Context of the new SBAC Test:

In 2010, Vermont and 43 other states adopted the Common Core State Standards in Math and English. The aim of these standards (CCSS) is to provide high-quality academic standards that are consistent across the country and help ensure that students are college and career ready. These standards are more rigorous than those before them and accentuate the importance of applying learning to new, real life circumstances, and the process of problem solving and explaining one’s thinking. These new standards require shifts in instruction and assessment. In 2011, CSSU developed and set in motion a four-year implementation plan which included cultivating CCSS teacher and coordinator leadership and expertise in order to facilitate learning about the Common Core at each school. Over several years, all K-12 professional educators and building administrators studied CCSS during CSSU in service days. Coupled with learning the new standards, teachers worked collaboratively to develop units of study that align with them and to employ shifts in instruction. The new national test, SBAC, will measure student achievement based on the Common Core State Standards.

How is SBAC different from NECAP?

The new common core-aligned national test called SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) will replace the NECAP Math and English tests. Beginning this spring, 2015, SBAC will assess students in grades 3-8, and 11. The new tests are different from NECAP tests in many ways, such as:

• Students at all tested grade levels will use a computer to take the test, which allows each student to edit his/her responses before submitting them.

• The test is computer adaptive.* (see below)

• The new Common Core standards are more rigorous and in-depth, which has lead to the development of richer, more complex, and lengthier test questions. Many responses will require multiple steps that include writing, problem solving and providing evidence from the text or problem.

More parent information and resources:

http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents-students

Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core State Standards/ELA

Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core State Standards/Math

Sample Texts by Grade Level (CCSS)

Friday February 13th, 6:30 pm

WCS Auditorium

Please join us for a fun filled evening of magic and hypnosis with Marko the Magician sponsored by Swift House.

General admission tickets are $8 each.

To order tickets please fill out the following information and drop it off in the ABS or WCS front office with your payment. Tickets will be delivered to your childʼs house TA and sent home with your child. Checks should be written to WSD. For questions please contact Sarah Forbes at sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net

Student Name_________________________________

House/Teacher_________________________________

Number of Tickets ____________ Amount enclosed ($8/ticket) _______________

Town Meeting is Monday night, March 2nd, 2015.

It is held in the Williston Central School Auditorium at 7pm.

Australian Ballot Voting is on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 at the Armory building.

IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE IN WILLISTON YET:

You must register to vote by the Wednesday before any Tuesday election date. (Feb 25th, 2015.)

Voting Location- The polling location for all of Williston is at the Armory. This is the large brick building in the village, on the same side of the road as the Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex.

Voting Times- Polls are open from 7am to 7pm.

Early Voting: Ballots are now available for Early/Absentee Voting. People can stop by the Town Hall during regular office hours Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

People can also call to request a ballot by calling at 878-5121 or email dbeckett@willistonvt.org

WIlliston Central School is starting a CO ED Volleyball Club Team.

The Sign-Up Sheet will be posted on the Athletics Bulletin Board across from the old gym.

Please have your 4 Athletic forms (found on the school web site under Athletics/Forms) or ask Ms. Oakes for the forms) filled out or at least a note from your parent/guardian in order to stay for the first practice.

If you have any questions please contact Ms. Oakes - 871-6194 joakes@cssu.org

Friday, March 13th 2015 at 6:30pm in the WCS auditorium.

Auditions: Wed. 2/18 at 6:30-8:00 and Thurs. 2/19 at 5:30-7:00 in the WCS auditorium.
All performers need to fill out an application.
Dress Rehearsals: Tues. 3/10 at 6:00 for Act 1 and Wed. 3/11 at 6:00 for Act 2 in the WCS auditorium. Details on this to come after auditions.

Tickets will be $5 and seating will be reserved. Details about purchasing tickets coming soon!

5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run

New this year: 3-person Team Category and all new Kids Fun Run Course with two distance options!

Saturday May 16, 2015

Since last week we’ve signed on more sponsors for Williston Runs!

Thank-you to Vermont Mechanical, Champlain Orthodontics,

River Cove Animal Hospital and State Farm – Anthony Murphy

for renewing their sponsorships with us. We're thrilled to be partnering and working with these wonderful, community-minded businesses.

Lots of Sponsorship Opportunities still available!

For more information please contact Sue Scheer at sue@willistonruns.org

Visit our website www.willistonruns.org

Like us on Facebook

Students at Allen Brook School have earned another PBiS school-wide celebration. This celebration was earned by filling the beehive in the main office by being SAFE, KIND and RESPONSIBLE!

