Recycle Rhonda visit from CSWD

Hello Sterling Families,
Students are all working hard and studying lots of specific topics around Garbology. This week in science Recycle Rhonda visited us with a packed informational presentation. The pictures blow show Rhonda demonstrating how much oil it takes to make one plastic bottle. Also, students sort some mock trash to "pick out" common recycling errors.
We can't wait to show all we have learned. December 21 8:30-9:30
Amy

Up Cycle Project needs

Tomorrow Sterling is  having another up cycle project day:  We need:

Empty Tissue Boxes
Buttons
Cereal or cracker boxes
Plastic grocery bags
Clean glass jars


Thanks for your help

Looking for Donations of Tri Folds

Sterling  is looking for donations of Tri Folds for final presentations of the Garbology Unit.  If you are able to help us out let me know.  They  can be delivered to the front office or your child can bring it to my office.

Thank you for your support. 

Math Reports

Hello Sterling Families,

   I wanted to give you a heads up about the math portion of the report card that is coming out.  The Decimal Unit that we did had one Learning Target attached to it.  That unit took the majority of the trimester so that is why you only see one content target.  It was also quite a rigorous Target.  Students had to show competency using all 4 math operations with decimals to earn a 3.  Being able to use 3 operations scores a 2, and being able to use 2 scores a 1 on the Scale.   

   We recently began work on fractions but did not have any summative assessments before the grading period ended.  A big component of the work your child did was classwork and Moby Max learning.  There is a Learning Target for that entitled Summary of Learning.  That takes into account your child's Math Habits as well as their work completion.

   Remember that the report card you see is a summary of their scores.  I gave multiple assessment and retake opportunities, and those are recorded in greater detail in Jumprope.  I encourage you to go to your child's account and look deeper for their individual performance for a more thorough understanding of their math work this trimester.  

   Thanks for your support, and let me know if you have any questions,

Michael  

Book Fair Information

Sterling students will be attending the Book Fair on Thursday, November 29th with their core class.

You are invited to the Scholastic Book Fair!

All students in first through eighth grades will be visiting the Scholastic book fair in the Williston Central School dining room with their class during the week of November 26th. Please check with your student’s teacher for the specific time or go to https://willistonfap.wixsite.com/willistonfap

*If you send money to school with your child, please be sure to include 6% sales tax.

*Make all checks payable to: Williston FAP

*Scholastic Book Fairs is now offering eWallet as a secure, cash-free way for your child to shop the Fair. There is no charge to set up an eWallet. Simply create an account and authorize a spending limit to have funds immediately available for your child to choose the books they wish for (see reverse side for more information)!

Book Fair Schedule

Monday, November 26th 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Tuesday, November 27th 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Wednesday, November 28th 8:00 am – 7:00 pm [ABS classes]

Thursday, November 29th 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Friday, November 30th 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Classroom Wish List

Teachers have chosen some of their favorite titles. You may purchase a book to donate to your child’s classroom.

Online Book Fair

Visit: http://www.scholastic.com/bf/williston or access the link from the Williston School District website. Note: books ordered online will be delivered to the school, not a home address. Online sale: November 18th-December 7th.

Volunteer Sign-up:  We are always in need of volunteers the week of the book fair! If you can spare an hour or two, please go to: http://signup.com/go/toHvsrW

We are looking forward to seeing you at the book fair,

The Book Fair Committee

Garbology for Sterling

Hello Sterling Families,

 

  We are excited to announce our Integrated Unit for this year.  Students will be involved in a four week Garbology Unit where they will be studying five different topics in small groups.  Topics include plastic in the oceans, electronic waste, food waste, recycling and landfills. Each groups will rotate through the four core teachers and study each of the topics.  The unit will kick off with a trip to CSWD’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), include a visit from Recycle Rhonda (CSWD’s Education Outreach Coordinator), and culminate with an Open House to showcase student work on Friday, December 21, from 8:30-9:30am.  During those four weeks students will also have new Literature Groups where they will have flexible reading options and activities around the topic. They will also participate in “Up-Cycle” activities where they will create projects using reused materials.  

  We are in need of materials for the Up-Cycle projects that you will be happy to get rid of.  Items include:

• Old t-shirts
• Plastic bags of all colors
• Plastic bottles - 1 or 2 liter
• Potting soil
• Square/cubed tissue boxes
• Chicken wire
• Soda cans
• Cereal boxes
• Newspaper

  Thanks for supporting our efforts to integrate student learning into a study of larger global issues.  We look forward to having you join us for the Open House to celebrate our learning!

Sterling House Teachers  

Morning Drop-Off & Supervision

 Clear and calm morning routines help students to enter their school day successfully.  We are encountering more and more students coming to school between 7:30-7:55 am and  we are not equipped to handle the numbers. Please do not drop your child off prior to 7:55 am.

 

If you have to drop your child off early, please reinforce that the expectation is that students sit in the front lobby until 7:55 am and engage in quiet activities.  Ex.  listening to music, reading or finishing homework.  Thanks for your help with this.

Jackie Parks

Field trip to MRF

As part of our integrated unit called Garbology, Sterling will be traveling to MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) on Monday, November 26th.  Permission slips will be going home this week.

Volunteers Needed for the Craft Show, November 3rd

CRAFT SHOW - NOVEMBER 3

Join us to "shop local" on Saturday, November 3rd as Williston Central School hosts the 27th annual Craft Show sponsored by FAP.  

Find over 100 crafters/vendors showcasing their handicrafts and specialty foods.

When:  Saturday, November 3

Hours:  9AM - 4PM

Where: Williston Central School 

Delicious breakfast and lunch selections available in the cafeteria during the show.  Start your holiday shopping or treat yourself!  More information on our website www.WillistonCraftShow.org or find us on Facebook @Williston CraftShowVT 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

The Craft Show is one of FAP's largest fundraisers.  Proceeds from crafter booth rentals help fund the many programs that FAP supports within the Williston Schools. Please help us make this a successful show by signing up to help us set up on Friday, November 2nd or for a 2 hour shift on the day of the show, November 3rd.  Here is a link to the sign-up page and to descriptions of the shifts.  http://signup.com/go/rUkLHGt

Contact Karen and Paula at wsdcraftshow@cvsdvt.org if you have any questions.  Thank you for helping with this important school fundraiser!

Fall Curriculum Night

Thank you to all adults that were able to make it to our Curriculum Night last week. It was a pleasure to meet you and show you around the Sterling rooms. For those of you unable to make it, please feel free to view the presentation here.

Also, a 1-page document was handed out with quick access to the Sterling Website and Blog (use your smartphone camera and point it at the QR Codes) and expectations to a few recurring assignments that happen in ELA and Math. That 1-page doc is linked here.

Be on the lookout for Fall Student-Parent-Teacher Conference Sign Ups as well. Those will come from your core teacher and will be emailed to you in the next few days. A reminder that on Sterling, your student is expected to attend the conference as well, so we ask that you find a time that works for them and you!

Regards,
Jared Bailey on behalf of Sterling

Science Update 10/8

Hello Families,
We have been busy working on the ideas of Newton's Laws of Motion. We have been lucky enough to have many hands-on activities where students can see first hand how the laws work. Students will be modeling the three laws through a final assessment where they will demonstrate how the laws can apply to an everyday activity.
We will wrap up this unit near the end of October. I plan to do some Halloween science on October 31st and then move on to a unit on temperature where students will learn about measuring and analyzing data.

Regards,
Amy

Curriculum Night Thursday, October 4th

Reminding everyone that tomorrow is Upper House Curriculum Night   6:30 PM at WCS.

Tess Littledale Introduction

Greetings Sterling families!

My name is Tess Littledale and I am interning with Joy Peterson this year. I'm in the Middle Level Master's program with the University of Vermont and come May 2019, I'll be licensed to teach ELA and Mathematics. During the Fall semester, I am at WCS three days per week and on Wednesdays I facilitate Homework Club. In the Spring, I'll be with Sterling every day!

I am so excited to have been placed at Williston Central to complete my student teaching! I've been met with nothing but enthusiasm from both the students and the teachers and it's made my transition an easy one. I can hardly wait to have my own classroom where I can incorporate some of the fabulous aspects of Joy's classroom, and of the Sterling team in general. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to learn from such a cohesive team.

