Posts filed under ‘School Climate and Events’
Let’s Celebrate
Brianna
We had a police dog come to Allen Brook School. It was outstanding.
We had filled our whole school ‘buzzy jar.’ Each time it’s filled we come together for a celebration. We have filled it six times. Every time, Mr. Terko and Mrs. Tatlock come around in bee costumes. We’ve had lots of celebrations. We have watched the preschoolers doing a dance, wearing monkey costumes. It was really cute. We’ve had Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Most of us had mint chocolate chip! Once, Mr. Terko played the drums and Mr. Bolger played the guitar and sang. They were really good.
One time we all did the ‘honey bee.’ This is a fun dance that we learned from a video. It’s easy to catch on to this dance. All of the celebrations were in the gym.
Last month was when we had the police dog and police men come to school. They explained what police dogs do. They save the police men and women when they are in trouble and when a child is lost they sniff them down. They follow robbers’ footprints to where they are hiding.
Just April vacation we had filled the buzzy jar again! For our seventh celebration, we had teachers from Thailand come for a special presentation. They danced, showed us some Thailand fighting and yoga. They also had an instrument from Thailand. It like a flute but it’s wooden and it only has one open hole for your finger. The sound was very pretty. The Thailand performance was amazing.
I hope our next buzzy celebration is as exciting as the others have been.
Continental Mathematics League Winners – Grades 3 and 4
The Grade Four First Place winner is Julia! Aidan and Rylee are two of the three winners tied for second place. Shown above with Mrs. Poirot.
Sunny also won a second place medal for Grade four.
Shown left to right: CML Coordinator Mrs. Poirot, second place medal winner Erik Schneider and first place winner Matteo.
Congratulations to all of our medal winners and to over eighty other third and fourth graders who participated in the Continental Mathematics League this year.
Perspectives on the Penguin Plunge
Ben Townley
Have you ever thought about jumping into an ice cold lake in the winter? 27 students and parents from our school jumped into frozen Lake Champlain on February 2, 2013. We raised $10,221 for Special Olympics Vermont and also raised $600 for our Unified Sports Programs (Bocce and Snowshoeing.) There were new plungers and many who returned from prior years to take the plunge.
My first time doing the Penguin Plunge was in 2011 on my 13th birthday. I had a great time turning into an icicle! The first year I wore a black mullet wig into the lake because I thought it would keep my ears warm. After plunging, I asked my Mom this really weird question, “Can I do this every single day?” Mom said, “No, but you can plunge again next year.” I’ve plunged every year since then and hope to for many more years.
Now try to imagine what jumping into a frozen lake would feel like! It takes about 10 seconds from the Staging tent to getting into the lake. When I went under I felt like I just suffered a non-electrical stun right through my body! I could walk, but I felt like my legs were made out of cement! It takes a little longer getting back to the changing tent, which is heated. For the last 3 years, I was the 3rd to last person out. I love the feeling of the ice cold water!!
I’m hoping more WCS staff and students will consider joining the Williston Central School Plunge Team next year!! Congratulations to this year’s Williston Central School Plunge team!! Great job!!
Meghan Eustace
Brutal wind, freezing weather, ice everywhere, snow. This sounds like the Arctic right? Well actually, it’s the Burlington Waterfront in the beginning of February. Imagine running in the 30 degree water during the winter. Sounds crazy, right? Well about 1,000 people or more decided it would be a fun idea to run into the water, me being one of them. I was a part of the Williston Central School Penguin Plunge team. We raised money for our Unified Sports team. This experience is one I am sure not to forget. I only went into the water a little above my knees, but it still was the coldest I have ever been. Right when you run into the water you cannot feel your body, it’s very very cold. No matter how cold the water was, I still had a really great time. The experience is breathtaking; it’s a rush of nerves and excitement. Most people have no problem running right in, and even dive into the ice water; I was a little different going in. I hesitated at first, and then ran in! Remember, think again when you you don’t go into a cold pool, because trust me, there is colder water you could be swimming in!
Maggie Warren
Every year in February in Burlington, more than 1,000 people jump into Lake Champlain to raise money for the Special Olympics. I am proud to say that I am one of them. The Penguin Plunge is basically a lot people jumping into freezing water trying to raise money for the Special Olympics. This past Penguin Plunge was my third year doing it and I can’t wait to do it again next year! The day of the Penguin Plunge is crazy; everybody who signed up is there plus watchers, friends and family, so the place is packed. You have to wait about two hours before actually going in the water. First, you go to the sign-in tent where you sign in and get your free hat and gift bag, there’s also hot chocolate and bagels. Then you go to the changing tent where you get into whatever you are wearing into the water. After that, you and your group walk (or run) to the staging tent where you wait for your number to be called. The staging tent is really small and it has a lot of excited and anxious people in it, so it feels like the tent is shaking. Everybody is really excited and nervous to go out because you are about to jump into frozen water! It takes a lot of courage to do the Penguin Plunge and everybody gets nervous. “At this point I don’t want to do it anymore.” said team member Cassidy right before jumping in! After that it is pretty much how everyone explains it: wet and really cold. Then you are running out you grab a towel and heading in the direction everyone else is going – back to the changing tent. Unfortunately, most of the people on the WCS team are boys, so on my first year I found myself in the boys changing tent! I have learned my lesson and luckily that has never happened since then. The Penguin Plunge is a great way to raise money for the Special Olympics and have a really fun time! I can’t wait until next year!
