- 2018-2019 Prekindergarten Tuition Rate
- Training of Trainers: School-Based Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning
- Seeking Host Schools for State FitnessGram Trainings
- Proficiency-Based Learning
- 2017 School Safety Facilitated Dialogue
- What If Wednesday: School Relocation
- Courtesy Postings
2018-2019 Prekindergarten Tuition Rate
Audience: Elementary Principals, Superintendents, Business Managers, Special Education Directors, PreK Coordinators, School Boards
The statewide 2018-2019 Prekindergarten Tuition Rate is $3,267.00. This amount is adjusted each year by the New England Economic Project cumulative price index for state and local government purchases of goods and services. Districts paying tuition for prekindergarten education on behalf of a prekindergarten child to a prequalified prekindergarten education program (private or public) shall pay at the statewide rate for 10 hours per week for 35 weeks annually. More information can be found on the Universal Prekindergarten web page.
Contact: Tierney O’Meara at (802) 479-1142 or tierney.omeara@vermont.gov
Training of Trainers: School-Based Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning
Audience: Teams of educators who are committed to providing training in their district
A Training of Trainers to provide support to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) youth will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 17, 2018 in Burlington by the Vermont Agency of Education and Outright Vermont. If you want to help create meaningful change in your local school community, but need practice with the skills, this is the training for you. You will leave prepared to offer professional development to faculty and staff at your local school district. The training costs are being underwritten with federal funds, but lunch and parking are on your own. Learn more and register for LGBTQ Training of Trainers.
Contact: Tom Aloisi at thomas.aloisi@vermont.gov
Seeking Host Schools for State FitnessGram Trainings
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors, Physical Education Teachers, Physical Education Teacher Preparation Program Coordinators
The Vermont Agency of Education has adopted FitnessGram as its statewide physical education assessment for state and federal accountability purposes. At this time, the Agency is completing the implementation plan and seeking possible training sites for physical educators and/or assessment coordinators. To be considered, the site must provide gym and classroom space for a daylong or half-day training in late February, March or April of 2018, for approximately 50 people. If interested, please contact Susan Yesalonia, the Health and Physical Education Specialist for the Agency.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov
Proficiency-Based Learning
Audience: Educators
There are new materials on the Proficiency-Based Learning web page that educators might find helpful. Please find out more about proficiency-based learning by reading Opinion: Proficiency-Based Learning Beneficial for Students, by Secretary Holcombe, and How to Argue with Standards-Based Learning; and Peeking Around the Corner: Insights on the Future of Learning by Rose Colby.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1425
School Safety Facilitated Dialogue
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
This week's Facilitated Dialogue will cover school relocations and how your school would relocate during a critical incident. This school safety training is designed to stimulate a conversation about school emergency preparedness.
Contact: Rob Evans, School Safety Liaison Officer, at revans@margolishealy.com
What If Wednesday: School Relocation
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
This week's What if Wednesday for December 6, 2017, is about school relocation. This school safety training 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 to be taken for the specific emergency.
Contact: Rob Evans, School Safety Liaison Officer, at revans@margolishealy.com
Courtesy Postings
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.
Determining Eligibility for Special Education: An In-Depth Look at Adverse Effect Webinar
Watch the recently-recorded Determining Eligibility for Special Education: Adverse Effect webinar. Adverse effect is one of three criteria (also called “gates”) used to determine a child’s eligibility for special education services. Ernie Wheeler, Special Education Program Coordinator from the Vermont Agency of Education, takes an in-depth look at this criteria: What is adverse effect? What measures can be used to answer the adverse effect question? How do teams document adverse effect?
Contact: Janice Sabett at (800) 800-4005, x218 or janice.sabett@vtfn.org
PBIS Exploration
If your school is interested in being trained at the Universal Level of PBIS in March of 2018, there are several upcoming deadlines, including an orientation webinar required for new PBIS School Coordinators and new SU/SD Coordinators. Register for the Universal Orientation Webinar. An Intent to Implement is due by January 1, 2018 in order to attend team training in March.