On days that I'm not with Sterling, I like to stay active by getting to the gym, riding horses and taking my rescue hound, Wentworth, to the dog park. As a principle, I try to read a little every day to keep my mind active.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a little through this blog post!
All the best,
Tess Littledale

5th and 6th grade Math

  It has been a pleasure getting to be part of a new Team and four classes of new mathematicians!  We spent the first three days of school focusing on classroom culture and habits of math interaction.  I used the work of Jo Boaler from Stanford University to refresh the students on Growth Mindset and her "low floor, high ceiling" tasks to get students thinking and talking about math again.  Here's a link to her site with more information than you can use:

YouCubed

5th Grade

   The 5th graders will be using a combination of Bridges In Mathematics and Connected Math 3 as tools to get at the Common Core Standards and our Learning Targets.  The first unit we are working on deals with Multiplication Expressions, Equations and Volume, with an brief trip into division.  Students had a great deal of work with multiplication facts and using area models last year in 4th grade, and we are hitting the ground running.  A great deal of focus is being put on manipulating equations and efficiently representing multiplication different ways.  It's great number sense work!  

Here students are manipulating numbers in an equation that will allow them to later on deal with larger, more complex equations. 

   Students have started to approach volume through multiplication and the use of their favorite manipulative so far!  They explored the different ways to make 24, building upon area concepts and going 3D!

  Your child can expect explorations in class that will foster whole group conversations about concepts.  They will also be completing class work that will be turned in and tracked using JumpRope.  Exit tasks will be used as Formative Assessments so I can adjust my teaching as needed, and a Summative Assessment (Unit Test) will be used to wrap up the unit.  These scores will be tracked in JumpRope as well.  Here is the Unit overview from the Bridges Site:

Unit One Letter

6th Grade

   The 6th graders are starting off the year with the Decimal Ops unit in Connected Math.  Early work has been on making sense of decimal place values, estimating, and using ratio tables with decimals.  Current work includes adding and subtracting with decimals, and then we will move into multiplication and division with decimals.  Finally the unit wraps up with percents.  

Here is student work on finding the unit rate, or one, with decimals "disguised" as money!

Here is more student work around ratio tables with a more complex decimal relationship.

   Your child can expect explorations in class that will foster whole group conversations about concepts.  They will also be completing class work that will be turned in and tracked using JumpRope.  Exit tasks will be used as Formative Assessments so I can adjust my teaching as needed, and a Summative Assessment (Unit Test) will be used to wrap up the unit.  These scores will be tracked in JumpRope as well.

   Let me know what questions you have and I look forward to the challenge and inspiration of working with new levels of math with new math thinkers.

Michael

ELA Update

Our first unit in ELA is on Digital Citizenship.  Through various activities and assignments, students are learning about the following elements of DC:

• Digital Footprint
• Cyberbullying and Digital Drama
• Creative Credit and Copyright
• Internet Safety

Students are documenting their learning using Google Slides, and their learning will culminate with sharing their slide presentation with others.  View this link to see the Digital Citizenship Learning Target and Checklist.

In addition, students have begun their weekly Young Writer's Project (YWP) writing assignments.  Ask your student to show you the weekly prompts and their work at peterson18.ywpvt.org

Please let me know if you have any questions.  It is so great to welcome the returning 6th graders, and getting to know all of the new students!

Social Studies Election Unit

The first unit of the year for Social Studies this year is our focus on the election. We are looking at the Learning Targets associated with Claim and Evidence. We have done some lessons specifically around how to make good claims and how best to get credible evidence. We had a guest teacher (Emily Rinkema) come in and work with us on the evidence by exploring whether or not catamounts still exist.

We began the year exploring the question "What do I stand for?" and used that to guide us into our unit. We have looked at what information and dates candidates need to know in order to get on the ballot. We've explored how best to contact our local and beyond politicians and now we're preparing for the candidate forum. Williston Central School has hosted a candidate forum for over 20 years. This year we will have 10 candidates coming on Friday, October 5th. 5th and 6th grade students across the school are researching a specific candidate and creating a campaign poster for them. Ask your student who they were assigned!

If You Haven't Signed Up Yet, Intergen Book Group - Deadline extended to: Friday Sept 28.

Last call for student participants for the intergen book group! 

