Important Upcoming Dates:
- 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)
- March 31 at 6:30pm – Special Board Meeting
- View the updated WSD School Calendar
Dear WSD Families,
This week, shootings at three Georgia spas took eight lives, six of whom were women of Asian descent. My heart breaks for the victims and their families.
While the deranged motives of the killer are still being investigated by law enforcement, the violence is a distressing reminder of the harassment and assaults against members of the Asian American community taking place across our country.
The uptick in violent incidents is connected to anti-Asian xenophobia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a district committed to antiracism, we condemn any rhetoric or action that threatens the security of Asian Americans in our learning community and beyond. The group Stop AAPI Hate (Asian American Pacific Islander) is a good resource to learn more about the acts of hate against AAPI individuals and how you can help.
WSD COVID-19 Updates
Since last week there has been one positive case of COVID-19 reported to the WSD COVID Coordinators. No line list was necessary because the individual was not at school while infectious. While we’re all eagerly anticipating the “return to normal” it is critical we continue to follow the guidance of the Health Department to keep everyone healthy. Read up on current guidance and find out when you may be eligible for the vaccine.
Special Board Meeting about the School Resource Officer (SRO)
The school board would like to announce an upcoming Special Meeting on March 31 at 6:30pm, where they will make a decision about the WSD’s armed SRO officer. The board wants to hear from you. There have been multiple forums and community engagement opportunities. If you missed these and want to share your perspective, there are a couple of ways to do this:
- Public Comments will be open to 2 minutes per speaker at the meeting.
- If you feel your comment will take longer than 2 minutes, you are welcome to share your thinking in writing or by phone message to the Board Chair Tori Cleiland – [email protected] or 802-655-7678. (Please provide your input before March 24.)
- You can fill out this questionnaire.
- Join the 3/31 meeting via this link: https://wsdvt.zoom.us/j/98079957632
WSD Summer Opportunities
Traditionally, our district offers a very robust K-5 summer school program for four weeks, a partnership with Burlington School District for middle school opportunities, specific ELL Newcomer programming for grades 6-12, and Spartans Hoops basketball camp. This summer we will continue our regular programming, and expand opportunities, targeting specific student needs in the areas of literacy, math, social-emotional and mental health, and learning engagement.
Our summer programming plans will be shared with families by early May. We appreciate your patience and collaboration as we thoughtfully plan to support our students through the end of this school year and summer, and in the years beyond, to address the impacts of the pandemic.
Antiracism Steering Committee
The WSD Antiracism Steering Committee members have been selected and the Planning Team is in the process of finding a monthly meeting time that works for all of the youth and adults involved. The goal is to have the first meeting during the last week of March. The Planning Team has also created opportunities for those who are not on the Steering Committee to co-facilitate one of the Demand Action Teams.
Spartans Make State Tournament
Congratulations to the Winooski Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball teams for earning home playoff games for the state tournament! Watch the Winooski girls’ playoff game vs. Vergennes this Saturday 3/20 at 2pm. The game will be broadcast live via NFHS Network: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/vergennes-union-high-school-vergennes-vt
Spring Assessments Are Expected
Schools across Vermont have been informed that the federal requirements for SY21 summative assessment administration have not changed, although there has been flexibility granted for accountability purposes. Here in Vermont, we use the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) to assess in the areas of English Language Arts and Math for all students in grades 3-8 and in grade 9. If flexibility related to testing administration is not granted by the US Department of Education, students enrolled in a public school and/or funded through public funding will be required to participate in statewide summative assessments, as per usual. All statewide summative assessments will be administered in person. All remote learners will be participating in SBAC testing. Fully remote students receiving instruction through schools’ virtual academies are required to test in person at their school. Virtual academies will need to coordinate and communicate schedule adjustments that will allow remote students to attend the scheduled test administration at the school, as well as access the practice test in advance of the testing date. SBAC will provide our school with important information that will inform our efforts to focus on a learning recovery plan for our students.
Demand Equitable Education Across Vermont Zip-codes
The Vermont Coalition for Equitable Education Is circulating a petition urging the 2021 Vermont General Assembly to adopt the recommendations made in UVM Pupil Weighting Factors Report of 2019, which would greatly benefit the Winooski School District. Read more here.
New Gym Transformed into Classroom Space & Middle School Tour
The nearly completed gymnasium will serve as a temporary home to eight classrooms, and a few office spaces, which will be used as renovations begin on their current locations in the building. To see how the new gym looks with eight classrooms inside watch this video: bit.ly/NewGymClassrooms
The middle school wing is nearly complete. To get an inside look at the construction process, watch this video: bit.ly/MSTourMarch
Thank you,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent