June 8th, 2016

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Swift House Class of 2016 B - Kizoa Video Editor - Movie Maker

Enjoy our 30 minute slideshow encompassing 5th-8th grade with the class of 2016!  The soundtrack is a little silly but copyright free.  We suggest muting it and putting on a better playlist from YouTube while you watch.

Our 8th graders made us so proud throughout their last week of school here at WCS.  We heard nothing but positive feedback from the panelists for the 8th Grade Challenge Community Presentations this past Tuesday.  The panelists were overwhelmingly impressed with the 8th graders' content knowledge and poise! They handled themselves with equal confidence on the stage to kickoff our Open House Tuesday night.

We then celebrated the 8th graders at Sandbar with Swift House awards and pins on Thursday.  Finally, we all got to cheer them at the beautiful WCS graduation.  Whew.  

Melaina, Olivia, Cleo keeping warm

Waiting for lunch

Nora, Maggie and Claire

Maggie delivers Kat's Swift pin

Joe and Hugo waiting for 8th grade awards and pins

Reilly receives his pin from Mr. Hunt

Ella, Lily, Maggie, Claire and Nora

Meanwhile, 5th-7th graders wrapped up the year with a scavenger hunt on Friday afternoon after cleaning up and writing their core placements letters.  See Izzy, Ava and Franny's scavenger hunt "finds" below.

There are many more photos from Sandbar, and new photos from NYC, on our Shutterfly site (password flyforever). 

Core Placement Input Opportunity

On the last day of school, we asked current students to write a letter to us indicating their preference for core placement, including core teachers they would like to work with (top two), peers they would enjoy having in core with them, and whether or not they would like to be a mentor. We use all of their feedback very carefully while balancing cores for the next school year, working hard to balance grade, gender, as well as academic and social needs.

If you have specific input about core placement that you would like us to consider in this process, please e-mail your son or daughter's core teacher before Wednesday, June 15th so we can take it into consideration. As mentioned, it is a great balancing act in which we try to meet everyone's needs.

It is very difficult to make changes once core placements have been made, so please be proactive with any information that may be helpful. Core groups and important dates for 2015-2016 will be sent out in July with our summer mailing.

e-Portfolios and Class Reports

Your child has an important job on these last days of school-- to share his or her e-portfolio with you. Students were asked to e-mail their parents a link to their portfolios. If any documents within the portfolio are restricted from view when you open the portfolio, you can either click on the document to request access, or have your son or daughter log-in.

Please find time in the next few busy days to look at the portfolio with your daughter or son. Your home portfolio review should involve the following steps:

• Child logs in and opens e-portfolio (accessible once they are logged into their cssu.org accounts)
• S/he shows you the evidence for each goal and explains how these evidences show growth.  They have added evidences to their Academic, Citizenship and Self Direction goal areas.

• S/he reads through the "Trimester 3 Reports," looking for any patterns of successes and challenges.   You will see reports in math, science, social studies, three literature groups.  You will also find rubrics for the NYC/Independent Projects/8th Grade Challenge Projects, Swiftville, writing classes, and Independent Reading.  

• Together brainstorm potential goals for next year. We will have "Hopes and Dreams" conferences next September to create new personal plans. It might be helpful to write down goal ideas for September while they are fresh in your minds. 

Thank you for taking the time to reflect on your child's work. They have a lot of growth to be proud of!

Girls Science Discovery Day

Each year the UVM College of Medicine invites WCS to bring three 7th or 8th grade girls to the medical school for the day.  This year Alix Akey and two other WCS girls took on the challenge and were rewarded with an amazing day of hands-on experience, such as practice CPR and testing blood samples.  If your daughter will be a 7th or 8th grader next year and has any interest in the sciences, look for the sign-up next April.  We'd like to throw our a HUGE thank you to Melissa Akey for taking on the chaperoning duties for the day, too.

Alix examines lab samples

Alix administers compressions 

Student Work

Snuffleupagus, by Emma R and Olivia V\
A Saturday in Illusion City, by Hugo S

FAPAC June 2016 End of Year Information

To:  Swift House Parents
From:  Sarah Forbes, FAPAC Representative

The FAP Advisory Council has some end of the year information.  FAP is Williston's equivalent of a parent-teacher organization.  We meet each month during the school year, 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.  Here is the end of the year information:

FAP Family Input Survey

The FAP would like your feedback on FAP events and communication.  Please follow this LINK to give your input if you have not already.

 

Act 46 Presentation

At the May 12^th FAPAC monthly meeting, Kevin Mara, the Williston School Board Chair, presented to the FAPAC on the upcoming vote on June 7th for consolidation under Act 46.  There is a public meeting scheduled June 6th at 7:00 pm in WCS’s auditorium for a question and answer session.  Information about the consolidation can be found at this LINK with a high level PowerPoint presentation at this LINK.  Please contact the Williston School Board with any questions: Wsdschoolboard@cssu.org.  Also see the attached PDF for more information.

 

Fall Teacher Luncheon Sign-Up

Please sign up at this LINK to contribute something this fall at the teacher luncheon.  This is an opportunity to welcome teachers back with a nice lunch!

 

Williston School Sign

The FAP is looking into building a permanent sign on Route 2 for school use.  The FAP is in the early planning stages and would appreciate any input from community members who have experience in sign design, construction, or other areas that might contribute in the creation of this addition to the school.  Please contact Shani V. if you are interested in helping: shaniv@daletraining.com.

 

Get Involved in FAP

From one-and-done commitments to committee leader positions, the Williston FAP has many opportunities for any parent, working or non-working, to get involved.  There is no need to attend the monthly meeting, although we do encourage that participation as well.  There are several committees for the following events that you can participate in one-time, or on-going.  It’s up to you and what works with your schedule!  Please contact Shani V. if you are interested in getting involved: shaniv@daletraining.com.

Events: Staff Back to School Lunch, Curriculum Night/Learning Expo, Craft Show, Book Fair, Variety Show, Lucky U, Big Basket Raffle, Teacher Appreciation Week, Williston Runs for Education, Lake Monsters, Speaker Series.

 

We are on break until the fall.  Have a great summer!

 

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