Contact: Amy Wheeler-Sutton at amy.wheeler-sutton@uvm.edu
The Governor's Institute of Vermont: Winter Weekends
The Governor's Institute of Vermont announces two Winter Weekends in February. Winter weekends are two-day intensive learning experiences for academically motivated 9-12 graders. A wide range of 10 topics this year. Applications accepted starting December 10, 2017. Tuition is on a sliding scale, so programs are accessible to all students. Learn more about Governor's Institute on Vermont Winter Weekends.
Contact: Susie Moakley at susie@giv.org
Fostering Resilient Learners: Creating Trauma-Sensitive School Communities
The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative is continuing to offer workshops and courses on the topic of Trauma-informed Schools next semester, "Fostering Resilient Learners." Dr. Joelle van Lent and Dr. Gillian Boudreau will begin the next series on January 18, 2018 at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier. Participants have the option to take the series as two separate two-day workshops, to take all four workshops, or to participate in the fifth day and receive three graduate credits. This training is designed from current research on the key components and protective factors that foster resilience in children who are contending with a wide variety of stressors including developmental trauma, mental health challenges, intellectual and learning variations, developmental disabilities, and chronic adversity within their environment. Included in the training will be a comprehensive framework and set of skills in mindfulness techniques and their utility in increasing trauma sensitivity. The strategies and techniques presented in this course can be applied universally and as Tier I interventions to benefit all students in the school community.
Contact: Julie Medose at julie.medose@vthec.org
Introduction to the Orton-Gillingham Approach
The Orton-Gillingham Approach is the underlying foundation of all multisensory structured language instruction. If you work with struggling readers, you will learn the structure of the English language, how to teach it sequentially, and about the reading brain and dyslexia, phonology, morphology, spelling patterns, and the history of the English language. Learn more and register for Introduction to the Orton-Gillingham Approach.
Contact: Caitlin Niland, Intake Coordinator for Professional Learning, (802)878-2332 ext 320 or cniland@sterncenter.org
Flynn Center Annual Teacher Conference
Next week is the Flynn Center's annual full-day conference, "Engaging Active Learners: Integrating Creativity into Curriculum." Join guest artist Paige Hernandez and Flynn faculty from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 13, 2017 to clarify the essentials of arts integration, discover how inquiry can be used as a framework for cross-curricular projects, and investigate the core reasons arts integration works and why it is producing such remarkable results in student learning and activating classroom environments. Cost is $70 per participant, and professional development credit is available. Register for the Flynn Center's Annual Teacher Conference.
Contact: Lauren Genta, School Programs Coordinator, at lgenta@flynncenter.org
Using Voice Thread As A Universal Design for Learning and ADA Compliance Digital Tool
Vita-Learn is offering Vermont Schools free training on how to use VoiceThread in Universal Design for Learning and as a tool for ADA Compliance. We’ve also set up three statewide projects for Vermont schools to access using VoiceThread during the month of December with free Voicethread Accounts available. RSVP and learn more about the December 12 - 14, 2017 workshops and additional statewide projects available.
Contact Lucie deLaBruere at ignite@vita-learn.org
School Makerspace Workshop
Vita-Learn Central Region will host a free Makerspace workshop from 4-6 p.m. on December 12, 2017. This workshop will include a tour of Design Lab/Makerspace at Barre Town School and a workshop lead by Michael Pope focused on Student Directed Making and Maker space Creation / Facilitation. Learn more and register for the free school Makerspace workshop.
Contact: Lucie deLaBruere at ignite@vita-learn.org
Rowland Foundation Fellowship
The Rowland Foundation seeks fellowship applicants who are visionary, willing to lead, motivated and committed to affecting change in an area of concern within their respective schools, and who take risks and work collaboratively with others. The Foundation seeks proposals which will lead to systemic change in the school, particularly in its culture and climate; and are visionary and comprehensive. Learn more about the Rowland Foundation Fellowship and grant of up to $100,000. The deadline for applying for 2018 Fellowships is December 31, 2017.
Contact: Marge Malko at margemalko@gmail.com