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District Communications

District communications including weekly updates, COVID-19 & more.

Winooski School District's Family Newsletters

District Updates 2.18.21

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Important Upcoming Dates:

  • No School February 22 through March 2. All students will return to remote learning Wednesday, March 3.
  • March 1 – Town Meeting Day Budget Info Session at 7:45pm (link below)
  • Early Voting for Town Meeting Day has already begun
  • Tuesday, March 2 – Town Meeting Day. Voting will take place from 7am-7pm at the Winooski Senior Center. If you are able, please vote!
  • Wednesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 10 from 9-10am – VT Foodbank at WSD and student meal kit distribution

Dear WSD Families and Students,

Since our update last week there has been one positive case of COVID-19 reported to the WSD COVID-19 Coordinators. No line list was required because the individual was not in school while infectious. 11 members of our learning community are being monitored, either awaiting a negative test result or until their 14-day quarantine is over.

In Chittenden County test positivity rates average at 1%. Read more about data and how to protect yourself and others here.

February Break – There will be no school for all students Preschool through 12th-grade from Monday, February 22 through Tuesday, March 2. All students will return to remote learning Wednesday, March 3. All K-5 students and Pod B 6th-12th grade students will return to in-person learning on Thursday, March 4th.

If your student is enrolled in the VTVLC, Quarter 4 begins March 22. Find the VTVLC academic calendar here.

Student meal kits will be available for pick-up from 9-10am at all 3 distribution sites:

  • Wednesday, February 24
  • Wednesday, March 3

Our Commitment to LGBTQ+ Students and Response to Recent Social Media Post – Please read our statement regarding a social media post made this weekend.

Budget Information – Early voting has already started and ends on Town Meeting Day (March 2)! Do you feel like you have enough information to make an informed vote? Special flyers have been delivered to every mailbox in Winooski to help community members understand next year’s WSD budget. Check out the flyer here! You can also watch the WSD Budget video by student David Klinker that features more information about the school budget. And please bring your questions and join us on March 1 for a Budget Info Session at 7:45pm via this link.

Middle High School Afterschool – Read more about afterschool offerings for Middle High School students here, including a newly launched Antiracism Club for Middle School students led by Winooski Students for Antiracism (WSA) members!

Winooski’s Got Talent – The Winooski PTO will be hosting the annual Winooski’s Got Talent virtually on March 25! To star in Winooski’s Got Talent you need to submit a video of you performing your talent, or a picture of your artwork, by March 12. Questions and submissions should be sent to Joe Smith at [email protected]. Please make sure that your videos show you following Covid safety protocols as outlined by the CDC. 

Watch Basketball Games Live! – Due to the pandemic, spectators are not allowed at Winooski basketball games this season, however, we will broadcast games on our district Facebook page (please note, games will NOT be live on the district Youtube channel due to technical issues). Watch the games here: https://www.facebook.com/winooskilearns

Find the game schedule here: https://www.wsdvt.org/athletic-department/

Just as in real life, remember to keep all comments on the live feed respectful and positive. Go, Spartans!

Thank you for reading these updates,

Sean McMannon, Superintendent

Our Commitment to LGBTQ+ Students

The Winooski School District strives to create an environment where ALL students feel they belong. Creating this welcoming and safe environment includes all LGBTQ+ students who, the data shows, are at high risk of experiencing harm in Vermont schools. As the Gender Liberation in Vermont Schools toolkit explains, transgender students are at risk of harm “not because of who they are, it is because of what they have to cope with–communities that do not welcome them.” That is why we have worked closely with several students and their families over the past seven years to ensure a safe and supportive shift in identity with the support of trained staff and Outright VT. 

Recently, there has been a public post and subsequent comments on Facebook that have made unfounded assumptions about our school district. Our district will not disclose confidential and private information about students and families to provide context to public accusations. And we would ask all parents, guardians, and students to take a breath when reading social media posts and consider whether they have all the information needed to post a helpful response. Assuming all information posted on social media is accurate coupled without the input of all parties involved can lead to unfair conclusions.

Our expectation is that any student or family concerns be shared with the appropriate school staff person. We will work collaboratively to address concerns while keeping the best interests of students at the center of every decision and response. When a student or parent is not satisfied with the results, there are next steps to be followed. Read about our Procedures for Public Complaints about School Personnel for more information. 

