Skip to main content
An Official Vermont Government Website

Volume 12, Issue 39

Weekly Field Memo
October 3, 2018

Today: National Test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts

Audience: All
The National Test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts System will take place today. 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.” 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

Personalized Learning and Flexible Pathways Showcase

Audience: Instructional Coaches, Teacher-Leaders, Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, CTE Directors, and Adult Education Instructors
The League of Innovative Schools and the AOE are hosting a Personalized Learning and Flexible Pathways Showcase on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at Lake Morey Resort. During the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, thirteen Vermont schools engaged in powerful work funded by the Agency of Education’s Flexible Pathways grants around Developing and Scaling Career Advisory; Integrating Expanded Learning Opportunities into Personalized Learning Plans; and Developing Work-Based Learning at the Secondary Level. Many of these schools will join us at Lake Morey to share their work, resources, and progress in these areas. Unlike in past years, this event will be open to non-LIS members in an effort to share information with as many people as possible, to generate deep discussion and new thinking, and to grow your networks and learning communities.
Contact Sigrid Olson at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1156 

Networked Improvement Community for Instructional Coaches and Teacher-Leaders

Audience: Instructional Coaches and Teacher-Leaders (such as math, literacy, PBL, science, etc.)
Registration is open for a Networked Improvement Community Meetings Series. The goal of this community is to support coaches and teacher leaders. Networked Improvement Community (NICs) are communities grounded by shared goals, norms, theories and practices. They coordinate and accelerate learning through strategic knowledge management. Participating in this NIC will support continuous improvement planning and will facilitate meeting the required CFP evidence of impact. The community will meet three times throughout the year in two regional locations, Rutland and Newport. The dates for the Rutland community are November 27, 2018, February 1, 2019, and April 5, 2019. The Newport community will meet November 9, 2018, January 30, 2019, and April 3, 2019. The community meetings will be led by Heidi Whipple, Susan Yesalonia, and MC Moran.
Contacts: Heidi Whipple at (802) 479-1379 or heidi.whipple@vermont.gov and Susan Yesalonia at (802) 479-1284 or susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov

Final Announcement: 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Application now open

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant Application is now open for the purpose of providing high-quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities.  Applications are due February 5, 2019.  Applicant workshops for teams will be held on October 10th, 16th, and 18th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., to view the locations visit the Agency of Education’s Calendar of Events. The 21st CCLC grant application is availible on the After-School and Summer Programs webpage.
Contact: Emanuel Betz at emanuel.betz@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1396

Upcoming NGSS Workshops

Audience: Principals, Curriculum coordinators, Teacher Leaders
The Agency of Education will be offering two workshops sequentially across the state. Understanding the NGSS and Building Systems and Sequences will dive into how to read the Next Generation Science Standards, what resources are available to help unpack the standards and offer models of scopes and sequences, K-12, K-5, middle school and high school. Building Proficiency Scales will build on the first workshop and participants will be unpacking standards, and building proficiency scales for different granular sizes; classroom, activity and PBGRs. For dates and times, please visit the NGSS Workshops registration page for times and locations.
Contact: Margaret Carrera-Bly at (802) 479-1907 or margaret.carrera-bly@vermont.gov

Registration for Work-Based Learning Collaborative Series 

Audience: Work-Based Learning Coordinators and Educators
Registration is open for the SY18-19 Work-Based Learning Coordinator’s professional learning series. The goal of this collaborative is to ensure schools create equitable, accessible and robust work-based learning experiences for all Vermont students. This three day series will focus is on Alignment, Assessment and Communication. We encourage WBL Coordinators and educators to attend each session with at least one team member. The first session will take place on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at Vermont Technical College, Randolph, VT. Cost for this three day series is $125 per person and includes breakfast and lunch. Please register with payment by October 29, 2018.
Contact: Carisa Corrow at ccorrow@ccebos.org or (603) 856-6496

October Math EdCamp Registration Information

Audience: Math Teachers, Coaches, Math Instructional Leaders, Principals, Special Educators, District Leaders, and teams from sites participating in the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)
Registration is open for an October Math EdCamp Session. This EdCamp-style professional learning series is being offered to teams of VT educators who have a role in designing and implementing math instruction. This year's focus is building capacity to implement evidence-based mathematics instruction (core instruction and additional supports) that is responsive to the needs of ALL students. There will not be a fee for these sessions.
Contact: Meg Porcella meg.porcella@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1870

Ready for Kindergarten! Survey 2018 – 2019

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Director of Student Supports, Kindergarten teachers
The 2018-2019 Ready for Kindergarten! Survey is now open and ready to fill out online. All school district kindergarten teachers are required to complete the R4K!S for each student in their classroom. Principals, please forward this email and link to the R4K!S to your kindergarten teacher/s today! The final date to submit the survey is November 16, 2018. Upon completion and submission of the R4K!S, principals and/or teachers can request R4K!S data by contacting Kate Rogers or Shirley Rawson (contact information below). For assistance in preparing for and completing the R4K!S, check out our “Fast Facts” information sheet and series of on-line informational training modules, both located on the Early Childhood Assessment webpage.
Contacts: Kate Rogers at (802) 479-1454 or kate.rogers@vermont.gov or Shirley Rawson at (802) 479-1469 or shirley.rawson@vermont.gov

