Volume 15, Issue 30

August 4, 2021

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Vermont PBS: Kids and Education August Resources for Summer Learning and Back to School
Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
Courtesy Posts

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools

This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains updates to COVID-19 guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education released since the last Weekly Field Memo and other COVID-19-related updates. For a complete list of AOE-issued guidance, please visit our COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Schools and Continuity of Learning websites. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the COVID-19 response in Vermont, visit the Health Department's Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website.

Vermont PBS: Kids and Education August Resources for Summer Learning and Back to School

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS have compiled Vermont PBS Kids and Education: August 2021. This resource is based on the PBS Kids Summer of Possibilities, which provides children with opportunities to play and learn through hands-on activities, games and tips that support literacy, math, science and life skills. The August edition also includes resources for back to school. Visit the new Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources for summer learning and back to school. For more information about the partnership between the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS, visit the AOE’s Vermont PBS webpage.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates

This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education and other State of Vermont agencies that are not specifically related to the COVID-19 response.

School Safety Documents

Audience: Superintendent’s, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The Vermont School Safety Center in collaboration with the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team have developed the following school safety documents that can be used during your planning for the coming academic year: Emergency Response Actions and Protocols, the 2021/2022 School Safety Training Calendar, Emergency Information Guide for Parents and Guardians and School Safety Reminders for the Coming Year.
Contact: Robert L. Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448.

Request for Proposals: SSIP Mathematics Coaches/Trainers

Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Directors, Principals, MTSS Coordinators, Curriculum Coordinators
The Agency of Education (AOE) is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or organizations who can support the AOE by delivering both statewide training sessions and one-to-one coaching to VT mathematics teachers. The training and coaching will be delivered to mathematics coaches and/or educators in elementary settings within school-systems that are participating in the SSIP (State Systemic Improvement Plan). Proposals are due on August 12, 2021. Please refer to the Vermont Business Registry for details about the scope of work and timeline for bid submission. 
Contact: Betty Roy, Inclusive Systems Coordinator at betty.roy@vermont.gov

The Mastery Transcript Consortium: Vermont Students and Educators Share their Perspectives

Audience: Administrators, Guidance Counselors, and High School Teachers
The Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) Panel provides information about this digital high school proficiency-based transcript from the perspective of Vermont students and educators. Additionally, an overview of the transcript is provided by a member of the MTC team.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov

Behavioral Threat Assessment Training

Audience: Superintendent’s, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The Vermont School Safety Center in collaboration with the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team are sending out the save the date announcement for the Behavioral Threat Assessment Training coming this October. There are a number of virtual and in-person training opportunities so make sure you share these dates with your leadership teams and school safety partners.
Contact: Robert L. Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448.

Networked Improvement Community - Early Mathematics

Audience: all
In collaboration with Doug Clements, Julie Samara, All Learners Network, and CCSSO, we are in the process of recruiting school teams to join us in a Networked Improvement Community (NIC) to improve early mathematics instruction and student learning in PreK-3rd grade. In the NIC, we apply an improvement science approach that focuses on equity by using systems thinking, disciplined inquiry, attention to variation and practical measures for improvement. Most importantly, we involve those closest to the work (teachers) in the continuous improvement process, and in the co-design and development of positive classroom practices. The culminating goal of the network is to accelerate the learning, spread, and scale of positive practices. To join one of our information sessions, please connect via the links: August 10th information session at 9 a.m. or August 17th information session at 9 a.m.
Contact information: Donna Stafford at donna.stafford@vermont.gov

Making Connections with Vermont Multi-tiered System of Supports

Audience: SU and School Leadership Teams
The Vermont Multi-tiered Systems of Supports (VTmtss) Team has posted a series of five Making Connections with VTmtss documents online. These documents are to be used by schools and LEAs who want to tackle specific problems of practice through an MTSS lens. Each Making Connections document focuses on one problem of practice; one for each lever of Act 173 (Educational Support Teams, Local Comprehensive Assessment Systems, Coordinated Curriculum, and Needs-based Professional Development), and one targeting Family Engagement. These documents can be facilitated by schools and LEAs or by a VTmtss Team member upon request.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at (802) 828-5012 or Tracy.Watterson@vermont.gov

Request for Applications: Act 67 Community Schools Act Competitive Grant Opportunity

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, CTE Directors, AEL Providers, Curriculum Coordinators, School Counselors, Teachers 
With the passage of Act 67 – The Community Schools Act in June, the Agency of Education has developed a competitive grant opportunity for eligible applicants to develop and pilot Community Schools Programs. Community Schools serve as resource hubs that provide a broad range of easily accessed, well-coordinated supports and services that help students and families with increasingly complex needs. These schools, at their core, are about investing in children, through quality teaching; challenging, engaging, and culturally responsive curricula; wrap around supports; safe, just, and equitable school climate; strong ties to family and community; and a clear focus on student achievement and well-being. A total of over $3M in ARP-ESSER funds will be competed for three-year awards to eligible applicants that show the greatest promise for successful implementation of Community School Programs and positive change. Funding for the implementation of Community School programs will be awarded annually for a period of three years to successful applicants. The grant application will remain open for five weeks, closing on August 18, 2021. Please refer to the Community Schools Act Request for Application for details and the FY22 Community Schools Grant Application online form to submit an application.  Information about this competitive grant opportunity, including the links above, can be found under the Initiatives section on the AOE Flexible Pathways webpage.
Contact: Jess DeCarolis at AOE.CommunitySchoolsProgram@vermont.gov 

Becoming a Sexuality Educator and Trainer

The Vermont Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Division is partnering with Elevatus Training to bring a unique and free training experience to partners in sexual and reproductive health, comprehensive health education and disability work. The goal of the 3 day “Becoming a Sexuality Educator and Trainer” training is to become more confident and comfortable leading sexuality education classes for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Trainings will be held September 22-24 and October 20-22 via Zoom live video conference. Please email Sara by August 6th to get information about registering. Slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
Contact: Sara Chesbrough, VDH, sara.chesbrough@vermont.gov or 802-373-1969

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. Please refer to the Weekly Field Memo submission guidelines for additional information.

Professional Development: Just Words® Virtual Launch Workshop: August 9, 2021

Registration is open for The Just Words® Virtual Launch Workshop, a professional development workshop by the Stern Center for Language and Learning. The workshop provides the practice and guidance needed to effectively begin teaching the Just Words curriculum - a highly explicit, multisensory decoding and spelling program for students in grades 4–12 and adults who have mild to moderate gaps in their decoding and spelling proficiency. Registration due by August 5, 2021. Click here for more information.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org

New England Dairy School Grant

New England Dairy is pleased to announce a funding opportunity from New England Dairy Farmers to schools in Vermont to support needs related to expanding school meal programs or serving new dairy menu items. Funding should be used to purchase equipment needed to expand school meal programs or add new dairy items to your menu. Visit our school food service equipment page for new ideas. Funding will be limited and awarded based on strength of plan and potential impact. Schools are only allowed to apply for one program at a time. Submit your application by midnight on August 27, 2021.
Contact: Jill Hussels at jhussels@newenglanddairy.com