Here is what we have already done, and plan to do in the future, to help ensure LGBTQ+ students feel welcome and supported in the Winooski School District: 

  • Read our district policy on Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students. 
  • In 2018, JFK Elementary held an Outright VT training for staff. We will continue to plan additional training in the future.
  • Our leadership team and teachers partner with and support transgender students and their families.
  • District-wide there are seven bullying investigators on staff who are trained with legal knowledge about Hazing, Harassment and Bullying (HHB). These staff members start an investigation if a caregiver reports anything that may be HHB.
  • JFK classroom libraries have intentional, developmentally-appropriate books featuring LGBTQ characters and stories.
  • The WSD library strives to maintain a library collection that includes beautiful, funny, mysterious, and exciting stories that represent the spectrum of LGBTQ experience to our students K-12 (Julian the Mermaid, The Stars and the Blackness Between Them). Our nonfiction collection has texts that can help guide students as they begin the process of exploring their identities (Coming Out and Seeking Support, Being Transgender).
  • We work with outside agencies to support students and families, including on-site Howard Center social workers.
  • In JFK, two guidance counselors teach Social Thinking for all grade levels (Kindergarten through 5th grade). Kindergarten through 2nd grade has specifically focused on acceptance of others during this school year.
  • At JFK, there has been a school-wide focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL), with an emphasis on wellbeing due to COVID-19.
  • We have outside counselors that meet with students in school – this is open to any students with parental permission and input.
  • JFK is a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBiS) school and a Responsive Classroom and (Developmental Designs in the Middle School) – which set up a positive school climate and expectations on how we treat each other.
  • The Middle High School Pride Club has been established for several years. Many students attend regularly and meet with faculty from the middle and high school, with additional district staff support. All students are welcome to attend. Faculty sponsor, Amanda Spencer, says the priority is for students to have a safe space to meet and be themselves. 

While we are unable to share information about HHB investigations or individual students’ private matters, we can clearly state that we stand with our LGBTQ+ students, families and staff. We will continue to take the necessary steps to build a safe and supportive school environment for all students. 

Sincerely,

Sara Raabe, JFK Principal

Jean Berthiaume, WMHS Co-Principal

Kate Grodin, WMHS Co-Principal

School Closed February 16

Due to a winter storm in our region, which includes heavy snowfall and potentially hazardous road conditions, the Winooski School District will be closed Tuesday, February 16th.  All schools will be closed to PreK through 12th-grade students and faculty, and there will not be any remote or in-person learning except if you are enrolled in VTVLC.  We will continue to keep you updated about any additional changes to our learning schedule.

Positive Case in the WSD 2.12.21

Dear WSD Families,

February 12, 2021 – I am writing to you to let you know that a member of our learning community has a confirmed positive case of COVID-19. At this time, we have no reason to believe there is any evidence of transmission occurring in the building. 

Our COVID-19 Coordinators are working closely with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) to keep everyone in our learning community as safe as possible. 

Yesterday, the WSD COVID-19 Co-Coordinators called all individuals considered close contacts of the positive case. If you have not been contacted, that means you and/or your child are not considered a close contact of the positive case.

27 people are currently in quarantine because they are considered close contacts of the positive individual. 11 people are in quarantine because they are symptomatic, awaiting test results, or finishing their 14-day quarantine. 

 The WSD COVID-19 Response Team, has decided to cancel the high school’s home basketball games scheduled for this afternoon out of an abundance of caution. 

Please continue to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID, so that we can keep our schools open and our community healthy. 

COVID-19 Testing in Winooski

Daily on-going COVID-19 testing is available in Winooski at the O’Brien Community Center (32 Malletts Bay Ave) for the entire month of February, during the following hours:

  • Mondays / 2 – 8 PM 
  • Tuesdays / 9 – 3 PM
  • Wednesdays / 2 – 8 PM 
  • Thursdays / 9 – 3 PM 
  • Fridays / 2 – 8 PM 
  • Saturdays / 9 – 3 PM 
  • Sunday / 9 – 3 PM

Thank you for everything you do to keep our community safe and healthy. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the WSD COVID-19 hotline, 802-556-2243. 

Thank you,

Sean McMannon, Superintendent

WSD Updates 2.11.21

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Important Upcoming Dates:

  • Find the WSD’s updated school calendar here.
  • Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 6pm – Remote City/School Budget Presentations
  • No School February 22 through March 2. All students will return to remote learning Wednesday, March 3.
  • Tuesday, March 2 – Town Meeting Day. Voting will take place from 7am-7pm at the Winooski Senior Center.
  • Wednesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 10 from 9-10am – VT Foodbank at WSD and student meal kit distribution.

