District Communications

The Winooski School District (WSD) is committed to strengthening our community by providing healthy and well-balanced meals to all of our students year-round.  As has been announced, WSD schools and afterschool programs will be closed to students starting Wednesday, March 18.

While our school building remains closed, we will continue to feed our students.

Our food service providers, The Abbey Group, will be preparing bagged meals (breakfast and lunch) out of our WSD production kitchen, where they prepare meals in a safe and sanitary environment. To practice recommended social distancing students must pick up their meal package and leave immediately. Students will be handed their meals by WSD staff or volunteers, following USDA meal distribution guidelines. Socializing or waiting at food pick-up sites is not allowed.

All children and teens (age 18 and under) can receive meals at no cost. No registrations or applications are required. Meals are also available for people with disabilities who are over age 18 and participate in school programs for the mentally or physically disabled.

All meals will be familiar to students, following typical WSD breakfast and supper menus.

Meal distribution will begin Wednesday, March 18, and continue through Friday, April 3. (Monday through Friday. No delivery will be made on weekends.)

Meals will be available for pick-up at the following locations from 9:30am – 10:00am:

• Winooski Family Center, 87 Elm St.
• O’Brien Community Center, 32 Malletts Bay Ave.
• Winooski School District, 60 Normand St.

Our Veggie VanGo program will still be running but on a slightly different schedule. We will communicate any updates as they become available.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Jaycie Puttlitz (jputtlitz@wsdvt.org) or call (802) 338-7061.

Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones,

Emily Hecker, WSD Communications & Development Director

WSD Families & Staff, just a quick communication to keep everyone updated:

• WSD is open tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th for all PreK-12 students.  No student is required to attend school tomorrow.  21C Afterschool and Thrive programs will be open tomorrow.
• Starting Wednesday, March 18th, WSD is dismissed and all school-related activities are cancelled.  Dismissal means that WSD staff will continue to report to work but students should not come to school.
• Do not expect learning resources and materials to come home with your student(s) tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th.  I am giving principals, teachers and staff Wednesday through Friday to organize plans for the maintenance of learning through April 6th.  These plans will be ready by Monday, March 23rd.
• Our food service plan will provide daily Monday-Friday breakfast and lunch.  Specific times, pickup and delivery information will be sent out tomorrow.  We still plan to run our Veggie Van-Go sponsored by the VT Foodbank and Backpack programs, and will communicate specifics later this week.

Please continue to do your part by practicing these everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

​Thanks and take care, Sean

WSD Families & Staff,

We find ourselves in a rapidly changing, uncharted situation. We are grateful for the guidance and support that we have received from the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Agency of Education, and the Governor’s Office.

On March 15 at 3:20 p.m., Governor Scott announced that statewide school closure will occur no later than Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The purpose of this message is to provide you an update of the actions the Winooski School District (WSD) will take as it relates to Governor Scott’s School Closure announcement.

First and foremost, student attendance at school on Monday and Tuesday is a family decision. For these two days, WSD’s attendance procedures will be waived, and no student will be penalized for not attending.

Secondly, Parent-Teacher Conferences scheduled for this Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 are postponed and will be a priority later this school year to be rescheduled.

Third, your district leadership team will be working with our teachers and support staff to plan for the support of our students and families during the closure of school. To be clear, our primary areas of focus include the wellbeing of our students, families and staff. The plan that we are developing will strive to encompass all of the components that Governor Scott has referenced in his statement/press conference. Starting on Wednesday, March 18th, our food service team, The Abbey Group will begin making takeaway meals for families. The exact details on the schedule and pick-up/delivery options are still being sorted out. More specifics will be announced as soon as they are known.

Lastly, thank you for your patience and flexibility as we move forward. You can expect regular communication from WSD so that we are keeping you informed. Also, all information will be on our website, wsdvt.org. We are doing all we can to make sure these priorities are taken care of to the best of our abilities.

Sean McMannon, WSD Superintendent

Dear WSD Families & Staff,

WSD Staff & Families, as you know the COVID-19 situation has evolved rapidly.  WSD still has no confirmed cases of the virus. There is a confirmed case in Chittenden County. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for our high-risk community members, including older adults and anyone with chronic (long-lasting) medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease, we have compiled a status list below of upcoming events. We used guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to make decisions about postponing, cancelling or continuing with events.  This list is for the next two weeks and will be updated as needed. Also, I have included some information about school closure and student attendance.