District Communications

Dear WSD Families and Staff, 

As of this morning, there have been 61 known positive cases of COVID-19 in our learning community since December 1. Our COVID Co-Coordinators have created 13 line lists, which means that 13 people were present in school while infectious. All close contacts of the infected individuals have been notified. If you have not been notified, you are not considered a close contact. 

Below is a chart with daily positive cases that were reported to our WSD COVID Co-Coordinators over the past nine days: 

Of the 61 individuals who have tested positive for COVID:

• 39 individuals have completed quarantine/isolation. They are no longer contagious and may return to in-person learning. 
• 22 individuals are still in quarantine/isolation. 

Return to School in the Fully Remote Learning Model

The WSD winter break ends on January 3. School will start back on Monday, January 4. 

At this point, due to the number of current positive cases in Winooski and the limited testing and incomplete results during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday weeks, our schools will remain in the fully remote learning model until Tuesday, January 19th. There is no school on Monday, January 18 in honor of MLK Jr. Day. 

Important considerations for bringing students back to the previous in-person learning schedule (4-days per week for JFK students and hybrid learning for WMHS students).

The WSD COVID Response team will continue to carefully weigh the following factors before making a decision about the district’s learning model:

• Positive cases trending downward reliably (The data we are currently considering is for Winooski, Chittenden County, and the WSD-specific data reported to our COVID-19 Coordinators). 
• Sufficient staffing levels to safely maintain in-person instruction
• Our district’s ability to adhere to the Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Education Safety and Health Guidance

Community Transmission

At this point, the Vermont Department of Health does not have any evidence of transmission occurring at school. That means the current positive cases were contracted in the community. During the next three weeks, we must all carefully follow the health guidance listed below so that our schools can safely move back to our in-person/hybrid learning model on January 19.

Prevent COVID-19 from Spreading

In order to contain the spread of the virus, it is essential every member of our community carefully follows virus prevention guidance, including: 

• Stay home if you are sick
• Wash your hands
• Keep your social circle small
• Stay at least 6 feet apart
• Wear a mask

Free COVID-19 testing in Winooski

There is free testing available in Winooski daily (note site closures this week due to the holiday). To improve accessibility, walk-ups are also welcome and interpreters are available on-site. 

COVID Vaccines in Vermont

The Health Department is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners to prepare for vaccines as they become available. Please check back often as they update this page with new information.

Need a ride to a testing site? 

Transportation options are available. To schedule transportation to the COVID-19 testing site, please call the Vermont Public Transportation Association at least two days before the appointment 833-387-7200.

Student Meals

Student meal kits will continue to be distributed on Wednesdays from 9-10am. Read more here.

Basketball Updates

The current plan is to start the basketball season once we return to in-person learning on 1/19/21. Updates will be provided weekly. 

Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of many Vermonters, the state’s COVID-19 rates have leveled out for now. It is up to all of us in Winooski to continue making the right choices, so that we can once again safely bring our learning community back together in-person.

I am wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and joyful new year!

Sean McMannon, Superintendent

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Return to school on Monday, January 4 in Remote Learning Model PreK-12
• Monday, January 18 – No School in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Find the WSD’s updated school calendar here. 
• January 6, 2021, and February 3, 2021 – WSD Staff COVID-19 Surveillance Testing 

Important Upcoming Dates:

• WSD Fully Remote Learning 12/9 through 12/23. The current plan is for all students to return to the previous in-person schedule 1/4/21.
• December 23 through January 3 – No School

• Student Meal Kit distribution – Tuesday, 12/22 from 9-10am and Tuesday, 12/29 from 9-10am (more details below). 
• Find the WSD’s updated school calendar here. 
• January 6, 2021 and February 3, 2021 – WSD Staff COVID-19 Surveillance Testing (additional details TBD)

Dear WSD Families, 

The last few weeks have been tough for all of us. 31 members of our learning community have tested positive for COVID-19. Our amazing staff have rushed to fill the academic, emotional, and nutritional needs of our students. The WSD COVID-19 Co-Coordinators have meticulously made line lists and called families and staff. This is challenging work, both mentally and emotionally. 

Based on the information we have now, there has been no transmission of COVID in our school district and the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) will notify us if this changes. Everyone who is considered a close contact of the COVID-positive people has been notified. 

Some positive news is that we seem to have contained the spread of the virus within our learning community, preventing other people from becoming infected with COVID-19. Families are getting the support they need, staying home and quarantining. Our district’s health and safety procedures are working. We look forward to welcoming our students back to in-person learning as soon as it is safe. 