Red Ribbon Week
Maddie Huber
This week in Williston Central School students wore sunglasses, dressed mismatched, and sported the school colors for an engaging way to spread awareness about the danger of drugs. Red Ribbon Week isn’t just an event that happens at WCS, it’s all over the world. Enrique Camarena was an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Mexico. He was tortured and killed in 1985. Camarena was in Mexico investigating a drug cartel when he was shoved into a car. A month later his body was found dead. To show support, friends and family wore red satin badges. Angry civilians started to form leagues fighting against the use of drugs and Enrique Camarena’s image was used by these groups.
Every day, if you dressed up, during lunch time you could receive a ribbon. Each day, prizes were raffled off with gift certificates to Plato’s Closet, Ramunto’s Pizza, and other fun places! Friday was probably the most important day to dress up because it was Red Day. At lunch, students receive a red ribbon to honor this honorable man for whom fun week was created.
A Sterling House Tradition
Jordan Van Wilde
On Thursday, August 30, 2012 Sterling house went on a hike. Where did they go? Sterling Pond. Sterling goes every year. On the way up many people’s legs hurt because the hike is very steep. Although their legs hurt it was worth it because the view was so beautiful. We ate lunch up there and then we went down. Everyone was so happy to be down again but some kids were disappointed that we had to go back to school. I interviewed some kids in Sterling House, here’s what they said,
1] How is the view at Sterling Pond?
Ethan said really cool. Lucas said that he saw cool things like plants. Liam said, “I like the rocks there.” Martha said, “It is a good view.”
2] Is the hike too long?
Ethan said, “It’s too long.” Lucas said, It’s too short.” Both Liam and Martha said that it’s not too long.
3] Do you think we should go every year? All four said yes!
4] Do you think the hike is worth it? All four said yes!
The Sterling House tradition of hiking to Sterling Pond at the beginning of the year is great!
Harbor House Goes to Northern Lights
Shorya Malhotra and Joe Waren
For the beginning of the year school trip, Harbor House took a trip to Northern lights Rock and Ice. It was really fun!!! All of Harbor went by bus. It took about 20 minutes to get to Northern Lights. We hope you like this article.
At Northern lights, Harbor house was divided into 10 groups each with an instructor. Then everyone went to the rock climbing wall where we sat down and paid close attention to what the rules were. After that everyone headed to their specified group and got their equipment. Every group did different stuff, but some groups did the same as other groups (not everything the same). Some groups were on the rock climbing wall while others were on the giant swing. Similarly, everyone got lunch break. Northern lights has a wide variety of activities. Someone would be walking blindfolded on a thin piece of wood while someone else would be jumping across a bridge. In speaking to our classmates, we learned that the most frustrating part of the day was when people got their harness’ caught and they couldn’t move and had to wait until the instructor came and helped him/her get it fixed.
Some of the favorite activities were the leap of faith, the zip line through water, the high ropes course, and the giant swing. The giant swing is where you are taken very high on a wire, and then you drop yourself. As said by Kevin about the Giant Swing, “It looked like you were going to crash to the ground, but you didn’t.” The Ropes
course is a course about 50 feet in the air doing tricky obstacles. As said by Maddie “It was very scary; but fun.” The zip line starts at the top of the ropes course and on the way you get drenched with water mist. As said by Max “My adrenaline was rushing, and it was very exciting.” The leap of faith is where you climb up a pole and jump off and see if you could hit a buoy. As said by Victoria “The leap of faith was kind of freaky, but thrilling.”
It was a phenomenal day full of fun adventures and team building. Going home on the bus, it was very hard to leave. All in all everyone had a great time and they said that they wanted to come back again.
Swift House Camp-out 2012
Carly Labrie and Alexis Meyer
On September 6th Swift House students boarded the buses for our annual camping trip at Grand Isle State Park. Every year, Swift House carries on the tradition of going camping to make our team stronger and to get to know other students. 8th graders, in pairs of 2 or 3, are the leaders of camping groups that they create about a week before. In the days of preparation, the camping groups plan who brings what in terms of food, the tent, and other supplies that are needed. In the morning, everyone lugs in their bags full of equipment. 
