District Communications

Dear WSD Families,

Please find our important updates and reminders below.

Important Upcoming Dates:
October 19th – 2nd and 4th-grade students will start attending WSD in-person four days per week.
Tuesday, October 20 – 11am dismissal for all students and MHS parent-teacher conferences from 12-8pm.
Friday, October 23 – 11am dismissal for all student and MHS parent-teacher conferences from 12-3pm.
October 26th – 1st and 3rd-grade students will start attending in-person four days per week.
October 29th at 4pm – Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Capital Project (Join us via Facebook live!)
November 2nd – Kindergarten and 5th-grade students will start attending in-person four days per week.

The Challenges of Moving to Four Days per Week of In-Person Instruction for JFK Students – Staffing Shortages
Thanks to all Vermonters’ efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, we are able to move to four-days per week of in-person learning. We are starting with 2nd and 4th grade students next week (10/19).
While our teachers and the leadership team are very excited about bringing our students back to school for more days of in-person learning, we are facing some serious challenges. We must maintain our important health procedures and be nimble and ready to respond to students with symptoms as well as any eventual positive cases.

Another very serious challenge is staffing shortages. WSD, like many other districts across our state, need qualified Instructional Assistants and Support Staff. We will be monitoring our staffing levels weekly, and the decision to maintain four days per week of in-person learning for all elementary students will depend on whether we have sufficient staff.

If you, or someone you know, are looking for meaningful work and to make a difference in the life of a Winooski student, please consider applying. Rate of pay ranges from $16-25/hour, includes full benefits and schedules follow the school-break calendar.

As long as there are sufficient staffing levels, we will adhere to the schedule below for bringing students back to more days of in-person learning:
The days of instruction will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays will be remote for everyone. Students will continue their hybrid schedule of Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday until their grade begins the four-day schedule.
October 19th – 23rd: 2nd and 4th-grade students will start attending WSD in-person four days per week.
October 26th – 30th: 1st and 3rd-grade students will start attending in-person four days per week.
November 2nd – 6th: Kindergarten and 5th-grade students will start attending in-person four days per week.

Travel Safely Over November Break
The crisp air and jaw-dropping foliage are signs that the November break is fast approaching. WSD urges all of our staff and families to exercise caution when making plans to visit friends and family over the break. The Vermont Department of Health maintains this website of places that are safe to travel without quarantine. The site also offers guidance about the quarantine protocols in place for visitors from other states.

Virus spread risk at holiday celebrations
As many of us begin to plan for fall and winter holiday celebrations, the Center for Disease Control offers these important considerations to help protect individuals and their families, friends, and communities from COVID-19.

Early dismissal days and parent-teacher conferences for the months of October and November

Tuesday, October 20 will be an early dismissal day for all WSD students. Students will be dismissed at 11am. Middle and high school student parent-teacher conferences will take place from 12-8 pm.
Friday, October 23 will also be an early dismissal day at 11am for all students. Middle high school student parent/teacher conferences will take place from 12-3pm.
Middle High School teachers will contact families the week of October 12th to schedule these conferences. All conferences will take place via Zoom this year.
There will not be any afterschool programs running on early dismissal days due to health restrictions. All JFK students must be picked up by 11am.
JFK student parent/teacher conferences will take place on November 23 and 24. All Winooski students will be dismissed at 11am on those dates.

Show your spirit in style!
The Winooski Parent Teacher Organization is excited to announce that you can now buy spirit wear online! There are a variety of sizes and styles available for elementary students right up to staff. Order online and have your purchases shipped directly to you. A portion of all sales goes to the Winooski School District PTO to keep support for our school and kids going.

Joining the Heart of Winooski Foundation Board!
We are excited to announce a new opportunity to get involved and support our schools. Heart of Winooski (HOW) Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting the Ends Statement of the Winooski School District. Through fundraising from local and national grants, corporate gifts, personal donations and community involvement, HOW Foundation will collaborate with parents, teachers, students, board members and the community to achieve the goals of the district.
The HOW Foundation will be governed by a 12-member board with broad community representation. HOW bylaws require one community member to sit on the board.
Please fill out this questionnaire if you are interested in applying for a position on the board.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we strengthen our school district and family partnership.

Take care,
Sean McMannon

During these difficult times, new financial help programs are available to many Vermonters.  The state does not want people to be struggling to pay bills, so please apply, even if you don’t usually get public help. Vermont Legal Aid has more information on these programs on our website: https://vtlawhelp.org/.

Vermont Legal Aid is also able to help individual tenants and homeowners. Call us at 1-800-889-2047 or go to http://vtlawhelp.org. For the fastest response, leave a message explaining what you need in a sentence or two.

1.     Help with past-due rent

For help with past-due rent, Vermonters should apply for the Rental Housing Stabilization Program through the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA). Tenants and landlords apply for this program at the same time. There are no income limits. VSHA pays landlords directly to bring the tenant’s rent account current. This program will last until December 30 or until the money runs out. You can get help now, and apply again if you still need help later. Learn more about this help for paying past-due rent on our website or reach us for help. 

2.     Moving to a new home

Some people need to move because of life safety problems with their rental unit, the rent is too expensive, they have trouble with the landlord or other tenants, or the unit is too big or too small. If you need to move and have found a new landlord, apply together for the Money to Move program at vsha.org. The program can cover the money needed to move in, such as first and last month’s rent and security deposit. It also may cover rent payments through the end of this year. Learn more about this help on our website or reach us for help. 

3.     Emergency housing for people who do not have a home 

The Department of Children and Family’s (DCF) Economic Services Division is extending housing supports for homeless households. For more information or to apply, contact the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151.  Follow this link for the program rules. 

If you stay in a shelter or motel, you need to participate in “coordinated entry.” Through coordinated entry, you will be assigned a housing case manager who will help you access subsidies and programs to help you get permanent housing. To learn more about coordinated entry, call 2-1-1. If you worked with your case manager to apply for a subsidy or other program and your application was denied, call Vermont Legal Aid at 1-800-889-2047. 

4.     Past-Due Utility Bills

The Department of Public Services (DPS) can help pay past-due utility bills. The bills can be for electric, natural gas, landline telephone service or regulated private water bills (not municipal water). Homes and small businesses are eligible. There are no income limits, and you don’t have to have a disconnect notice. However, your difficulty paying the bill must be linked to COVID. The funding only covers arrearages after March 1, 2020. If you need help to fill out an application online, contact your local community action agency. 

5. Mortgage Assistance Program (and maybe Property Tax Assistance)

This program can pay up to six past-due mortgage payments on your home. It is available to all Vermonters who:

• are at least 1 month past due on mortgage payments
• have a COVID-related hardship, and 
• meet the income requirements.

Even people who have mortgages in forbearance are eligible. If you have a mortgage and are behind on property taxes that you pay directly to the town, you may also be eligible for assistance. Learn more about the mortgage assistance on our website or reach us for help.