District Communications
District communications including weekly updates, COVID-19 & more.
Sewing the Way Through Uncertainty
In July Winooski Middle School student, Ivy Resmer reached out to WMHS Co-Principal Kate with a question. She said that she had been making cloth face masks since the beginning of the pandemic, and had currently made over two-hundred. She wanted to know if Winooski schools had enough face masks to start the school year, because if not, Ivy wanted to chip in with her homemade creations.
The district had already ordered a large supply of cloth face masks but Co-Principal Kate said that it would be wonderful to h
ave student-made masks that were designed for and made by students.
Ivy agreed and figured that in the months leading up to school she could make a lot of masks for students and teachers.
Ivy’s generosity sparked another great idea. What if the school offered a student-led workshop to teach students and community members how to make masks? Ivy found the experience empowering, trying to focus on a helpful task during tumultuous times, and she felt other students might feel the same way. At the time of this publication, a series of mask-making workshops is planned for the last week in August. Many thanks to Ivy and her mom, Cathy, for helping to keep our learning community safe during these uncertain times.
We asked Ivy a few questions about her mask-making project:
Where did you learn how to sew?
I learned how to sew a few years ago, but I didn’t find it too interesting, and back then my mom had a very old, clunky, hard-to-use sewing machine, so I just couldn’t get into it. I sewed a coaster or two before I lost interest.
Where did you get the idea to start creating masks?
I got the idea to start sewing masks from my mom, who, from the get go, was sewing masks for her coworkers at UVMMC using a youtube video for help.She taught me a few weeks later, and it stuck. A big game changer was the new sewing machine.
Did it help you pass the time while you were quarantined?
Yes. I spent hours and hours sewing masks. It gave me something useful to do that I knew was desperately needed.
How many masks have you made so far?
So far I have made 260 masks.
WSD Family Updates August 20th, 2020
Dear WSD Families,
I hope you are all well. Our teachers and staff are back for inservice this week, and while things feel and look very different this year, we are all very excited to welcome students back to our learning community.
Below are some important updates and information.
Last Tuesday, Governor Phil Scott, Secretary of Education Dan French, and Vermont State Epidemiologist Patsy Kelso made a strong case to reopen schools for full in-person learning.
This week, 16 school districts covering Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association (CVSA), have agreed to assess the hybrid model after four to six weeks of school. WSD will work closely with the CVSA, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH), and the Agency of Education (AOE) to determine whether to stick with the hybrid model, move toward more in-person instruction or transition to more remote instruction.
With the current low numbers of COVID-19 cases in our area, we believe transitioning to full in-person learning is possible. The Department of Health has shown expertise in responding to positive cases of COVID-19, helping to build confidence for our students and staff to return.
We will be using the first four to six weeks of school to learn the COVID-19 health expectations and procedures, our A/B pod routines, and assess social-emotional, literacy, math and other essential skills.
Following guidance from the AOE and VDH, our measured approach allows for schools to minimize risk and develop new routines. If our district is able to safely phase into a fully in-person learning environment, full remote learning through VTVLC will still be offered for families who choose that option.
This planned phased approach will only be attainable if the spread of the virus can remain contained and the guidance from the AOE and the VDH does not change.
The criteria to phase-in more students to in-person instruction:
- Sufficient staffing levels
- No or low COVID-19 activity in our community
- The ability to maintain compliance with the guidance from VDH/AOE
- New routines must be efficient, assessed, and adjusted to meet the needs of our students
Superintendent McMannon and the WSD leadership team will work in close collaboration with the VDH, using their guidance based on a number of factors, including the level of community transmission and other indicators used to assess the status of COVID-19 in our area during every step of the phased-in planning process.
VEGGIE VANGO – TOMORROW (FRIDAY 8/21)
The Vermont Foodbank will be in our district tomorrow with the Veggie VanGo produce drop. Community members are welcome to come to pick up cottage cheese, corn, cauliflower, oranges, peppers, and hopefully milk.
Please remember to maintain physical distancing (6-feet) between yourself and others and wear a cloth face mask. Do not come if you are feeling unwell. (You can send a friend or family member to pick up your share of food, if necessary.)
The produce drop will still be held in the same place near the main entrance in front of the school. Please park your car and walk up to join the line along the fence. There is overflow parking next to the middle-high school.
POWER SCHOOL REGISTRATION
As we prepare for the start of school, we need each family to update and complete their yearly registration forms. This year our school has switched to PowerSchool. All families have received a PowerSchool letter with their student’s SnapCode, which will automatically populate most required information. Please log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal and complete each form that is listed. You will need to verify or add information and then click submit at the bottom of each page. Please note this works best on a computer, using a Chrome Browser.
