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The Agency of Education created the weekly field memo to keep subscribers up-to-date with current education policy, state-wide education initiatives, and official messages from the AOE. The Weekly Field Memo contains education-related posts from the Agency of Education (AOE), other State of Vermont agencies, federal agencies or Vermont's congressional delegation.
Contents: May 22, 2024
- Reminder - Vermont Regional School Calendars for 2024-2025
- Literacy Learning Module on Vocabulary Now Available and Comprehension Coming Soon
- Strategic Planning Workshop for Effective Use of Data
- Vermont Public: Animal Habitat Digital Resource
- Agriculture Coloring Contest
Reminder - Vermont Regional School Calendars for 2024-2025
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Headmasters, Regional Technical Center Directors, Curriculum Coordinators
16 V.S.A. §1071 (e), requires that before April 1 of each year, the superintendents of schools and the headmasters of public schools not managed by school boards in an area shall meet, and by majority vote, establish a uniform calendar within that area for the following school year. The calendar must include student attendance days, vacations, holidays and the requisite five teacher in-service education days. Please send approved, regional calendars to the Agency of Education at AOE.EDInfo@vermont.gov no later than April 1, 2024, or as soon as approved.
Contact: Suzanne Sprague/Maureen Gaidys at aoe.edinfo@vermont.gov
Literacy Learning Module on Vocabulary Now Available and Comprehension Coming Soon
Audience: English Language Arts and Literacy Teachers, Literacy Coaches, Interventionists
All modules in AOE’s literacy course “Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success” will be available in mid-June. The fifth module, “Developing Vocabulary,” is available now. The sixth and final module, “Increasing Reading Comprehension”, will be available June 18, 2024. Both modules delve into crafting proficient readers of complex text. They are relevant for reading instructors as well as those supporting literacy in science, social studies, humanities, and other content areas. Enroll now to access Module Five today and Module Six when it is live on June 18, 2024.
Contact: Emily Lesh at emily.lesh@vermont.gov
Strategic Planning Workshop for Effective Use of Data
Audience: Leadership Teams
School, District, and Supervisory Union teams are invited to participate in this strategic planning session facilitated by Demonstrated Success. The session is free to participants and lunch will be provided. The day will focus on using data effectively to inform your strategic plan to improve student outcomes. Teams that attended last August will be supported in assessing their progress and revising goals and action steps. New teams will develop/refine a strategic plan to meet intended goals. Sessions will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Burlington (August 12, 2024), Goshen (August 13, 2024), and Manchester (August 15, 2024). Registration is now open.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Vermont Public: Animal Habitat Digital Resource
Audience: Vermont Educators
Wild Kratt’s Creature Photoshoot game brings digital access to travel through our world’s diverse habitats. Gamify and interact with free games through PBS KIDS, Vermont Public, and the Wild Kratts. Visit the Vermont Public Educators page for more recommendations for high-quality resources.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpublic.org
Agriculture Coloring Contest
Audience: Vermont Educators Grades K-4, Art Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets announces a new Agriculture Coloring Contest for students in grades K-4 during the 2024-2025 school year. An email to elementary school principals will be sent later this month with a copy of entry form and rules for the contest. We hope this contest will spark conversations in the classroom about the many types of agriculture here in Vermont. Entries are due on November 1, 2024.
Contact: Terry Smith at terry.smith@vermont.gov or by phone 802-828-5667.