- COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
- What-if Wednesday: School Emergency Preparedness
- 21CCLC Waiver for Public Comment
- Nominations for Presidential Scholars
- Empowered Paraprofessionals: School Year Sessions - Session 1: Virtual Strategies
- 2020-2021 Special Ed Program Monitoring Training (Virtual Meeting)
- VTmtss Professional Learning Provider List Now Available
- Educational Equity Professional Learning Provider List Now Available
- VTPBIS Annual Report Released
- October 2020 Assessment News
- 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.
Guidance: A Strong and Healthy Start
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued FAQ: Supporting Students with Disabilities in the VTVLC Collaborative School Option (10/8) and updated Use of School Facilities and Elections (Updated 10/13)
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Finance
Audience: Superintendents, Business Managers
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has isued Memo: Coronavirus Relief Fund Allowable Costs (10/8) and updated Memo: CARES Act (ESSER) Application for SU/SDs - Equitable Services (Updated 10/8).
Contact: Jill Briggs-Campbell at jill.briggscampbell@vermont.gov
Guidance: Child Nutrition
Audience: Superintendents, Food Service Managers
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has issued (NEW) Memo: Child Nutrition Waiver Extensions through June 2021 (10/13).
Contact: Rosie Krueger at mary.krueger@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: Teacher Planning Kits and Distance Learning Monthly Schedule for October
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
In addition to the Schedule of Vermont PBS Programs for the month of October, 2020, the Agency of Education’s Vermont PBS webpage now includes information about PBS Teacher Planning Kits. This new resource from PBS Learning Media is part of the collection PreK-12 Resources for New School Routines and includes materials that can be used during in-person or remote instruction, both with or without internet access. Each “kit” contains planning sheets for elementary and secondary education. Planning sheets are divided into three sections: “watch,” which includes the program; “teach,” which connects activities, games and lessons to the program; and “explore,” which provides additional resources about a specific topic or theme. The first planning kit spans from September through the week of Nov. 9, 2020.
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.
What-if Wednesday: School Emergency Preparedness
Audience: Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The What-if Wednesday for Oct. 14, 2020, is designed for Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members to facilitate a conversation about school emergency preparedness. Please complete the exercise and share with your faculty and staff as appropriate.
Contact: Robert L. Evans at revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448
21CCLC Waiver for Public Comment
Audience: SU/SDs, 21CCLC, Public
This Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) announcement serves as notice to the public, Supervisory Unions and Districts, and 21st Community Learning Centers for an opportunity to comment on the AOE’s plan to pursue a waiver request from the USDOE with regard to flexible use of 21st CCLC funds. The waiver would permit 21st Century Community Learning Center funded programs, consistent with existing state guidance to provide supplemental activities to students who are not receiving instruction when school is in session. All other requirements for a 21st CCLC program will continue to apply. Please use this survey link to access further detailed information and submit any comments and feedback. The comment period has been extended and comments are due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2020.
Contact: Emanuel Betz at emanuel.betz@vermont.gov
Nominations for Presidential Scholars
Audience: Students, Principals, Guidance Counselors, Academic, Arts and CTE Teachers, CTE Center Directors
The Vermont Presidential Scholars Program recognizes students for academic success, artistic and technical excellence, community service, and leadership. Scholars are chosen in three different categories: General (for high school seniors), the Arts (for grades 10 – 12), and Career Technical Education (for high school seniors currently enrolled in a state-approved CTE program). Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators. Students in some categories may also nominate themselves, and those selected in the General and CTE categories will be invited to apply to the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 13, 2020. Only nominations submitted via the electronic applications will be accepted.
Contact: Ryan Parkman at ryan.parkman@vermont.gov
Empowered Paraprofessionals: School Year Sessions - Session 1: Virtual Strategies
Audience: Paraeducators
Empowered Paraprofessionals: School Year Sessions - Session 1 will be held on Oct. 27, 2020, from 1 p.m. -3 p.m. Many of the students we are supporting are connecting with their school virtually. This session will help paraprofessionals understand the virtual strategies and teach paraprofessionals how to help their students in the virtual learning environment. Please register online to receive your link to this meeting.
Contact: Ana Kolbach at ana.kolbach@vermont.gov
2020-2021 Special Ed Program Monitoring Training (Virtual Meeting)
Audience: Special Education Directors
A virtual Special Ed Program Monitoring Training will be held on Oct. 29, 2020 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. This training session will include information on the revisions to the grants management system and required submissions for the upcoming school year. For districts listed as cyclic or selective monitoring in SY2020-2021 this training is mandatory, for districts in the SY2021-2022 cycle participation is highly encouraged. Please register online by Oct. 16, 2020, to receive your link to this meeting.
Contact: Tonya Rutkowski at tonya.rutkowski@vermont.gov
VTmtss Professional Learning Provider List Now Available
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Leadership Teams
The AOE has published a list of professional learning providers who can support and train LEAs around The VTmtss Framework. Vendors were included on this list after responding to a Request for Information (RFI) by demonstrating their work to support schools in strengthening their VTmtss. Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement and schools are encouraged to research which provider best meets their needs.
Contact: Julia Scheier at julia.scheier@vermont.gov
Educational Equity Professional Learning Provider List Now Available
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Leadership Teams
The AOE has published a revised list of equity and diversity practitioners, which includes each vendor’s areas of specialty and services provided to increase educational equity. Vendors were included on this list after responding to a Request for Information (RFI) and demonstrating their work supports schools to improve their educational equity. Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement and schools are encouraged to research which provider best meets their needs. Contact: Julia Scheier at julia.scheier@vermont.gov
VTPBIS Annual Report Released
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Administrators, Educators
The BEST/VTPBIS Project is happy to share with you the Vermont Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (VTPBIS) 2019-2020 Annual Report. Highlights of this year’s report include: increased number of VTPBIS Schools; high satisfaction rates for 32 professional learning events; and information about how schools adapted the PBIS framework to meet the needs of students and families during last year’s school building closures.
