Volume 15, Issue 36

September 15, 2021

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Advisory Memo: Recommendations for Contact Tracing
Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
Courtesy Posts

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools

This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains updates to COVID-19 guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education released since the last Weekly Field Memo and other COVID-19-related updates. For a complete list of AOE-issued guidance, please visit our COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Schools and Continuity of Learning websites. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the COVID-19 response in Vermont, visit the Health Department's Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website.

Advisory Memo: Recommendations for Contact Tracing

The Advisory Memo: Recommendations for Contact Tracing was posted on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov

Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates

This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education and other State of Vermont agencies that are not specifically related to the COVID-19 response.

Memo: New Requirement - Ban on Suspension and Expulsion of Students Under Eight

The Memo: New Requirement - Ban on Suspension and Expulsion of Students Under Eight was was updated on Friday, September 10, 2021.
Contact: Kate Rogers at kate.rogers@vermont.gov

2021 – 2022 Instructional Coaches Networked Improvement Community

The Agency of Education is excited to host the 2021 – 2022 Instructional Coaches Networked Improvement Community (IC NIC) beginning with a kick-off meeting on Thursday, October 14, 2021, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. This five-session professional learning opportunity will focus on the system and culture needed to support instructional coaches and their practice as well as the use of improvement science (PDSA cycles) to resolve problems of practice. Sessions 2 – 5 are scheduled for December 9, 2021; January 20, 2022; March 10, 2022; and May 5, 2022. Please register here to participate in this professional learning community.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov or (802) 828-6553

VTPBIS Annual Forum Registration Open

Audience: All Vermont Educators
The 2021 Annual VTPBIS Forum will be held virtually on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Registration is open now. It will be a great day of learning, sharing, and celebrating with exploring, new, and experienced, VTPBIS schools. The keynote presentation will be “PBIS: The Next Generation… Establishing Equitable Practices in a New Era” with Kent McIntosh, Co-Director of the National PBIS TA Center. There will be 17 workshop sessions and five ignite sessions, plus optional team time. Session topics include: Discussing Race, Racism, and Current Events with Students and Staff; Circles of Support: A Restorative Approach to Staff Wellness; Engaging All Families in School-Wide PBIS; Facilitating Impactful Staff Meetings That Create Community and Build Resilience; Exploring an Effective PBIS Leadership Team Process for Examining Equity Data; Engaging Elementary School Students in Data-Driven Action to Create Positive School Climate; How Best to Use Your Expertise and Relationship to Engage in an Education Support Team (EST); and many more!
Contact: Sherry Schoenberg at sherry.schoenberg@uvm.edu

Free Project Learning Tree Workshop

Audience: PreK-12 Teachers
Join Project Learning Tree (PLT) Facilitators for an in-depth workshop exploring the award-winning Prek-8th grade PLT guide at Camp Plymouth State Park from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Learn skills to deliver hands-on outdoor educational activities aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. You will receive the PLT Guide with almost 100 activities you can use with students right away, and free entry into beautiful Camp Plymouth State Park. Please bring your own lunch and dress for the weather. Terrible weather cancels.
Contact: Rebecca Roy, PLT Coordinator at rebecca.roy@vermont.gov or 802-522-0780

Free Webinar: Indigenous Cultural and Informational Text Resources from Molly of Denali

Audience: PK-5 Educators
Gear up for the new school year with resources that support diverse cultural awareness and accessing informational text, available free on PBS LearningMedia. Molly of Denali, the PBS KIDS’ award-winning series, follows the adventures of curious and resourceful 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl who lives in the fictional village of Qyah, Alaska. Join the Vermont Agency of Education, Vermont PBS and GBH Boston for a deep dive into the Molly of Denali supplemental resources centered around teaching young children how to access and create informational text while exploring aspects of Alaska Native culture and values. Featured educator presenters will share their favorite Molly of Denali resources on PBS LearningMedia and help you integrate them easily into your existing curriculum. You will leave this webinar with very specific strategies and resources you can use immediately. Register now to attend this live webinar on Wednesday, September 29, from 7-8 p.m.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

Vermont PBS: Kids and Education September Resources for Back to School

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS have compiled Vermont PBS Kids and Education: September 2021, which includes resources for back to school, organized by grade band and subject area. Visit the new Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources for back to school. For more information about the partnership between the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS, visit the AOE’s Vermont PBS webpage.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

September Issue of Literary Learning: Newsletter for English Language Arts in Vermont

Audience: English Teachers, Literacy Coaches
The September issue of the bi-monthly newsletter, Literary Learning, is now available to read on the Agency of Education’s English Language Arts (ELA) webpage. This issue contains an article about improving adolescent literacy and accompanying resources, an update on Vermont PBS Kids and Education resources and how to join our community on Edmodo, new resources from Smarter Balanced, and information about some great professional offerings and activities. Also included is an interest inventory to inform the development of future professional learning opportunities for ELA. Be sure to subscribe to the Agency’s ELA listserv in order to stay informed about ELA in Vermont.
Contact: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov

Setting the Stage: Laying the Foundation for Special Education Rule Changes to Support Act 173 Webinar and Accompanying Resources

Audience: Principals, Superintendents, Curriculum Coordinators, Everyone, Special Ed Administrators, and Educators
A prerecorded webinar and accompanying resources - Key Terms in the VTmtss and Early MTSS Frameworks Defined and The Evolution of Tiered Systems of Support in Vermont have been created by the teams of the Student Support Services Division Early Learning, Special Education, and VTmtss, to bring common language and concepts to the field regarding the VTmtss and Early MTSS Frameworks, the multi-tiered systems they support, and information on how strong frameworks address equity and therefore enhance the sustainability of Act 173. To learn more, join in the Office Hours (virtual meeting) on September 20, 2021 from 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at tracy.watterson@vermont.gov

What If Wednesday

Audience: Superintendent’s, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The What if Wednesday is designed for Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members to facilitate a conversation about school emergency preparedness. Please complete the exercise and share with your faculty and staff as appropriate.
Contact: Robert L. Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448.