The celebration, Movie Afternoon, will be on Friday, February 20, 2015 from 1:00- 2:30. The following movies will be shown: THE JUNGLE BOOK, THE ADVENTURES OF MILO AND OTIS, MONSTERS INC and FOX AND THE HOUND. Students will be able to choose one of the four movies and enjoy the afternoon with their friends (all adults will be participating with supervision)!

These are all G movies! If you choose to have your child not participate and/or limit their viewing choice please notify your child’s classroom teacher by Friday (2/13) so that an alternative activity may be planned in advance.

It is General Mills Boxtops for Education submission time. Please turn all Boxtops you have in by February 16th so they can be counted, bagged and mailed over February break. Thank you for saving money for Williston Schools. Over $1000 was saved in October and if that amount happens again that would be wonderful. Some ways the money has been used is to purchase playground equipment, snacks for children, the mentor program, health office and science supplies.

Now through February 21st, You’ll get 20 BONUS Box Tops at checkout at Hannaford grocery when you buy 5 participating products. Look for the shelf tags in-store to help you find the participating products. http://www.hannaford.com/boxtops.

Visit http://www.boxtops4education.com

Happy Clipping!

February is National Children's Dental Month

ABS Preschool and Kindergarten Students will be visited by dental hygiene students from the Vermont Technical College and by a dental hygienist from Timber Lane Dental next week. WCS 3rd and 4th graders will have a visit the following week. The importance of brushing teeth and flossing will be discussed with demonstrations.

Oral Health is an essential part of a healthy life

Tooth decay (cavities) is the single most common chronic disease of childhood, occurring five to eight times as much as asthma. Poor oral health has recently been linked to heart disease, low birth weight and diabetes.

Despite the reduction in cases of decay in recent years, nationally more than half of all children have cavities by the second grade, and by the time students finish high school, about 80 percent have cavities. Unless it is stopped early, dental decay is irreversible.

The good news is that dental disease is mostly preventable, and Vermont ranks high among other states in the number of people who access dental services.

Children who have Medicaid for insurance are eligible for a dental cleaning twice a year. If you need assistance finding a dentist please contact the Health Office.

For further information regarding dental services in Vermont, click on the link below:

http://healthvermont.gov/family/dental/services.aspx

Mom and Dad, “I feel sick to my stomach”!!!

The Health Office staff at ABS and WCS are seeing many students with "stomach aches" and some students with vomiting and diarrhea. A number of students are absent as well.

NOROVIRUS - THE STOMACH BUG

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. The virus causes gastroenteritis which results in inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This leads to vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.

For more information on how to prevent the Norovirus from spreading click on the links below...

http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/downloads/keyfacts.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/features/norovirus/

If your child is sick with a respiratory illness, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or flu-like symptoms they should stay home from school. Fever should be gone for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

Take these simple precautions to help keep illness from spreading:

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away.
• Wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Use alcohol-based hand wipes and gel sanitizers if soap and water are not available.

Dental Cleanings

Dental Cleanings are continuing at WCS. Your child can receive a dental cleaning, exam, and fluoride rinse for $20. Click here for more information and sign up form.

EEE Peer Selection Application (deadline Wed. Feb. 18)

Free Tutoring for Eligible Students

Engineering Challenge

Marko the Magician / Fri. Feb. 13 / 7-9:30 pm / WCS Auditorium

WCS Theme Week / Feb. 16-20

School Board Meeting / Tues. Feb. 17 / 7-9 pm /

Winter Break - Feb. 23-March 2

Please Vote! Tuesday, March 3

Intergen Meetings / Wed. March 4 / 11:35-1:10 / DAML

School Dance / Fri. March 6 / 6:30-8:30 pm / WCS

4 Winds Training / Wed. March 11 / 8:30 am-10:30 am / WCS Dining Room

Variety Show / Fri. March 13 / WCS Auditorium

School Board Meeting / Tues. March 17 / 7-9 pm / CVU

March Concerts / Wed. March 18

Voyager Recycle Sale / Sat. March 21 / 9 am - 2 pm /

NO SCHOOL - Monday, March 23 (Parent/Teacher conferences)

Jump Rope for Heart / Fri. March 27 / 8:45-11:15 am / ABS

Big Basket Raffle/Fun Night / Sat. March 28 / 6 - 8:30 pm / WCS
Click here for athletics

Click here for the DAML newsletters.

Included this week: Girls On The Run and Girls on Track,

Williston Rec. Spring/Summer Program Guide,

Williston Little League Tee Ball/Baseball/Softball/Babe Ruth registration, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Events

February 5, 2015

January 28, 2015

January 21, 2015

January 14, 2015

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