What is intergen?:  A book group that brings together WCS middle school students, seniors from our community and parent volunteers.  Each book group will read and discuss 5 books over the course of the school year. Meetings take place during school hours, once a month from October through March.

How does it work?: The program will kick-off on October 3rd with a “Get Acquainted” potluck luncheon.  The book groups will then meet during school hours on the first Wednesday of the month (October - March) to discuss the assigned books in a relaxed and fun setting. 7th & 8th graders will meet from 11:35am-12:15pm. 5th & 6th graders meet from 12:30pm-1:10pm

If your 5-8th grade child is interested in being considered for this program, please register by Friday, September 28th. We are also seeking parent volunteers!  Use this online link to register your child or to sign up as a volunteer.

This year's book selections are:

Brown Girl Dreaming 

The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade  

The Girl who Drank the Moon 

It Ain't so Awful Falafel 

Phineas Gage

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Olson (karen@willistonruns.org) or your child's Language Arts teacher.

WCS Arrival Time/Procedures

Buses begin arriving at approximately 7:55 am and students can go to their team space at that time. 

The earliest students may be dropped off is 7:30 am. 

This year, all 3-8 students will wait in the front lobby from 7:30-7:55 am. 

Students are expected to sit quietly if they arrive early.  Bringing a book, headphones with music or homework are all appropriate activities to engage with while waiting.  

Spark Session 1 Starts next Thursday

The 1st session of Spark Enrichment, an after-school applied learning program for students in grades 5-8, takes place from September 27 - October 25. These small group classes will be facilitated by school faculty and staff.  The link to the sign-up form is in the School Bell. You will be able to rank your choices for better placement!! 

Click here to view workshop descriptions.

Williston Schools Annual Fund Flyer

WCS School Counseling Classes

Dear Parents and Guardians, We hope you and your family had a restful and fun summer. We want to let you know that this school year, all students will be participating in a series of classes that focus on promoting healthy relationships in kids and adolescents. These classes are part of our health curriculum and ongoing prevention efforts to help prevent any form of child abuse. The classes will take place during one of your child’s related arts rotations or exploratory rotations: 5th/6th graders​: During their Tech Ed rotation - 1x/week for 6 weeks
The classes are in response to a VT law (i.e. Act 1). Act 1 is a child protection law which requires all school-age students to receive education that builds skills and provides information to help prevent child sexual abuse. At WCS, we are working with Prevent Child Abuse VT and using a curriculums titled: We Care​ and SAFE-T​ to guide our lesson plans. These curriculums are designed for elementary and middle school students, and promote healthy relationships and healthy behaviors, while equipping students with the skills to prevent abuse.
 Topic areas covered include: 5th/6th grades​: health relationships, empathy, coping, communication skills, support systems, establishing and recognizing boundaries, and role of bystanders.
 As always, your support and help is needed to help students learn these important skills and information. We hope that you are able to talk with your children about how to stay safe in their relationships. Please let us know if you have any questions or ideas to help us with these classes.

