- National Wireless Emergency Alert Test
- Rule 4500: Restraint and Seclusion Webinar
- Webinar: PBIS in 60 Minutes
- School Safety: Parent and Guardian Training Video
- VT PLN Professional Learning on PLPS
- MTSS September Office Hour
- Annual Fall Core Transition Teams Conference
- Courtesy Posts
National Test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts
Audience: All
On Thursday, September 20, 2018, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The wireless alerts will commence at 2:18 p.m., with the emergency alert system following at 2:20 p.m. on radio and television. This is only a test. All cellphones from participating carriers will receive this alert; school staff should expect that most students and staff with mobile phones will receive the following notification: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” If the test is postponed due to a major weather event or other national circumstance, the make-up date will be October 3, 2018. The national wireless notification system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children and other important alerts through mobile phones. For more information, please visit the FEMA website.
Contact: Mark Bosma, Public Information Officer, VT Emergency Management, at mark.bosma@vermont.gov
Rule 4500: The Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Vermont Schools Webinar
Audience: All school personnel, especially those involved with de-escalation, seclusion, and restraint
Vermont PBIS will host a webinar on Vermont Rule 4500 on September 14, 2018, from 9 to 10 a.m. Vermont Rule 4500 is in place to maintain positive and safe learning environments, promote positive behavioral interventions and supports, and ensure that students are not subjected to the inappropriate use of restraint or seclusion. Learn more about what is permissible and what is prohibited under Rule 4500, including reporting requirements, debriefing, etc.
Contact: Sherry Schoenberg at sherry.schoenberg@uvm.edu or (802) 371-7319
PBIS in 60 Minutes: Introduction to PBIS Webinar
Vermont PBIS will host a free Introduction to PBIS Webinar on September 19, 2018, from 9 to 10 a.m. The webinar will provide a quick and comprehensive overview of the systems, data, and practices within a PBIS framework. Participants will learn about the essential features of PBIS including behavioral expectations, lesson plans, acknowledging positive behavior, procedures for discouraging problem behavior and using data for problem-solving and decision-making.
Contact: Amy Wheeler-Sutton at amy.wheeler-sutton@uvm.edu or (518) 421-3965
August-September Linking Health and Learning Newsletter
Audience: Health Educators, Physical Educators, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Superintendents, Higher Education
The August-September Linking Health and Learning newsletter is posted on the Vermont Agency of Education Health and Physical Education (PE) webpages. This newsletter communicates pertinent information about the Vermont PE Assessment, news from around the state, as well as professional learning events and resources to support Vermont’s health and physical educators.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1284
School Safety: Parent and Guardian Training Video
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
This parents and guardians training video, provided by the Vermont School Safety Center is designed for school executive leaders to share with their parent/guardian community. This video discusses the roles and responsibilities parents can play during a crisis at your school. Please review the video prior to your distribution to ensure it does not conflict with guidance you may have already shared with your school community.
Contact: Rob Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, at revans@margolishealy.com
VT PLN Professional Learning Series on Personalized Learning Plans
Audience: Vermont Educators
The Vermont Professional Learning Network (VT PLN) is offering a learning series focused on student Personalized Learning Plans (PLP). The series is open to Vermont educators who are interested in integrating Personalized Learning Plans into their practice.
Contact: VT PLN at vtpln@ccebos.org
Multi-tiered System of Supports September Office Hour
Audience: Members of SU/SD/School Leadership Teams and Administrators
Registration is now open for the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) September Office Hour session scheduled for September 27, 2018, from 3 to 4 p.m. In this online session, we will introduce a module that focuses on how to layer the Systemic and Comprehensive Approach component throughout the MTSS framework. This module, when completed in full by the leadership team, is an interactive, self-paced, professional learning opportunity that supports the academic, behavioral, and SEL needs of all students. If attending as a team, please have each member register for the Office Hour. PreK-12 educators are welcome.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at (802) 479-1353 or tracy.watterson@vermont.gov
Annual Fall Core Transition Teams Conference
Audience: Secondary Special Educators, Principals, Guidance Counselors, Flexible Pathway Coordinators, Work-based Learning Staff, Career and Technical Education Center Staff, Voc. Rehab Transition Counselors, Developmental Disability Agency Staff, Supported Employment Staff, Department of Labor staff
This Annual Fall Core Transition Teams Conference will focus on transition planning for youth with disabilities and place a major emphasis on the local core transition team collaboration to further improve the local systems that affect transition planning for students with disabilities. “How can personalized learning plans and proficiency-based graduation requirements for all students be leveraged to improve transition planning for students with disabilities” will be the theme for this year. This conference will be held on October 16, 2018, in Killington at the Grand Resort, Killington, VT.
