- Smarter Balanced Newsletter Available
- NECAP Science Release Tasks and Support Materials
- Call for Nominations for Presidential Scholars
- Eliminating the Grading Game: Providing Equity Through Proficiency-Based Learning (PBL) Practices
- Vermont Alliance for the Social Studies (VASS) Conference
- Save The Date: Preschool Development Expansion Grant Webinar
- School Safety Training - "What If Wednesday"
- Governor's Statewide School Training Safety Conference
- Winter Weather Challenge Safety Dialogue
- 2016-2017 Nominations for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Open
- Transportation Solutions for Students Experiencing Homelessness
- Courtesy Postings
Smarter Balanced Newsletter Available
Audience: All
The fourth issue of the Smarter Balanced Newsletter is out. This issue contains general updates regarding TIDE (and a note about DLM rumors), a TIDE Webinar Encore, SBAC and Chromebooks, a new Designated Support, Digital Library self-registration, Performance Task classroom activities, and an Educator Opportunity with NAEP.
Contact: Linda Moreno at (802) 479-1309 or linda.moreno@vermont.gov
NECAP Science Release Tasks and Support Materials
Audience: All
The 2016 NECAP Science Release items and Support Materials and prediction charts are now available on the AOE website.
Contact: Gail Hall, 6-12 science specialist, at (802) 479-1284 or gail.hall@vermont.gov or Kathy Renfrew, K-5 science specialist, at (802) 479-1448 or kathy.renfrew@vermont.gov
Call for Nominations for Presidential Scholars
Audience: Students, Principals, Guidance Counselors, Academics and CTE Teachers, CTE Center Directors
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding scholarship. Twenty-five outstanding students from the state of Vermont – 20 from high schools and 5 from CTE centers – will be selected based on recommendations and applications from participating schools. High schools can nominate up to one female and one male, and CTE centers can nominate up to two students. In addition, this year students are able to nominate themselves (with the endorsement of a qualifying adult). Go online for the high school nomination form and the CTE nomination form Only nominations submitted via the electronic system will be accepted. The deadline for nominations is November 4, 2016.
Contact for CTE Centers: Jay Ramsey, State Director for Career Technical Education, at jay.ramsey@vermont.gov
Contact for High Schools: Sigrid Olson, Personalization and Flexible Pathways, at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov
Eliminating the Grading Game: Providing Equity Through Proficiency-Based Learning (PBL) Practices
Audience: Superintendents, Special Ed Directors, Curriculum Directors, Teachers
At the recent Rowland Conference, Andrew Jones and Gabriel Hamilton from Mount Abraham Union High School gave this compelling presentation about shifts in practice required to transition to a proficiency-based learning system with the goal of equity for all. This presentation Eliminating the Grading Game can be used to inform educators as well as community members about the premise for PBL and how it differs from traditional systems. It can also be used to provoke meaningful conversations about inequities that currently exist in systems and strategies for addressing them.
Contact: Kathy Renfrew at kathy.renfrew@vermont.gov, Andrew Jones at ajones@anesu.org, Gabriel Hamilton at ghamilton@anesu.org
Vermont Alliance for the Social Studies (VASS) Conference
Audience: Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, External Learning Providers
The annual VASS conference continues to be a great resource for “Making Sense of the World.” Start the day with a fascinating and relevant opening session (Vermont Welcomes Syrian Refugees) in which Chris Louras, Mayor of Rutland; Robert Ford, former ambassador to Syria; and the USCRI/Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program Director Amila Merdzanovic will discuss how the crisis in Syria impacts Vermont and the rest of the world. Fifteen sessions will follow, focusing on topics like Inquiry through TED Talks, Game-Changing Digital Tools, 3D Vermont, Using ArcGIS Online, Giant Traveling Maps, Art and National Parks, and Transforming Classroom Practice through Socratic Dialogue and more. View the agenda and register online
Contact: Sigrid Olson at (802) 479-1156 or sigrid.olson@vermont.gov
Save The Date: Preschool Development Expansion Grant Webinar
Audience: Administrators, Teachers, District Leaders, Partner Programs
A Question and Answer webinar will be hosted by the Vermont Agency of Education for districts and current grantees already receiving or interested in applying for the Preschool Development Grant. This is the second year of a four-year grant. The PDEG Technical Assistance Q&A interactive webinar is November 9, 2016 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. This interactive webinar allows participants to connect with the AOE's Early Childhood staff as well as fellow partnering sites to share questions and successes. Join the webinar For background information, watch the previously recorded PDEG Informational Webinar
Contact: Katie McCarthy at katie.mccarthy@vermont.gov
School Safety Training - "What If Wednesday"
Audience: Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The "What If Wednesday" school safety initiative is designed to stimulate a conversation about school emergency preparedness. Participants should read the summary of the "fictional" school safety incident and then answer the multiple choice question with the appropriate response action t obe taken for the specific emergency.