Continental Math League Registration

Continental Mathematics League 2018-2019 Registration deadline for grades 3-8 is September 21st (Registration for grade 2 will be announced in October.) Continental Math Online Registration 2018-2019 Grade 4-8 Meet dates: November 14, December 19, January 16, February 13 & March 13 Grade 3 Meet dates: January 16, February 13 & March 13 The Enrichment Program administers the Continental Mathematics League (CML) for motivated students seeking an additional math challenge. Interested students in Grades 2-8 participate in the Euclidean Division, which means “students participating require average reading comprehension and analytical reasoning capabilities. Their computational skill should be appropriate to their grade level.” Continental Math for grades 3-8 at Williston Central School CML is a competition in grades 3-8. For students in grades 4-8, there are five tests. They are given at ‘meets’ which are held during school hours, beginning in November and ending in March. Third graders participate in the meets in January, February, and March. In each 30 minute meet, students work as individuals on six problems; calculators are not allowed. Medals are awarded to the two students with the highest cumulative scores per grade level. Although this is a competition, the emphasis is on developing a love of mathematics while learning new strategies with other eager mathematicians. Julie Rogers is the contact person for grades 2-8. jrogers@cvsdvt.org Continental Math for grade 2 at Allen Brook School Participation in grade 2 is non-competitive. Students work in small practice groups and attend 3 informal meets. Registration for grade 2 will be announced in October. Parent Volunteers Grades 5-8: In order to limit interruptions to regular academic classes 5th-8th grade practices will be held first thing in the morning at 8:00, during lunch/recess time or during a time that teachers deem. Volunteers will need to contact their students core teacher to set up times and a practice space. Grades 2-4: Due to more flexibility within the 2nd-4th grades schedule parent volunteers who run Grades 2, 3 and 4 practice groups will work out a time to meet with the students with the teachers. The success of this program depends on volunteers who work with small groups of students, during school hours. Ideally, all students will participate in a parent-led weekly practice group. These groups begin in October for grades 4-8 and in November for 2-3rd graders as their first Meet isn’t until January. The Enrichment Program provides materials and training, while the time and place are determined by the teachers and volunteers. The practice groups provide an important component of the Continental Math program. This gives the students a chance to explore different solutions to problems, gain support from other group members, and benefit from small group instruction. We encourage both veteran and novice volunteers to attend the Volunteer Leader Training on Friday, September 21st at 8:00 AM in the Enrichment room at WCS. Volunteers can indicate their interest on the student registration form and will be contacted with more information in mid September. This training will provide valuable information about CML and Best Practices in Mathematics, which is being used in all of our math classes. If you are unable to register your child using the online registration link, kindly complete the form below. Return to Julie Rogers at WCS or ABS. Continental Mathematics League (CML) 2018-2019 Registration Form Grades 3-8 Registration Deadline – September 21st

Field Trip to Knight Point Thursday 6/14

Hello Families,
We are still planning to go to Knight Point State Park tomorrow despite the not-so-good weather report.

We met with the students today and reminded them to bring a bagged lunch (no glass please), a water bottle, bathing suit, towel, an extra set of clothes to change into in case they get wet, a sweatshirt, and a rain jacket.

We know it might be wet, but we are still going to have fun together!

Thank you,
Amy

ELA Update

May 23, 2018

Dear Families,

We have just started our final units in ELA.  For this period of time, 5th and 6th graders will be working on two different projects.  Read below to see what each group is doing:

5th Grade

5th grade students are creating a Memoir Scrapbook, with photos, poems, writing, and images of their life.  Students are finishing their storyboard, where they are organizing what will be included in their scrapbook.  As they complete their storyboard, they will get to work on their scrapbook.  (we are giving each student a 4X6 scrapbook)

Students will be including photos and images to go with their memories.  They will be asking you for help with this as they begin to put their scrapbooks together.  Any help you can provide printing photos, or gathering artifacts would be greatly appreciated.  In addition, if you have any scrapbooking materials that you would be willing to donate, that would be fantastic!

6th Grade

6th grade students are working on a Podcast Project.  Each student has chosen a person that is important to them, and is working on a 1-2 page piece of writing telling us about this person.  Students will then use the website "Soundtrap" to record their voice reading their writing.  Students will also be using Soundtrap to create a music track as background to their voice recording.  Finally the mixed podcast will be downloaded as an mp3 file, and then uploaded to our YWP blog.  Be sure to ask your student about this--Soundtrap is amazing!

Take care,
Joy

Science Update 5/16

Hello Families,

We have finished the Science SBAC test for all Sterling 5th graders. Today we started our study of the 11 body systems. Each day we will focus on a different system and look at its organs and function. At the end of this study we plan to explore a cow heart and lung. One of the 11 systems happens to be the reproductive system. While we will focus on the facts, I want to let you know in advance in case students have questions for you😉

Please let me know if you have questions.
Amy

Sterling House Costumes for the Play

Hi Sterling Families,

The students are getting very excited to perform for all of you on Thursday evening (5:30 is Pinocchio and 6:30 is Peter Pan.)

Today we connected with all students about their costume or parts of a costume that will be needed. Please don't feel as if you need to break the bank for this. We encourage you to look for something you already have or something to borrow. If you need help, please feel free to email your student's core teacher. We are hoping we can have the costumes gathered and in school for Monday.

We appreciate your support!
Amy

Science Update 4-10-18

Hello Sterling Families,

Students finished up their study of weather events last week. They created a weather forecast using Wevideo where they had to use real data to explain a weather event in the US. The students learned how to use a green screen and definitely tapped into some creativity!

