THE SCHOOL BELL

By Jacqueline Parks

What if by changing the way we use grades we could ignite authentic high-level learning? What if student empowerment could make learning more dynamic and change the outcome? (ASCD, Cathy Vatterott, Rethinking Grading, 2015)

I am excited to further discuss the shift to Standards-Based Grading as the first report card approaches for middle level teams. I recognize that most of us grew up with a traditional grading system that uses letter grades (A,B,C, etc.) and that this shift may feel uncomfortable at times. WCS strongly supports the shift, along with the other middle schools in our CSSU. Standards-based grading is also the basis of Act 77- a law passed by the Vermont legislature in 2013, as well as the Education Quality Standards for Vermont in 2014. By the year 2020, all high school students will graduate in proficiency (standards) based systems. To learn more about proficiency (standards) based learning, please watch this 6-minute video. SBL Video Link

For middle level students, trimester one ends on November 29th. We anticipate emailing the report cards home on December 5th. The report card will have scores for “Overall Academic Mastery” in each content area, as well as “Overall Habits of Learning Mastery.” These will be reported using a 1.0-4.0 scale. A score of a 3.0 means that a student has met the expectations for that learning target (which is based on state and national standards). You should translate the grading scale in this way.

1.0 Starting: The student is just beginning to work towards the learning target.

2.0 Approaching: The student is showing some progress towards proficiency.

3.0 Proficient: The student has demonstrated mastery of the learning target

4.0 Extending: The student has moved beyond proficiency by adding additional depth and understanding.

It is important to note that academic mastery of a learning target is being assessed separately from work habits. Academic mastery refers to the skills and content from classes. Habits of learning refer to habits like completing class work on time, being prepared for class, collaborating with others and completing homework on time. To get a true picture of what a student has actually mastered, the work habits are assessed separately. This will give parents the opportunity to have a very accurate reporting of their child’s academic performance and their work habit performance. Ultimately, both academic mastery and work habits are important for a student to be successful!

Standards-based learning is not something that is implemented in a quick way, but rather a journey of several years. We look forward to continuing to partner with parents on this work in order to best serve our students.

Hi, my name is Samantha Polley and I am an 8th grader in Full house. For part of my 8th grade challenge I am going to be collecting donations for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is when donation sites around the world collect small items, fill up shoe boxes with these items, and then ship them to children around the world, that wouldn’t get anything for Christmas without these items. Some good gift examples would be stuffed animals, toys (puppets, trucks, dolls, yoyos, balls, and jump ropes), musical instruments such as: maracas, recorders, or tambourines (this is a “wow” item, that children would really love), outfits/shoes, coloring books and crayons, toothbrush, etc. Please do not include items such as war related items (guns, knives, army figures, etc), candy or food, breakable items, or aerosol cans. Please consider making a donation for this great cause. There will be a box at the front office where you can drop your donations off between Friday, November 4th, and Friday, November 11th. Thank you so much for considering making a donation!

Effective this Friday, November 4, there will be NO Activity/Late bus on Fridays until further notice. There will still be an Activity/Late bus on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Effective Monday, November 7, Bus I will return to its original sequence of streets (minus Pinecrest Village), starting at Zephyr Lane and ending with upper Old Stage Road. It will follow the same route in the morning and the afternoon.

Saturday, November 5

We have a critical need for volunteers for the craft show (some shifts at the show and the night before for set-up). The Craft Show is an important and lucrative school-wide fundraiser, and our crafters and customers rely on and appreciate the many volunteers who help this event run smoothly.

Please Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp.com.
Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account )
Choose your spot(s) - you will receive an automated confirmation and reminders.
Thank you for your help!

Voyager house will be organizing the book and media sale at the Craft Fair Nov. 5th.
If you have any books you'd like to donate, please send them to school with your
child. There will be a large collection box in the front offices of both WCS and ABS.
We are looking for gently used best-sellers as well as children's chapter and picture books. We will also collect music CDs and movie DVD's. This is the favorite part of the craft fair for many shoppers, so please help gather some great books!

Any questions, please contact Katie Fieldsend at KFieldsend@cssu.org

We invite you to join us! Thursday, Nov. 10th, 7-8:30pm

The digital world that our kids are learning and growing up in is incredibly exciting. Through technology, kids have access to new tools, to an incredible range of resources, and to stimulating opportunities to participate in novel ways. At the same time, parenting kids who are immersed in so many different technologies and apps can be daunting. Our schools are already working to make sure students cultivate the 21st century skills they need. It's time to bring parents into the conversation about kids’ digital lives.

