our families. Please see the proposed policy and draft guidelines and procedures - linked below - for requesting placement for your student in a school other than his/her town of residence assignment. The board has reviewed this policy and is anticipating adoption at its April 4 board meeting. They have authorized the distribution of this information prior to adoption because of the narrow timeline in this our first year. For this same reason, applications will be accepted for this one year until April 30, 2017.

If you have interest in enrolling your student in a school other than the assigned school of residence, please complete the linked application form or contact Sandy Raymond at 383.1224 to receive a copy.

Policy

Procedures

Application

The Williston-Richmond Rotary club will hold its 19th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at the Williston Central School on Saturday, April 15 for children 12 years old and younger. Parade begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. The event will take place regardless of the weather so children should be dressed appropriately.

Easter baskets with prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be awarded to children wearing costumes or bonnets. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets. Mark your calendar now so you don’t miss this fun event. For more information contact Andy Mikell @ 343.2704 oramikell@catic.com.

• Athletics
• WSD Mobile App Flyer
• Health Office
  
• WSD Facebook Page
• Champlain Valley School District School Board Information

  Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) school board meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month during the normal school year. Meetings are held in a different town within our community month-to-month. MEETING SCHEDULE

  School board meetings are filmed by RETN and videos of past meetings can be seen at RETN's website.

Floating Garden Project / Wed. April 12 / ABS Courtyard

FAPAC / Thurs. April 13 / 8:15-10:15 am / WCS Dining Room

CY Mentoring Trip to Edge / Thur. April 13 / 10am - 2pm

Synergy Family Night / Thurs. April 13 / 5:30-7:00 pm

FAP Speaker Series / Mon. April 17 / 6:30 pm / ABS Cafeteria

WCS Renovation Parent Info Night / Wed. April 19 / 6:30 pm

Horizon Reading Restaurant / Thurs. April 20 / 6pm & 7pm

Spring Break - No School / April 24-28

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week / May 1 - 5

Teacher/Staff Breakfast / Wed. May 3 / 7:30am

Click here for athletics
Upcoming Events on the School Web Calendar

Every Tuesday through May 23, 2017, Williston School District students will be dismissed early.
Dismissal at Allen Brook School will be at 1:35.
Dismissal at Williston Central School will be at 1:55.
The schedule for Preschool on Tuesdays will be altered. Morning classes will be from 8:00 to 10:15, and afternoon classes will be from 11:15 to 1:30.

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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Williston-School-District-1483758238612170/timeline/
Twitter: @wsdvt