THE SCHOOL BELL

from Lead Principal Greg Marino

Dear families,

I sincerely hope that your family was able to enjoy the break from the school routine last week and some downtime together filled with some rest, rejuvenation, and joy. Whether or not you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, just having a little time away from the regular routine to pause and reflect can be so helpful, especially in stressful times like the ones we are living in now. I am very grateful for having that chance last week and being able to return to work this week with a sense of renewal and meeting the challenges of this important work with maybe just a little more capacity and clarity.

Speaking of capacity and clarity, your Williston Schools Leadership Team, which consists of principals, Angela Filion and Jackie Parks, Director of Student Services, Sarah Crum, and myself, decided to take a day on Monday, 11/22 - the first day of the school break - to have a quiet and focused day of work together. Finding this time together without a multitude of distractions has been extremely challenging this year, so we took the opportunity to find a space off campus to recalibrate around some important leadership work.

We began our day considering this quote from Margaret Wheatley, “The future comes from where we are now. The future won’t change until we look thoughtfully at our present. We have sufficient human capacity to think and reflect together, to care about one another, to act courageously, to reclaim the future.” We then moved on to reflecting on and discussing how best to lead and support in service of our main focus areas:1. Supporting the social, emotional, and physical health of all human beings in our system. and 2. Increasing our sense of collective efficacy to positively impact outcomes for students. We were all reminded of how important it is to take time for this kind of thoughtful reflection and discussion, regardless of how crazy things get. In fact, the crazier things get, the more important it is! This image shows our team and the beautiful view we had from our workspace on Maple Street in Downtown Burlington.

Covid-19 case update:

Here in Williston we have learned to be very thankful when we have quiet stretches without any cases. (Though sometimes I hate to even write about it in fear of messing with the streak!) Anyway, I know I can speak for our leadership team and school nurses especially that we will gladly take these periods without cases when we get them for sure. I am happy to report that as of 8AM today, we have not had a positive case to report since returning to school this week. Given the case data we are seeing in county and State right now (VT DoH Dashboard), I am sure this is just a brief local pause, but we will gladly take it. Remember, if you do not receive a daily case update from Superintendent Sanchez on a given day, it means there were no cases on that day.

TEST to STAY in Williston:

Right up until leaving for the Thanksgiving break, the Test to Stay program continued to be an effective tool to help students who are identified as close contacts remain in school. Since the beginning of Test to Stay, 699 tests have been administered just in Williston with 5 positives - that's a .7% positivity rate. Our busiest Test to Stay day was the day before break, with over 100 students being tested.

For some more fun with numbers, even when subtracting out 30 mins / day for the testing logistics each morning, collectively our students had access to 4,511 hours of in-person learning at school that would not have otherwise been available to them. That is a big number for sure that we are celebrating. I would like to again thank our school nurses, CVSD Health coordinator, Jocelyn Bouyea, the Williston and CVSD Leadership Teams, and so many faculty and staff who have chipped in to staff Test to Stay each morning. It really has been an impressive team effort.

As you have seen in other communications, the optional Test to Stay program is still just for students who are NOT vaccinated, are asymptomatic, and who may have had a school exposure. Unfortunately, we are not able to extend Test to Stay to students who have been identified as a close contact as a result of exposure outside of school.

As always, I am most grateful for our continued partnership in your child(ren)’s growth and learning. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or anyone on the leadership team with questions or concerns.

Please join the CVSD School Board for the next in the series of budget presentations. The first, on December 7, will focus on the General Education Budget. The next meeting takes place on December 14, where the presentation will provide an overview of the Operations and Maintenance portion of the budget. All of these meetings will be hybrid meetings; you can join in person, via Zoom, or watch on the Media Factory's website. The Zoom information will be posted on our district's website a few days before the meetings. https://www.cvsdvt.org/

CVSD's Board Chair, Angela Arsenault, has provided this introduction to kick off an updated series of videos pertaining to the budget development process. These videos are also available on the Budget Page of the CVSD website.

• An overview of the budget development process, featuring Superintendent Rene Sanchez and CVSD's COO, Jeanne Jensen.
• What is ESSER? with CVSD's Director of Learning and Innovation, Jeff Evans
• Special Education funding model and budgeting described by CVSD's Director of Student Support Services, Meagan Roy

Watch for more videos in the series soon!