Contact: Rob Evans, school security liaison officer, at (802) 839-0448 or revans@margolishealy.com
Governor's Statewide School Training Safety Conference
Audience: School Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, School Mental Health Providers, School Crisis Planning Team Members
Secretary Holcombe (AOE) and Commissioner Flynn (DPS) are pleased to announce the Governor’s Statewide School Safety Training Conference to be held at Vermont Technical College (Randolph) on December 8, 2016. This all-day conference is for public and independent schools focused on preventing school violence by providing a comprehensive training curriculum for those individuals that will actively participate in local school, “district” or supervisory union threat assessment teams. Those attending will receive a certificate of completion from SIGMA Threat Management Associates who are national thought leaders in assessing school threat/risk-based behaviors that can potentially have a negative impact on our schools. School administrators are strongly encouraged to take a “team” approach to this threat assessment training by sending those members within the school, district or supervisory union or school safety partners who are designated or will be designated to conduct these types of assessments. Spaces are filling quickly, so please reserve a spot. Register online
Contact: Shelley Matz at (802) 479-1754 or shelley.matz@vermont.gov
Winter Weather Challenge Safety Dialogue
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
This facilitated dialogue is designed to initiate a conversation with your staff about how your school would respond to a “ Winter Weather Challenge" and to familiarize you with current school emergency operations plans, policies, and procedures. We recommend that school leaders share this training with key school decision makers during monthly/quarterly school crisis planning team meetings.
Contact: Rob Evans, school security liaison officer, at (802) 839-0448 or revans@margolishealy.com
2016-2017 Nominations for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Open
Audience: All
The 2016-2017 nominations for National Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for outstanding grades 7-12 Vermont Mathematics and Science teachers opened November 1, 2016. These awards are the nation's highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science). Anyone may nominate an exemplary Vermont mathematics or science teacher for this recognition through the PAEMST site until nominations close April 1, 2017.
Contact: Gail Hall at gghall910@gmail.com
Transportation Solutions for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Homeless Liaisons
The Vermont Agency of Education is partnering with the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) to provide technical assistance to six LEAs looking to improve transportation services for students experiencing homelessness. Our goal is to generate more affordable, flexible and efficient options for transporting students experiencing homelessness to their school of origin. VEIC will work directly with LEAs to develop transportation services plans and provide LEAs with implementation guidance. The homeless liaisons in each LEA will serve as the primary point of contact. Learn more Applications are due by 5 p.m on November 4, 2016.
Contact: Justine Sears at (802) 540-7833 or jsears@veic.org
Courtesy Postings
LifeChanger of the Year Program Accepting Nominations
The LifeChanger of the Year program is an annual program, sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation that honors K-12 public and private school educators and employees from around the country who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership. Nominations can be made by anyone and are accepted until January 1, 2017. Nominations can be submitted online at no cost. Each nominee is celebrated in various ways and has the opportunity to be considered for the grand prize of $10,000 to be split between the winner and his/her school.
Contact: Mayra Gonzalez at mgonzalez@conovergould.com
Jump$tart to Offer Teacher Education
The Vermont Jump$tart Coalition will present their annual conference for teachers on November 11, 2016, at the Davis Center at the University of Vermont. Vermont teachers from all grades are invited to attend this event and will attend three sessions from six different topic offerings, as well as hear Keynote Speaker, Peter Bielagus, America's Financial Educator. Register online
Contact: Dylan Giambatista at dylan.giambatista@vermont.gov
Connecting The Dots: Using Best Practices to Support Young Children and Their Families
This workshop/course opportunity for Early Childhood Professionals is hosted by the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VTHEC). VTHEC is embarking on a two-year workshop series, as well as graduate level courses, to help early childhood professionals best support young children and their families. The first of a four-part workshop series kicks off on November 30, 2016, with Jim Squires presenting "Strengthening Foundations for Best Practice and Effective Curriculum." These workshops will be interactive, integrated learning experiences that blend theory and practice. Learn more and register online
Contact: Julie Medose at (802) 498-3350 or julie.medose@vthec.org
Reflective Practice and the Peer Review Portfolio
Are you currently pursuing initial licensure or adding an endorsement through the Peer Review Alternative Certification Route? This course supports and guides teachers pursuing initial licensure or adding endorsements to their Vermont teaching license. Participants need to be in a school setting, for student teaching will not be arranged through this course. As part of this course, participants examine the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards (Vermont Core Teaching Standards) and content endorsement standards and develop an electronic portfolio demonstrating their competency on each standard through the collection of artifacts and a written commentary that describes, analyzes and reflects on the evidence. Vermont-NEA members taking this course will qualify for Vermont-NEA Scholarships to pay for the Peer Review Fee.
Contact: Juliette Longchamp at jlongchamp@vtnea.org
STEM - Bridge Building Competition - and Crushing
Students are invited to participate in Vermont Tech's Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology's third annual Bridge Building Competitions. Teams will construct bridges in advance of the competitions using only popsicle sticks, Elmer's Glue, toothpicks and dental floss. The free competitions will be held on two dates. The high school competition is March 31, 2017 and the middle school competition is April 13, 2017. Find more information and register online
Contact: John Diebold at (802) 728-1282 or jdiebold@vtc.edu
The CAMS Framework, Managing Suicide Risk Collaboratively
CAMS has a 20-plus year evidence base, internationally recognized as a top-tier intervention with proven efficacy. The suite of trainings is for clinicians who see clients at risk for suicide in an outpatient setting over the course of weeks or months. Included in this training are a two-hour online session, a one-day face-to-face training at The Essex and post-training technical assistance. CEUs are pending. For more information and to register, visit the Health and Learning website
Contact: Catherine Diduk, training/event coordinator, at catherine@healthandlearning.org
2017 Entrepreneurship Education - Visual Media Competition
Students in grades 9-12 are invited to submit bumper stickers and video videos for this competition. The theme is "Vermont Entrepreneurship: Innovation and Creativity." Winners will receive cash prizes. For more information visit the Vermont Tech website
Contact: Laurel Butler at laurel.butler@vtc.edu