November 23rd, 2015

Polar Express Fundraising

Calling all elves!  Our fundraising page is set-up here.  Please share this link with any friends and family who may be interested.  We're hoping to raise at least $10 per elf, with all funds going to the Vermont Children's Trust.  Thanks for sharing.

Looking for details about our volunteer day on December 13th? Click here.

Theater Festival- The Movie

In case anyone in your family missed the Theater Festival, or you would like to what it looks like back stage, we put together a movie for you.  It's a simple combination of phone video, still photos and copyright free music!  This video is "unlisted" so the only viewers are those who are provided the link.   Enjoy.

Poetry Unit

Swifties are working on poetry in writing class, trying out many different formats.  They will have a chance to perform at our Swift Poetry Slam during school on Tuesday December 22nd.  We will be looking for students to act as judges.

Engineering Challenge

Congratulations to all WCS students for their participation in the Engineering Challenge on Thursday and Friday.  As always, some machines which were working perfectly in the classroom self-destructed on stage, while some which were a final attempt put together at lunch worked perfectly.  Regardless of whether or not the won, every single team truly worked hard to design, test, redesign, test again, and so forth.  We saw true perseverance.  Congratulations to the following teams for placing in the top 3:

• 2nd Place- Zipline Contest: Gabby Pockette, Ava Medici, Ania Moreau and Lauren Botswick
• 2nd Place- Marshmallow Catapult: Nick Fife, Ben Herskowitz, Bobby Spencer
• 1st Place- Rubberband Car: Aria-Lynn Hilliker, Olivia Beaudy, George Russell, Griffen Cote

Matt, Aaron, Beckett, and Eric P watch their marshmallow fly towards the target

The Marshmallow Catapults

Nick P, Bene and Jacob test their Egg Bungee

Mr. Thomas-- guest judge-- examines the Rubberband Cards

2nd Place Finishers-- Marshmallow Catapult.  A tie between teams!

For more photos of students' machines, click here.

SPARK Thursday After School Enrichment Session 3 

(From School Bell)
The third session of Spark Thursday After School Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, runs December 3, 10, 17, January 7, and 14. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Please access the link to the sign-up form below by November 30th. Click to read more. Sign-up form.

Social Studies Road Trip

Swifties have been planning road trips in Social Studies class as they learn about geography.  Click on teh image below to see an awesome example of cross-country planning.  Use the password: password: ajrroadtrip

https://pubsecure.lucidpress.com/ssroadtrip/

FAPAC November 2015 Meeting Highlights

To:  Swift Parents
From:  Sarah Forbes, FAPAC Representative

The FAP Advisory Council held its monthly meeting on November 12th.  FAP is Williston's equivalent of a parent-teacher organization.  We meet each month, our meetings our open to all, and you will receive an email like this every month with highlights of the meeting and a link to the FAP website for the full minutes.  Check the full minutes in a PDF format by clicking HERE.  Below are a few meeting highlights: 

Administration Report:  Greg Marino, District Principal, spoke about the WSD Communication Survey that has been mentioned in the School Bell over the past few weeks.  If you have not yet provided your input through this short survey, please click HERE, as the Administration would really like to hear from as many parents as possible.  Greg also talked with our group about the important work of a Facilities Subcommittee reviewing the physical plant of both school buildings.   He also shared some interesting information about a book called Mindset.  Please check the full minutes for more information on these topics.

Special School Board Presentation on Act 46:  Kevin Mara, Chair of the Williston School Board, and Karen Maklad, member of the Williston School Board, shared a presentation with the FAPAC about Act 46.  The School Boards of the Chittenden South Supervisory Union have formed a study committee to review this new state law.  One of the main purposes of Act 46 is to encourage school district consolidation across the State of Vermont.  To view a copy of the presentation package and other information on the CSSU Act 46 Study Committee’s efforts to review district consolidation, please click this link:  ACT 46 CSSU SITE.

Williston Annual Fund:  This fund pays for your children's school field trips, among other educational items.  Current donations total $13,615.  So PLEASE SEND IN YOUR DONATION TODAY if you have not already done so or you can do it online by clicking HERE.  Online donations will only be accepted through the end of December!!

Also a special THANK YOU to our Williston School Community for your support of two of our big community events which we just held — the Craft Show and the Scholastic Book Fair — which were both very successful events!!

Our next meeting is on Thursday, December 10th at 8:15 am at Williston Central School.  We hope you can attend!!!

Please contact me at sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net  if you have feedback or questions on FAP.  Thanks.

