THE SCHOOL BELL

by Carter Smith

Yikes! Does anyone else feel like this has been a long winter? If so, I thought this would be a good time to think about spring, which will happen by the calendar in two weeks’ time. For our students, Spring Fever is more likely to start after Spring break in April. Eighth graders about to graduate to high school will get eighth grade-itis. Little leaguers begin to take more interest in the baseball diamond than the classroom. Children (and adults) appear more distracted and restless than normal.

It turns out Spring Fever is a real thing, a condition. The change in weather has a physiological impact on the human body. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is widely thought to contribute to a feeling of well-being. Melatonin is a hormone responsible for sleepiness. In spring humans experience an increase in serotonin and a decrease in melatonin. Also, spring weather brings an increase in the release of hormones and endorphins such as testosterone and estrogen. So when spring finally arrives our energy level is increased and we are loving life!!!

How to treat this fever? Whether you are a classroom teacher or a parent, one medicine treats many of the symptoms - get children outside and move around. Teachers are reminded to program brain and body breaks into the school day and to reinforce classroom rules and expectations. Continue reading...

Pre-Registration for Fall 2015 has begun for Williston and St. George children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2015. Pre-registration gathers information from families to assist in the planning for registration, which is scheduled for April 6-9. Click here to access the form to enter your information.

More information is on the school website, and will be included in future School Bells.

We are excited to offer your child an opportunity to participate in the Thursday Spark Academy, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8. Sessions will run for 6 weeks from 3:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m. with our fifth session starting March 5th- April 9th.. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. The after-school bus will provide transportation home for our students.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that can be found on the link below. In order to take full advantage of this learning opportunity, students will need to make a commitment to attend all dates. The dates of the session are: March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, April 2nd and 9th. Students will be placed on a first come first serve basis. If a student has an unexcused absence from a class, we may ask that he/she no longer attend the session, as there are other students who want to participate.

Please access the link to the sign-up form below .

http://tinyurl.com/wcsspark

Thank you, Joan Beato (jbeato@cssu.org) and Kathy Rossier (krossier@cssu.org)

WSD's annual Jump Rope for Heart will take place at Allen Brook School the morning of Friday, March 27 from 8:45-11:15 am.

Jump Rope for Heart is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Participating WCS students will be bused to ABS in the morning and brought back to WCS after the event is over.

Children in grades 1-8 can participate in the event. Signed permission slips should be handed in to a physical education teacher. Click here for more information and the registration form.

Wednesday, 3/18 concerts!

Day: 9:30am & 1:15pm

Evening: 7pm (6pm call)

Click here for more details.

Next week, 6th-8th students at WCS will take part in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey as they have for the last 22 years. Every two years since 1993, the Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Education have and continue to sponsor the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This survey, designed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) measures the prevalence of behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disease, and injury among youth. It is part of a larger effort to help schools and communities nationwide increase the “resiliency” of young people by reducing high risk behaviors and promoting healthy ones. From 1993-2009, one survey was administered to students in grades 8-12. In 2011 the survey was broken into two, a middle school survey for grades 6-8 and a high school survey for grades 9-12.

Continue reading...

Click here for the FAP home page and meeting minutes.

The Big Basket Raffle and Silent Auction fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Williston Central School beginning at 6:00 p.m. This is the largest community fundraiser for our schools attended by hundreds of residents. Hopefully you’ve already marked your calendar for this event. Why should you come to this event? Here is what one parent said:

“I love the basket raffle! Everyone is in good spirits, we all support and cheer for one another. The baskets are well done and if you are lucky to win, always a treat to see the goodies inside.”

And if you have a child in Kindergarten through 4th grade, Full House is sponsoring a Fun Night at Williston Central School too that your children can attend. More info on that in the School Bell Soon.

Check out all the Classroom Theme Baskets HERE and make sure you bring in donations to your children’s Classroom Baskets before March 20th.

Sign up to help with this important event HERE.

Thanks for your consideration!

The Big Basket Raffle Planning Committee: Karen Maklad, Chairperson, Rebecca Ashford, Kristin Baker, Dana Hark, Anna Izzo, Paula LeBlanc, Laura McClure, Lyn Porter, Wendy Ruggles, Stephanie Sumner, Debbie Underhill, Shani Varricchione, Lisa Wong, Karen Wyman

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

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!

March is Math Month in the Williston School District!

We will have some special events and contests going on in both schools throughout the month. Here’s what we’re planning….

• We rehearse every Wednesday at 3:00-4:00 in the WCS band room. Activity bus is available for transport home at 4:30. Supervision provided between 4:00 and 4:30.
  
• New members are welcome to come check it out for the first two weeks and see what you think! Permission slips available on Wednesdays at rehearsal.
• Questions? Email Mrs. T-H (dtrasciatti@cssu.org) ​

IMPETIGO, (could this be the rash your child has)?

Impetigo, one of the most common skin infections among kids, usually produces blisters or sores on the face, neck, hands, and diaper area. The sores burst and develop honey-colored crusts. Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection and is generally caused by one of two bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes (also called group A streptococcus, which also causes strep throat). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is also becoming an important cause of impetigo.

For more information please click on link below...

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/impetigo.html#

The CVU Theatre Program presents “The 39 Steps”; a comedy. thriller, spoof of the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie, performed in the style of Monty Python. Performances are Friday & Saturday, March 13th & 14th at 7:30 and Sunday, March 15th at 2:00. Tickets are $6. for Students & Children and $8. for general admission. Tickets can be reserved by calling 482-6991. You won’t want to miss this innovative show, where Hitchcock meets hilarity!

CO-ED Volleyball Club Team (grades 6-8)

March Fitness Calendar

Four Winds school web page, Four Winds newsletter

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

Franco American Quebecois Dance Workshop (French Students) / March 5 &6

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

Engineering Challenge (gr. 5-6) / Wed. March 12

Engineering Challenge (gr. 7-8) / Thurs. March 13

Variety Show / Fri. March 13 / WCS Auditorium

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

March Concert / Wed. March 18 / 7 pm

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

Intergen Meeting / Wed. April 1 / 11:35 am-1:10 PM /DAML

School Dance / Fri. April 3 /6:30-8:30 pm /WCS
Click here for athletics

• Rec. Dept. website- www.willistonrec.org
  
• Rec. News- Monthly Youth Newsletter- Click Here
  

Youth Lacrosse Leagues- Grades 3rd -8th. Rec. Youth Lacrosse registration is now open. Lacrosse registration forms are available on our website or at the Rec. Office. We offer separate leagues for boys and girls in grades 3rd/4th, 5th/6th & 7th/8th. Indoor practices will begin the week of March 9, and will be one day a week starting at 6:00pm. There is a strict deadline of March 13 to register, as we need to formulate teams and register in the league by a certain date. All players must have a new or renewed US Lacrosse Membership. Information on how to obtain this will be on the registration form. VOLUNTEER COACHES! We are in need of coaches and team parents to help out this season. If interested please be sure to indicate that on the registration form.

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

Click here for the DAML newsletters.

Click here for Community Events.

February 18, 2015

February 11, 2015

February 5, 2015

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
Twitter: @wsdvt