Contact: Tara Howe, Voc. Rehab, at tara.howe@vermont.gov
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.
Registration Open: Youth Environmental Summit
Registration is open for the Youth Environmental Summit, which will take place on Friday, November 2, 2018. The summit is an annual conference for grade six through 12 students to learn about environmental issues and take action in their communities. Check out a short video of last year's conference.
Contact: Lauren Traister at lauren.traister@uvm.edu or 802-888-4972, ext. 402
Professional Development: School Culture and Restorative Practices
Registration is open for Transforming School Culture Through Restorative Practices, a professional development series from Up for Learning. Youth-adult teams partner in creating a school culture that realizes greater equity in education, nurtures relationships in learning and decision-making, builds empathy, bridges differences and strengthens means to work through, resolve, and transform conflicts. For more information, see the Transforming School Culture flyer.
Contact: Lindsey Halman at lindsey@upforlearning.org or (802) 598-3445
VSAC: Financial aid training for high school educators and counselors
The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) has set dates for a variety of Financial Aid Training Events. VSAC has moved up several training opportunites to late September/early October to align with the October 1, 2018, FAFSA and Vermont grant application dates. New this year: A Financial Aid 101 session geared toward professionals who are newer to the field or want a refresher on available programs, timelines, and the best ways to advise students and families. Other courses include an annual update on VSAC initiatives, FAFSA and filing resources, grants, and scholarships.
Contact: Carrie Harlow at harlow@vsac.org or 800-660-3561, ext. 403.
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Open House
The Flynn wants to make sure Vermont's teachers and students feel welcome and know what to expect when coming to a performance or class. Educators, students, and families are invited to drop in anytime during the free Open House on Saturday, September 15, 2018, from 1 to 3 p.m. to explore the theater at their own pace. Designed specifically to support individuals on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities, this event is open to all.
Contact: Tracey Gilbert-Dengler at tdengler@flynncenter.org or (802) 862-6825
Career and Technical Student Organizations Local Local Leader Trainings
CTE Centers are encouraged to send the leaders of their Career & Technical Student Organizations to a one-day, small, group-focused and hands-on training. October 16, 2018, at The Franklin Center in Rutland, and October 23, 2018, at Green Mountain Technology & Career Center in Hyde Park.
Contact: Susan Ladd at vtctso@gmail.com or (802) 685-4692
Three Workshop Series on Differentiation and Proficiency-Based Learning
K-12 educators are invited to attend a three-workshop series by the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative, Transforming Teaching through Proficiency-based Learning, with Jen Stainton and Andrew Jones. The series begins on Oct. 2, at the Killington Grand Hotel, where the instructors will discuss building reliable assessments to better understand student strengths and weaknesses. Participants do not need to attend all workshops in the series.
Contact: Julie Medose at julie.medose@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350
All Our Kids: Designing for Equity and Opportunity with Caroline Hill and Paul Reville
The Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) and Vermont Superintendents Association (VSA) are hosting their annual fall conference: All Our Kids: Designing for Equity and Opportunity. The conference is at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT on October 18 and 19, 2018. The program, focusing on designing and leading for equity in schools and beyond, will feature two prominent keynote speakers in the field -- Caroline Hill of the DC Equity Lab and Paul Reville of Harvard’s Education Redesign Lab, enriching workshops, and student testimonials on activism in their communities. All current and aspiring education leaders are welcome to attend. The cost of the 2-day conference is $175 per person if the registration is received before the close of business October 1, 2018.
Contact: Chelsea Myers at cmyers@vtvsa.org or (802) 225-6709