Friday, November 13th

Save the Date

Please mark your calendars for these two important New York City fundraisers:

• Bottle Drive- Saturday, January 9th
• Will take place Saturday morning
• Drivers needed to bring students around to neighborhoods
• Two or more students needed in each car to collect bottles from houses

• Marko the Magician- Friday, March 18th
• An evening performance
• Volunteers will be needed to sell tickets and concessions
• Other volunteers will help with setup and cleanup.

We ask that each students and parent involved in the New York City trip volunteer at at least two of our three big fundraisers.  The "Fun Night" held this fall was already a great success.  We will send out sign-ups for volunteers in the near future.

First Trimester Reporting

Students are well into the process of assembling their electronic portfolios to reflect their goals for the first trimester.  They are adding evidences of progress for each goal area and reflecting on their next steps.  They are also reflecting on content-area standards for each class for our "Class Reports."  Core teachers will be setting up portfolio conferences after the trimester ends in order to review goals and reports.  At this point, you have a variety of means for seeing your son or daughter's progress, including:

• Electronic Portfolios- Students are adding reflections and work samples each week.  All parents need is the link in order to view the portfolio.

• Google Classroom- Most assignments (besides quizzes and math homework) are submitted through this platform.  Parents can always see what work has been submitted and the feedback provided by facilitators.  Student log-in is required.  

• Jupiter Grades- Project evaluations and test and quiz scores are all posted here.  Parent log-in is required.  Directions were attached to Greensheets this fall. 

• Greensheets- This weekly report indicates whether or not a student is up to date in his or her classes.  This is the most accurate reflection of work completion, as we cannot immediately update Jupiter Grades when late work comes in.  No log in required, just green paper : )

Engineering Challenge

All Swift students are well into creating their machines for the Engineering Challenge next Thursday and Friday.  They have planned and created machines and are hopefully in the testing phases.  Each group will compete against all the other teams in their category throughout the school day next Thursday and Friday.

Theater Wrap-Up

Thank you for coming to see our shows last week. It means so much to the students to have you all in the audience. As always, we as teachers were so impressed with the many roles the students played to make this all work. The lights, sets, props, sound, costumes and of course, acting were 100% student run. Your kids are amazing!

 Thank you to all the parents who stayed late to help clean up afterwards. We had sets dismantled, costumes away, the stage swept and props stowed by 9:30 because of you all. Thank you for helping kids assemble costumes pieces at home, and for sending in extra props as well. Also, a special thanks to Patrick Clow for being a guest-director on the Alice Croquet Scene. The jumping hedgehogs were his creative idea but we forgot to give him credit in the program!

We have posted many more photos from both shows to the Swift Photo site.

November 4th, 2015

Literature Sign-Up

It's time for Swift students to sign up for their next round of literature books. This month's literature class will be based on choice novels. It will begin on Monday, November 9th and will take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until December. Recommended reading levels are listed with each book, but students may choose a book outside of the grade level recommendations if they want a more challenging selection or if they have a particular interest. Please click here to help your child sign up for their selections accordingly before Friday, November 6th.  If you do not have a chance to get to this at home, no worries- we'll help sign them up here at school.

Parent Potluck Postponed

Looks like we're all too busy for another commitment right now, since only one parent has signed up for the November 12th Potluck. So, we will postpone the Parent Potluck and revisit the dates in early spring.

New York City Forms

Please find attached three documents pertaining to our Spring 2016 NYC Swift field trip. If your student is interested in taking part, they must go over the permission slip and behavioral contract with their parents/guardian and return them to school by Friday November 6th, with the $150.00 deposit. In addition, please fill out the attached mandatory health form.

Kevin and I are anticipating a wonderful experience for your student in NYC with all the city has to offer! Please don't hesitate to email either of us (khunt@cssu.org or ddonnelly@cssu.org) with any questions.

~Debbie Donnelly

• NYC Permission Slip
• Behavior Contract
• Medical Form

*Please note: we have a printed packet of all three forms available for students to pick up in Swift House, too.

Polar Express Elf Sign-Up- Dec 13th, 11:30-4:00

See last week's Flyer for detailed information about volunteering for the Polar Express.

Please complete the sign-up form here for each elf in your family so we get the proper head count. Once you have entered one name you will be provided a link to submit another response. Friends from outside Swift are welcome to come along. Parents, we need you as adult elf/chaperones, too! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all can join us. Please sign up by Friday, November 6th to guarantee the proper t-shirt size.

Percy Jackson @ the Flynn

Swift students have a special opportunity to see Percy Jackson performed at the Flynn on Tuesday, December 1st at 12:00. We will be asking participants to read a book from the Percy Jackson series and join three book group sessions during lunch and recess to discuss characters and themes.