Students have moved on to the study of matter. We started with an introduction to the periodic table. Students made cool name-tags by making their names out of the letters from the periodic table. These will be hanging in the hallway if you would like to take a look.  Currently, we are focused on chemical and physical changes.

I will be out on the school exchange trip to China April 19, 20, 30 and May 1st. Mr. C, Joy's intern, will be substituting for me. He knows the students and schedule well. I hope you all have a safe and restful break!

Amy

Sterling Fundraiser at Agave, Wednesday, April 18th

Click on this link for further details

ELA Update

ELA Update
Joy Peterson and Sam Callison

We have started an Argument Writing unit in ELA.  For the past two weeks we have been breaking down the elements of argument writing into claim, evidence, and analysis.  Students have examined writing by both professional writers and same-age students, and have critiqued this writing as they prepare to make their own argument.  Last week we took advantage of the March Madness timing, and created our own bracketology to narrow down argument writing topics.  The "final four" topics provide choices for students, along with links to resources for research.  Students who feel strongly about another topic may choose that for their argument.  Students are writing their argument using a clear claim stating their opinion, evidence which backs up their argument, and analysis which explains their evidence.  Ask your student to show you their work-in-progress in the graphic organizer that is in their Google Classroom folder.

As students finish their writing pieces, we will begin creating presentations or video PSAs about their topics.  We will be learning about what makes an effective argument in these formats before we begin.  These PSAs will provide an opportunity for students to convince others that their position on the issue is correct.  These will be created during Mr. Callison's solo time.  These presentations could be a fun thing for your student to share with you at home, as there are some pretty convincing arguments being developed!

Mr. Callison will be solo teaching from April 3rd to April 17th.  Ms. Peterson will be in school and available via e-mail during this time.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 
scallison@cvsdvt.org
jpeterson@cvsdvt.org

Looking for Host Families for Chinese Students

WCS has been working in collaboration with the Spiral International organization to connect our
school with schools in China. I am excited to announce that 9 Chinese middle school students
will be coming to WCS from April 1st-April 7th. WCS is seeking host families for them. This is
an incredible opportunity for our middle level students to make a personal connection with a
Chinese student. The Chinese student would stay with their host family and attend school each
day.
If you are willing to host one or two Chinese students, please email Jackie Parks for more
details. jparks@cvsdvt.org

Sterling Staffing Update for Next Year

We have some staffing changes to announce, which will begin in the fall of 2018.  Mindy Conry has announced her retirement, and will finish her Sterling career in June.  Mindy will be greatly missed.  Upcoming changes include a curriculum change for Mr. Bailey, from Math to Social Studies/Humanities.  We are excited to announce the addition of Michael Willis, 3/4 teacher from Kaleidoscope, to the Sterling Math position.  Feel free to talk to your student about this now, we will be discussing the changes and introducing Michael during our team meeting on Thursday.  As we get closer to the end of the school year we'll be in touch with more information about the transition.

Happy Spring!

Science Update

Hello Sterling Families,

Since returning from break, students are jumping right into a unit about weather. (Just in time for some Wednesday night weather!) We will be exploring the difference between weather and climate, the causes of weather, and the types of weather events.

Amy

Important Dates between now and the end of the year

Friday, February 23rd-- Olympic Unit Open House 8-9am

Friday, March 23rd-- NO SCHOOL-- Day reserved for parent conferences

Wednesday, May 2nd-May 9th-- Sterling SBAC Testing

Thursday, May 10th-- Nighttime Performance for Sterling Plays (Times to be announced, 1st play starts @ 5:30pm)

Thursday, June 7th-Friday, June 8th-- 6th Grade Overnight Campout @ Grand Isle State Park

Thursday, June 14th*-- All House end of year trip (location to be announced) -- Rain Date of Wednesday, June 13th*

*-Assuming last day of school is shifted officially by school board due to snow days.

Olympic Unit Open House Friday 8-9 AM

For the last 3 weeks Sterling  students have been working in small groups to create  presentations about a winter olympic sport of their choice.  They studied the history, equipment, technology, rules and nutritional preparation of the athletes in that sport.  