Every student must register by August 28th, before returning to school. This new system replaces the first day packet that has gone out in previous years. If you have any questions please contact Linda Casier at the JFK Elementary office, or Angie Small at the Middle High School.
REMOTE LEARNING OPTION
WSD is partnering with Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative’s (VTVLC) Collaborative Online School to provide remote learning for students. We will not be using Discovery Education as previously stated. The model will look different for students in K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. All K-12 WSD students are eligible for the remote option. Read more about the remote learning option here.
If you are interested in the fully remote learning option for your child, please fill out this form today (8/20). If you are not interested in the fully remote option, you do NOT need to fill out the form. Once you have signed your child up for the VTVLC remote learning option, Andrea Wheeland will follow up with more information.
For more information on the reopening of the WSD schools, please visit this website: https://sites.google.com/wsdvt.org/wsd-reopens/home
STUDENT MEALS
There will be no more student meals available until September 8.
If you are experiencing food insecurity due to the pause in meal provisions, we have grocery store gift certificates available to help. Please call or text Emily Hecker (802-338-7061) for more information.
When our regular student meal service resumes on September 8th, breakfast and lunch will be available for all students at no cost. When students are in-person at school meals will be provided in the classroom.
During our hybrid learning model when students are learning from home, rather than in-person at school, breakfast and lunch will still be available. Individually-packed breakfast and lunch meal bundles will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays while school is in session. Students will receive two-days worth of meals on Wednesday and three-days worth of meals on Friday.
Students who have chosen the fully remote option are encouraged to pick up meals on Wednesday and Friday, as well.
Meal distribution sites will remain:
- Winooski Family Center, 87 Elm St.
- O’Brien Community Center, 32 Malletts Bay Ave.
- Winooski School District, 60 Normand St.
In order to make school meals more accessible, we would like to know what times work best for your family.
Please fill out this survey on the best meal pick-up times for your family.
DENTAL PROGRAM UPDATES
Due to circumstances related to COVID-19 and because we want to maximize the time your child is in school learning, we have come to the difficult decision to put the transportation component of the school dental program on hold for the fall semester.
If your child(ren) is on the schedule for dental care this fall, Vermont Dental will contact you.
Parents/Guardians will have 2 options to choose from:
- You may keep the appointment or reschedule the appointment if you are able to get your child to VT Dental, or:
- You may choose to delay dental treatment for your child(ren) until the spring semester or when transportation is provided by the school again.
The WSD Tooth Tutor Tracy Towers and School Nurse Katharine Monje will assist families with accessing emergency treatment when needed.
Tracy will be at our district on both Tuesday and Friday mornings and will assess students with dental needs. Teledentistry will be used during the week whenever possible.
Please feel free to call Nurse Katharine at 802 383 6094 if you have questions or concerns about your child(ren) dental needs. We will reevaluate this for the spring semester and as needed in the meantime.
We look forward to a safe, healthy school year that helps your children deepen their love of learning!
Sean McMannon
Student Meal Time Preferences Survey
Family Update on Meals August 18
There will be no more student meals available until September 8.
If you are experiencing food insecurity due to the pause in meal provisions, we have grocery store gift certificates available to help. Please call or text Emily Hecker (802-338-7061) for more information.
When our regular student meal service resumes on September 8th, breakfast and lunch will be available for all students at no cost. When students are in-person at school meals will be provided in the classroom.
During our hybrid learning model when students are learning from home, rather than in-person at school, breakfast and lunch will still be available. Individually-packed breakfast and lunch meal bundles will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays while school is in session. Students will receive two-days worth of meals on Wednesday and three-days worth of meals on Friday.
Students who have chosen the fully remote option are encouraged to pick up meals on Wednesday and Friday, as well.
Meal distribution sites will remain:
- Winooski Family Center, 87 Elm St.
- O’Brien Community Center, 32 Malletts Bay Ave.
- Winooski School District, 60 Normand St.
In order to make school meals more accessible, we would like to know what times work best for your family.
Please fill out this survey on the best meal pick-up times for your family.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we work through our reopening plan together.
Full Remote Learning Option for the 20/21 School Year
If you would like to choose the full remote learning option, please fill out this form.
Winooski School District Full Remote Learning Option K-12
Winooski students in grades K – 12 may choose a fully remote option for learning instead of in-person learning. WSD is partnering with Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative’s (VTVLC) Collaborative Online School to provide remote learning for students. The model will look different for students in K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. All K-12 WSD students are eligible for the remote option.