Nominations for Presidential Scholars

Audience: Students, Principals, Guidance Counselors, Academic and CTE Teachers, CTE Center Directors, Arts Educators
The Vermont Presidential Scholars Program is a statewide recognition of academic, service, and leadership excellence. Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators, and students may also nominate themselves with the endorsement of a qualifying adult. High schools can nominate up to one female and one male in both the general and Fine Arts categories, and CTE centers can nominate up to two students. Nominate a high school senior. Nominate an Arts student. Nominate a CTE student. Only nominations submitted via the electronic system will be accepted. The deadline for nominations is November 2, 2018.
Contact: Sigrid Olson at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov

Free ServSafe Food Protection Manager Training & Certification for Child Nutrition Staff

Audience: Business Managers, Administrators, Principals, School Foodservice
Child Nutrition Programs has received a grant to offer free ServSafe training to staff involved in the federal child nutrition programs. This training usually costs between $80-$200. Training will be offered in Rutland on October 11, 2018, Barre on October 12, 2018, Newport on October 17, 2018, Bennington on October 24, 2018, and Brattleboro on October 25, 2018. This food safety training is strongly recommended for all staff involved in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, After School Snack Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. This training will count towards the professional development training hours for school meals staff required by USDA. Participants must pre-register.
Contact: Cheryl Rogers at cheryl.rogers@vemont.gov or (802) 479-1360

MTSS Moodle Site Refresh

Audience: All
The MTSS team has made updates to the VT MTSS moodle site. Select "view modules" on the home page for newly-added resources, including the archived Office Hours Webinars and presentations, the Systemic and Comprehensive Approach Learning Module, as well as other relevant tools for implementing an MTSS. If you need help with the Moodle login, please email Meg Porcella at meg.porcella@vermont.gov.
Contact: Meg Porcella at meg.porcella@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.

Five College Center for East Asian Studies Workshop

Registration is open for the Five College Center for East Asian Studies workshop Teaching War and Peace through Photos from Nagasaki and Hiroshima--Joe O'Donnell's Japan 1945: A U.S. Marine's Photographs from Ground Zero on November 10, 2018 at Bennington College. The Five College Center for East Asian Studies has partnered with Vermont Social Studies teacher Ron Eisenman, who was a person friend of O’Donnell’s, and Indiana Social Studies teacher John Frank, to create pedagogical materials based on O’Donnell’s photos. Joe O’Donnell was a 23-year-old photojournalist for the U.S. Navy when he arrived in Japan in 1945. His photos from on the ground in the atomic wastelands of Nagasaki and Hiroshima can be used to spark classroom discussion on war and peace. This workshop is for middle school and high school educators.
Contact: Anne Prescott at fcceas@fivecolleges.edu or (413) 585-3754.

Professional Learning: Special Education Documentation

Registration is open for Addressing Educational Benefit through the Special Education Process, with Jen Patenaude. This course is indented to help educators ensure their special education paperwork meets necessary procedural requirements, or that the documentation adequately addresses student need from referral to recommendations. The four-part series is designed to assist special education teachers with the process of leading teams in the development of strong, compliant, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). The series begins on October 17, 2018 with Developing a Learner Profile through the Comprehensive Evaluation Process at Capitol Plaza in Montpelier. Register for the whole series for a discounted price.
Contact: Julie Medose at julie.medose@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350

Students Should Submit the FAFSA Now

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open. Students should apply now and take advantage of money for college and career training. Many colleges—and VSAC’s Vermont Grant Program—make financial aid decisions on a first-come, first-served basis. FAFSA applications should be submitted as early as possible to make sure students get the most aid they can. Nine Vermont colleges have an extra incentive for students who fill out the FAFSA before November 30, 2018: an additional $1,000 FAFSA scholarship drawing for applicants. Students and families can get FAFSA help at VSAC’s FAFSA Fridays. Or attend a VSAC Financial Aid Forms Workshop at one of 50+ high schools across the state.
Contact: Sabina Haskell at haskell@vsac.org or (802) 542-2240

Professional Learning: Chicago Children's Theater Teacher Workshop

This after-school teacher workshop will be held at the Flynn Center on Wednesday, November 7 from 4 to 6 pm. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the Chicago Children's Theatre company and to learn more about their work with the Flynn in devising an original theatrical performance for our community, Red Kite Green Mountain (showing November 9 and 11, 2018). What are the best practices for devising work for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and how does this knowledge translate to creating an inclusive classroom environment? Explore these and other ideas through conversation and hands-on activities. Cost is $20 per participant, and professional development credit is available.
Contact: Lauren Genta at lgenta@flynncenter.org or (802) 652-4508

Professional Learning: Encouraging Student Voice

Registration is open for Understanding the Dynamics of Student Voice and Aspirations. This engaging, hands-on, action-oriented session will be led by two of the country's leading Student Voice experts at the Hampton Event Center, Colchester, VT on February 4, 2019. Drs. Russell Quaglia and Lisa Lande will share the data collected by The Quaglia Institute and show how we can and must learn from students if we are to ensure all students are reaching their fullest academic, personal and social potential. The book, "Student Voice: The Instrument of Change," is included.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642

 

Subscribe Online

The field memo has time-sensitive and relevant information designed for students, teachers, and staff. The agency encourages principals, headmasters, and superintendents to share the memo with their education community. Additionally, individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe online.

Questions? Email aoe.edinfo@vermont.gov.