- 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: A Strong and Healthy Start
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has updated Health and Safety FAQ 1: Physical Distancing (Updated 9/9).
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Special Education
Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Administrators and Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has issued Assessing COVID-19 Impact for Students with Disabilities as a Requirement of FAPE (9/9).
Contact: Jacqui Kelleher at jacqui.kelleher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Child Nutrition
Audience: Superintendents, Food Service Manager and Staff
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has issued FAQ on Summer Food Service Program Extension through December 2020 (9/3) and FAQ on How Summer Food Service Program Regulations Differ from National School Lunch Program Regulations (9/3).
Contact: Rosie Kreuger at mary.krueger@vermont.gov
Guidance: Medicaid
Audience: Superintendents, Business Managers, Medicaid Clerks
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has issued Education Medicaid Updates: Extended School Year and Fall 2020 (9/9).
Contact: Jessica Robinson at jessica.robinson@vermont.gov
Guidance: Finance
Audience: Superintendents, Business Managers
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has updated Federal Education Funding Planning Guidance (Updated 9/3).
Contact: Kathy Flanagan at kathy.flanagan@vermont.gov
Guidance: Continuity of Learning
Audience: Classroom Teachers, Special Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has issued Strategies for Supporting Students with Disabilities During PBS Programming and Lesson Planning (9/9).
Contact: Katy Langevin at katy.langevin@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: New Distance Learning Monthly Schedule for Fall
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Schedule of Vermont PBS Programs for the months of September and October, 2020, is now available. The Vermont Agency of Education has expanded their partnership with PBS to support in-person, hybrid, and remote learning models. Based on teacher feedback, resources for in-classroom and distance learning shift to a monthly overview using analog, digital, and broadcast resources. Weekly thematic bundles, with specific episodes highlighted per week by content area and age-level, are available to stream on-demand. These episodes connect to specific resources on PBS LearningMedia and PBS Parents.
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.
Vermont Online Library
Audience: Vermont Educators
The Vermont Online Library (VOL) offers a wide range of online resources, for elementary students all the way to professional researchers. It includes separate databases intended for elementary, middle school and high school students, as well as a wide range of resources on history, science, people and more. And best of all, it’s available to every school and public library in the state for free. Ask your school librarian how to access VOL. For more information, go to the Vermont Online Library webpage.
Contact: Joshua Muse at joshua.muse@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.
VTeen Science Explorations
UVM Extension 4-H is offering a free weekly virtual teen science cafe every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. Participants will meet a scientist, learn about their work, explore different science pathways, engage in informal discussions and ask questions. Open to all youth in grades 7-12 in Vermont and beyond; starts Sept. 16 - Dec. 16, 2020, and then resumes in January 2021. The first offering is Mitigating Climate Change in Electrical Engineering. You can see a full schedule of topics and a flyer for each cafe on the 4-H Announcements page. Registration is required to get the Zoom link. All sessions are recorded for those unable to participate live.
Contact: Lauren Traister at Lauren.Traister@uvm.edu or (802) 888-4972 x 402
Professional Learning for New Special Educators in Vermont
VT-HEC welcomes Jen Patenaude for our annual Orientation to Special Education on Sept. 21 and Oct. 1, 2020. This two-day virtual workshop is designed for beginning special educators and special educators new to Vermont. We will review the special education process (K-21), support greater participant understanding of each step, and respond to questions that each step elicits. This virtual workshop series is best attended live, so that learning can occur in real-time with other participants. However if you are unable to attend live, a recorded version of this event will be for sale after the series is over.
Contact: Julie Medose at julie.medose@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350
Online Chinese Language Programs for Fall
SPIRAL International, located in Burlington, is offering an online Chinese language program for Vermont schools and communities. It contains two classes: Have Fun with Chinese and Learn Chinese and Travel to China. Designed for beginners, it also can be tailored for students with prior Chinese language skills. The class Have Fun with Chinese runs once a week for 45 minutes for 14 weeks. The other class is a 45-minute elective in Chinese language and culture that runs four times a week throughout the semester. Classes begin Sept. 14, 2020. Registration is now open.
Contact: Jason Shi at jason.shi@spiralinternational.org
Professional Development: Wilson Reading System® Introductory Course
Registration is open for Fundations Levels K, 1 and 2, professional development workshops from the Stern Center for Language and Learning. These online workshops takes place Oct. 19-21, 2020, and each workshop provides a practical application of reading research and will prepare teachers to teach Fundations in Prevention (Tier 1) and/or Early Intervention (Tier 2) settings for their grade level. For more information, visit the course webpage for details. Registration due by Sept. 30, 2020.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
Register Now for 2020-21 VCSEA Membership
Register now for the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators 2020-21 membership. Membership is open to a diverse array of professionals including special education directors and assistant directors, early childhood educators, related service providers, curriculum directors, principals, superintendents, psychologists, retirees, administrative assistants and more. Access weekly and legislative updates and receive timely information on special education in Vermont, including Act 173. Members also access professional development opportunities as well as COVID-19-era information and training. For more information and registration, go to the VCSEA website.
Contact: Traci Sawyers tsawyers@vcsea.net
Button Up Vermont Presents: Weatherization Curriculum for Youth Overview
During a year when many students will be spending far more time at home than normal, how can they use their homes to learn age-appropriate science concepts related to weatherization? Join a Weatherization Wednesday webinar on Sept. 16, 2020 at noon to learn about weatherization resources from Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) for middle and high school that can be used at school or at home. Middle school students will explore how they can use less energy to heat their homes and still stay warm and cozy all winter. High school students go into more depth on weatherization opportunities, as well as considering careers in energy efficiency. This webinar is especially useful for formal or informal educators, parents and guardians, or anyone interested in youth education. This event is part of the Button up Vermont campaign. Register online.
Contact: Becca White at bwhite@veic.org or (802) 734-3227