Contact: Laura Greenwood at laura.greenwood@vermont.gov
October 2020 Assessment News
Audience: Vermont Educators and Administrators
The AOE Assessment Team is pleased to share the first edition of a monthly newsletter for SY21. We look forward to regularly communicating with you about important topics and opportunities related to state-wide assessment. For your convenience, you will also be able to view this newsletter through the VTCAP Portal at the start of each month.
Contact: Amanda Gorham at amanda.gorham@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. Please refer to the Weekly Field Memo submission guidelines for additional information.
Until further notice, the Courtesy Posts will only include posts related to in-person training, events or meetings that affirmatively comply with current health guidance from the Vermont Department of Health, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and/or the Vermont Agency of Education.
Youth Environmental Summit - Perfect for Remote Learning Days
UVM Extension 4-H is offering its annual Youth Environmental Summit again this year, but with a twist. This year's Summit will run for three weeks with a kick-off on Friday, Octo. 30, 2020 and stay open until Nov. 20, 2020. This will allow youth to attend when it works with their schedule - perfect for remote learning days, sign up your entire class! Using Flipgrid we are building a virtual community learning space with keynotes, workshops, "Be the Change Audio Wall" and more to make sure the sharing, learning and networking that usually happens at YES will still happen. Open to all youth in grades 6-12; the Summit is free but registration is required to gain access. Learn more at the 4-H Announcements page.
Contact: Lauren Traister at Lauren.Traister@uvm.edu or 802-888-4972 x 402
Askable Adult Fall Trainings
UVM Extension 4-H is offering two more sessions of the Vermont Network’s Askable Adult training this fall. This training is designed for adults who are interested in becoming more “askable” and supportive for the children and youth in their lives. Join this training if you are seeking to enhance skills that will enable you to have strong, trusting and affirming relationships, communicate more effectively, strengthen connections, and be a valuable resource for the young people in your life. Please see the Askable Adult Training online flier for more information on dates and how to register.
Contact: Allison Smith at Allison.smith.2@uvm.edu
Advisory and the Collective Power of Community
UP for Learning is hosting a 4-week webinar series on Advisory & The Collective Power of Community for educators looking to strengthen relationships and community building through advisory. Navigating our new educational environment has left many youth and adults feeling disconnected and overwhelmed this school year. No matter the landscape (virtual, hybrid or in person), a strong advisory will increase self-awareness, agency, empowerment and empathy-building. In this webinar series, we will explore individual values and strengths to build caring and collaborative relationships that will positively impact the classroom and the school community. Concrete strategies and a resource guide you can implement immediately will be provided.
Contact: Sarah Popowicz at sarah@upforlearning.org
Holistic Restorative Education Certificate Program
Saint Michael’s College is thrilled to announce our new 12-credit Holistic Restorative Education Certificate Program, designed in collaboration with and coordinated by Annie O’Shaughnessy of True Nature Teaching. In preparation for the January 2021 program launch, we invite you to join us for a free webinar series in October (10/14, 10/20 and 10/29) that will offer a sampling of the four courses in the program. Topics include mindfulness and restorative practices, racial identity development, reframing challenging behavior and restorative circles. For more information and to register for one or more of the free, hour-long webinars, please visit the Saint Michael's College website.
Contact: Amy Saks Pavese at asakspavese@smcvt.edu
Virtual Presentations on Women’s Suffrage
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Vermont Suffrage Centennial Alliance, and the League of Women Voters of Vermont are hosting free, virtual presentations on Women’s Suffrage with Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner, a nationally recognized lecturer, author and story-teller of women’s rights history. Seating is limited; registration is required. Oct. 21, 2020, 7 to 9 p.m. (hosted by St. Michael’s College) Women Voted Here Before Columbus; Oct. 22, 2020, 2 to 3:30 p.m. (hosted by the Community College of Vermont) Women’s Suffrage: The Rest of the Story; and Oct. 22, 2020, 5 to 6:30 p.m. (hosted by UVM’s Center for Cultural Pluralism) Power, Privilege, and the Vote. These programs are partially funded by WILPF US, VHC, Anne Slade Frey Charitable Trust, Vermont Federal Credit Union, Walter Cerf Fund of the VCF, Northfield Savings Bank, St. Michael’s College, UVM and CCV.
Contact: Marguerite Adelman at madel51353@gmail.com
Poetry Out Loud School Registration
School registration for Vermont Poetry Out Loud (POL) is currently open. POL provides high school students multiple ways to engage in poetry. At the forefront is this year’s virtual Poetry Recitation Contest. The program provides pathways for students to explore, memorize and recite great works of poetry and enhance presentation techniques. Participation begins at the classroom level. Students and teachers use POL resources in the classroom or at home to explore poetry between now and March. Teachers and student groups may move a student forward to statewide competitions through recitation contests at the classroom or school level. Students will compete for cash prizes at the statewide level by submitting recitation videos to the statewide competition showcase in March. One Vermont student will be selected to represent the state at a virtual national competition. Registration is open and more information is available on the Vermont Arts Council website.
Contact: Troy Hickman at thickman@vermontartscouncil.org or (802) 402-4496