District Communications

Mask Reminder
While the mask mandate has relaxed for much of Vermont, our district is still adhering to the Vermont Agency of Education’s Strong and Healthy Year Guidelines. 

All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the school building. They must also wear them when outside of the building if adequate physical distancing of at least six (6) feet cannot be maintained. This includes any end of year events or field trips. Adults doing student drop-off and pick-up must wear facial coverings. In addition, all visitors must wear a mask while on the WSD campus. 

We have created this video to provide guidance to help us finish the year strong. 

Athletic Banquet
Winooski High School 77th Annual Athletic Banquet on Sunday, June 13th at 6:00pm in the Winooski High School Gymnasium. All Winooski high School students who completed at least one athletic season for the 2020-21 School year. Each family may have two people attend. If you would like to bring additional guests, please email Athletic Director Dennis Barcomb ([email protected]). Please note, the potluck meal will not occur this year. (Live streaming of the Banquet will be available on Facebook) 

Are you curious how the WSD uses Federal Grant money?
On Saturday, May 22 at 6 pm Michael Eppolito, Director of Curriculum will review how the Winooski School District uses its Federal Grant money. During this 30 minute presentation you will:

• Learn about the goals and purposes of our Federal Grant 
• Learn about how we use Federal Grant funds 
• Provide suggestions and ask questions regarding our federal funding

Join the meeting: https://wsdvt.zoom.us/j/82207498936

Interpreter services are available upon request. Please contact your liaison. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at School
The first in-school clinic on May 18 was a success! Over 100 students, staff and community members were able to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

WCAX reported on the clinic – watch the video here. Our school is one giant step closer to protecting our entire learning community from COVID. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of  Nurse Liz Parris, Emily Hecker, Karen Greene, Jaycie Puttlitz, Cathy Bray, Jason Ziter and all the teachers who helped make sure their students were registered. 

The next in-school clinic for second doses is June 8 from 1 – 5 pm. 

More good news: No positive cases of COVID  have been reported to the WSD COVID-19 Coordinators in over two weeks. Keep up the good work!

School Board Message from Mike Decarreau
WSD Community,

It is with deeply mixed emotions that I am announcing my resignation from the Board effective on the last day of May 2021. With a new job at work taking on issues worldwide in the global supply chain and fairly demanding time commitments at home I am finding that I do not have the time and energy to put into the school board work that the role requires. 

When Tori Cleiland and I got involved in 2011 I heard often that this was a thankless job. I would tell you it has been quite the opposite. Did we have our challenges? Of course. If it is always easy you have obviously missed something or you are taking the easy path.

I have actually heard words of thanks from staff and community and that is very rewarding. To me, over the past ten years, the most rewarding part has been to see the growth of the staff and the incredible support from the community for what you all do every day. 

Having been in the city all my life (nearly 40 years now! or so) I am extremely proud to see the respect our schools have gotten over the past 5 to 8 years due to all your hard work and creative vision. I have never been prouder than at several VSBA conferences where other school districts wanted to talk to Winooski about the great things we had going on here.    

Keep up the great work, continue to make our Winooski community proud and please enjoy the gradual reopening of our lives as well as the great new facility coming on line in 2022.

It has been the greatest of pleasures to serve such a dedicated staff that serves our students and their families so well. Take good care of yourselves and each other. And yes, for those that know me, there were a few tears of pride while typing this. 

Incoming Kindergarten Student Screening
On June 9, we are excited to welcome our incoming Kindergarten students and their families to JFK Elementary School for a Kindergarten Screening.

Children who will be five years old before September 1, 2021 should attend this screening. Families should call the JFK office, 80s-655-0411, to make an appointment.

All screening appointments are 45 minutes long. When you come to your screening appointment, please bring:

• Your student
• Your student’s birth certificate or I-94
• Your student’s updated immunization record
• Your student’s Social Security Number
• Proof of Residency

While your student is being screened, families will have time to complete the online registration if they have not done so already and fill out a sheet to help us learn about your student. If you have an incoming kindergarten student and cannot come to the screening on June 9, please call the JFK Office. We will take your information and one of the Kindergarten teachers will contact you to make alternative plans.