 We have 16 tickets for students and 4 for adults, so we are looking for interested students and chaperons to sign-up by e-mailing Amy Skapof by Monday, November 9th. We will be asking chaperons to drive 3 or 4 students in their cars. Please note that all Swift students will have the opportunity to go to the Flynn in March to see Yamato- the Drummers of Japan.

Theater- Thursday, November 5th

Theater this Week Please take note of the times for our production day, with both daytime and evening performances. The daytime performances take place for the other teams at WCS and serve as a final dress rehearsal. The evening performance is for you! Remember, we are not selling tickets, simply offering "first come, first serve" seating and asking for donations at the door. Please plan on staying for both shows so both casts have a full audience. The kids on stage really appreciate it.

Thursday, November 5th

• 10:30 - 12th Night School Performance 
• 1:30 - AIW School Performance 
• 5:00 pm - 12th Night- Arrive in Swift for make-up and costumes  (adult help appreciataed)
• 5:30 pm - AIW- Arrive in Swift for make-up and costumes 
• 6:30 pm - 12th Night Performance 7:30 pm (approx)- Intermission 
• 7:45 pm (approx)- Alice in Wonderland Performance
• 8:30 pm- STRIKE- Click here to see each student's strike assignment.  We ask all students to help clean up props, sets, costumes, make-up and Swift House before they head home for the evening.

The cast party will take place in cores on Friday after lunch.  No food donations are necessary- we will supply cheese, crackers, juice and photos from the previous evening's performances!

Scholastic Book Fair 

The Scholastic Book Fair will be setting up in the WCS dining room the week of November 9th. Swift House students are scheduled to visit the Book Fair on the following days:

• Monday, November 9th, 1:15-1:40: Mr. Hunt and Ms. Donnellty 
• Tuesday, November 10th, 1:15-1:40: Ms. Skapof and Ms. Laberge/Ms. Schroeder 

If your child is interested in purchasing a book at this time, please send them in with money on the appropriate day. We will be highly encouraging the purchase of books or academic items over any small toys that may be available.

Craft Fair Sign Up

Hello Swift House Families!

The Annual Craft Show at Williston Central School is Saturday, November 7th from 9:30 to 4 pm!  This is one of our most important school fundraisers and is a great community event, attending by hundreds of people!!!  In order for this event to truly be a success, it does require many hands so we hope you can help by signing up to help for a few hours.  Whether it’s set up (tape on the floor of the display areas) on November 6th while your 6th-8th graders attend the School Dance;  helping in the Kitchen with the Food Service operation;  helping crafters unload their vehicles early Saturdaymorning;  supporting the crafters during the Craft Fair (between 9:30 and 4) with staffing their booths during breaks or getting them food and drink;, or helping with clean up, please take a moment to click CRAFT SHOW SIGN UP LINK and consider one of those areas to help! 7th ad 8th graders can help too!!!

We hope you are also able to come and support the CRAFT SHOW and check out the products from over 100 crafters who will be there.  And entrance to the event is FREE!!!  Attached is the flyer for the CRAFT SHOW.

And the Scholastic Book Fair quickly follows the Craft Show—it starts on November 9th and goes through November 13th!!  This event takes place at Williston Central School in the Dining Room. All 1st thru 8th graders attend the book fair during a school day some time that week and parents and community members come in large numbers to check out the large variety of books.  But the only way it works is with your help, so please check out the link that follows to find a work shift that might work with your schedule.  There are shifts for 7th and 8th graders too!!!   BOOK FAIR SIGN UP LINK

Thanks so much!!

Families as Partners

PS There is also a special volunteer opportunity for 7th or 8th graders to hand out and collect surveys to craft fair attendants.  The hope is that the data collected could help improve the Craft Fair for future years.  Students could earn credit towards 8th grade challenge projects if data collection is related to their topics.  Contact Paula Lablanc if your son or daughter is interested.

WCS Engineering Challenge 

The annual WCS Engineering Challenge will take place on Thursday, November 19th (5th and 6th graders) and Friday, November 20th (7th and 8th graders).  All competitions will take place on Thursday and Friday throughout the school day.

Swift House students will begin working on their machines on Monday, November 9th.  If you have saved any nifty recycling for us, please send it in by Monday morning.

Thank you!

October 30th

Polar Express Elves

We're ready to sign up volunteer elves for the Polar Express on December 13th from 11:30-4:00!.  If you or your children have volunteered before, thank you, and jump right to the sign-up form below. If not, please read on...

