April 15th, 2016

SBAC Schedule and Snacks

As you may know, we will be doing our SBAC testing in Swift House the week of April 25th, when we return from April break. You will find the complete schedule and a sign up for snacks linked here. Thank you for your support!

We have reminded students that no cell phones are allowed at all during the SBAC testing for security purposes. Cell phones must be turned off and stowed in students' backpacks or in the classroom bin. 

Headphones are required for some of the SBAC sessions.  We have purchased headphones however if students have their own, please have them bring them in for the days of the testing. 

Students also need books or drawing materials to use in case they finish their testing early.  No computer/technology use beyond testing will be allowed during the testing sessions.

Thanks for your support! 

"Changing Perspectives" Unit Wrap Up

Panel Presentations- Monday

We have two presenters share their experiences related to living with disabilities.  Molly has a craniofacial anomaly and hearing loss. She uses a trach to help her breath. She spoke about the surgeries she has had and how her peers have responded positively and negatively to her and how she has dealt with that.

Molly shares her story

Heidi lost her vision later in life. She spoke about how she has adapted to losing her vision and what assistive technologies help her. After each presentation students asked the presenters questions about their lives, both the positive experiences and challenges they have faced.

Heidi speaks to students in the auditorium

Disability Fair

Swift students facilitated a "Disability Fair" for Mosaic students Friday morning.  Mosaic students rotated through four stations simulation physical disabilities, autism, visual impairments and dyslexia.  Swifties also took photos and facilitated discussions with Mosaic students about how this simulations challenged them and possibly changed their thinking about the term "disability."  We were very proud of the Swift student leadership and thoughtfulness! 

Adam and Rylee try beading with tube socks on hands to simulate a fine-motor disability

 

Mosaic student beading with socks on hand

Obstacle course with blind fold

More beading

Brendan and Griffin

Ella leads a visual impairment simulation

Dyslexia simulation

8th Grade Graduation- Date Posted (from WCS School Bell)

8th grade graduation will take place on Thursday, June 9th beginning at 6:30 pm! More details and ticket information will be sent home after the April break.

The first parent graduation planning meeting will be held on Thursday, May 5th from 6:00-7:30 pm in the dining room. We invite all 8th parents to attend! At the planning meeting, we will brainstorm and determine a theme and then get organized into subcommittees to plan the decorations and the reception. One parent volunteer will also be needed to work on the graduation program that is handed out. Please email Jackie Parks (jparks@cssu.org) if you are planning to attend the meeting on May 5th. Thank you!

*Now that 8th Grade Graduation is posted, we will put Swift House details into place, such as our June Open House, the final 8th Grade Challenge presentations and our end of the year picnic.  We will post dates as soon as we have them after vacation.

Continental Math

Continental Math participants were recognized in the kiva this week.  Congratulations to all of their hard work!

Bray, Camille, Lauren, Amelia, Grace, Isabelle, Asa, and Tanner

Congratulations to the Cast of Shrek!

Swift students were represented well both behind and on stage!

FAP Update

Hello Swift families,

• The monthly FAP meeting is this Thursday, if you have any concerns/suggestions/etc. for me to bring to the group please let me know or email willistonfap@cssu.org
• Thursday evening, from 5pm to 6pm in the WCS Dining Room, there is a Q&A Session about the potential schedule change for next year. 
• Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up the week of May 2 - 6 - if anyone is interested in helping to plan a week for our amazing teachers and staff please email willistonfap@cssu.org 
• Be sure to follow us on facebook! Facebook.com/willistonfap Thanks everyone! 

Sarah Forbes
Swift FAP Representative
sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net

April 8th, 2016

Project Ignite Honors Mr. Hunt

Project Ignite, which celebrates "Innovation and Transformation" in Vermont schools, recognized Swift House's own Mr. Hunt as a Vermont "Ignited" educator.  Honorees were chosen for sharing their work, reaching outside their classroom walls and building their own Personal Learning Networks.  Congratulations to Mr. Hunt!  

Twitter Feed from Williston Schools (@wsdvt)

SBAC and Cellphones

We want to extend a reminder to folks regarding our cell phone policy in Swift House. Phones are to be kept in backpacks unless otherwise granted permission by a teacher to use. During the SBAC window which begins next Monday, students will not be permitted use of their cell phones at all. SBAC administration uses the bandwidth in the building, therefore, we will be collecting cell phones in a basket at the beginning of the school day and returning them to students at the end of the day.  SBAC testing also requires strict security measures which prohibits students from having cell phones on them during testing.

If you need to get a message to your student please call Lisa Barland, our TA, at 871-6130, or at 871-6128 (classroom line). You are always welcomed to email me and I will get a message to your student as well!

Field Trip Flashback

Our end-of-the-year field trips have created many memorable moments.  Here's one from the archives, on the steps of the Capitol Building in June of 1995.  Bernie Sanders, then Vermont Congressman, gave Swifties an impromptu speech about their futures.  These students are now out of college; the fellow in the green shirt even completed an internship at the White House last year.

DCF Voting

"Since 1956 Vermont children in grades 4‐8 have voted for their favorite book in a program designed to help them become enthusiastic readers and to honor Vermont author Dorothy Canfield Fisher. It is the second oldest child‐selected book award in the country."  ~Vermont Department of Libraries

The DCF list features books published in the previous year.  Both the Dorothy Alling and WCS libraries shelve the collection in one place, making it easy to find excellent new books!  Any student who has read at least 5 of the titles on this year's DCF list can vote for their favorite by clicking here.  Check out the 2016-2017 DCF list to make reading goals for the summer and next year.  Voting happens each April and the new selection of books are available now at the Dorothy Alling Library.

Spark Session 6 (from School Bell)

The 6th session of Spark Thursday After School Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, will be offered on April 28, May 5, 12, 19, & 26. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff. Please access the link to the sign-up form below by April 25th. Sign-up form Read more

Summer Camps for "Geeks"

Bonnie Birdsall, our WCS technology integration specialists, curated this list of summer camps with a technology focus:

• Leah Joly and Jill Dawson will be leading a Middle School Girls Maker Camp at WCS at the end of June https://www.willistonrec.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29990

• The 15th annual Tech Savvy Girls Camp will be happening at Lake Region Union High Schoolwww.techsavvygirls.com/camps

• Echo Lake Aquarium has some great offerings

• Young Hacks Academy   http://younghacks.com/

• Claymation Movie Making Camp June 20^th – June 24^th  in South Burlington through South Burlington Recreation & Parks.  Here’s a flyer with more information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rx_Kmvb3-DWqHCAwVcrd_Ckc2_q3O33Ol3996l7oiss/edit?usp=sharing