October 1st, 2016

Swift House Theater Unit Begins

Performance Date:
Thursday, November 3rd @ 6:30 pm
In the Al Myers Theatre @ WCS

This fall, Swift House students will perform Midsummer Night's Dream and the Phantom Tollbooth.  Both plays are adapted from the original texts and offer many roles for students.

Students provided input last week as to their play preference and what type of role they would like.  Options included: large or small speaking role, nonspeaking role, lights, props, costumes, stage managers and student directors.  Auditions for speaking roles begin on Friday, October 7th.  Every student who would like a speaking part will have some lines to perform on stage!

Rehearsals will take place during our literacy block.  Students with large speaking or technical roles or begin dedicated rehearsals beginning the week of the 10th.  Those with smaller roles will begin their work within a "literature group" to read and analyze the play as literature before rolling onto stage.

We will be in touch in the weeks to come about building and painting sets.  If you have any strengths in the world of costuming or props, too, please let us know.

Our 2012 Performance of Midsummer Night's Dream

Rennie Harris Pure Movement @ Flynn Theater

Thursday, October 6th @ 9:30 am

Swift students will head leave for the Flynn at 8:30 Thursday morning to see Rennie Harris Pure Movement, live onstage.  From the Flynn Study Guide:

Dr. Lorenzo (Rennie) Harris is the Founder, Artistic Director, Choreographer, Director of Rennie Harris Puremovement hip hop dance company, founded in 1992. Puremovement is the longest running touring hip hop dance company. Dr. Harris received honorary doctorates from Bates College and Columbia College. Among numerous other awards, Harris was voted one of the 100 most influential people in the last 100 years of Philadelphia history. Harris remains at the forefront of hip hop culture and continues to challenge misconceptions and assumptions about hip hop.

Permission slips were attached to your child's Greensheet.  Be sure to send that in on Monday.  Also, note that no payment was requested with the permission slip.  Instead, please remember to donate to the Williston Annual Fund , which funds all of our in-state trips each year.  Thank you!

Fundraiser~ Save the Date!

Friday, October 28th @ 6:00 pm

Our first Fun Night is tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 28th at 6:00 pm.  We will embrace the Halloween theme!  "Fun Night" is designed for K-4th graders.  Parents drop them off with us and we provide two hours of entertainment and games.  This is an excellent way to provide a service while raising funds.

We will need many volunteers for this event, both parents and students.  Anyone who may be attending the Washington DC trip in June should try to attend.  We will be sharing a signup sheet soon.  In the meantime, please save the date on your calendar!

From our FAP Rep

Hello!!

My name is Shelly Masson and I am the new “Family As Partners” (FAP) rep for Swift House.  I am the mom to Rylee (8^th grade in Ms. Laberge’s core) and Logan Masson (5^th grade in Ms. Skapof’s.) 

For those of you new to Swift – Welcome!  It’s a great learning community.  

As the FAP parent rep, each month I’ll be sending along the minutes from the FAP meetings (see below for September’s) and will serve as the conduit to the FAP board.  Please let me know if you have any questions or issues that you would like me to bring forward. 

It also means that I’m responsible for helping to coordinate the different fundraising activities that Swift sponsors over the course of the year….and that’s where I need your help!  We are still planning to do our end of year trip to Washington, DC and with the change in 8^thgrade field trips, we have some additional funds we need to raise. 

So, I’d like to kick things off with a Swift “meet and greet” evening event to talk about fundraising ideas and ways to get folks involved.  There will be WINE and snacks!!!!  If you are available and interested in helping out, please fill out the doodle poll:http://doodle.com/poll/z55dm9bb9qk9ykgs  Would love to have as many people join as possible from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Date to be determined by group poll. 

Our first fundraiser is tentatively planned for Friday, October 28^th.  More to come. 

Here are the notes from September’s FAP meeting.  Again, please let me know if you have any questions.  I look forward to meeting and working with all of you.  

FAPAC September 2016 Meeting Highlights Information
The FAP Advisory Council held its monthly meeting on September 8th.  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: 

FAPAC Meeting Recording

The September FAPAC meeting was recorded and is available at this LINK online.

Annual Fund Update

FAP is accepting donations for the Annual Fund.  The Annual Fund pays for field trips, grants, and other activities that all students participate in and benefit from.  Williston moved away from fundraising where students sold goods and to community based fundraisers, such as the fall Craft Fair and spring Big Basket Raffle, and to the Annual Fund collection.  The FAP asks for donations from each family.  Any amount is welcome and appreciated.  Please follow this LINK to donate online or fill out this PDF and submit it to your child’s teacher.

Administration Update

Greg Marino spoke about a Williston Central School facilities renovation project.  There was a Williston School Board vote on September 20th at a public meeting on a bond proposal.  The Williston community will vote on the bond the School Board approves in the November election.  This is for a large-scale renovation project at WCS.  There is an opportunity for a tour of the building Thursday, September 22nd at 5:30 pm just before curriculum night.  Also visit this LINK for more information.

Upcoming Events

FAP Information Night: Wednesday, September 28^th at 6:30 pm

Williston School’s Fall Festival: Saturday, October 15^th from 8:00 am – 11:00 am

Craft Show: Saturday, November 5^th, 2016 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

FAP Craft Show Committee Seeks Members

We are seeking a few more folks to serve on the Craft Show Committee to assist with customer event promotion and volunteer coordination.  Help us continue to grow this event!  This is the 25th anniversary of the Craft Show!  Please contact Karen Olson (kao_wolverine@yahoo.com) or Paula LeBlanc (pleblanc802@gmail.com) to be part of this successful school fundraiser.

Scholastic Book Fair: November 28^th – December 2^nd

Educational Grants

Some portion of FAP funds go to educational grants that teachers or staff submit to FAP.  These grants cover items not included in the school budget, but that would enhance the learning environment: items such as standing desks, curriculum for extra topics not included in the standard curriculum, etc.  Fall grants are due October 1^st.

Please contact me at shelly@birchtreeleadership.com if you have feedback or questions on FAP.  Thanks.