Courtesy Posts
Each week we will share information from non-district organizations upon request. Click here if you are interested in learning more about: 

• Clean Up Day with Above the Influence (and free lunch!)
• Read 3 Books and get Free Tickets to the Champlain Valley Fair
• Free nutrition classes 

Important Upcoming Dates:

• May 18 from 1-5pm – COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the WSD for age-eligible students
• May 31 – No School
• Veggie Van Go at the WSD June 2 & 9 from 9-10am
• Last Student Day on Friday, June 11, 2021 – Early Release for Students at 11am
• June 12 at 1pm – WHS Graduation
• Annual Athletic Banquet on Sunday, June 13 at 6:00pm (Live streaming will be available on Facebook)

Dear WSD Families,
We are excited to announce that we will be holding an in-school vaccination clinic next week. This clinic will serve students ages 12 and up in our district as well as other community members – including parents. The WSD vaccine clinic will be held on May 18 from 1-5pm AND June 8 (for the second dose). Registration information is attached and will be sent home with your student.

We especially look forward to providing vaccines for our 12 to 15-year-old students, who are newly eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The Health Department and Vermont pediatricians have put together this two-page information sheet on the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and why it is safe and effective for this age group.

Dr. Sherry LaRose, who provides care for Winooski students through our School-Based Health Center, highly recommends parents/guardians register their age-eligible Winooski students for the vaccine. “You are not only helping your child and family by getting vaccinated but the entire community.  If more people continue to get infected, it increases the chance for variants to form which can set us back from how far we have come. The sooner we get everyone vaccinated the sooner we can go back to living more normal lives.  When the vaccine has emergency approval for 2-year-olds, I will be giving it to my daughter as soon as I can!”

If you have any questions, please contact the WSD COVID-19 Coordinators. We are eager to support you however we can to help get our students vaccinated for their health and the health of our community.

Athletic Banquet
Winooski High School 77th Annual Athletic Banquet on Sunday, June 13th at 6:00 pm in the Winooski High School Gymnasium. All Winooski High School students who completed at least one athletic season for the 2020-21 School year. Each family may have two people attend. If you would like to bring additional guests, please email Athletic Director Dennis Barcomb ([email protected]). Please note, the potluck meal will not occur this year. (Live streaming of the Banquet will be available on Facebook)

Emergency Broadband Benefit now open
As we shared last week, the Federal Communications Commission has launched a temporary program to help families and households struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application. You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting http://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or by calling 833-511-0311

P-EBT Updates
Families who have not yet received their P-EBT cards should expect to receive the cards by mid-May. In addition to all of the resources listed here, the WSD also has some additional resources available. Fill out this form for more information.

Antiracism Steering Committee
The Antiracism Steering Committee met on May 3 to outline committee agreements and values moving forward. They also discussed the creation of subgroups for guiding the work around the school-board-approved Winooski Students for Antiracism’s demands. The next meeting is set for June 7.

BOOK RETURN SWEEPSTAKES!!!!
The WSD Library has an exciting announcement for students: If you return a book between now and June 4th you will be entered to win WIN WIN!!!!! prizes include New Books (of course!), Bakugan (cool dragon action figures!) Dragomonz (different brand of dragon action figure), novelty bookmarks (bookmark that looks like a shark fin!), and 3D stickers! Winners will be drawn every week.

Here are some places you might find contest entry tickets (aka library books!)

• On a bookshelf at home, mixed in with your books
• Under things (bed, couch, car seat…)
• Your locker
• Old backpack
• Ask siblings/parents, maybe they picked it up and read it
• Relative or friend’s house

To enter, just drop your books in one of the black bins with the yellow top marked Library Return Bin. There is one outside each library door, and one just outside the WHMS office. Happy book hunting and good luck!

Thanks,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent

• May 13 and 31 – No School
• Incoming Kindergarten Info Sessions – Saturday, May 8 at 1pm 
• June 12 at 1pm – WHS Graduation (Live streaming will be available on Facebook) 
• View the updated WSD School Calendar 

“My mother had handed down respect for the possibilities — and the will to grasp them.” — Alice Walker

When Anna Jarvis founded Mother’s Day in 1907, she wanted to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world”. For all of you who give and love so much: Enjoy a Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday!

Staff Appreciation Week
We appreciate our staff every day of the year – and it’s always nice to reserve a special time to show gratitude. This week, our staff have enjoyed treats from the WSD Leadership Team, the PTO, and from students. It’s not too late to share your appreciation with a WSD staffer! Send them an email and show some Winooski heart. (As a reminder, staff emails are first letter of first name + last name at wsdvt.org) 

WSD COVID-19 Updates
Since last Thursday, the COVID-19 Coordinators have been notified of three confirmed positive cases, two requiring a line list because the individuals were in school while infectious. If you were not contacted that means you/your child are not considered a close contact. 

As of today, approximately 40 individuals are currently in quarantine at home awaiting test results before returning to in-person learning. 

While progress is being made with vaccines, COVID has not gone away and continues to negatively impact our learning community. Please watch the video below to review health and safety procedures so that we can finish the year strong.

