Volume 15, Issue 39

October 6, 2021

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Memo: COVID-19 Response Testing Programs for Schools, Fall-Winter 2021
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.

Memo: COVID-19 Response Testing Programs for Schools, Fall-Winter 2021

The Memo: COVID-19 Response Testing Programs for Schools, Fall-Winter 2021 outlines additional COVID-19 testing programs to support in-person learning during the 2021-22 school year. You can also visit the COVID-19 testing website to learn more about COVID-19 testing options.
Contact: AOE.covid19testing@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.

2021 School Counselor Survey Results: Coffee & Conversation

Audience: Secondary School Counselors, Principals and CTE Directors
Join us to hear about some of the key findings from the Spring 2021 School Counselor Survey and help us delve a little deeper into what these findings mean. This session is your chance to talk with other secondary school counselors and AOE about your experiences and practices related to pathway advising. AOE wants to hear from you to better understand your perspective on what policies and activities – at the school and state level - would improve the landscape for school counseling and pathway advising in the state. For secondary school counselors: we are offering these virtual sessions at two different times to accommodate availability as best we can. Please only register for one, the number of seats in each session is limited as we are trying to ensure a small enough group to have productive, insightful conversations. Click on the date you which to register for: Monday, October 18, 2021: 2:30–3:30 p.m. or Thursday, October 20, 2021: 1-2 p.m. For principals and CTE Directors: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 12 – 1 p.m. Note that these sessions use the Ring Central app. Plan ahead and download the Ring Central app.
General Contact: Jay Ramsey at jay.ramsey@vermont.gov or, Registration Contact: Xinxin Zhang at XZhang@edc.org

Vermont PBS: Website Refresh for October and Resources to Celebrate Fall

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education has updated our Vermont PBS webpage to include more resources for educators, organized by grade band and subject area. We will be updating this webpage monthly, so check back often to find new featured resources related to monthly themes. Also, visit the Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources. To share resources and network with colleagues, join the Vermont PBS Educational Resources group on Edmodo. Activate your Edmodo account and join the VTED Learns community by filling out this form.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

Nomination Cycle Open: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The National Science Foundation, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has opened the nomination and self-nomination K-6 cycle for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). More than 5,000 teachers have been recognized nationwide since 1983 for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. For more information about how to nominate a deserving K-6 teacher or to apply yourself, please visit PAEMST.
Contact: Margaret Carrera-Bly at margaret.carrera-bly@vermont.gov

Engaging your Students in the Crosscutting Concepts

Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Science Leaders
The Vermont Science Teachers Association (VSTA) will be offering a workshop series by Peter McLaren, Executive Director of Next Gen Education, LLC on October 20, 2021, from 4-6 p.m., virtually. The workshop will be focusing upon teacher implementation of the crosscutting concepts and the instructional shifts required as a result of the Next Generation Science Standards. This workshop series will be participant-centered, where attendees will engage in a number of activities designed to elevate their understanding of how to implement, crosscutting concepts within their instructional environment. To register or for more information, please visit the registration page.
Contact: Margaret Carrera-Bly at margaret.carrera-bly@vermont.gov

Nominations for Presidential Scholars

Audience: Students, Principals, Guidance Counselors, Academic, Arts and CTE Teachers, and CTE Center Directors
The Vermont Presidential Scholars Program recognizes students for academic success, artistic and technical excellence, community service and leadership. Scholars are chosen in three different categories: General (for high school seniors), the Arts (for grades 10-12), and Career Technical Education (for high school seniors currently enrolled in a state-approved CTE program). Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators. Students in all categories may also nominate themselves, and those selected in the General and CTE categories will be invited to apply to the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 12, 2021. Only nominations submitted via electronic applications will be accepted. You can find all necessary forms and additional information online.
Contact: Ryan Parkman at ryan.parkman@vermont.gov

Educational Equity and Diversity Professional Learning Providers List Update

Audience: Superintendents, School Administrators
The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) has updated the Educational Equity and Diversity Professional Learning Providers list. This list of local and national professional development providers is available to the state’s educators, updated annually and is a resource when planning their professional development activities.
Contact: Nancy Hellen at Nancy.Hellen@vermont.gov

Essential Topics in Sexual Health Education

Audience: Health Educators, Physical Educators, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, Curriculum Directors, Higher Education
The Essential Topics in Sexual Health Education is now available to educators that teach sexual health education. This resource was developed to address and support sex educators in schools and community settings while reflecting the reality of what teaching this subject often entails. Essential Topics in Sexual Health Education identifies high-priority topics and best practices for teaching sexual health education topics.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov or (802) 828-6553

Act 67- Community Schools Grant Summaries

Audience: Health Educators, Physical Educators, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, Curriculum Directors, Higher Education
The Agency of Education is pleased to share the Act 67- Community Schools Grant Summaries for the following Supervisory Unions/Supervisory Districts (SU/SDs): Addison Northwest Supervisory District, Caledonia Central Supervisory Union, North Country Supervisory Union, Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union and White River Valley Supervisory Union. The total award amount for year one, $1,003,933.00, will support the development of five community school models and 44 community partners statewide. This grant program was developed with state set-aside federal ESSER funds. The grant summaries were developed from excerpts of grant recipients’ applications. Those seeking to review the full application should contact the awardees directly.
Contact: Jess DeCarolis at jess.decarolis@vermont.gov

