Volume 14, Issue 31

August 5, 2020

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
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.

Guidance: Strong and Healthy Start

Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has updated Decision-Making for School District Operations During the 2020-2021 School Year (Updated 8/4).
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov

Guidance: Independent Schools

Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Equitable Services to Independent Schools Under ESSER: FAQ (7/31).
Contact: Jesse Roy at jesse.roy@vermont.gov

Guidance: Special Education

Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Considerations for IEPs for Fall 2020 (7/31), IEP Template Including Remote Learning Strategies (7/31), Continuation of Special Education Services: Provision for Students Turning 22 (7/31), Participation in Graduation Activities for Students Eligible for Special Education (7/31), Summary of Performance Exit Report - Editable (7/31), and Sample Summary of Performance Exit Report (7/31).
Contact: Jacqui Kelleher at jacqui.kelleher@vermont.gov

Guidance: 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education issued FY21 Planning Guidance for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Programs (7/31).
Contact: Emanuel Betz at emanuel.betz@vermont.gov

KN95 Mask Fact Sheet

Audience: Vermont Educators and School Staff
Last week, the Agency of Education, Vermont Emergency Management and the Vermont Agency of Transportation organized a distribution of KN95 masks to SU/SDs and Independent Schools throughout the state for use by educators and staff. If you would like to learn more about the use and care of your KN95 mask, please consult Instructions for Use and Wear of a KN95 Mask in Schools.
Contact: Amy Scalabrini at amy.scalabrini@vermont.gov

Vermont PBS: Summer Program Schedule

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Schedule of Vermont PBS Programs for the week of Aug. 10, 2020, is now available. For the summer months, the schedule is focused on two channels, the Main and Plus+. Since school is out, please pass this information along to families.
Contacts: Martha Deiss at martha.deiss@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

Teacher Professional Development Webinar Series

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
Join Vermont PBS and Vermont Agency of Education specialists for a series of webinars that will build hybrid and distance learning tool kits for Fall. Beyond Screentime - The Fundamentals of PBS LearningMedia Navigation, Aug. 19, 2020, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. This live webinar is for teachers interested in learning more about how PBS LearningMedia can enhance curriculum design and delivery. Playful Learning Collections for Home: Resources for Parents, Aug. 26, 2020, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. This live webinar is for teachers and families looking for ways to supplement at-home learning. Natural Themes and Project Based Learning Connections: Incorporating PBS into your Curriculum, Sept. 2, 2020, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Explore strategies for integrating PBS programming into inquiry processes of interdisciplinary and student-centered instruction. Facilitators will share ideas for determining cross-curricular concepts that align with themes of PBS programs and supplemental resources. To attend any of the free sessions email Heather Duhamel at Vermont PBS at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org.
Contacts: Martha Deiss at martha.deiss@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.

Vermont Child Nutrition Programs Summer Institute

Audience: School Food Service, Business Managers, School Nurses, Farm to School Coordinators, CACFP Sponsors
Vermont Child Nutrition Programs will be hosting a virtual Summer Institute from Aug. 10-21, 2020. We are offering 22 classes for those involved in operating the federal child nutrition programs, including the School Nutrition Programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Topics include food safety and modifying program operations due to COVID-19, as well as required annual training. All sessions will be free. Sessions will be recorded for those who are unable to attend live. Please visit the registration page for more information.
Contact: Ailynne Adams at ailynne.adams@vermont.gov

Vermont Portrait of a Graduate Through English Language Arts

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Teachers, Coaches
The Vermont Agency of Education’s English Language Arts (ELA) webpage has been updated with information about how ELA teachers can address the attributes of a Vermont Portrait of a Graduate through ELA content. This update includes a visual that illustrates connections between a Vermont Portrait of a Graduate and ELA content and skills.
Contact: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov

Vermont Portrait of a Graduate Through Health and Physical Education

Audience: Principals, Curriculum Directors, Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education’s Health and Physical Education webpages have been updated with information about how teachers can address the attributes of a Vermont Portrait of a Graduate through Health and Physical Education content. This update includes a visual that illustrates connections between a Vermont Portrait of a Graduate and Health and Physical Education content and skills.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov

Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators

Audience: Vermont Teachers
The VSBPE has two open seats for currently practicing teacher representatives. The VSBPE is a 13-member, teacher majority, policy-making board appointed by the Governor. The Board’s purpose is to oversee the training, licensing and professional standards of teachers and administrators. Its overarching goal is promotion of educator quality. Board members receive an honorarium for their service and participation in monthly meetings. Interested teachers should contact Patrick Halladay at patrick.halladay@vermont.gov.
Contact: Patrick Halladay at patrick.halladay@vermont.gov

Awardees Announced for the 2019 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors, K-12 Math and Science Teachers
On Aug. 3, 2020, the National Science Foundation, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, awarded two Vermont educators with the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Phil Surks of South Burlington High School was awarded for excellence in science teaching and Jennifer Wood of Waterford School was awarded for excellence in mathematics teaching. Both educators join the ranks of more than 5,000 teachers that have been recognized nationwide since 1983 for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. For more information about how to nominate a deserving K-12 teacher or to apply yourself, please visit PAEMST or contact the Vermont state coordinators.
Contact: Margaret Carrera-Bly at margaret.carrera-bly@vermont.gov (Science) and Kate McCann at kmccannu32@gmail.com (Math)

State-Placed Students Data Collection for the 2019-2020 School Year

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Special Education Coordinators, and Business Managers
Every public school must report the number of state-placed students they educated in the 2019-2020 school year by Aug. 31, 2020. The count of state-placed students data report for the 2019-2020 school year will be used in finalizing the average daily membership census report this fall. For more information, see the Count of State-Placed Students Data Collection memo on the AOE website. The State-Placed Students Count form is also available online.
Contact: Cathy Scott at cathy.scott@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.

Vermont Youth Summit Workshops August 14 and 19

The Vermont Youth Advisory Council invites youth and young adults to these two free, “virtual” events. On Aug. 14, 2020, 3– 4:30 p.m., Interactive Special Education Workshop with Dr. Jacqueline Kelleher, State Director of Special Education at VT Agency of Education and her twin sons. On Aug. 19, 2020, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Finding Your Story with Hasan Davis. Adults are also welcome to attend.
Contact: Janice Sabett at Janice.Sabett@vtfn.org or (802) 876-5315

Become an Askable Adult - Our Youth Need You

Youth in our communities need trustworthy and approachable adults now more than ever. The UVM Extension 4-H program is hosting the Askable Adult Training created by the Vermont Network. Participants will enhance skills that will enable them to have strong, trusting and affirming relationships, communicate more effectively, strengthen connections, and be a valuable resource for the young people in their lives. This two part training will take place on Aug. 18 and 20, 2020, from 10-11:30 a.m. via Zoom. Registration is free and will be capped at 35 participants. Register or learn more about the Askable Adult Campaign online.
Contact: Allison Smith at allison.smith.2@uvm.edu

Suicide Prevention Webinars

The Center for Health and Learning is offering two virtual, 1-hour webinars on Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness Overview and Introduction to Zero Suicide in Vermont: Suicide Safe Pathways to Care for all staff in health care, mental health organizations, primary care and hospitals, schools and community settings interested in suicide prevention skills and the framework for suicide safer care. They provide basic information for all involved in a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, and prior to adoption of advanced practices in a pathway to care. No cost to attend, CEUs available.
Contact Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org.

Teaching Literacy in the New Normal

Partnerships for Literacy and Learning presents: A new 3-credit class Teaching Literacy in the New Normal, instructor Ellen A. Thompson, Ed. D. Using the brand new text, Distance Learning Playbook, written by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and John Hattie, we will develop the high impact learning experiences needed to push our readers into that engaged deep thinking mode whether they are face-to-face with us or not. The text will provide much knowledge on how to increase student understanding and use of voice without eliminating the joy that real reading can bring. Participants will work with their current units of study (or new ones) to increase the learning potential for students.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521

Oral Language to Reading: 90-minute Professional Development Webinar

Join the Stern Center on Aug. 11, 2020, for Oral Language to Reading, the 5th and final webinar in Dr. Melissa Farrall's series of 90-minute assessment webinars. Dr. Farrall will focus on the role oral language plays in the context of a comprehensive reading evaluation. We will examine how tests of oral language permit evaluators to go beyond the main idea and use the structure of language to reveal why students have challenges comprehending what they read. Participants will learn how to select tests and interpret findings as a foundation for evaluations that are evidence-based and helpful to educators. Recordings of previous webinars in the series are available. Register for two or more webinars and receive a discount. Registartion and additional information online.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org

New VT-HEC Course - Career Exploration: Engaging Teens in Their Own Career Development

Registration opens Aug. 7, 2020, for our new Fall course in our Work-based Learning course series, Career Exploration: Engaging Teens in Their Own Career Development, instructed by Laurie Berryman, Ph.D., a Vermont high school counselor and an adjunct professor at Northern Vermont University. Ideal for work-based learning coordinators, flexible pathway coordinators, cooperative education coordinators and anyone involved in supporting students' career development. This course provides the theory and tools needed to engage students in their own career development while helping them find meaning and relevance in their high school experience. Participants will explore the necessary steps to walk students through career planning, as well as design practical applications and new career planning ideas to help students discover a path that aligns with their interests and motivations. Participants will complete this course with an individualized curriculum or program to implement with their students. Dates: Sept. 3, 2020, and December 3, 2020, 5-7 p.m. live class stream on Zoom with the rest online.
Contact: Kim McKellar at kim.mckellar@vthec.org

Remote Teaching and Learning Summer Workshop Series

The Saint Michael’s Graduate Education Department is excited to offer the Remote Teaching and Learning Summer Workshop Series to support educators heading into the upcoming school year during these unprecedented times. We surveyed Vermont teachers and leaders to determine their needs and, in response, procured experts in the field to teach these workshops. The series offers innovative strategies and tools to build educator capacity to teach, engage, support and assess all learners in preparation to teach remotely. These 3-hour online workshops are either synchronous or a blend of synchronous and asynchronous professional learning in the areas of: Equity, Community, Engagement, Personalization and Assessment. For more information, please visit our webpage.
Contact: Amy Saks Pavese at asakspavese@smcvt.edu