Quoting a Baseball Legend

by Carter Smith

Football season is coming to a close this weekend with the Superbowl Pat’s v. Seahawks, so I am feeling that a baseball reference in January might be forgiven. “Spring” training begins within the week in Florida and Arizona. One door closes another opens.

“Luck is the residue of design.”

The implication is that luck is not a major factor in achieving success. Rather, factors such as hard work, perseverance, planning and focus contribute to success. If you work hard and work smart, luck follows.

The quote is attributed to Branch Rickey who, in the 1940s through the 1950s was a general manager for St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn (now Los Angeles) Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball teams. Rickey was a pioneer in many ways. In 1945 he signed Jackie Robinson while acting as GM for the Brooklyn Dodgers. As you know this signing broke the color barrier in baseball. He drafted the first Afro-Hispanic superstar, Roberto Clemente from the Dominican Republic. Clemente helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series in 1960. Rickey created the framework for the modern day baseball farm system ( Minor leagues) and introduced the batting helmet.

Red Barber recounted in Ken Burns's documentary Baseball that Rickey's determination to desegregate Major League Baseball was born out of a combination of idealism and business acumen. While managing at Ohio Wesleyan University, a black player was extremely upset at being refused at the hotel where the team stayed because of his race. Though Rickey managed to get him into the hotel for the night, he never forgot the incident and later said, "I may not be able to do something about racism in every field, but I can sure do something about it in baseball." The business element was based on the fact that the ”Negro Leagues” had numerous star athletes and the first Major League team to hire them would get first pick of the players at a reasonable price.

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When: Monday, February 2, 2015

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Why: To introduce you and your child to hands-on math activities that you can incorporate into your daily lives. You will learn how these activities can foster a love of learning and understanding of mathematics!

Who: Any parent or guardian and their preschool age child.

Where: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Preregistration required, as space is limited.

Call the library at 878-4918 to register.

Wednesday, February 4th at 2:00pm and 6:30pm in the WCS auditorium.

Musicians are required to wear concert attire for both concerts. Musicians need to arrive at WCS at 6:10pm for the evening concert.

Click here for more information.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns. Danielle Trasciatti-Holmberg (Mrs. T-H) dtrasciatti@cssu.org

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

AN INVITATION

To 8th Grade Parents and Students of the Class of 2019

8th Grade Student & Parent Night

Champlain Valley Union High School

CVU Gym, Thursday, January 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

This evening will provide you and your son/daughter an introduction to the academic and elective programs they will experience in the 9th grade.

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) _______________

Were you one of the lucky 56 winners of a basket at last year’s Big Basket Raffle fundraiser? Did you receive a gift basket filled with goodies over the Holidays? Do you have empty baskets in your home that need a new purpose? The Big Basket Raffle Planning Committee needs empty baskets to fill and decorate for the Big Basket Raffle fundraiser which is on Saturday, March 28th. Please drop empty baskets off in either the ABS or WCS Main Office soon. Thanks so much.

Last chance to make sure that this year’s show can hit the stage! We are still in need of volunteers to help coordinate and organize Variety Show 2015. If this event is a must see for you and your family please consider volunteering for this committee. If we are unable to find someone to help coordinate this event, it will not happen this year. Please contact willistonfap@cssu.org.

Become an Event Sponsor

Three years ago, Williston Families as Partners (FAP) started the Williston Runs! for Education 5K and Kids Fun Run event as a fun and active way for the community to come together to show support for Williston students and teachers. In addition to promoting physical fitness, Williston Runs! for Education is an important event that raises money to support educational school programs.

I am asking if you would show your support by considering becoming an event sponsor for the 2015 Williston Runs! for Education taking place Saturday, May 16, 2015.

With the generous support of our 2014 sponsors, last year’s Williston Runs! for Education boasted over 150 participants and raised over $2,700 to fund programs for Williston students.

Read more...

The Williston Central School yearbook may be ordered online.

Students will receive information from their teams, but here are a few details for everyone to know.

• The yearbook is for Williston Central School students only.
• We ask that you "do not" order any extras on your yearbook, Just the book for$30.00!
• You will need to submit a separate order per child, per family.
• When ordering online, at the 'enter Homeroom' prompt, please enter the House name at WCS.
• All yearbooks will be PRE-PAID Orders. Limited extra copies ordered.
• Contact Ashley Beauregard or Jess Haskins for more information, 802-871-6063.

Click the link below to place online order....

www.jostens.com

Starting February 1st, Hannaford is partnering with General Mills to host a Bonus Box Tops for Education program! Box Tops is one of America's largest school earnings loyalty programs.

From February 1st - February 21st, Buy any 5 General Mills Box Tops products and get 20 BONUS Box Tops at checkout. Look for the shelf tags in-store to help you find the participating products. Want more info about Box Tops? Visit http://www.boxtops4education.com

Happy Clipping!

The Health Offices at both ABS and WCS are seeing a number of students with a stomach virus or gastroenteritis. For more information about the viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea please click on the link below:
http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/norovirus.aspx

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

During the months of January and February, your child can receive a dental cleaning, exam, and fluoride rinse for $20. Click here for more information and sign up form.

HANDWASHING CAN SAVE LIVES!! Students are doing the GlitterBug Challenge. Glitterbug lotion that is jazzed up with a UV fluorescent powder is applied to hands. Students wash their hands and then place hands in a disclosure center with an ultraviolet light to reveal how well they cleaned their hands. Most students are not washing their hands properly, especially between the fingers, under nails and around nail beds.

Handwashing is like a "do-it-yourself" vaccine—it involves five simple and effective steps (think Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) you can take to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness so you can stay healthy. Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

Learn more about when and how to wash your hands, the importance of using soap and water, and what you can do if soap and clean running water are not available.

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

Penguin Plunge Sat. Feb. 7 Join the WCS team (click the black "Join Team" to register)

Ski & Ride at Cochrans

"Reading Is An Investment” Month at WCS

Free Tutoring for Eligible Students

Harbor House Bottle Drive

Engineering Challenge

4th Gr. NAEP Testing / Mon. Feb. 2

Exploring Math with your Preschooler / Mon. Feb. 2 / 6-7 pm / Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

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

Chorus (gr. 3-4) Concert / Wed. Feb. 4 /6:30 pm / WCS Auditorium

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

8th Gr. NAEP Testing / Mon. Feb. 9

4 Winds Training / Wed. Feb. 11 / 10:30 am / WCS Dining Room

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

Click here for athletics

Click here for the DAML newsletters.

January 21, 2015

January 14, 2015

January 7, 2015

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