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.