Our leadership team will be working with the WSD COVID-19 Response Team and the Vermont Department of Health to make a decision by December 30 about remote or return to 4-days of in-person instruction for our Kindergarten through 5th graders, and our previous hybrid schedule for WMHS students. As soon as a decision is made we will notify families. 

Struggling through the pandemic? You are not alone. 

There are two ways to get the help you need: free one-on-one counseling, for emotional support and a listening ear, as well as connections to community resources, and weekly Wellness Groups to learn self-care strategies for coping and relaxing.

Other COVID Resources

• Free COVID-19 Testing Winooski 
• Additional resources on the City of Winooski website.

Meal kits available for all children in Winooski

During remote learning, WSD will provide meals for all children in Winooski. Meal Kit distribution will take place on TUESDAY, December 22 from 9-10am and TUESDAY, December 29 from 9-10am so families have meals during the break. 

Is your child’s Chromebook/iPad not working?

Read about the IT team’s process for repairs and/or replacement devices. 

Basketball Updates from Athletic Director Dennis Barcomb

Hello Winooski Students and Families, Thank you for your interest in our basketball programs for this winter season. For the safety of our students and coaches the Winooski School District has decided that the earliest date for which the basketball season would start would be Monday, January 4th. If there are any changes to this date we will send out another message. Any students who have not submitted their required athletic paperwork can scan the forms to [email protected] or fax them to 383-6097. 

Safety and Security – Presentation and Public Forum

• What:  Presentation and discussion about safety and security in the Winooski School District (WSD). Each public forum will include a 30 minute presentation by WSD Superintendent Sean McMannon and City of Winooski personnel about the current state of school safety and security, followed by an hour of community input and discussion. The public forum will take place via Zoom. Please note, all public comments and questions will be submitted via a Q&A chat box feature and will be asked live via a meeting moderator. If you are not able to attend either forum, you may submit a comment or question. 
• When: Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 29 from 6-7:30pm.  
• Where: https://wsdvt.zoom.us/j/92977627353
• Who: All Winooski community members are encouraged to attend. Interpreted meetings will be held for families with limited English proficiency at a separate date.

School Board Update

On Wednesday, December 16 the board rescinded their prior appointment of Tula Kadariya as a board member because he is not legally eligible to hold this position. Later in the meeting, the board appointed Steven Berbeco to our fifth board member position. Welcome, Steven!

The board will be meeting Wednesday, December 30 for their next budget meeting.  All board agendas and FY22 budget information can be found by clicking on these individual links.

Thank you for reading this information and strengthening our school and family partnership. 

Take care,
Sean McMannon

While the School District is fully remote, we are still committed to providing healthy meals for our students, and all children in Winooski. In order to better meet the needs of our families, our food service providers will be offering “make your own meal” kits so that students can make their own meals at home with the groceries provided through the district. 

Each child in your family, ages 0-18, is eligible for one meal kit which has enough food for seven days for that child. The kits include breakfast and lunch. Meal kits typically include two pre-made meals, as well as bread, milk, meat, cheese, vegetables, fruit, and other staples. 

These meal kits will be available for pick-up at the dates listed below from 9-10 am at three locations:

• Winooski School District
• Winooski Family Center 
• O’Brien Community Center

Additional Meal Kit distribution will take place on TUESDAY, Dec 22nd from 9-10am and TUESDAY, Dec 29th from 9-10am so families have meals during the break. 

If your family is experiencing extenuating circumstances (due to quarantine or health issues, for example) please contact your child’s teacher or guidance counselor to arrange for home delivery.  Due to staffing issues, families must request meal delivery every week by the deadline listed below. Delivery is not guaranteed. 

• 12/16 (Wednesday) – deadline to request a meal delivery is Monday, 12/14 at 12pm
• 12/22  (Tuesday) – deadline to request a meal kit delivery is Monday, 12/21 at 12pm
• 12/29 (Tuesday) – deadline to request a meal kit delivery is Monday, 12/28 at 12pm
• 1/6   (Wednesday) – deadline to request a meal delivery is Tuesday, 1/5 at 12pm
• 1/13  (Wednesday) – deadline to request a meal delivery is Tuesday, 1/12 at 12pm
• 1/20  (Wednesday) deadline to request a meal delivery is Tuesday, 1/19 at 12pm
• 1/27  (Wednesday) deadline to request a meal delivery is Tuesday, 1/26 at 12pm

If your ChromeBook or iPad and needs to be fixed, please tell your teacher.  The people in IT have a way to give you a replacement even though we’re all working remotely.  This Google Doc will tell you more.