New: Edmodo Group Creation Guide

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors, Teachers
The Edmodo platform provides educators with a virtual ecosystem for peer learning and networking communities to share information and best practices, both within closed district networks and statewide. Edmodo supports virtual spaces for educators to collaborate, share and learn together in larger (statewide or multi-district) groups. Use the new Edmodo Group Creation Guide to learn how Edmodo Groups function; how to create groups for members of your district or school; how to create state-level groups; how to make groups discoverable to members of your school, district, or the statewide VTED Learns Network; how to invite members to be part of your group; and how to join groups created by others.
Contact: Sigrid Olson at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21C) Grant Application (Third Notification)

Audience: All
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21C) Grant Application is now open for the purpose of providing high-quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities. Investments are for five years. Applications are due February 4, 2022 in the GMS system. E-Letters of Intent are due November 24, 2021. Virtual applicant trainings for teams will be held on October 13 and 19, 2021 (part 1 repeated) and October 28, 2021 (part 2) from 9-11:30 a.m. To view a paper copy of the grant application, go to the AOE 21C webpage. You may also view the 21C quick eligibility checker.
Contact: 21C State Coordinator, Emanuel Betz, Emanuel.Betz@vermont.gov or 802-828-6977

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.

Formative Assessment Workshop

The goal of the Formative Assessment Workshop is for participants to strengthen their use of formative assessment data in their math classrooms and intervention spaces. We will discuss helpful sources for formative assessments, habits to strive for when looking at student work, and how to build a response to the data throughout your balanced math block. Note: Participants should come with a recent set of their own students' work to use throughout this workshop. The workshop will take place on November 18, 2021 from 4-6 p.m., in person or on Zoom.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com

All Learners Network Math Menu

The All Learners Network Math Menu is a 3 credit graduate course that explores an All Learners Main Lesson/Menu model for differentiation, reframing Tier I and II math instruction in order to meet the ongoing range of instructional needs. Learn how to manage a ‘menu’ approach to your teaching and restructure your math block to allow for higher levels of inclusion and access. Classes will take place on November 3, 10, 17, 2021, December 15, 2021 and January 12, 2022 from 3-6 p.m.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com

Discover GIS Workshop for Teens - Registration Now Open

Join us to learn all about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - a key technology now and for the future! In this two session virtual workshop, you will start your journey into learning GIS by creating your own StoryMap and more. Learn more and sign up today! Space is limited to 20 youth in grades 7-12, November 3 and 17, 7-8 p.m., online.
Contact: Lauren Traister at Lauren.Traister@uvm.edu or 802-888-4972 x 402

10th Annual Vermont College Symposium (Virtual)

It's not too late to register for the 10th Annual Vermont College Symposium! - Offered on three consecutive Tuesday afternoons on October 5, 12 and 19, 2021, 12-2 pm. Registration will remain open until the start of session 3. All sessions will be recorded and available to all who register. Keynote speakers and panelists will offer presentations on Exploring the Science of the Positive Framework, Building a Culture of Recovery and Decolonizing Substance Misuse and Addiction. Those who should attend this symposium include: Campus faculty and staff as well as community partners including community coalitions and prevention professionals working with youth and young adults.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org

Castleton University Center for Schools: More Fall Courses Starting Soon!

The Castleton University Center for Schools has a variety of online courses, which are designed specifically for practicing PreK-12 educators, starting in October and November. The majority are being offered online in synchronous and asynchronous formats. Many are new! View course descriptions and register today.
Contact: Tara Lisdtone at tara.lidstone@castleton.edu

VT Agency of Agriculture Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant Now Open

The Farm to School and Early Childhood grant is a competitive funding opportunity that provides successful applicants with $10,000 and a suite of professional support to help build or expand farm to school programs. This grant is designed to support a variety of farm to school initiatives and focuses on building sustainable and integrated programs. More information is available on the program webpage. The deadline to apply is midnight on November 1, 2021.
For questions about this, or other farm to school funding opportunities offered by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, contact program manager Trevor Lowell at trevor.lowell@vermont.gov

Cornelius Minor Back in Vermont (Virtually)!

We are excited to be bringing Cornelius Minor back to Vermont for 2 virtual sessions - Oct. 28 and Dec. 16, 2021 from 3-4:30 p.m. His topic is: Social Justice Does Not Just Live in Our Content, It Lives in Our Methods. The first presentation will explore how grading practices, classroom routines, teaching methodologies, discipline codes and other school structures can perpetuate the kinds of exclusion that keep poor children, girls, LGBTQIA+ children, disabled children and children of color from fully accessing and benefiting from a school curriculum. From there, Corn will design the second presentation to fit the needs of the audience - this is one of his favorite ways to work with a group! Visit the event page for information and registration.
Contact: info@pllvt.org or Mary Grace at 802.828.0521

Disability Studies Information Session

Due to demand, UVM's Center on Disability and Community Inclusion has scheduled a second information session about our Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies. Join us Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. to hear from Academic Coordinator, Dr. Winnie Looby, as to how the program works and how you can make the best of it as you build a professional and academic portfolio. Visit the event page to register.
Contact information: Audrey Homan, choman@uvm.edu or (802) 656-4031