Wildcat Buzz

1. Thursday and Friday next week - No School for students

2. Volunteer Opportunity - Helpers needed for the Craft Show, Saturday 11/1

3. Do you love to sew? Volunteers needed to sew window coverings (details below)

10/18 - CVU Craft Fair, 9am-4pm

10/23 - Diwali, NO SCHOOL

10/24 - Student Conferences, NO SCHOOL

10/28 - Community Budget Forum, 6pm @ CVU Library

10/29 - Picture Retakes @WCS

10/30 - Picture Retakes @ABS

11/01 - Williston Craft Show, @WCS 9am-4pm

11/06 - Flora & Ulysses, WCS Fall Play - Opening Night Tickets On Sale Now

11/07 - Flora & Ulysses, WCS Fall Play

11/08 - Flora & Ulysses, WCS Fall Play Matinee

11/10 - 11/14 - Fall Book Fair with Phoenix Books @WCS

11/13 - WFAP Monthly Meeting, @WCS 8:30-10:30am

11/14 - 7th & 8th Grade Dance hosted by Cedar House, 6:30 - 8:30pm @WCS

11/24 - 11/28 - Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL

by Lauren Goracy, Director of Student Services

Building Morning Routines to Strengthen Executive Functioning Skills

As the school year begins to pick up speed, we’ve noticed that some students are finding it challenging to get to school on time or to manage their mornings smoothly. This is very common, especially as schedules get busier and days get darker, and it’s a great opportunity to support students in building executive functioning skills at home.

What Are Executive Functioning Skills?

Executive functioning skills are the brain’s “management system.” They help us plan, stay organized, start tasks, manage time, and regulate emotions. For children and pre-teens, these skills are still developing, and consistent routines at home are one of the best ways to strengthen them.

Morning routines, in particular, give children regular practice with:

• Planning and organization: Getting dressed, packing a backpack, and preparing for the day ahead.
  

• Time management: Understanding how long tasks take and when it’s time to transition.
  

• Task initiation: Starting activities without too many reminders.
  

• Self-regulation: Managing emotions when mornings feel rushed or stressful.
  
  

Tips & Tricks for a Smoother Morning

• Prep the night before: Pack bags, lay out clothes, and set up breakfast items together.
  

• Use visual supports: A simple checklist or picture schedule helps kids move through tasks independently.
  

• Establish a consistent routine: Waking up and leaving at the same time each day helps mornings feel predictable.
  

• Model calm and connection: A positive tone, a few minutes of calm music, or a quick morning chat can go a long way.
  

• Celebrate progress: Praise effort and small successes. Routine-building takes time and practice!
  

Why It Matters

When children practice morning routines consistently, they aren’t just getting ready for school; they’re exercising the same cognitive “muscles” that support success in the classroom: focus, organization, emotional control, and problem-solving. By working together to build consistent routines, we can help students arrive ready to learn, confident, and prepared for a great day at school.

visit the CVSD food service page on our website for additional information and resources

Are you missing any of these forms for the 25/26 school year?

- Annual Google Additional Services Permission Update

- Annual Student Contacts Update (Note: Parents should NOT be marked as Emergency Contacts)

- Annual Student Health Update

- Annual Student Permissions Update

Options for completing the PowerSchool Forms:

Login to the portal and review, update and submit the 4 forms (directions here)

OR

Request a printed copy of the forms from your school's front office

OR

Set up an appointment to complete the forms at school

OR

Email the front office to schedule a time to complete them over the phone

If you need to reset your PowerSchool Portal password please email svarricchione@cvsdvt.org

DATE: Friday, October 17, 2025

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Town of Williston is reconstructing the pedestrian bridge over Allen Brook on Industrial Avenue. This is a separate municipal project from the VTrans’ Williston VT 2A and Industrial Ave Project. This project has fully closed Industrial Avenue at the bridge 24/7 through Thursday, October 23. During this time, no turns onto Industrial Avenue from VT 2A are permitted. Detour signage is in place to guide traffic. For questions, contact the Williston Public Works Department at 802-878-1239.

TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION: Two-way traffic on Mountain View Road between VT 2A and just east of Marions Way will be restored by 5 p.m. today, Friday, October 17.

From Monday, October 20, through Friday, October 24, between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mountain View Road between VT 2A and just east of Marions Way will have lane reductions with alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers.

Drivers are advised to plan extra travel time or consider alternate routes. Drivers should slow down, use caution, and follow flaggers and road signs.

Our lost clothing is piling up at both Williston Central and Allen Brook. Please check out our two locations for any misplaced items that may belong to your student during conferences next week.

Still need to order your shirt? It's not too late!

Order your shirt here. Shirts need to be ordered and paid for by Wednesday, October 29, 2025. The cost is $13 and financial support is available.

Williston Central School Athletics are open to all students grades 6th-8th. All practices start at 2:50 and end around 4:20. Students can be picked up at the rear entrance to the school, or take the activity bus.

Visit the athletics website for everything you need to know about playing on a sports team at WCS. WCS Athletics

The WCS Drama program is open to grades 6, 7, and 8 and currently includes a Fall Play and a Spring Musical.

Visit the drama webpage to learn more about upcoming productions and the WCS Drama program.

• 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
• Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
• 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.