Important Upcoming Dates:
- Tuesday, March 16 and Friday, March 19 – Early Dismissal for all students at 11am (WMHS Parent Teacher Conferences)
- March 25 at 7pm – Winooski’s Got Talent Show (Join via the link found here)
- View the updated WSD School Calendar
Dear WSD Families,
As we shared last week, Governor Phil Scott and Secretary of Education Dan French are recommending Vermont schools bring K-12 students back to full in-person learning five days a week after April break. We agree that most students are more successful academically and socially when physically present in school and the goal of the WSD Leadership team is to return to more in-person learning, however, we also have a duty to make sure our students and staff are safe.
In order to bring back students back for more in-person learning safely, here are the issues we are considering:
Health guidance from the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Education
School districts in Vermont follow the Safety and Health Guidance set by the Agency of Education (AOE). The guidance was developed jointly with health officials who determined that one of the key factors to preventing the spread of the virus was to maintain a specific distance between students based on their age. This guidance is the standard from which our districts based our learning model decisions and is by far the biggest obstacle to bringing more students on campus at the same time. In addition, we have space constraints due to our capital project renovations.
Staffing levels for each school
The WSD, like many districts, has experienced significant staffing shortages this year, including the consistent demand to cover absences due to positive COVID cases and the need for staff to quarantine. The decision to allow school staff to access COVID-19 vaccines will help us avoid any potential classroom/Pod closures due to COVID-19 exposure. We are collecting data so we will know when our staff will be fully vaccinated.
We will continue to keep you informed of our plans and any changes in Health guidance.
COVID-19 Updates
Since our last update, there have been two positive cases of COVID-19 reported to the WSD COVID-19 Coordinators. All individuals considered close contacts of the positive individuals have been notified. If you have not been notified, you and/or your child are not considered close contacts.
Since February 17 there have been 29 positive cases in Winooski. Read more about data here.
While we’re all celebrating the optimism vaccines bring, it is very important to remember that COVID-19 is still very present in our community. I urge everyone to continue to follow Vermont Department of Health guidance by wearing a mask when in public, maintaining an appropriate physical distance between yourself and people you don’t live with, avoiding travel and gatherings, and washing your hands.
COVID-19 Variant in Vermont Detected
Vermont health officials have confirmed detection of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 – the viral mutation first detected in the U.K. in the fall of 2020. Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD said confirmation of the variant in Vermont is a concern, but not a surprise. “This and other variants have been circulating throughout the U.S. for some time, so we expected to find evidence of it here.” Now that we have confirmation that the variant is in Vermont, we must all continue to follow mitigation strategies to prevent transmission: wear a mask, keep a distance of 6 feet from each other, and avoid crowded places. Read the full press release about the variant from the Vermont Department of Health.
Vaccines for School Staff
Since vaccines became available to school employees, many WSD staff members have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or made an appointment to receive their first dose. Some school staff have said: “My arm is sore, but it’s worth it.” “It’s like walking on air knowing we are going to be safe and keep our students safer when we come to work.” “I’m so glad we are one step closer to being able to provide our students with what we know they need.”
Vaccine Access Expanded to BIPOC Vermonters
A person of color who is eligible to get the vaccine may bring household members to their appointment to get vaccinated as well, even if they wouldn’t normally qualify under current state guidelines. Read the process for registration here. This decision is supported by vaccine data that shows Vermonters of color have a significantly lower vaccination rate than white Vermonters.
In Chittenden County, 24% of people (ages 16+) have already received at least one dose of the vaccine. Read more about vaccines, eligibility and access in Vermont.
Additional District Updates
WSD Antiracism Steering Committee
Applications to join the WSD Antiracism Steering Committee have now closed. At last night’s WSD board meeting Winooski Students for Antiracism member Evelyn Monje reported that 26 people from a wide variety of stakeholder groups within the Winooski learning community have applied. Thank you to everyone who is passionate and excited about being part of this work! Expect a follow-up next week about committee appointments and demand-based teams.
Show us your talent!
The deadline for submitting a video to Celebrating Winooski’s Talent has been extended to March 19! Questions and submissions should be sent to Joe Smith at [email protected].
Penguin Plunge Planning Underway
Our district team is preparing for a brrrrr-y special, unique Plunge. You can expect to see the video by the end of March.
WMHS Parent Teacher Conferences/Early Release Days 3/16 and 3/19
WMHS Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 16 (12 pm – 8 pm), and Friday, March 19 (12 pm – 3 pm). All students PreK-12 will be dismissed at 11 am on these days. Students at the Early Learning Preschool at the Winooski Family Center will be dismissed at 10:30 am both days due to bussing.
April JFK Conferences and Early Dismissal
JFK Parent-Teacher conferences will take place Tuesday, April 6 (12 pm – 8 pm) and Friday, April 9 (12 pm – 3 pm). All students PreK-12 will be dismissed at 11 am. Students at the Early Learning Preschool at the Winooski Family Center, who will be dismissed at 10:30 am both days due to bussing.
Spartans Senior Night Videos – Congratulations, Seniors!
News from the Winooski Community
Virus in Vermont: Single dad, a refugee with six children, homeless in a pandemic
Vt. trooper hopes to build bridge between police, New Americans