Wildcat Buzz

1. Jan 28th: Middle School Open House & Celebration of Learning, Grades 5-8

2. 7th & 8th Grade Dance, Friday, 1/30 @6:30-8:30pm

3. Treble Cat Chorus (4th Grade) Concert on 2/3 @6:30pm

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

01/30 - 7th & 8th Grade Dance, 6:30-8:30pm

02/02 - Kindergarten 2026 Registration Opens

02/03 - "Treble Cat Chorus", 4th Grade Concert, 6:30pm @WCS

02/04 - Digital Wellbeing Series for Caregivers #1, hosted by CCS - Details below

02/10 - Digital Wellbeing Series for Caregivers #2, hosted by CCS - Details below

02/12 - 8th Grade Family Night at CVU, 6:30-7:45pm

02/18 - Digital Wellbeing Series for Caregivers #3, hosted by CCS - Details below

02/23 - 2/27 - Winter Break - NO SCHOOL

03/02 - Welcome Back, first day back after break

03/17 - 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert

03/19 - Conference Day - NO SCHOOL

3/20 - Eid al Fitr - NO SCHOOL

03/24 - Celebrate the Arts @CVU, 5-8pm

03/28 - Big Basket Raffle, sponsored by WFAP - save the date

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

by Greg Marino, Williston Schools Lead Principal

I hope you are somewhere warm and comfortable as you read this note. This weekend will be a reminder of how powerfully extreme the weather can be in our little part of the world. Our facilities team is taking precautions to be sure our buildings remain buttoned up this weekend so we can avoid frozen pipes or other issues that could impact safe access to the schools. I’ll take this moment to express my appreciation for the work this crew does all winter long to keep our parking lots and walkways safe for driving and walking. Though it’s hard to keep up with mother nature at times, they are relentless in their efforts as they brave the elements - sometimes starting before the sun comes up.

Support Our Wet Wildcats Penguin Plunge Team!: I know it seems jarring to even think about jumping in the lake when we are on the brink of a severe winter deep freeze and snow storm this weekend, … but here goes! Our Wet Wildcats Penguin Plunge team is gaining momentum! We are 27 members strong and have raised over $3600 so far. Check out our fundraising webpage here. Our goal is to break our WIlliston fundraising record and raise over $17,000 this year for the Special Olympics of Vermont. Of course, we’d also love the bragging rights (and pizza party) that comes with being the top fundraising school in the event. We are currently in 4th place so we have some work to do. Donations of any size are welcome. You can donate to any team member’s page with a few simple clicks. If you aren’t directly connected with someone on the team, consider donating to one of the Wildcats with a lower fundraising total. It's also not too late to join the team as a Wet Wildcat. It is an exhilarating experience for sure - and one you will not soon forget. Go Wet Wildcats! Click here to join or donate!

Students that Inspire Us! Though so many of our students inspire us each and every day, Williston was able to recognize two outstanding students at the CVSD School Board meeting this past Tuesday. Congratulations to Julio Beltran Rivera, 1st grade, and Elijah Sinchuari, 4th grade, who were both nominated by Williston staff members for the simple yet powerful ways they inspire those around them, peers and adults alike. These students were at the board meeting with their families, where they received a certificate and a brief public acknowledgement followed by a congratulatory handshake from Superintendent Bunting. Congratulations Julio and Elijah and thanks for all you do for our community just by being you!

WCS Assistant Principal Search: I am pleased to share that the search for the newest member of the Williston Leadership Team is officially underway. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback regarding the qualities and priorities you value in our next leader; your insights are invaluable to this process. We are currently finalizing our search committee - a collaborative group of faculty, staff, administrators, and parents - and will begin reviewing applications shortly. The first round of interviews is scheduled for the week of February 16. We remain committed to a thoughtful, inclusive process and expect to reach a final decision on or around March 9.

