District Communications
District communications including weekly updates, COVID-19 & more.
COVID-19 Testing Offered in Winooski 6/1/20
The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with Community Health Centers of Burlington, will be offering a number of COVID-19 testing events for residents.
The first Winooski testing event will take place on Monday, June 1st, 2020 at the O’Brien Community Center at 32 Mallets Bay Avenue, from 10 am to 2 pm for up to 50 people. No sign up or reservation is required. Interpreters will be available. Please wear a face covering.
With support from the City of Winooski, additional testing events are being planned by the Health Department to take place in the coming days at the O’Brien Community Center. COVID-19 testing is also available this week in Burlington at the University of Vermont’s Waterman Building on June 3, 4, 5 and 6 from 9 am to 3 pm. For an appointment, go to humanresources.vermont.gov/
The Health Department will notify you of your test results:
- If your test result is positive, a public health nurse from the Health Department will call you in a few days.
- If you have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive, Health Department staff will also reach out to you.
- If your test result is negative, you will get a letter in the mail within a week.
Whether you have COVID-19 or not, all community members should continue to practice physical distancing, use face coverings when in the presence of others, regularly wash your hands, and stay home if you’re sick. For the most up-to-date information: www.
May 30, 2020: COVID-19 Cluster in Winooski
Dear WSD Families and Staff,
I wanted to share the latest update from the City of Winooski regarding the new cases of COVID-19 in Winooski (below). I understand that many of you are concerned about these new cases, but I urge you to stay smart and continue following social distancing guidelines. Our district will continue to follow up with any new developments.
The City of Winooski is working closely with the Department of Health in its investigation into a cluster of COVID-19 virus among a small number of members of our community. This is not an outbreak of the virus spreading.
The Health Department has been in contact with the individuals and is providing appropriate guidance and recommendations – including for self-isolation and quarantine. The department’s contact tracing team has been reaching out to any of these individuals’ close contacts to identify any further risk and need for testing. We appreciate the rapid and comprehensive response by the state and their cooperation in helping us to protect the health of everyone in Winooski.
Members of the Winooski community should follow the same precautions as all Vermonters: continue to practice physical distancing, use face coverings when in the presence of others, regularly wash your hands, and stay home if you’re sick.
Thank you for your efforts. Together, our actions will help get us past this difficult time.
Questions regarding this update can be sent to:
- Jessie Baker, City Manager – [email protected]
- Paul Sarne, Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
A reminder from The Vermont Department of Health: If you believe you have been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, monitor yourself for symptoms. This includes checking your temperature every day, watching for symptoms and staying home. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 and are a close contact of someone who tested positive, you should: Call your health care provider and call the Vermont Department of Health at 802-863-7240.
Thank you,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent
May 28, 2020: Digital Safety & Wellbeing
Dear Winooski Families,
The Winooski School District is committed to supporting every family in our district through the various challenges the pandemic has created. Below are a few resources we hope will help.
Support for Distance Learning and Keeping Your Teen Safe Online
Do you wonder how safe it is for your teen to use TikTok and Snapchat? Do you feel lost when it comes to monitoring your kid’s activity online? Do you feel your teen spends way too much time on their device but don’t know how to set limits?
Please join us this evening for a virtual presentation, Digital Safety and Wellbeing: Tackling Difficult Conversations in the Digital Age, to come up with a plan that works for everyone in your family.
- This evening, Thursday, May 28th at 6:30pm
Attend Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82078955108
(If you missed last week’s presentation geared for grades K-5th, you can watch it here.)
Free Food, Art Supplies and Toys
- Tomorrow, Friday, May 29 from 9-10am at Winooski School District
This Friday families are invited to pick up Veggie VanGo produce (celery, romaine lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, onion, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes and milk) Skinny Pancake meals, toys from Wow Toyz and art supplies for elementary students from Shelburne Museum (while supplies last).
Meals will still be available at all three sites on Friday.
Please remember to respect safety guidelines: Remain six feet away from people you don’t live with, wear a cloth face covering, and wash your hands with warm soapy water before leaving the house and when you get back.