 Swift House has a long tradition in helping with The Polar Express, which raises over $100,000 each year for the Vermont Children's Trust Foundation. The Polar Express is a child-centered event which recreates the experience from the book of the same name. Children take a short train ride within Burlington and arrive at the "North Pole" (Union Station) where they are greeted by flocks of elves.

 That's where Swift House comes in. Students, staff and parents dress up as elves with red shirts and elf hats (provided) to greet the young passengers as the arrive at the "North Pole." We escort them into the train station where they hear the Polar Express read aloud, and then lead them upstairs to receive a bell from Mr. and Ms. Clause.

 The Polar Express organizers have mentioned that the Swift elves are renown for their positive energy and spirit at this event! We are hoping to bring at least 70 elves to this event as we have in the past, so don't hesitate to sign-up. It's easy, fun and supports a great cause.

 We will meet at 11:30 at the downtown Burlington train station. Gary Howard, our beloved retired Swift Facilitator, will be the "Santa" on this day and we will get our traditional Swift House photo with him. For more details see the "Polar Express Information Sheet". Please note that we need all elves to stay through the entire shift.

 Please complete the sign-up form here for each elf in your family so we get the proper head count. Once you have entered one name you will be provided a link to submit another response. Friends from outside Swift are welcome to come along. Parents, we need you as adult elf/chaperones, too! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all can join us. Please sign up by Friday, November 6th to guarantee the proper t-shirt size.

In addition to acting as elves, the Children's Trust Foundation as asked that elf-groups make a commitment to raising funds as well. Once we have established our elf-group I will be sending out a separate fundraising page for you all to share. We're hoping for at least $10 raised per elf.

Theater this Week

Please take note of the times for our production day, with both daytime and evening performances. The daytime performances take place for the other teams at WCS and serve as a final dress rehearsal. The evening performance is for you! Remember, we are not selling tickets, simply offering "first come, first serve" seating and asking for donations at the door.  Please plan on staying for both shows so both casts have a full audience.  The kids on stage really appreciate it.

Thursday, November 5th 

• 10:30 - 12th Night School Performance 
• 1:30 - AIW School Performance 
•  5:00 pm - 12th Night- Arrive in Swift for make-up and costumes 
• 5:30 pm - AIW- Arrive in Swift for make-up and costumes 
• 6:30 pm - 12th Night Performance
• 7:30 pm (approx)- Intermission 
• 7:45 pm  (approx)- Alice in Wonderland Performance

Parent Retreat

Please join us for a potluck dinner and discussion of Swift House at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 12th in Swift House. We had a wonderful turnout at our curriculum night in September, and we would love to continue the discussion as we look at our system and make changes that result in our students building necessary skills for their future. This will also be a great opportunity to meet Therese Schroeder, Amanda's long term sub during her maternity leave. You can find the signup sheet for the retreat here (sign on with your name and what you would like to bring). We look forward to seeing you all!

Percy Jackson @ The Flynn

Swift students have a special opportunity to see Percy Jackson performed at the Flynn on Tuesday, December 1st at 12:00.  We will be asking participants to read a book from the Percy Jackson series and join three book group sessions during lunch and recess to discuss characters and themes.

We have 16 tickets for students and 4 for adults, so we are looking for interested students and chaperons to sign-up by e-mailing Amy Skapof.  We will be asking chaperons to drive 3 or 4 students in their cars. Please note that all Swift students will have the opportunity to go to the Flynn in March to see Yamato- the Drummers of Japan.

North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and Antarctica 

In Social Studies, students have been studying geography. The classes have just completed a multi-step project, working in groups of four, studying a specific continent. Each group was expected to research and report out to their classmates on the five themes of geography in relation to a specific continent. Groups were required to use 3-5 resources, all cited in a bibliography. In addition, students were asked to design and create an e-Presentation, using "PVLEGS" (poise, voice, life, eye contact, gesture and speed) with regard to their presentation skills and worked together to create a physical model of their continent. Finally, each group designed a short formative quiz after teaching the other groups in the class about their specific continent.

South America by Baker, Emma, Bobby and Maggie

Africa by Olivia, Kat, Claire and Alix

More Student Work

To wrap up their geology unit, 5th and 6th graders created maps showing recent volcanoes and earthquakes, mountain ranges and tectonic plate boundaries.  Once complete, these maps demonstrated the connection between activities on the earth's surface and the movement of the plates below us.  While some students drew out their maps, others added all of these features to their own Google Maps (see below).

We are now studying matter and the particles within it.

Leslie B's Plate Tectonic Map


Aria's Literature Project Using Powtoon: