- January Math EdCamp Registration now open
- PBIS Exploration
- What If Wednesday
- Invitation to Participate in Vermont’s Mock Trial Competition
- VDH: Increase in Student Use of Electronic Cigarettes
- Courtesy Posts
January Math EdCamp Registration now open
Audience: Math Teachers, Coaches, Math Instructional Leaders, Principals, Special Educators, District Leaders
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 on building capacity to implement evidence-based mathematics instruction (core instruction and additional supports) that is responsive to the needs of ALL students. There is no cost to attend any of these sessions. Team registration is available for either January 8, 2019, in Newport or January 11, 2019, in Chester.
Contact: Meg Porcella at meg.porcella@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1870
PBIS Exploration
Audience: Principals, District Leaders
For schools that are interested in receiving training at the Universal Level of PBIS in March of 2018, there are several upcoming action steps, including an orientation webinar required for PBIS School Coordinators, administrators, and SU/SD Coordinators. An Intent to Implement is due by January 1, 2019, in order to attend team training in March.
Contact: Amy Wheeler-Sutton at amy.wheeler-sutton@uvm.edu or (518) 421-3965
What If Wednesday
Audience: Superintendent’s, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
This week's What if Wednesday is designed to test and evaluate schools emergency preparedness plans, policies and procedures. This is an easy to use exercise and should be shared with all those who have a role in school crisis planning.
Contact: Rob Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer at revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448.
Invitation to Participate in Vermont’s Mock Trial Competition
Audience: High School Educators and Principals
All Vermont High Schools are invited to participate in this year’s Mock Trial Competition to be held on April 6, 2019, at Vermont Law School. The Competition is sponsored by the Vermont Federal District Court, the Vermont Bar Association and the Office of the Vermont Attorney General. Each team will work with a faculty sponsor and a Vermont attorney to present, in a trial setting, the prosecution or defense of a hypothetical case. On the date of the competition, the trials will be presided over by judges of the Vermont Judiciary. Each team will receive individual feedback from the judges presiding over their trial. This is an incredible opportunity for students to learn about the critical function of the judicial branch and the importance of the Rule of Law. Schools must sign up by January 15, 2019 to participate. For more information on this program, please contact Assistant Attorney General David McLean.
Contact: Assistant Attorney General David McLean at david.mclean@vermont.gov or (802) 828-5341
Health Department Responds to Alarming Increase in Student Use of Electronic Cigarettes
Audience: all
From 2017 to 2018, e-cigarette use among youth increased 75 percent, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey. To respond to the epidemic in our schools and communities, the Vermont Department of Health is offering free resources and materials, such as fact sheets, infographics, a public health advisory and an e-cigarette template presentation, to support school personnel in their efforts to prevent youth initiation of electronic cigarettes and increase cessation. See “Resources” at the VDH Tobacco webpage or email tobaccovt@vermont.gov for more information.
Contact: Lisa Osbahr at lisa.osbahr@vermont.gov or (802) 863-7513
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.
Professional Development: Autism Spectrum Disorder Course
Registration is open for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Stimulating Language, Social Communication and Social Emotional Learning from Birth through Third Grade. This professional development course by the Stern Center for Language and Learning focuses on assessment, intervention and clinical application of evidence-based practices for children who are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Registration is due by January 3, 2019.
Contact: SJ White at swhite@sterncenter.org or (802) 878-2332, ext. 320
Info Session: Teacher Apprenticeship Program at Champlain College
Champlain College's Teacher Apprenticeship Program supports career changers and those already working in the education field to earn a Level I Vermont teaching license in 8 months. The next TAP information session will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 175 Lakeside Ave, Burlington. The program application and FAQs are available on the TAP website. A new cohort will begin in August 2019 with seminars, followed by full-time student teaching through the fall 2019 semester.
Contact: Caitlin Hollister at chollister@champlain.edu or (802) 383-6657
Grant Availability: $25,000 Literacy Grant Available Elementary Schools
The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) seeks applications from qualifying elementary schools for its $25,000 Year of the Book literacy grant program. Details and applications can be found at the Foundation's website. The application deadline for the 2019-2020 school year is January 30, 2019.
Contact: Meredith Scott at meredith@clifonline.org or (802) 244-0944
Professional Learning: Developing Work-Based Learning Programs
In order to develop legal, safe, and effective work-based learning programs and experiences, school personnel must understand labor and safety laws and practices, sales, and marketing, career development strategies, effective systems for organizing, monitoring and evaluating student learning opportunities with businesses and community partners. This course provides participants with the knowledge base needed to develop a comprehensive school work-based learning program. The course curriculum is designed to provide participants with the core knowledge base for operating under the Work-Based Learning educator’s license endorsement in the state of Vermont or other position that allows for the implementation of some or all areas of study. This class will be offered in a blended delivery format with a combination of in-person and online sessions. The first in-person session will be held at Vermont Tech Williston on March 2, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The March 23, April 6 and May 4, 2019 sessions will also be held at Vermont Tech Williston from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Online work will occur in between.
Contact: Rich Tulikangas at rtulikangas@comcast.net (802) 734-8170
Enrollment Now Open: Governor's Institute of Vermont Winter Weekends
Applications for the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont Winter Weekends are now open. All Vermont high school students are eligible to attend. Students will explore their interests and passions from a list of ten different topics, all while having fun and meeting new and like-minded peers. The deadline for application is January 15, 2019, applications are considered on a rolling basis and spaces fill up fast. Winter Weekend is a perfect and affordable precursor to the life-changing summer Governor's Institutes. Tuition is based on a sliding scale and can be as low as $10. Please visit the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont website for more information and to begin the application process.
Contact: Barry Steyling at access@giv.org or (802) 865-4448
Vermont Theater Educators Conference
The inaugural Vermont Theater Educators Conference will be held January 29, 2019, with a snow date of January 31, 2019, at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT. This gathering is being offered to those involved in theater education in Vermont schools. The goal of this conference is to celebrate theater education in Vermont, connect over shared needs, share ideas and resources, and foster a spirit of collaboration in the theater education community.
Contact Susan Palmer at spalmer@maplerun.org or (802) 338-6272
Vacation Workshop: Magic School Bus Live at Fletcher Free Library
Actor, storyteller, and Flynn Center teaching artist Joan Robinson becomes Ms. Frizzle for the Magic School Bus Live on Friday, December 28, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. Children ages 3 to 6 use their bodies, voices, and imaginations to become passengers on an exciting journey aboard the Magic School Bus traveling through outer space. This free, active workshop integrates drama and science. The event culminates with a ticket drawing for a 4-pack to the Flynn MainStage show on January 10, 2019, at 6 p.m.
Contact: Tracey Gilbert Dengler at tdengler@flynncenter.org or (802) 355-8349
Professional Learning: Power and Purpose Through Partnership
Personal Power and Purpose Through Partnership (P4) is a new advisory initiative for middle schools from UP for Learning. P4 supports adults and youth through a curriculum that models skills for self-awareness, effective communication, and self-advocacy in ways that are accessible and sensitive to individual learners.
Contact: Lindsey Halman at lindsey@upforlearning.org or Harry Frank at harry@upforlearning.org; or (802) 552-8140