December 19, 2015

Happy Holidays

Swift Facilitators Rocking the Ugly Sweaters Today

Holiday Cards

All Swift students were busy creating more holiday cards this week.  Click here to see a website full of their work.  Be sure to click through the multiple pages to see all of the work.

Read 7th and 8th grade poetry as well by clicking on the images below:

Adaptations

Fifth and sixth graders have been learning about adaptations and how advantageous traits are passed on to future generations through the process of natural selection.  As an extra credit question they were asked to create a new creature with unique adaptations to help survive particular pressures.  

Jonas created the amazing exterminator snake which has unique adaptations that allow it to survive pollution...

Independent Projects

We will begin Independent Projects after vacation.  Each student will select a topic to research related to their fall science and social studies classes.  They will create focus questions, find resources, create an outline, take notes, write a report and present a visual over the month of January.  Brainstorm potential topics with your son or daughter over vacation so they have some ideas about what they might want to study when they return!  Eighth graders will continue on with their 8th grade challenge projects.

Swift House Sponsored School Dance- Friday, January 9th!

We will need parent chaperones and food donations for the concessions stand.  We will share a chaperone sign up sheet soon.  Please mark the date now.  We have had great parent turn out in the past which helps make the dance a successful fundraiser and fun evening!

Note from the Polar Express Organizers

Amy,

Thank you so much for volunteering for the 13^th annual VCTF Polar Express and bringing your WCS elves.  They were an enthusiastic bunch – we love the energy! 

We had a fantastic weekend and the event was a huge success.  Thanks to the help of 700 plus volunteers and dozens of corporate sponsors, VCTF raised close to $100,000 at the event, money that will be granted to important children’s programs throughout Vermont in the coming year.

Raising money is just one of the goals of the event.  Another is to bring magic to children and families.  The day after the event, we received a lovely note from a participant, sharing his experience aboard the Polar Express.  Since it illustrates exactly what the event is all about, we asked him if we could share Andrew’s story with you.   It says it all.  Thank you and all your students for being part of the magic.  Please share this story with them.  There are some great pictures on our VCTF Facebook page.

Happy Holidays, 

Linda & Fagan 

“Tonight was one of the most magical nights that either Andrew or I have ever experienced. For months now we have been looking forward to riding on The Polar Express presented by Vermont Children's Trust Foundation. He decided that he wanted to wear his Santa suit and take his Elfie. No objection from me. From the moment that we neared Main Street Landing and heard the train and the booming voice of the conductor, it was a whirlwind of delight. Everyone that saw him pointed to Andrew, shouted “Santa!” and was delighted by him. I watched my son, the son with Autism, work the crowd like he was a rock star running for public office; waving at adults and children, shaking and slapping hands, smiling at people, shaking hands with little kids who really did think he was Santa and being the star of the show in front of the biggest crowd he has ever played for. I followed him all evening taking photos like he was world famous and I was his paparazzi. The energy around him was electrifying and all of the wonderful, amazing people who volunteered at this event could not have been a greater assembly of human beings. For an hour I watched my son do what he is so wonderful at and I will never get sick of seeing him do, making people happy. I know the event was supposed to be for kids--and it was a wonderful event for Andrew and all the other kids who were there tonight--but it wasn’t just the kids who were transported, it was the parents, too. Especially me. Thank you so much Vermont Children's Trust Foundation and Main Street Landing and all of the great volunteers and sponsors for putting on such a wonderful event. And thank you Claudia Pringles for making sure that Andrew and I got to ride The Polar Express this year. It is a memory that will never fade for either one of us.”

December 12, 2014

The Hour of Code

All Swift students participated in the "Hour of Code" this past week, which has been billed as the largest educational event in history!  The mission of the Hour of Code organizers is to have as many students around the world try computer coding for at least one hour.  So far at least 74 million people have tried coding using their tutorials. We used the resources provided at code.org to practice building codes for games, animations and holiday cards.  The engagement from students really was fabulous!

7th Graders Coding

Poetry Continues...

The Swift House poetry unit continues as students transform their poems into beautiful holiday cards.  They have learned card-making techniques from Ms. Laberge and are writing their favorite winter-themed poems inside.  Look for a fabulous card coming home soon!

Bobby's Holiday Card

The Polar Express

Thank you Swift House elves!  Once again Swifties transformed into amazing elves this weekend at the Polar Express.  We had unsolicited compliments from other elves about how friendly the middle school students were with the children on their way to the North Pole.  We will have many photos uploaded this week; in the meantime, here are a few snapshots:

Williston Recreation & Parks Learn to Ski or Ride Program 

Cochrans INFORMATIONAL/REGISTRATION NIGHT- TUESDAY, DEC. 16, 6:00pm

New this year! Informational/Registration Night. This year’s registration will begin with an Informational/Registration Night on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00pm at the Williston Central School Auditorium. This will be for all new and old participants who wish to register for this year’s program. Come meet the staff and hear what is new. If you are not able to make this night, registration will continue until filled, but participants at the meeting receive first priority.

In the Learn to Ski & Ride Program the emphasis will be on learning to downhill ski or snowboard through weekly lessons. The program is primarily for the participant that wishes to learn or improve on their skills. All participants will take one (1) hour weekly lessons and then be provided an hour of free skiing to practice what they have learned.