Dear WSD Families,

I am excited to participate in the Special Olympics Vermont (SOVT) 26th annual Penguin Plunge. This year, instead of one day, there will be an entire Plunge season, from February 6 – March 27!

The SOVT Penguin Plunge is a unique winter event where participants raise funds to take a dip in Vermont’s icy lakes. The funds raised support programs that foster inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, through sports activities.

Our district team, the Winooski Spartans, is part of the Cool Schools Penguin Plunge, which will be fully remote in 2021. The Spartans will need to get creative and produce a one-of-a-kind Penguin Splash video to be included in the Penguin Plunge Celebration live stream!  We will be developing our unique “plunge” in February and will share the video in mid-March.

The Winooski Spartans have raised over $70,000 for this worthy cause in seven years. These funds have allowed us to create the WSD Unified Sports program, which includes over 40 Winooski student-athletes!  During this challenging year, my personal goal is to raise $3000. Please consider supporting the Winooski Spartans Penguin Plunge, SOVT, and the WSD Unified Sports Teams by joining our team. Information will be shared with students next week so they can join and help construct our unique “plunge”.

COVID-19 Updates – Since last week there have been no positive cases of COVID-19 reported to the WSD COVID-19 Coordinators. 11 members of our learning community are being monitored, either awaiting a negative test result or until their 14-day quarantine is over.

Winooski currently has the lowest rate of positive COVID cases in nearly three months and Chittenden County positive cases have declined by 38% in the past 14 days. Read more here.

February Break – There will be no school for all students Preschool through 12th-grade from Monday, February 22 through Tuesday, March 2. All students will return to remote learning Wednesday, March 3. All PreK-5 students and Pod B 6th-12th grade students will return to in-person learning on Thursday, March 4th. Student meal kits will be available for pick-up from 9-10am at all 3 distribution sites: Wednesday, February 24, and Wednesday, March 3.

Budget Information – Join the City of Winooski and the Winooski School District for our annual joint budget presentations on Wednesday, February 17 at 6pm! Members of the public are encouraged to participate. Each presentation will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions and make public comments.

Watch this video to learn more about Capital Project progress!

Black History Month Resources – If you’re interested in doing a deeper dive into Black History this month, WSD Curriculum Director Michael Eppolito put together these resources about Black History Month.

JFK Afterschool  – Click here to read about the 21C Afterschool offerings for JFK students from March 4 – June 4 (unless indicated otherwise). Please bring the completed registration form back by Friday, February 12.

Governor’s Institute of Vermont (GIV) – Do you know a passionate, curious Vermont high school student? Please take a moment to let them know about learning opportunities through GIV. Interested students can learn more and start their online application at giv.org/institutes/summer-2021/.

Winooski’s Got Talent – The Winooski PTO will be hosting the annual Winooski’s Got Talent virtually on March 25th. They are looking for talent from Winooski students to include in the show.

Talents can include:

  • singing,
  • playing an instrument,
  • comedy,
  • juggling,
  • magic tricks,
  • skateboard tricks,
  • basketball trick shots,
  • artwork,
  • or any other talents!

To star in Winooski’s Got Talent you need to submit a video of you performing your talent, or a picture of your artwork, by March 12th. Questions and submissions should be sent to Joe Smith at [email protected]. Please make sure that your videos show you following Covid safety protocols as outlined by the CDC. 

Watch Basketball Games Live!

School sports leagues are now able to hold competitive games starting Friday, 2/12. Due to the pandemic, spectators are not allowed at Winooski basketball games this season, however, we will live broadcast games on our district YouTube channel: bit.ly/VideosWSD. Games will be recorded and available for later viewing via the same link.

The first games of the season are scheduled for Friday 2/12.  Below is the schedule:

  • Friday  2/12 Middle School A girls home vs Vergennes 3:00pm (No B game)
  • Friday 2/12 HS boys vs Danville. JV at 6:00pm and Varsity at 7:30pm

Thank you for reading these updates and strengthening our school/home partnership.

Take care,

Sean McMannon, Superintendent

Response to Racial Violence at Athletic Events

Sep 24, 2021 |

This past weekend, at a Winooski High School (WHS) soccer game in Winooski, three players on the Enosburg Falls High School (EFHS) team and spectators used abhorrent, violent, racist language against our student-athletes. Reading these unacceptable words may cause you...

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