Commitment and Time Frame:
We must enroll students in the remote learning option by August 20, 2020. Once we enroll your child in the Collaborative Online School they will be committed for the first semester. They will have the option to return to in-person learning or stay with the remote option for the second semester.
If WSD goes to a fully remote model at any point during the semester students who have chosen the in-person model will continue to work with their WSD teachers. Students who have chosen the remote option will continue to work with the teachers through VTVLC.
Who will teach students:
K-8: Students will be supported by an WSD teacher unless the numbers are too great. If this happens, some students will be supported by a non WSD teacher.
9-12: Students will sign up for classes through VTVLC, and the classes will be taught by teachers from around Vermont.
Family Supports:
- Winooski teacher Andrea Wheeland is our Virtual Learning Coordinator and she can be reached at [email protected] or 802-242-1319,
- Andrea will be the liaison between the Collaborative Online School and Winooski students and families.
- WSD will provide technology and logistics support to families.
- Students receiving special education, 504 or English language support will continue to receive those supports through Winooski School District.
Program Descriptions:
K-5: The K-5 program will use materials designed and presented by VTVLC and will begin with a fairly consistent schedule.
Students will:
- Build community and relationships with their peers during daily synchronous community meetings.
- devote a minimum of 30 hours per week to learning
- perform most of their school work off-line—reading books, writing, and completing activities and projects
- spend 15–30 percent of each school day engaging in virtual learningies
6-8: The 6-8 program has subject area courses based on the grade level of the student. Students will:
- follow a prescribed schedule, customized to individual student needs
- devote a minimum of 30 hours per week to their studies
- spend 50–75 percent of each school day engaging in virtual learning activities
9-12: High School students will select courses from the Course Catalog
Students will:
- follow traditional school calendars and have their learning facilitated by Vermont licensed educators
- devote a minimum of 30 hours per week to their studies
- spend 50–75 percent of each school day engaging in virtual learning activities
Resources:
- VTVLC Video link
- VTVLC Elementary Link
- Middle and High School VTVLC Link
- If you have additional questions please contact your school principal or Virtual Learning Coordinator Andrea Wheeland, [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions:
What days and times are students getting instruction through the remote learning option?
Students will be receiving work in weekly chunks and the schedule will be created in conjunction with the teacher(s) and VTVLC.
Will students in full-time virtual learning receive computers?
Yes, all WSD students will be provided with a device for classwork.
How will my child be kept accountable for their coursework?
All students who are using the remote learning option will receive grades and continuous feedback from their teacher(s). Teachers will be able to monitor and assess student classwork and activities in real-time. Parents will be able to stay updated on attendance, grades, and assignments just as they do when students are in in-person classes.
What happens if my child’s or family’s health situation changes and I need to enroll my child in remote learning after the deadline or at a later date?
We will determine whether we are able to provide a remote learning option to students on an individual basis. Please contact your child’s principal if you want to begin a conversation about this option.
Can my child take P.E., Health, Music, and Art as part of their coursework online?
K-8 Students enrolled in remote learning will have instruction in P.E., music, and art online and will have activities and projects they complete at home. Students in 9-12 may elect to choose these options when they enroll.
Do you provide a curriculum for students with special needs?
WSD will continue to offer services through Special Services to remote learners. The program will provide accommodations, modifications, and assistive technology support for students with disabilities according to current Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans developed by the school district’s IEP and 504 teams. ELL students will also be provided support in accessing their virtual content.
Can you accommodate the accelerated learning needs of my gifted/talented child?
The program is flexible in order to meet children where they are in any given subject and will take them where they want to go. Our teachers will work directly with parents and students to ensure proper placement into the curriculum.
Can my child participate in sports and extracurricular activities offered by WSD?
Yes! Remote learning students are able to participate in all extracurricular and sports offered by Winooski School District. Your child’s school will inform you about what extracurricular activities are on offer.
WSD Family Update – August 14, 2020
Dear Winooski Families,
The Winooski School District (WSD), along with fifteen neighboring districts across Addison, Chittenden and Franklin counties adopted the hybrid model for school instruction with a public announcement on July 23rd. The hybrid model is not perfect for families or staff, however it achieves a middle ground in balancing family and staff needs. Learning will be a blend of in-person at school and remote/virtual learning. This approach is student-centered, focused on social-emotional needs, and designed to keep our students learning at a high level. Most importantly, a hybrid model affords the ability to offer in-person learning in the safest environment possible while adhering to the best practices of the guidance issued by the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE). We continue to follow the educational guidance from the VT Agency of Education, and the health guidance from the VT Department of Health experts on COVID-19. We believe that we must do what is best for our students, the community and our staff, and that includes, in part, educating students in the school. If circumstances change, we will reconsider our approach.
