February 21, 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS

• School Dance (5th-8th)~ March 6th, 6:30-8:30
• Dining for a Cause @ Grazers to Benefit NYC Trip~ Thursday, March 19th
• Bottle Drive #2~ Benefits NYC Trip~ Saturday, March 21st
• Big Basket Raffle Fun Night @ WCS~ Saturday, March 28th, 6:00-8:30 pm
• School Dance (5th-8th)~ April 10th, 6:30-8:30
• NYC Trip~ May 26th-29th
• 8th Grade Ridin-Hy Trip~ June 4th & 5th
• Swift House Homework Club~ Every Tuesday from 2:00-3:30

SCIENCE UPDATE

Fifth and sixth-graders have been learning about physical and chemical reactions.   They used both physical properties and chemical reactions to explore five "Mystery Powders." Once they had their baseline, they then identified a mystery mixture with awesome accuracy!

Seventh and eighth-graders have been learning about elements, molecules and atoms.  They created 2D and 3D models of molecules, identifying both the properties of the molecule and the elements within it.  They also experimented with reactants and products, testing to see which ratio of reactants would create just the right reaction to fill the graduated cylinder without overflowing.

Alyssa's model of NaCl (salt)

Sammy's model of NaCl (salt)

Sally's model of rubber

Philip's Lucidchart model of nitroglycerin

LITERATURE

Students reading Lord of the Flies wrapped up the unit with a "Dominoes" project linking the cause and effects of significant events throughout the novel.  They then shared their projects to one another, practicing all aspects of strong presentation skills.

FAP UPDATES

Hi Everyone,

We have a couple of events coming up in March that I want to start getting ready for now.

1. Our Bottle Drive on March 21st.  We’ve posted on the Williston Parents Group on FB and in Front Porch Forum.  Please help us spread the word.
2. Our last Fun Night is happening on March 28th from 6 – 8:30 pm.  The Sign up Genius for activities will be out next week.  Thank you in advance for your help and support.

Below are a couple of quick updates from the most recent FAP meeting.  Please take a few minutes to read through and see what’s going on.

And last, but not least, it’s time for someone to step up and take over as the FAP rep. It can be co-chaired but it has to be someone else.  I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to help coordinate events and I know the next person is going to do it even better.  Lisa Barland and the Swift teachers make it really easy.  Please reach out to one of the teachers if you are interested.

Thanks!

Shelly

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The monthly FAP meeting was held on February 13th. FAP is Williston's equivalent of a parent teacher organization. We meet each month and meetings are open to all. Below are highlights from the meeting and the full minutes can be found by clicking here.

FAP Annual Fund

If you have not already, please consider donating to the Annual Fund here.

Lucky U - March 9th - 13th

Students at both ABS & WCS will have an opportunity to enter individual raffles for a chance to win a special activity or experience with a faculty or staff member from both schools.
Tickets are 25 cents each.
Tickets will be sold before school at ABS and during lunches at WCS.
CLICK HERE to volunteer to sell tickets.

Speaker Series - March 19th at 6:30pm

Grief and Loss Workshop with Amanda Cannamela, LCMHC, LADC

Emily Downing Ponce
Williston Families as Partners

TRY 4-H SCIENCE SUMMER PROGRAM

Exciting news! We are going to pilot a new science program in Burlington this summer called TRY 4-H Science.

TRY stands for Teens Reaching Youth and it is a teen-led informal science education program focusing on physical, life and environmental sciences with an embedded workforce development component designed to engage younger youth in science exploration while giving teens the opportunity to gain science content and to develop workforce skills. Through interactive lessons that make science fun TRY teen teachers will increase younger youth interest, engagement, skills, knowledge and aspirations in science.

We are currently looking for teens who would like to become teen teachers! It's okay if you are not a straight A student - we are more interested in your passion for science and desire to teach. We will train you!

Want to know more? Click here.

Please reach out with any questions.

Lauren Traister
4-H Teen & Leadership Program Coordinator
University of Vermont Extension
(802) 888-4972 x 402

SPARK SESSION 4

SPARK Enrichment After School Session 4~ March 5 - April 2.
Classes will be held on Thursdays from 3:00pm - 4:30pm, March 5 to April 2.

An activity bus is available for those needing transportation home afterward.

Registration Link
Workship Descriptions

SUMMER CAMP @ THE ART BARN IN WILLISTON

GOVERNOR'S INSTITUTE OF VERMONT

Governor’s Institutes of Vermont: Summer Applications Now Open: Students curious and dedicated 9th-11th grade scientists are invited to attend The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont! At GIV, students will experience life on a college campus, find direction and motivation to pursue future opportunities in science, and engage in interactive classes and workshops on a specific subject of their choice. From watershed study in the Environmental Science and Technology Institute, to evolutionary robotics and chaos theory in the Mathematical Sciences Institute, every enthusiastic Vermont high school student can benefit from an opportunity to learn more about what they love with GIV. GIV is dedicated to being financially accessible to all Vermonters via a sliding scale tuition model that allows applicants to pay as low as $10 to attend. Students can visit www.giv.org for more details or to submit an application.

GIRLS ON THE RUN

Hi, everyone.  This is a quick note to let you know that registration for Girls on the Run Vermont at Williston Central school opens this week!  There will be a Tues/Thurs and Mon/Wed team directly after school starting the week of March 23rd. Sessions are 90 minutes each and run for 10 weeks.  Our celebratory 5k culminates the season at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex on Saturday, June 6th along with 1,500 other northern VT girls and their teams!

We are still in need of volunteer coaches for our Tuesday/Thursday team!  This will be the most popular team for participants at WCS and will have an immediate waitlist without more coach support!  Coaches do not need to be runners but simply folks that feel passionate about empowering our 3rd through 5th grade girls (and 6th through 8th graders in our middle school program, Heart & Sole) to find limitless potential and gain self-confidence.

GOTRVT is for every girl and is inclusive to all girls that want to participate in the program!  Coaches can be school staff, parents or community members.  All coaches are background checked and trained.

To learn more about GOTR and to register your girl - visit here: https://www.gotrvt.org/Register-Now

To become a coach or to learn more about coaching - visit here: https://www.gotrvt.org/coach

Please also feel free to reply to this email or call to inquire about registering your girl, volunteering as an assistant or head coach (junior coach opportunities are also available!) or to volunteer at our 5k!

Many thanks and stay tuned for girl registration to OPEN for WCS this week - we are ready for another FANTASTIC season of Girls on the Run...please help spread the word!  Flyers coming soon for girl's take home folders with info for parent/guardians...

Best,
Rachel