Volume 14, Issue 45

November 18, 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: A Strong and Healthy Start

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Nurses, COVID-19 Coordinators, Educators
Since last the Nov. 4, 2020, Weekly Field Memo, the Vermont Agency of Education has updated Safety and Health Guidance FAQ 5: Cloth Face Masks and PPE (11/5) and Safety and Health Guidance FAQ 7: Physical Education (11/10).
Contact: Kate Connizzo at kate.connizzo@vermont.gov

Vermont PBS: Distance Learning Monthly Schedule for November and New Teacher Planning Kit

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
Along with the Schedule of Vermont PBS Programs for the month of November 2020, the new PBS Teacher Planning Kit for November-January is now available. Each PBS Teacher Planning Kit includes bundled media and materials that can be used during in-person or remote instruction, both with or without internet access. Planning sheets for elementary and secondary education 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. For more information about the partnership between the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS (which continues to offer weekly thematic bundles of analog, digital and broadcast resources to support all learning models), visit the AOE’s Vermont PBS webpage or the Vermont PBS Distance Learning page.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

COVID-19 in Schools Data on Health Department Website

Audience: All
The Health Department has been posting data on COVID-19 in K-12 schools since mid-September. The table was recently updated in response to user feedback. The table counts people with laboratory confirmed (by PCR test) COVID-19 who were at the school, attended a school-sanctioned event, or otherwise interacted with the school community during their infectious period. The counts represent cases by school, not individual person. So, if someone interacts with multiple school communities during their infectious period, they will appear in the table multiple times. Please read more about what information is presented in the table.
Contact: COVID19.DataEntryTeam@vermont.gov

School Staff Surveillance Testing Initiative

Audience: All
COVID-19 Surveillance Testing of school staff is well underway in districts throughout the state thanks to the hard work of superintendents, COVID-19 coordinators, principals and school staff. Thank you for your participation in this important public health initiative. We have gathered resources and frequently asked questions about the testing on our website for your reference. If you have additional questions about testing in your school, please contact your COVID-19 coordinator.
Contact: Kate Connizzo at kate.connizzo@vermont.gov

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.

Linking Health & Learning Newsletter, November 2020

Audience: Health Educators, Physical Educators, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Superintendents, Higher Education
The November 2020 Linking Health & Learning newsletter is now posted on the Vermont Agency of Education Health and Physical Education (PE) webpages. This newsletter communicates pertinent information about the Vermont PE Assessment and news from around the state, as well as professional learning events and resources to support Vermont’s health and physical educators.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov

Interested in Working for NAEP? Apply Now

Audience: Vermont Educators
NAEP is currently seeking job applicants for NAEP 2021 Assessment Administrators from across the nation. Please help spread the word. If your school has a connection to any networks of retired educators, please share the information with them. Retired teachers are excellent candidates.If you have questions about the job before then, please contact the NAEP Recruitment Center at NAEPrecruit@westat.com.
Contact: Goma Mabika at (802) 282-0503

Empowered Paraprofessionals: School Year Sessions - Session 2: IEP Overview

Audience: Paraeducators
Empowered Paraprofessionals: School Year Session 1: Virtual Strategies will be held on Nov. 25, 2020, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written statement of the educational program designed to meet a child’s individual needs. This session will help paraprofessionals understand the purpose, development and content in an IEP and how they can be part of the process. Please register online to receive your link to this meeting.
Contact: Ana Kolbach at ana.kolbach@vermont.gov

Peer Review Panelists Wanted

Audience: Vermont Educators
The AOE’s Peer Review Program needs licensed, level II educators to serve as panelists. Areas of greatest need: CTE, Online Teaching Specialist, Dance, Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Education, PE, Health, Intensive Special Education and WBL Coordinator. Panelists receive $125 per interview. The work of a panelist involves evaluating a candidate’s portfolio (2-4 hours) and participating in the interview process (1-2 hours). Interviews are online and scheduled based on your convenience. Interested educators please complete the online Small Scale Education Contract Survey by Dec. 15, 2020.
Contact: Andrew Prowten at andrew.prowten@vermont.gov

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Poster-Essay Contest

Audience: Educators
All Vermont Middle School students are invited to celebrate the life and message of Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in a poster-essay contest addressing his statement, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends." Students may submit their own entry or may produce a partner-created submission. The deadline for the contest, co-sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association’s Diversity Section and the Young Lawyers Division, is Dec. 18, 2020. Winning posters will be displayed at the Vermont Supreme Court Building and its’ corresponding essay will be published in the Vermont Bar Journal; refer to the Vermont Bar Association flyer for the full submission guidelines and entry information.
Contact: Martha Deiss at martha.deiss@vermont.gov