CVSD seeks an energetic paraprofessional to join our early education team, .4 FTE. This is a 2 day a week, Monday and Tuesday, position at Allen Brook School in Williston. We are seeking a warm, highly organized, and dynamic individual to support an inclusive preschool classroom as well as support for individual and small groups of students in personal development, behavior support, and social-emotional skills. The candidate 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.

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

Position to begin December 20, 2021. Please send resume and cover letter with three references to Shelley Henson, shenson@cvsdvt.org or apply on School Spring.

CVU cafeteria is in desperate need of help during lunch service between now and the winter break. Can you spare two hours (11:00 - 1:00) two or more days a week for the next three weeks? No experience is necessary. $15 per hour. Call or email Leo Laforce for information. llaforce@cvsdvt.org or 802-482-7176

Registration is OPEN for a continuation of our fall Hands Up! reading celebration. Join us online Monday, Dec 13th from 5-6 p.m. All ages are welcome, and it is not necessary to have attended the previous event. This event focuses on The Talk and we’re still giving away the Brave Book Bags with this book included. Here’s the link from Dorothy Alling Memorial Library if you’re interested in joining! https://damlvt.org/index.php/events/all-programs/1109-the-talk-book-talk-online?date=2021-12-13-17-00

Dear Williston parents and guardians: Thank you for your continued efforts to keep your children, families and schools safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are like many Vermont families with school-age children, you may have experienced disruption or quarantine due to cases in your child’s school. We fully understand how challenging this has been for everyone. That is why the federal government’s decision to approve the pediatric Pfizer vaccine is so important. The best way to keep your family safe and healthy, and to keep students in school, is to make sure your child is vaccinated if they are age 5 or older.

We want to share with you the guidelines that will apply to your children once they are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the second dose).

Scenario 1: Your fully vaccinated child is identified as a close contact to a positive case (at school or outside of school, including living with someone who tested positive in the household)

If they are fully vaccinated and do NOT have symptoms of COVID-19:

• They do not need to quarantine if they do not have symptoms

• Get your child tested 5 to 7 days after they were exposed to someone with COVID-19 but they don't need to stay home while waiting for their test results. They can continue to attend school.

If your child is fully vaccinated and they have symptoms of COVID-19:

• If they develop any symptoms within 14 days of being exposed to someone with COVID-19, they should stay home and get tested right away. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, but occasionally people who are fully vaccinated can get COVID-19.

• Your child needs to quarantine at home and away from other people while they wait for their test results. They cannot come to school until their negative results are received.

Scenario 2: Your fully vaccinated child developed any symptoms of COVID and they are NOT close contact to a positive case

• If your child has symptoms, even if mild, you should keep them home and get them tested. Even if they are vaccinated or had COVID-19 in the past, you should get them tested. Your child’s pediatrician can send a referral for testing or you can go to a testing site. Keep them home and away from other people while you wait for their results.

• Not everyone with COVID-19 has a fever. Even mild symptoms (like a headache or runny nose) could be signs of COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, but occasionally people who are fully vaccinated can get COVID-19. Most often symptoms will be mild, therefore, it is important to get tested even for mild symptoms.

• Your child needs to quarantine at home and away from other people while they wait for their test results. They cannot come to school until their negative results are received.

  
  

  Please refer to our Return to school following illness protocol

Monday, December 13th from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Supportive home, school, and community environments help LGBTQIA+ youth feel safe and affirmed, and improve outcomes. Whether or not your child identifies as LGBTQIA+, they likely have friends and certainly peers that do. Join us for our next ParentIN event to learn and grow together as we build safer environments and support the adolescents you care about.

This virtual workshop will cover the following:

1. Let's quickly run through the acronyms - LGBTQIA+

2. Why do we talk about pronouns in schools and at Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) meetings?

3. How can I support my child with their gender and sexuality expression?

4. What supports are available to me and to my child as we navigate this together?

5. Questions posed ahead of time.

We invite you to submit questions in advance using this anonymous form for added comfort.

REGISTER by 12/12/21 to receive the secure zoom link for the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtqia-101-an-ed-night-for-parents-caregivers-tickets-210097175307

Help us spread the word by sharing the Facebook event here!

Presenters:

V Pearson, Director of Youth Organizing, Outright Vermont
Pronouns: they/them

V has a passion for building community, skill, and power with all folks who are seeking to make the world a better place. V has worked closely with youth through Outright Vermont, as well as with high schools and colleges. “I love spending time with people learning about what their heart needs to feel safe and powerful.”

Amy Sayre, Student Assistance Professional & ParentIN Coordinator, Champlain Valley School District
Pronouns: she/her
Amy is on the school student support team and teaches wellness classes at both Hinesburg Community School and Charlotte Central school. She is the Gender and Sexuality Alliance advisor for both schools and the ParentIN Coordinator for Champlain Valley School District.

More About Why ParentIN Cares About this Issue:

Youth who identify as LGBTQIA+, an umbrella acronym that encompasses different sexual orientations and gender identities, face a heightened risk for substance use because of the stigma and discrimination they often experience.

Supportive home and school environments help LGBTQIA+ youth feel safe and affirmed, and improve outcomes. Data from the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) can help us understand how youth are struggling and build environments that support them to thrive.

Recent data from the 2019 Vermont YRBS tells us we have work to do:

• 2x more likely to have been bullied electronically by a peer

• 4x more likely to have engaged in self-harm

• Roughly 1 out of every 3 surveyed LGBTQ+ high schoolers reported making a suicide plan and 1 out of every 5 reported making an attempt. Half of all surveyed LGBTQ+ middle schoolers reported seriously considering suicide, with 40% making a plan.

• 2x more likely to have tried cigarettes or marijuana before the age of 13 and were more likely than their cisgender/heterosexual peers to try every type of substance surveyed in the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered to Vermont students.

Williston Families As Partners (FAP) NEEDS COUNCIL MEMBERS! In order to continue to provide support to our schools a council is required to assemble. Please contact willistonfap@cvsdvt.orgif interested!

Williston's FAP, "PTA" organization, provides a forum for parents, administrators, faculty, staff, and community members to actively discuss activities, events, and programs in the WIlliston schools. The participation of faculty, staff, and administration differentiates our FAP from a typical PTA/PTO and helps further promote our children's health, well-being, and educational success. FAP also serves as the fundraising arm of the Williston schools.

Volunteers are needed in all areas! Please fill out this form if interested in helping!

https://forms.gle/AvVx1EHUGWWAikWn9

• Program is for grades K-8th. (Kindergarten children must be transported and have an adult on the mountain with them)
  
• The 1st-8th program meets for 7-Wednesdays- Jan. 5-Feb. 16. Six weeks of lessons and the last day is the “Donut Hole Races”
  
• The Kindergarten Program meets for 6 Wednesdays- Jan. 12- Feb. 16
  
• The program is from 2:30-4:30pm, with lessons from 2:30-3:30pm and free ski/ride from 3:30-4:30pm.
  
• All children are required to wear a helmet to participate in the program.
  
• See more on the Community Events Page

We are excited to announce that CVSD has been awarded a federal grant that provides assistance for Internet connectivity for families that qualify for the free and reduced-price meals program.

If your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals, you are eligible for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF Program). The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a program that will help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. It is designed to help students who currently lack the necessary Internet access that they may need to connect to classrooms. It is funded through June 2022.

The first step is to identify needs and determine which providers can best serve students based on where they live. If your child qualifies for the free and reduced meal program, please complete the survey at this link. We will work with eligible local providers to determine the best match for each situation.

Once we receive information back from the providers, we will contact families to let them know what options are available and will assist them in getting the service set up.

If you have any questions about the program, please send a note to CVSDECFProgram@cvsdvt.org . If you have questions about your student’s eligibility for the Free and Reduced Meal program, email Stephanie Hulburt at shurlburt@cvsdvt.org

On Friday, November 25th, 2021 we said goodbye to our sweet Reba. She was a loyal friend, enthusiastic adventure buddy, and the bestest girl. We rescued her from Adirondack Save A Stray in 2010 when she was just 9 weeks old, the cutest little cattle dog/ hound mix. Reba loved long walks in the woods, playing with friends, hunting (mostly rodents), romping in the snow, afternoon sunspots, sleeping in late, riding in the Jeep with the top down, snacks, and snuggles on the couch. Reba started her career at SumMAT Camp hanging out at Petra Cliffs Climbing Gym. She was so great with big groups of people, with her calm gentle way, that we were inspired to go through the Therapy Dogs of Vermont certification. She started working at Williston Central School in the fall of 2016; Reba loved going to school. She looked forward to greeting everyone in the front lobby, joining morning meetings, helping run practice, and hanging out on the sidelines at soccer games. She was loved by so many and brought smiles to people’s faces everywhere she went. We feel so lucky to have shared the time with her that we did. If you would like to celebrate Reba in some way, making a donation to Therapy Dogs of Vermont( https://therapydogs.org/about/) or K9 Duke in Reba’s honor (https://www.willistonpdvt.org/comfort-dog-team) would be a nice tribute.

We love curling up with some fiction to escape. What about you? There’s no right or wrong!

Borrow your choice on the #SoraReadingApp. Download today!

Not sure how to use SORA? Check in with Ms. Arapakos or Mrs. Clopton for quick tips!

Williston Schools offers learning opportunities for students who are quarantining without their class and teacher. Learning menus are provided for each grade level. These menus will not directly connect to the lessons happening at school, but they will allow students to access productive and engaging grade appropriate learning opportunities. This slide deck contains more information: Learning Opportunities for Quarantining Kids

Children between the ages of 5-11 can now receive a COVID vaccine. These will be available at local pharmacies, in school-based clinics, and at pediatric offices. You can go to any school-based clinic, if that is your preference, even if it is not your own school.

The Vermont Department of Health selects the sites for school-based clinics. Though we have signed up to be a site, we were not selected for the first round. We will keep CVSD families informed if and when that changes.

From the Vermont Department of Health:

Parents & caregivers can now make an appointment for kids 5 to 11 to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine! Visit healthvermont.gov/KidsVaccine or call 855-722-7878. Appointments are available for clinics in communities and schools. Thank you for protecting your child against COVID-19.

Vaccine Q&A

Please see this flyer for information about upcoming conversations about the vaccine. Here's a link to the Vermont chapter of the American Pediatric Association's website with more information.

We have found in reviewing and approving submitted data that when a parent/caregiver checks themselves as the emergency contact for their student(s) they are removed from the primary communications list. Please DO NOT indicate yourself as the emergency contact for your student(s). Emergency contacts are those we might reach out to if a parent/caregiver is not available.

A reminder to families that our final day of school in December is Wednesday, December 22nd. It is always a little strange to wrap up mid-week heading into a break, so we wanted to be sure to call some attention to that feature of the calendar.

If your child is working remotely and having a technical issue with their device, please use this ticket process for support. As tickets come in, one of our technicians will be assigned to work that ticket and will reach out to you within 24 hours either by telephone or email.

Pre K-2

It has been reported to administration from some parents that they are concerned about our arrival and dismissal procedures. As a reminder it is very important to stay in your vehicles during arrival and dismissal. It appears that many parents stop, get out of their car, talk to teachers or other parents, and stand around to visit. Some vehicles are being left unattended so parents can walk their child into school. This creates a line of cars backing up as other parents wait for a spot to pull up to. We have also seen some families not using the designated lane for your child's house as a means to get through the line faster. Please adhere to the procedures we have created and do your best to pick up and drop your child off in a timely and efficient manner. Thank you!

For K teachers only:

When dropping your child off in the K lane please be sure to pull up to the curbside to drop your child off as opposed to parking your vehicle as if you are in a parking spot. This helps with the overall flow and avoids having vehicles having to back up which causes congestion and traffic jams. Thank you!

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

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

Amy Sayre is a SAP counselor and ParentIN coordinator for CVSD. She is available online on Tuesday evenings from 7-8 pm to help support parents.

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

Tues. Dec. 7 - School Board Meeting, 6 pm

• 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

Allen Brook School and Williston Central School

Email: wsschoolbell@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