Courtesy Posts

The views, opinions and resources shared in this section of the WFM are solely those of the original contributors. The Agency of Education does not endorse the views expressed by these contributors and reserves the right to refuse submissions. Questions related to any of these resources should be directed to the organizations, people and opportunities as shared. Please refer to the Weekly Field Memo submission guidelines for additional information.

Umatter® for Youth and Young Adults (YYA)

Umatter® for Youth and Young Adults (YYA) is a youth leadership and engagement initiative that includes interactive training, design and implementation of a Community Action Project (CAP) in their school community, and presentation of CAP at an event with their peers. Core content and skills development includes: changing mindset, assessing personal strengths, building resiliency, strategies to cope with stress, self-care, recognizing signs of distress in self and others, how to reach out for help and how to help a friend. Groups of 8 youth ages 12-22 with 2 adult facilitators are encouraged to register for this year’s program beginning December 8, 2021.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org

STEAM on a Team with Vermont Destination Imagination!

Non-profit program of creative collaboration for students in K-12, homeschool and community settings throughout Vermont. Teams of kids make all the decisions about how to solve STEAM Challenges (in person and/or virtually), with facilitation by an adult Team Manager. Destination Imagination can be part of the curriculum, an after school program, or other community-based programming. Free workshops and training anywhere in Vermont.
Contact: Jane Youngbaer at vtdicreativity@gmail.com or 802 272-2766

Youth Environmental Summit (YES) - Registration is Now Open!

YES is an annual event for students in grades 6-12 who want to learn about environmental issues and find ways to take action. This event will again be offered online but with a twist. This year we are offering both a real-time virtual summit as well as pre-recorded workshops that you can access on your own time. The real-time virtual kick off will take place on Friday, October 29, 2021 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and it will feature keynote speakers and skill-building workshops around a unifying theme of climate change. Access to the pre-recorded workshops will start on November 1, 2021. Learn more at the 4-H Announcements page.
Contact: Lauren Traister at Lauren.Traister@uvm.edu or 802-888-4972 x 402

Teen Science Cafes - Both In-Person and Online!

Coming this Fall, we will be, once again, offering in-person teen science cafes. Teen Science Cafés are informal, interactive programs that promote exploration, curiosity and life-long learning about current and cutting-edge ideas in science and technology. Teens engage in lively discussion and hands on learning with experts. The cafes are free and organized by teens for teens. Open to youth in grades 7-12. Check out our Fall Schedule! (Flyer, PDF) Note: We will also continue to offer virtual cafes. All virtual sessions are recorded for asynchronous at-home learning. You can view recordings here.
Contact: Lauren Traister at Lauren.Traister@uvm.edu or 802-888-4972 x 402

Professional Learning: Leadership Workshops

Registration is open for Saint Johnsbury Academy Leadership Series. This series of workshops focuses on the challenges and opportunities faced by leaders every day. Facilitated by Dr. Martha Dubuque, the workshops include how to address conflict, how to turn evaluations into yearlong opportunities for growth and how to build trust in the workplace, among others. The courses give participants practical tools for creating a healthy, thriving workplace culture. To register go to Adult Education Registration - St. Johnsbury Academy.
Contact: Sandra Mings-Lamar, Director, Adult Education, at smingslamar@stjacademy.org or (802) 748-7738

The Mindful Anti-Racist Cohort for White Educators

One more week to register for The Mindful Anti-Racist Cohort for White Educators led by Annie O'Shaughnessy. This cohort will meet during the 21-22 school year (virtually) from 3:14 - 4:45 p.m. one Thursday a month (15 total recertification hours). The cohort, using restorative practices to build a brave space and apply mindfulness principles and practices, will cultivate the courage, discernment and vulnerability needed to 'dare greatly' to use our power and privilege to speak out, educate, and lead in this country's journey towards racial justice and equity. You will be asked to read one article a month.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642

Break Down the High Leverage Concepts (HLC's) Grades 3-5

The Break Down the High Leverage Concepts workshop will be held on September 23, 2021 from 4-6 p.m. Participants will become familiar with the High Leverage Concepts from Grade 3 to Grade 5. During the workshop we will build an understanding of what HLC’s are, how they can be used to focus instruction and intervention, and how they connect to the learning progression documents, and of course do some math.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com

Working with Menus

Thie Working with Menus workshop will be held on September 21, 2021 from 4-6 p.m. This is a monthly opportunity to work on your classroom math menus with others. Erin Oliver will always have some ideas and resources for different learning opportunities on students menus that connect to the High Leverage Concepts.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com