WCS Schoolwide BINGO! To celebrate our students’ commitment to "Taking Care of Ourselves, Each Other, and This Place," the entire school gathered virtually this morning for a high-stakes game of BINGO. Our mascot, Einstein the Wildcat, joined me as co-host. While we called numbers, we may have slipped in a few "corny" wildcat jokes here and there to keep the energy high! It was wonderful to see teachers and students tuning in from every corner of the building. A huge congratulations to our big winners: Ms. Wegar’s class, and the Advisories of Mr. Roof, Ms. Griffin, and Mr. Hunt. Each winning group received a gift card to choose something special for their classroom. Einstein was a great sport, as always!

Open to all caregivers who live within the Champlain Valley School District—hosted at Charlotte Central School - including families whose children attend CVSD schools, private schools, or are homeschooled. Please RSVP so we can plan for attendance and share any updates to the programming.

Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age

CCS Library, Feb 4th @5:30 - 7:00pm

Panel Discussion: Digital Well-Being & Youth Development

CCS Library, Feb 10th @5:30-6:30pm

Tools, Monitoring, and Partnership: A Practical Conversation

CCS Library, Feb 18th @5:30-6:30pm

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 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.

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.

All students who will be 5 years old before September 1, 2026, and live in Williston or St George are eligible for Kindergarten at Allen Brook School for the Fall 2026.

If you have a current PreK student at ABS or an Act166 program watch your email for specific registration details and instructions.

Join the NEW American Sign Language club for grades 5 to 8!

We will meet on Mondays after school, 3-4:20 pm, in the upstairs Kiva room. The late bus is available for transportation home. Sign up permission slips are in the Direction Center.

Contact SAP Counselor Steven Berbeco sberbeco@cvsdvt.org with any questions. First meeting is January 26!

This February, we’re launching an exciting Nordic Ski Program & Clinic every Monday and Thursday, designed to get students outside, moving, and discovering the joy of Nordic skiing. Participants will learn fundamental skills, build confidence on skis, and experience the thrill of winter fitness—all in a supportive, fun environment.

Equipment is helpful but not necessary. WCS has some equipment to use. Sign-ups are on the school athletics page. Priority for grades 6-8. See or email Mrs. Durant with any questions adurant@cvsdvt.org.

Join the new WCS Fiber Arts Club!!

When: The WCS Fiber Arts Club will be an after-school Tuesday event, beginning Tuesday,

February 17, from 2:45 to 4:20. Students can take the late bus home or arrange for caregiver pick-up.

Where: The Club Room, in Oak House

Why: This after-school club will give you plenty of time to explore many forms of the fiber arts. Depending on group interest, this could include needlework (knitting, crocheting, beadwork), weaving, macrame, felting, batik, sashiko stitching, and more.

Who: Anyone in grades 6-8 who has a strong interest and desire to learn about different forms of fiber arts.

How: Pick up a permission slip in the Direction Center or Front Office, take it home and get it signed by a parent or guardian. Be sure to indicate on the slip whether you are taking the late bus home, getting picked up, or walking/riding home! Bring the signed slip with you on the 17th and give it to Ms. Simpson and Ms. Harris.

Questions?: Stop by and see Ms. Simpson in Room 1433, across from Oak House.

We’re excited to get things going, and hope you are, too!!

Join students from across the Champlain Valley School District for an evening of entertainment and celebration, showcasing performing and visual arts from the district’s six schools. This annual tradition returns to CVU on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, transforming the high school halls and theater into a vibrant gallery of learning, innovation and inspiration.

The 14th-annual Celebrate the Arts Night brings together art, music, theater, media, arts, foods, business, design and technology in a one-night-only exhibition of student creativity.

- Parking is not permitted behind the building or in the back driveway of the school.

- Your patience is appreciated as we ask all vehicles to use the lot during dismissal. Please walk with your child to and from the building - students will not be dismissed to cross the parking lot without an adult.

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.

• 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.