Support for Other Essential Needs
We are still raising funds to support Winooski families in need. If you know of a family that needs help, please contact Krista Parisi [email protected]. If you are able to make a donation please send a check made out to Winooski School District, mailed to
Winooski School District ℅ Krista Parisi,
60 Normand Street
Winooski Vermont
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)
The Winooski School District is a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school which allows us to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students. Due to our CEP status all WSD families will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (3SquaresVT) card with $387.60 per child. This new benefit is called Pandemic EBT (P-EBT). P-EBT provides funds to help families impacted by the COVID school closure to stretch their food budget. If you already have an EBT card, the funds have already been added to your card. If you have any questions about your P-EBT card, call 1-900-479-6151.
Take care,
Emily Hecker, WSD Communications Director
Updates: May 22, 2020
Dear WSD Families,
Our school year is winding to a close while many aspects of our future remain uncertain. This can be a confusing and stressful time — for you, for our families, for our students. In the midst of this turbulent time you are exhibiting extraordinary kindness, innovation and strength. I am grateful for each of you showing up every day and doing your best, despite all the challenges of our “new normal”.
And finally, after what felt like a long winter, spring has arrived in Vermont. Spring is a time of warmth, renewal, and hope. Our middle and high school teachers created this video with an important message for their students, but the rest of us should certainly take it to heart!
Many thanks to Matt Gile for his impressive editing work, Mikayla Kelemen and Randy Argraves for their incredible musical talents, and all the other teachers, staff and administrators who poured their hearts into this song of support and solidarity with our learning community!
I have some important information and updates to share with you.
Final Week of School
We have shifted the last student day to Wednesday, June 10th at 11:00am. We would like to celebrate the last day of a very challenging year with a last “Hoorah”! We invite all students and their families to come out of your homes safely for five minutes to bang pots and pans, and cheer for the last day!
End of Year Activities and Summer Programs
We wanted to provide an update regarding the most recent guidelines and information shared by the Agency of Education regarding end of year activities and summer programs.
Celebrating the Class of 2020!
Following the guidance provided, 12th grade graduation will not be celebrated traditionally with an in-person ceremony. While we are mourning this loss for our students and their families, we understand that this decision was made for the health and safety of all Vermonters. The Senior Graduation Planning Committee, which includes Principal Jean, Karen Greene, Heidi McLaughlin, and a dozen members of the class of 2020, are committed to celebrating this important milestone in a way students will always remember.
On June 13 from 10am-12pm we will be holding WSD’s first-ever mobile graduation procession. WSD Board President Michael Decarreau, Superintendent Sean McMannon, and Principal Jean Berthiaume will be riding behind a mobile float, safely delivering diplomas to each graduate in Winooski. Students and their families will be assigned a time to wait in front of their homes wearing their cap and gown. An online radio channel will be announcing each students’ name and the commencement address. More details to follow soon!
Watch for the class of 2020 on local television channels as well – WCAX and NBC5 will be sharing photos and names of our seniors throughout the month of June. We’ll share the dates and times those programs will air in the coming weeks.
Summer Learning and Enrichment Programs
We are working on a plan to offer modified summer programs to a reduced number of Winooski students. We are carefully considering every aspect of our plan to ensure proper health procedures are in place. Programming will primarily be conducted outside to mitigate person-to-person contact and improve ventilation. Participants should expect changes to the format, structure and scheduling of all programs.
We are hoping to offer:
- JFK Summer School for incoming 1st through 5th graders. Due to social distancing requirements we will not be able to serve as many students as normal.
- JFK Newcomer Academy
- Shader Croft programming for ELL middle and high school students
- THRIVE with a focus on childcare, and priority for younger children and children of Essential Workers
All programs are contingent on our ability to access sufficient Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and safely staff all programs. We will share details regarding registration as soon as we have more information.
Kindergarten Registration and Screening
We are working on our plan for kindergarten registration and screening, with guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education. We are asking all families with a student who will be 5 years old by September 1st, please call 802-655-0485 or email Linda Casier [email protected] to share your contact information. As our plans develop, we will share the information with families directly.
Next School Year
Many of you have questions about the reopening of school in the fall. We are carefully balancing the need to plan with waiting to use the most current public health data. Our school leadership team is working closely with the Agency of Education (AOE) and the Department of Health (DOH) to keep our entire school community safe as we prepare for a return to in-person learning.