Please join us Thursday, Nov. 10th, 7-8:30pm in the WCS Dining Room for an evening of sharing and discussion. Click for more information.

The WCS 5th Annual Engineering Challenge is coming soon. The Engineering Challenge is a school wide event for 5-8th graders where students compete with other houses to solve an engineering problem.

The WCS science committee needs Engineering Challenge judges for November 17th (5/6th grade) and 18th (7/8th grade) from 8:00-3:00pm. You will be helping to time and judge the tasks. Please contact Jess Kramer if you are interested at jkramer@cssu.org.

The Odyssey of the Mind program focuses on learning how to solve problems using each student’s creative talents and skills. Teams of 5-7 students are challenged to solve a Long-Term Problem over a period of several months, and then present their creative and unique solution before a panel of Judges at the annual Vermont State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament in March. Problems range in focus to appeal to a variety of students.

Odyssey of the Mind teams are typically coached by parents. Teams meet outside of the school day. More information can be found at http://vt.odysseyofthemind.org/wp/.

If you are interested in coaching a team for Williston Central School, please contact Design & Technology teacher, Leah Joly at ljoly@cssu.org.

Williston School Libraries want students to be powerful readers. We know that reading for fun, reading independently, and enjoying reading are all strong predictors of making “frequent readers.” (Kids & Family Reading Report from Scholastic & YouGov)

Over the summer, the WCS Library got a fresh coat of paint and a new look. Shelving was moved and new furniture added to create an inviting, exciting place for students to explore, learn, and read. In October, custom soft seating joined our FAP-funded blue seating cubes to create an entire Reading Nook. Read more...

Are you interested in becoming a stage manager for the spring musical? Are you free afterschool? Sound of Music needs you!

Stage managers must be available for afterschool rehearsals and have no commitments the time around the show, April 1-9. The stage managers will take attendance, take blocking notes from the director, keep track of props needed and how they are used, help run music for dance and fill in for actors who are absent at rehearsals.

We are looking for a total of 3 stage managers usually in grades 7-8. If you are interested, get a form from the drama board outside the theater and return it completed to the drama mailbox in the main office by November 4th. You will need to have your core teacher and a parent sign off on the form.

If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Rylant at 310-5900 or crylant@cssu.org.

Health Offices at WCS and ABS are currently testing students' vision and hearing. Vermont schools are required by the state to test students vision and hearing in Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade. Students in 7th grade will only have a vision test. If we find a problem, we will send you a referral letter. If you do not hear from us, your child passed the screening. If you have concerns, and feel your child needs to have a vision or hearing test, please contact the Health Office at your child’s school. Thank so much!

WCS: Maria Harlow, RN and Carol Albertelli, RN; 871-6170

ABS: Sylvia Love, RN; 871-6248

Thank you for all the Box Tops for Education you submitted. Over $700.00 was earned for the first submission. Big Thanks to Rebecca Ashford and her 1st grade class for helping with the counting and bagging. A big hurrah to former parent Shirley Lackey for her continued support in helping with the collecting. Keep clipping and sending. Playground toys have already been purchased along with DVD's for indoor recess.

CY Mentoring Kick Off Dinner / Wed. Nov 2 / 6:30-8 pm

WCS Renovation Info / Thurs. Nov. 3 / WCS Dining Room / 6:00 pm

Swift Theater Festival / Thurs. Nov. 3 / WCS Auditorium / 6:30-8:30 pm

Craft Show / Sat. Nov. 5 / WCS / 9:30 am- 4 pm

Bond Vote / Tues. Nov. 8 / WCS / 7am-7pm

Four Winds Training / Wed. Nov. 9 / WCS Dining Room / 8:15-10:45 am

Let's Talk Digital Citizenship / Thurs., Nov. 10 / WCS Dining Room / 7-8:30pm

Middle School Jazz Festival / Fri. Nov. 11 /

School Dance (gr. 6-8) / Fri. Nov. 11 / WCS / 6:30-8:30 pm

School Board Mtg. / Tues. Nov. 15 / CVUHS / 7 pm

Beginner Band Instrument pick up / Wed. Nov. 16 / WCS Auditorium / 6:30-8 pm

Engineering Challenge / Thurs & Fri, Nov. 17 & 18 / WCS

Harmony Breakfast / Fri. Nov. 18 / 7:45 am

Click here for athletics

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

Williston Recreation in this week's Bell
Click here for the Recreation & Parks website.

Click here for the current newsletter.

Included this week:

Williston Community Food Shelf hosts “Turkey Day” Saturday, Nov. 19

A Free Winter Program - Hurricanes Wrestling Sign Ups

Events at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Williston Recreation

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