On Friday, February 23rd we are planning an open house to view their presentations.  Please join us from 8- 9 AM in the new and improved Sterling House hallway and classrooms to help celebrate the Olympics and the Sterling students' hard work. 

See you then

Sterling Olympic Unit

Hello Sterling Families,

Starting Monday February 5th we will be kicking off our integrated Olympics Unit. Students will be regrouped for the next three weeks to work on a presentation about a Winter Olympic sport. They will study the history of their chosen sport, the equipment and technology of their sport, the rules and sportsmanship of their sport, and how athletes prepare nutritionally for their sport (calculating nutritional needs.)

Students will work in a small group to create these presentations for you. We are planning to host an open house on Friday February 23, 8-9 AM.

We are feeling very privileged to have a connection to an Olympic Biathlete, Susan Dunklee. Stephanie Robitaille, our treasured para-educator on Sterling, is Susan Dunklee's aunt and she skyped with us on Friday morning so we could ask her questions about her upcoming adventure to represent the United States of America.

We are getting very excited for this fun change of pace and focus. See you all in a few weeks!

Sterling Teachers

Sterling Social Studies Update 1/15/18

In Social Studies students are learning about U.S. expansion west in the 1800s and how the expansion affected those peoples who already lived there. As an opening activity, students explored how the U.S. expansion was viewed differently by the Americans moving west and those who were already settled in the western lands. During an activity in class, students acted as 19th-century settlers and migrated into the western territories of an outline of the United States. Students will also be creating an annotated map showing how each territory became part of the United States.

News form Mrs. Conry

It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce my retirement at the end of this school year. I feel blessed to have been a teacher for 30 years, with 24 of those years at Williston Central School. I want to thank you for all your support over the years and let you know that you and your children have helped me become a better teacher and person. I look forward to the remainder of the school year. I will be letting your children know of my retirement tomorrow. 
Thank you all!
Mindy Conry

ELA Update

Welcome UVM Intern Mr. Callison and Narrative Writing Unit Wrap-Up

Hello, Sterling families and students, I am Mr. Callison!

I am an intern with Ms. Peterson in the ELA classroom for the rest of the year! Earlier in the year, I was an intern with Ms. Troxell, so I have been able to get to know the Sterling students and teachers very well already.

A little bit about myself, I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and am now a senior at UVM. I have been a member of the men’s ultimate frisbee team for all four years at UVM, and enjoy being active, playing sports, and being outside! I have worked as a bike technician for a camp program called iCan Bike, which is for individuals with disabilities, and have been lucky enough to be able to travel all over the country through that opportunity as a summer job.

I am looking forward to continuing to learn, and building relationships with all of the students on Sterling!

This week we are wrapping up our Narrative Writing Unit.  Students have worked on the five parts of Narrative Plot, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  In addition, students have used IXL, a Language Arts (and other curriculum) learning site, to work on comma skills instruction and practice.  The Learning Targets and Activity Checklist for this unit can be found here. Narrative Writing Learning Targets

Next week, we will be starting a three week unit on reading comprehension strategies.  We follow the outline of a program called "Notice and Note," which identifies signposts as strategies for close reading.  Close reading strategies help students identify and strengthen reading habits such as questioning, responding, analyzing, and engaging with text.  Our focus will be on strategies for fiction reading.  Throughout the unit students will be examining short pieces of fiction, and learning the different signposts that alert the reader to stop, ask questions, and better understand what they are reading.

If you haven't ordered your yearbook yet...

February 23rd is the deadline for ordering.    Use the link below.


http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1120347/Williston-Central-School/

Sterling Science update 1/8/18

Hello Sterling families,

In science class we started the new year with a shift from Earth Science and Engineering to Biology. We are studying cells. Students will learn all the microscopic parts of plant and animal cells and will then explore how specific cells have jobs to keep an organism alive.

Non-science updates:

• We have about 7 more school days left in our temporary space at WCS. We are moving back to our newly renovated space next Friday, January 19th. 
• We are also very sorry the Sterling dance and a snow day happened to collide last Friday night. As of now we are looking into our options but nothing is scheduled. (I was hearing lots of rumors today. One rumor was that the dance was happening tonight...yikes!) 

Thanks for your support,
Amy