We Still Need to Stay Home, Stay Safe:
Governor Scott relaxed the “Stay at Home” rules to allow group gatherings limited to 10 people or less, with careful physical distancing and hygiene requirements. Vermonters participating in outdoor recreation and fitness activities should “arrive, play and leave.” All playgrounds on the school grounds and across the city of Winooski are still closed until further notice. Please remind your child(ren) to follow all safety precautions.
Important upcoming dates
- Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day – no school
- Friday, May 29 from 9-10am at Winooski School District: Families are invited to pick up Veggie VanGo produce, Skinny Pancake meals, toys from Wow Toyz and art supplies for elementary students from Shelburne Museum (while supplies last).
- Wednesday, June 10th at 11am – 11:05am – Last day of school! The entire Winooski community is invited to join us for a Last Day Hooray! Safely stand outside your home, maintaining necessary physical distancing, and make some noise for our students. Bang pots and pans, play an instrument, or just shout, “You made it, WSD!”
- Saturday, June 13th from 10am – 12:00pm Mobile Graduation Procession to celebrate the class of 2020!
Find more information on our website www.wsdvt.org/covid19 – and remember, we are here to support each other, so if you need help, reach out! I hope everyone has a restful, fun and sunny Memorial Day weekend, you deserve it!
Thanks,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent
Art Across the Year
Our Winooski Middle School students have worked hard in Visual Arts this year to produce artwork of incredible quality and depth. During this strange period of remote learning and social distancing, we are unable to gather in a physical space to view and celebrate their artistic accomplishments. However, in lieu of an in-person art exhibition, we are thrilled to present this virtual exhibition featuring over 120 works of student art! We hope you will take some time to move through these virtual gallery spaces and view the wide array of artworks created this year by our extremely talented Winooski middle schoolers.
Thank you to Exhibbit for the generous donation of this virtual gallery space, and their support of our young artists!
Gallery Links:
Kindergarten Screening for the 2020/21 School Year
Kindergarten Screening In-person screening for incoming kindergarten students will be held on Monday, August 31, and Tuesday, September 1. To sign up, please call Linda Casier 802-383-6025. Families will be contacted about their child's placement on Wednesday,...
Family Updates – July 17
July 17, 2020 Dear WSD Families, Summer break is usually a chance to take a break from the responsibilities and routines of the school year, but this summer is obviously heavily weighed down by our uncertainty about the reopening of school. I recognize that you and...
Reopening School Survey
Dear WSD Families, The Winooski School District (WSD) is planning for your children to return to school this August. Our district strongly believes that in-person instruction is by far the best learning model, as long as it is safe and healthy for our students and...
76th Annual Athletic Banquet
A message from WSD Athletic Director, Dennis Barcomb: With the help of our own video expert, WSD librarian Matt Gile, I present to you the 76th annual Winooski Athletic Banquet. While we would have much rather met in person, I believe this video captures all of the...
Wearing a Mask in Winooski
Wear a Mask or Face Covering in Winooski The City of Winooski strongly encourages all of our residents and visitors to wear a mask or face covering when you’re not at home. This simple, thoughtful, and selfless act shows that you care about your neighbors. Governor...
Celebrate the Class of 2020!
Wondering how you can Celebrate the Winooski Class of 2020 on Saturday? You can participate in three ways: 1) For Actual Graduation Day Coverage - Tune in to live radio using the following link: bit.ly/WSD_Class_Of_2020_Radio Start listening at 9:45 am to hear the...
COVID-19 Testing Continues in Winooski 6/15/20 – 6/19/20
The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with Community Health Centers of Burlington, continues to offer COVID-19 testing in Winooski from 6/15/20 - 6/19/20. Testing is free and available to anyone - registration is encouraged but walk-ups are welcomed. Anyone...
School Board Statement on George Floyd’s Murder
There is a George Floyd in every city in America. Our hearts break for George Floyd’s family, friends and community. Our hearts break for our country. Our hearts break for our students - who have inherited a system founded on racism and injustice. The Winooski...
Message about the Killing of George Floyd
The Winooski School District Leadership Team wants to express our deep sadness and outrage at George Floyd’s death, yet another Black person killed because of the systemic racism inherent in our nation. We understand that despite the long history of racism and...
Winooski Outbreak Update
From the Vermont Department of Health: Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD together with City of Winooski leaders, will hold a press conference Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Winooski City Hall to give an update to the community about the recent outbreak of COVID-19. The...
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