Our three reopening teams composed of teachers, support staff, students and administrators have worked tirelessly since late June to build these plans knowing there is no perfect solution for everyone involved but trying our very best to keep students at the center of our planning.
Yesterday, three days prior to teachers reporting to work, the Winooski Education Association (WEA), the union that represents both teachers and support staff announced they “cannot endorse the current hybrid model at this time, nor any model that incorporates regular, in-person instruction district-wide.” The full statement can be read here. I would urge you to read their statement and contact WSD school board members with your impressions:
- Tori Cleiland: [email protected] Alex Yin: [email protected]
- Mike Decarreau: [email protected] Margaret Bass: [email protected]
- Matt MacNeil: [email protected]
Two weeks ago we told parents that we would send out our WSD Reopening Plan and announce the groups or pods that your child(ren) will be in with the guiding principle that students in the same family will attend in-person instruction on the same days. The WSD Reopening Plan outlines:
- Health Considerations: Health Screenings, Contact Tracing & Student Medications
- School Building & Operations: Meals, Transportation, Cleaning
- Continuity of Learning: JFK, WMS & WHS Hybrid Learning Plans, WSD Supported Remote Option, Home Study via State of VT and Child Care
- Social Emotional Well Being: Attendance, SEL K-5 and 6-12
- English Language Learners (ELL): Overview of ELL services
- Special Education: Overview of special education services
Please click here to find your child(ren’s) in-person instruction days: WSD A & B Groups or Pods
- A Group or Pod will attend on Monday & Tuesday
- B Group or Pod will attend on Thursday & Friday
We know this is a challenging time for everyone, and we are so grateful for your ongoing support.
Take care,
Superintendent Sean McMannon
WSD Family Updates August 27, 2020
Dear WSD families, It’s hard to believe that students will start back in just over a week. Our teachers and staff are busy preparing to welcome everyone back safely. Here are some important updates and information. IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES August 28 - Deadline for...
Sewing the Way Through Uncertainty
In July Winooski Middle School student, Ivy Resmer reached out to WMHS Co-Principal Kate with a question. She said that she had been making cloth face masks since the beginning of the pandemic, and had currently made over two-hundred. She wanted to know if Winooski...
WSD Family Updates August 20th, 2020
Dear WSD Families, I hope you are all well. Our teachers and staff are back for inservice this week, and while things feel and look very different this year, we are all very excited to welcome students back to our learning community. Below are some important updates...
Student Meal Time Preferences Survey
Family Update on Meals August 18 There will be no more student meals available until September 8. If you are experiencing food insecurity due to the pause in meal provisions, we have grocery store gift certificates available to help. Please call or text Emily Hecker...
Full Remote Learning Option for the 20/21 School Year
If you would like to choose the full remote learning option, please fill out this form. Winooski School District Full Remote Learning Option K-12 Winooski students in grades K - 12 may choose a fully remote option for learning instead of in-person learning. WSD is...
Brianna Robare – graduated 2013
What are you doing now? After graduating from Winooski High School in 2013 I went on to pursue my Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. Upon Graduation in 2019, I began working as a Pharmacist for Hannaford Food &...
WSD Family Update – August 14, 2020
Dear Winooski Families, The Winooski School District (WSD), along with fifteen neighboring districts across Addison, Chittenden and Franklin counties adopted the hybrid model for school instruction with a public announcement on July 23rd. The hybrid model is not...
WSD Family Update – August, 6, 2020
Dear Winooski Families, During these trying and uncertain times I hope you are finding moments to relax, reflect, exercise and laugh with your family and friends. Last week I was able to find some time and mental/emotional space to begin processing all that has...
Black Lives Matter – Flag Raising at WSD
Winooski School District will raise the BLM flag TOMORROW August 7 at 4pm. Join the Facebook Live stream at https://www.facebook.com/winooskilearns and watch live on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/WinooskiLearns/ Middle School teacher Mugabo W'Ishema...
COVID-19 Testing in Winooski and Surrounding Communities
COVID-19 Testing in Winooski and Surrounding Communities From the Vermont Department of Health: Registration is preferred, but walk-ups are welcome. Please note these tests are for people without symptoms. People with symptoms should call their doctors. The test will...
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