Literary Learning: Newsletter for English Language Arts in Vermont

Audience: English Teachers, Literacy Coaches
The November/December issue of the bi-monthly newsletter, Literary Learning, is now available to read on the Agency of Education’s English Language Arts (ELA) webpage. This issue contains articles about the #DisruptTexts movement and Project-Based Learning, as well as information about professional development and other opportunities for educators and students around the state. Be sure to subscribe to the Agency’s ELA listserv in order to stay informed about ELA in Vermont.
Contact: Emily Leute at emily.leute@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 Sex Education Virtual Summit 2020

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is hosting the second annual Youth Sex Education Summit virtually this year. High School Age Youth (grades 9-12 or aged 14-18) are invited to register for the Summit, happening Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Summit will include workshops, a panel discussion and educational activities designed to provide attendees with factual information about sexual health. This event is FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH. Participants will need to be able to access Zoom on their devices in order to participate. Pre-registration is required by Dec. 1, 2020.
Contact: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England at education@ppnne.org or (802) 448-9726

Decreasing Student Stress to Increase Learning Live Webinar

VT-HEC will be offering a webinar on Decreasing Stress to Increase Learning with Kristin Beswick. This webinar will offer research-based, universal tools that can support all students, including: setting clear expectations, maintaining consistency, using visual supports, teaching self-regulation and providing social opportunities both virtually and in-person. Participants will have an opportunity to refine and add to their research-based tools which, when used proactively and consistently, help reduce teacher and student stress. Webinar runs from 3-4:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2020.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350

Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators

VT-HEC will be offering a two-part webinar series on Promoting Resilience in Young Children with Cathy Siggins. This series will explore resiliency in early childhood and delve into strategies that can be used to strengthen young children’s resiliency. The first session will focus on how to recognize the ways stress and anxiety can impact young children’s development and behavior, as well as how temperament, relationships and routines all play a role in promoting resilience factors in young children. Session two will focus on deepening our understanding of ways to build resiliency skills in young children through individualized strategies, foundational routines and teaching practices. Webinars run from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, 2020.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350

New Creativity & Innovation Course for HS/CTE Students Spring 2021

Creative thinkers will learn how to thrive in a climate that encourages innovation – a chance for students to explore a course, delivered both online and with virtual sessions, that helps them develop and evaluate ideas for new products and services with fun experiential exercises, videos, games, guest speakers, storytelling and more - building a socially-conscious business/entrepreneurial mindset. Presented by the Vermont Small Business Development Center, the VT Virtual Learning Cooperative and Vermont Technical College. Earn .5 credits; plus 11th/12th graders have option for 3 college credits with dual enrollment or fast forward vouchers.
Contact: Laurel Butler at lbutler@vtsbdc.org or (802) 922-3692

VSAC Names December Vermont Applies Month

VSAC is pleased to announce Vermont Applies – a month-long initiative to help students and families prepare for life after high school and keep as many doors open as possible. The kickoff event, Vermont Virtual College Fair, takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, from 3 -8 p.m. and will showcase a majority of Vermont’s postsecondary institutions. The schedule of events, as well as some helpful resources, can be found on the event page.
Contact: Christopher Barry at barry@vsac.org

Professional Development: Wilson Reading System Introductory Course

Registration is open for the Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Introductory Course, a professional development course from the Stern Center for Language and Learning. This online course takes place Feb. 23-25, 2021, and provides participants with an overview of the WRS 4th Edition curriculum. Participants explore the standard 10-part Wilson Lesson Plan and practice planning and delivering a lesson while receiving modeling and feedback from a Wilson Credentialed Trainer during the workshop. For more information, visit the course webpage.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org

Literacy Coaching in our Current World

Partnerships for Literacy and Learning (PLL) is excited to present Literacy Coaching in our Current World. Join other literacy coaches/specialists trying to answer the question: What can literacy coaches do to support teachers with creating equitable and intentional learning opportunities for all students during these times? Work with Ellen A. Thompson and Gayle Moskowitz in these four online sessions: Feb 1, Mar 22, Apr 5 and Apr 26, 2021, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521

Application period announced for The Rowland Foundation Fellowships

The Rowland Foundation has announced that the application period is now open for one of its unique fellowships for 2021. The Foundation awards up to a $100,000 grant to teachers who have submitted a successful application. We believe that visionary teachers working in partnership with their principals on an initiative that will positively affect a school's culture and climate can have a lasting impact. To date we have awarded such fellowships to over 80 Vermont teachers. The application deadline is Dec. 31, 2020. For more details and for complete application information go to therowlandfoundation.org
Contact: Marge Malko at margemalko@gmail.com or (908) 963-9132

LGBTQ+ Youth Needs Assessment

Outright Vermont is conducting a needs assessment intended to gauge wellness, challenges and levels of support that LGBTQ+ youth in Vermont are currently experiencing. Youth 19 years of age or younger who identify as LGBTQ+ or questioning are eligible to complete the survey. Youth do not have to be out publicly about identities to qualify. Adults may assist qualifying elementary-aged children in completing the questionnaire. Youth who complete the assessment by Dec. 1, 2020, will receive a $30 Visa gift card.
Contact: Amanda Rohdenburg at info@outrightvt.org or (802) 865-9677