When we arrive at the camp grounds, everyone goes to their tent sites to get ready for the day ahead. After everyone is unpacked and ready, we head down to an open field near the lake. There, activities are set up to entertain us throughout the next few hours. First, we all stand in a big circle, all facing one way. Now, it’s time to start the lap-sit. On the count of three we all squat down and sit on each others laps. So you are pretty much holding everyone elses weight in the circle. Then we split up into a girls circle and a boys circle. We have a competition to see who can stay up the longest. The girls always win!
Now, a boy and girl camp group are combined to participate and cycle throughout the different rotations that have been set up for us. One traditional rotation for Swift House is the spider web. There are ropes all tied and criss-crossed across an empty swing set. The older and bigger students usually lift the smaller students through the holes. The objective is to get your whole team on the other side, without touching any of the ropes or reusing holes.
At night, we have a traditional bonfire, where each of the individual groups perform skits. The 8th graders also have their own skit to amuse the audience. There are some skit’s that we have seen before, and some that are more original and new. After everyone presents their skits, we all sit down and sing traditional songs around the fire. A couple songs are; Let it Be, Yellow Submarine, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and more. During the singing, people pass around candles and we light them, using the flame from other peoples candles. After the singing is done, people make speeches about Swift House while their candle is still lit. After our candles have been blown out, we head back to our camp sites for a long night’s rest, until morning comes.
The Best Hour Of The Week: CY Mentoring At Williston Central School
The Best Hour Of The Week: CY Mentoring At Williston Central School
Ben Press
Connecting Youth of Chittenden South (CY), Created CY mentoring in 1990, in the Chittenden South School District. In the past years, many kids have had and currently have mentors. What is the commitment? Who is in charge? What can you do at the mentoring room? How do people get involved? Let’s find out.
The name mentor comes from Greece, meaning “steadfast and enduring”. Kids 5-8th grade are children who need more adult attention. With the mentoring program, people have been proven with mentoring to navigate through adolescence, with healthy, outstanding lives. With this also causes more self confidence, improved attention in classes, and increased choices in doing good.
What this means to me
The commitment to be a mentor/men-tee is very special. Think of it as two places, that use a bridge. The bridge is that connects the two places together. My mentor John and I, are the best of friends. Nobody in mentoring does not like their mentors. Again, the commitment of everyone in the program, is more of bonding, like a brother hood. At my school, Williston Central School, Nancy Carlson, the mentoring coordinator, is a very close friend to everyone in the program. She runs the whole thing! The amount of crafts, snacks, toys, ingredient’s for cooking, everything! I personally don’t know how she keeps up.
For my 8th grade challenge, I will help Nancy with the program, at the mentoring kick off, the mid year Edge day, and the closing BBQ, this will help her out a lot and will give me many hours of service for my 8th grade challenge.
Expectations for the program
With adults that want to apply to be a mentor, they have to go to a FBI background check, to make sure that everything is O.K. They also need a complete written application, three complete references, complete personal interview, and to attend CY mentoring training.
The Expectations of the program include: “participating in a careful screening and matching process, attending mentor training from Connecting Youth and school staff, making a commitment of at least one school year, developing an understanding of expectations with the student men-tee respecting the men-tee’s confidentiality”. The expectations for the mentees are to have fun!
The benefits for mentors, mentees and parents
The benefits of mentoring for the children are having a caring adult in their lives, students look forward to the favorite time of the week, spending time with their mentor. Within that time, student can explore interests, or practice what they’re good at. This also teaches students to have good, wholesome relationships with not only students, but adults as well. Parents benefit by having more support for their child.
Adult mentors benefit by “…how much the mentoring process enriches their own lives. The satisfaction of being an important presence in a child’s life is a significant reward. Working with a young person is a creative process, and a fun one. Learning how best to be no more and no less than a supportive, caring friend can be a great challenge, and a great gift”.
Picture from http://www.wsdvt.org/domain/228
Visiting the Food Shelf
Parker listens carefully at the Williston Food Shelf.
The Food Shelf
by Kindergarten Reporter, Parker
Ms. Davison’s class walked to the food shelf. Some of the things we brought were Cheerios, fruit snacks, macaroni and cheese, soup and beans.
If people need food, they can come there. You can only come twice a week. They have a list of how many people you are feeding. They have a lot of food in a different room. When the shelves get empty, they replace the food.
They have a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables. They have diapers and they try to have dog and cat food.
We went to the food shelf to learn new things and so they can have more food and never run out. That’s being kind.
SCoop
November 2011The SCoop |
| The Scoop is a periodic publication published by the WCS Student Council. It contains information and updates on the work of the WCS Student Council. The Scoop can be found in several places including the school website (under Curriculum, Enrichment, Student Council) and also on The Blue and Gold (see sidebar on website front page). |
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Student Council currently has three main goals they are focusing on for this school year. The individual goals, actions and plans are outlined below. Items in BLUE are things YOU can DO (or have already done)! Goal 1: Increase Student Voice in School Procedures and Policies
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