Updated Health Guidance
Recently, some school health guidance has changed. Please watch this video with your child, and make sure we finish the year strong!

Info Sessions for Incoming Kindergarten Students
Principal Sara Raabe will be hosting two info sessions for families of incoming Kindergarten students (for the 21/22 school year) next week. All families with incoming kindergarten students are highly encouraged to attend! 

• Saturday, May 8 at 1pm 
• Join either meeting here: https://wsdvt.zoom.us/j/81156565870

Bike, Water, Helmet and Car Seat Safety Tips!
WSD Student Nurse Kaitlyn Butkus shared these tips for keeping WSD students safe.  

School Sports Guidance
With changes as of May 1 to the State’s COVID-19 guidance that included the transition of recreational sports programs to Universal Guidance, and an updated masking policy that requires masks outdoors when you are in a crowd or with other households where you can’t maintain a 6-foot distance, read how these updated guidelines apply to both recreational and school-based sports programs. Read more here. 

Courtesy Posts
Each week we will share information from non-district organizations upon request. Click here if you are interested in learning more about: 

• Splash School 2021 (free aquatic lessons for Winooski students)
• Spring College Fair 
• Summer programs for incoming 6-9 grade students
• Free Parenting Workshops

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Incoming Kindergarten Info Sessions – Monday, May 3 at 1pm and Saturday, May 8 at 1pm 
• May 31 – No School
• June 12 at 1pm – WHS Graduation (Live streaming will be available on Facebook) 
• View the updated WSD School Calendar 

Dear Families,
The WSD was recently featured in an article by author Bill Schubart, titled: Winooski is a Pioneer in Diversity and Learning. Here’s an excerpt: “Why must we care about and learn from this bold vision in Winooski? The underlying rationale is an intrinsic understanding that the whole family’s security and well-being are integral to the child’s. Hungry, homeless, sick children don’t learn. The Winooski vision understands that the well-being of the family is integral to the success of the learner.” Click here to read the full article.

COVID-19 Updates
Today the WSD COVID Coordinators were informed about one probable positive individual who was in school while infectious. The Coordinators worked with the Vermont Department of Health on creating a line list of all close contacts of the infectious individual. If you were not contacted that means you/your child are not considered a close contact. During the break another positive case was reported, however, the person was not in school while infectious. 

Now that many community members and some older students are being vaccinated, we wanted to share a reminder of the current health guidelines: 

P-EBT Updates
As we shared earlier this week, there was an error uploading data about WSD students for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Many WSD students were not included in the original list and therefore did not receive their benefit. 

The Agency of Education (AOE) and the Department for Children and Families (DCF) have agreed to work with the WSD to ensure that any families who did not receive P-EBT benefits due to data upload issues receive their cards as soon as possible.  Families who have not yet received their P-EBT cards were likely affected by the data issue and should expect to receive the cards by mid-May. 

In addition to all of the resources listed here, the WSD also has some additional resources available.

Internet and Device Benefit for all Winooski Students
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is offering an Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) to help households stay connected during the pandemic. The EBB will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. Because all students in the WSD receive free meals through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, all students in the WSD qualify for EBB. 

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Read more here. 

The WSD has also extended the Internet Essentials sponsorship program. If your family currently does not have internet at home, contact Emily Hecker to learn about how to sign up for the WSD-sponsored free internet program. 

Middle School Four Day Feedback
All of our middle schoolers returned to school for our new four-day per week schedule. It is great to have all the students and teachers in the building again!  Generally, the transition has been smooth as teachers and students prepared the week before vacation. A big thank you to the staff and students who moved classrooms and are creating a new learning environment for our last six weeks of school.

Info Sessions for Incoming Kindergarten Students
Principal Sara Raabe will be hosting two info sessions for families of incoming Kindergarten students (for the 21/22 school year) next week. All families with incoming kindergarten students are highly encouraged to attend! 

• Monday, May 3 at 1pm
• Saturday, May 8 at 1pm 
• Join either meeting here: https://wsdvt.zoom.us/j/81156565870

Sign up for Summer School – Incoming Kindergarteners
Summer school will run for four weeks in July. Mondays and Wednesdays summer school will run 8am – 2:30pm and students will be off campus. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, summer school will run from 8am – 12pm and students will be on the JFK campus for the day. Sign up here!

Information from Local Organizations
Each week we will share information from non-district organizations when upon request. Click here if you are interested in learning more about: 

• Listen Up Vermont seeks teen talent 
• Winooski’s Beautiful Tree Competition – Win-Win Winooski!
• Sailing Diversity Access Scholarship