Wildcat Buzz

1. Last Walk or Roll to School Day of 2025 - Tues, 12/16

2. Check out the Band and Chorus Concerts this week

3. PreKindergarten Lottery for 2026/2027 is now open

12/16 - Walk or Roll to School

12/16 - 5-8 Chorus Concert, 6:30 - 7:30pm

12/16 - Howard Center Caregiver Mental Health Education Workshop, 5:45-7pm

12/17 - 5-6 Band Concert @5:30-6:30pm, 7-8 Band Concert @7-8pm

12/24 - 01/02 - Early Winter Break, NO SCHOOL

01/05 - Welcome Back, break over

01/19 - Martin Luther King, Jr Day - NO SCHOOL

01/28 - Middle School Open House & Celebration of Learning, Gradesa 5-8 @6:30p-7:30p

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

by Angela Filion, Allen Brook School Principal

Celebrating Light & Joy at Our Winter Solstice Assembly

Last week, our school community gathered for a beautiful Winter Solstice themed assembly celebrating light, joy, and the warmth we create when we come together. Our Essential Arts team hosted this month’s gathering, setting a calming tone as students entered to peaceful winter music. A lantern procession led by several of our learners welcomed everyone into the space, symbolizing the many ways we each bring light to our school community.

Angie’s class opened the morning with Now I Walk in Beauty, inviting everyone to join in, a shared moment that filled the gym with soft voices and big hearts. We introduced our December theme, Light & Joy, encouraging students to notice the small but meaningful ways we brighten one another’s days, especially during this dark and cozy time of year.

Students shared greetings, and silly handshakes, practiced with great enthusiasm during PE classes—brought plenty of laughter. Our second graders also presented their PSA, reminding us that joy grows through connection and community. They highlighted their service-learning project to support COTS, a wonderful example of how even young learners can spark meaningful change.

As we move through the darkest stretch of the year, we invite families to find simple moments of light and joy together, sharing a meal, taking a walk, reading side by side, lighting a candle, or offering kindness to someone who needs it. Small sparks truly add up.

We also know that this time of year brings big transitions for children. Keeping familiar routines in place over break can make returning to school in January feel smoother and more predictable. As the New Year approaches, reviewing our core expectations, taking care of ourselves, each other, and this place, can help set the stage for a positive start. Limiting screen time, especially in the days right before returning to school, can also make re-entry easier for young learners.

We wish all of our families a peaceful and joyful holiday season, however you choose to celebrate, or not. May the coming weeks bring rest, warmth, and moments of calm and joy!

Dear Williston School Community,

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge all of the hard work that our Williston teachers, educators, assistants and staff members have done to help our students learn and grow in 2025.

While it is in no way expected or required, we know some individuals like to show their appreciation and thanks during the holiday season by sending cards, drawing pictures, writing notes, making small tokens or giving gifts. If this idea interests you and you would like some helpful and meaningful suggestions, please take a look at the information provided.

Thank you for helping us recognize, acknowledge and support these incredible educators, assistants, staff members and heroes during this time of year.

Happy Holidays,

The Williston Families As Partners Group

Link to wish lists

Be sure to check the Lost and Found before break! Any items still remaining after December 19th will be donated over the break.

The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2026-27 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which runs 4 partial days per week. Our school-based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).

Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2026, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery. Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program access their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program.

All applications must be received by February 5, 2026, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under PreK Enrollment. Paper applications are available upon request.

For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, and cognition. More information about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also available on the website.

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.

In the event that weather and/or road conditions make it unsafe for our buses to travel hill roads, we will notify parents and/or caregivers of students on those routes with as much notice as possible.

When hills are closed for afternoon bus runs, if no one arrives to meet younger students, they will be brought back to school until arrangements are made for them to be picked up. Please talk with your bus drivers to let them know if you are comfortable letting your child walk home from the drop off location.

We will use the automated SchoolMessenger system to notify families on the hill roads.

Williston Rec & Parks Continued...

Snowperson Building Contest

All Ages. There’s SNOW reason to be bored this January! From January 1 – January 31, anytime the snow flies, get outside and show off your snow-building skills. Build a snowperson, a snow creature, a snow animal, or any snowy creation in a local park or in your own yard! The more creative, the better! How to Enter: Take a picture of your creation and Email your photo to: recreation@willistonvt.org. All entries will be posted on Williston Recreation Facebook page (Facebook), and the picture with the most likes wins a prize! Thank you to the Prize Sponsor: Turner toys

Family Skate & Cocoa/S'more Night

All Ages. Grab your skates and the whole family for a fun evening of skating at Village Community Park! Glide across the ice, enjoy the wintery weather, and warm up with some hot cocoa, S'mores, and a bonfire! Note: This event is free to attend, and pre-registration is not required; just come and enjoy the fun! Saturday, January 17, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Village Community Park, 250 Library Lane.

• 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.