The program will meet for nine (9) Fridays- Jan. 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20, Mar. 6, 13, 20. (This schedule will be weather dependent). The program will be from 1:30-5:15pm- this includes from dismissal time to arrival time back to the Williston Central School. Lessons will be 2:15-3:15pm and free ski from 3:20-4:20pm.

The Learn to Ski or Ride Program is for Williston students in grades 1-8. (Kindergartners can participate if transported and accompanied by an adult; this means parents are required to help out with lessons and ski with their child during the free ski time). Students participating in the program must be up to date with all school work.

More than ever we are depending upon the help of parents to make this program a success. There will be a volunteer signup sheet at the Information/Registration Night. We need volunteers on a regular basis, each week, and also can use extra help occasionally. If you plan on taking your child to and from the mountain on your own, please consider how you can help out. The success of this program depends on the adult volunteers we have!

More information and registration forms will be available at the Informational/Registration Night. We will be posting registration forms on the Recreation & Parks website prior to the meeting for your convenience.

Drama Club

Plans are underway for auditions for this year's school musical.  Click here for links to the permission forms for audition and stage crew.

Dates
Music & Reading Workshops: Tuesday and Wednesday December 16th & 17th 3-4:30
Auditions: January 5-9, 2015 3:00-6:00pm

December 5. 2014

Swift House Elves to Polar Express on Saturday

Calling all elves!  Our big day is this coming Saturday, December 13th.  As you have heard, we were asked to break our group into two shifts.  Please click here to see the times for your shift.

The details for the evening from the Polar Express folks are below.  Remember that our shift break down is different (see the document linked above).

POLAR EXPRESS VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SHEET You are scheduled to work: Saturday, December 13, 2014, 3:45- 8:15 pm Your Role: Elf CHECK-IN: 3 Main Street (the entrance directly behind Mirror Mirror next to Union Station - watch for signs!) If you were an elf last year, it's the same location. You need to check in with us and pick up your t-shirt prior to your shift. You will need to wear your shirt during your shift. **PLEASE DO NOT BRING EXTRA FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO VOLUNTEER. WE ARE FULL!** PLEASE WEAR: Dark Pants; white shirts, black gloves if you have them. Dress warmly with extra layers for comfort indoors and outdoors. WE WILL PROVIDE: Red shirts (for you to keep). Please wear your shirt from previous years if you have them.  Santa Hats: If you have one of your own, please bring it (or borrow ours and please return). QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE EVENT: If you have questions about the schedule or need information on our cancellation policy prior to the event, please email them to Alison@vtchildrenstrust.org. If you need to cancel your volunteer commitment, tickets purchased as a volunteer need to be returned. If we can resell your tickets we will provide a full refund. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS PARKING:  All volunteers are welcome to park for free in the Main Street Landing parking lot, at the intersection of Lake and College Streets. From College St., turn left on Lake Street, then an immediate right at the booth. For more information about your role, please click here! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME! HAVE FUN!

Conferences and Portfolios

We have successfully completed our portfolios for the first trimester.  Students brought home a folder Friday with Nexus reports for each class in Swift House, and Jupiter Graders reports for World Language and Related Arts.  There are also directions in that folder for accessing the students' electronic portfolio which contains all of their valuable work!

Students are expected to sit down and show you their portfolio site through their school Google Account. We also encourage you to read their “Who Am I?” page, which is an introduction to who they are as a person and student. We look forward to reviewing your child’s reports and portfolio site with you at our upcoming parent conferences. (Don’t forget to sign up by clicking here!) Please take the time to review the reports and portfolio before the conference. Also, bring the folder with the reports inside to your parent-teacher conference. Let us know if you have any questions.

Swift Sign

Thanks to art teacher MC Baker, work on the new Swift sign has begun.  It will replace the older sign in the hallway with a combination of hand painted lettering and photography.  Thank you to all of the students who have volunteered their time after school to be part of this project!

Work in Progress...

Poetry Continues

All Swift House students are engaged in poetry writing throughout the month of December.  Ms. Donnelly's class put together another slideshow which you can view here:

Snacks for After School

We like to offer snacks to any students who stay after school to complete work.  If you are inspired and able, we would love more snack donations.  Great choices include granola bars, pretzels, crackers, fruit snacks or anything that is reasonably healthy and individually packaged.  Donations can be sent in any time. Thank you!!

School Musical (from the School Bell)

This year’s drama production will be the school version of the hit Broadway Musical GREASE. Sean Moran, who was in the original Paramount film, is back to direct for his second year with Williston! Come to a Kickoff/Informational meeting for parents and students Monday, Dec 8th at 5:30 in the theater. Meet the team, get your questions answered about the auditioning and rehearsal process, and find out about stage crew opportunities. Students in grades 6-8 are eligible to audition for the play; students in grades 5 and up can be part of the stage crew that builds the sets and runs the show! Show dates are April 10-11!

Upcoming Chorus and Band Concerts

Wednesday, 12/17-school day concerts: Musicians will perform for students and teachers during the school day. Musicians should wear black bottoms and performing arts t shirt all day please. The evening concerts will be on Thursday, 12/18.