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