- 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 Year
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Principals, Educators, School Staff
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education and the Department of Health have issued A Strong and Healthy Year: Safety and Health Guidance for Vermont Schools (4/8).
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at aoe.support@vermont.gov
Guidance: Facilities and HVAC
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Principals, Facilities Managers
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued A Strong and Healthy Year: Facilities and HVAC Considerations (4/8).
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at aoe.support@vermont.gov
Guidance: Child Nutrition
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Principals, Food Service Managers and Staff
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued A Strong and Healthy Year: Food Service Guidance (4/8).
Contact: Rosie Krueger at mary.krueger@vermont.gov
Guidance: Finance
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Business Managers
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued Memo: Reimbursement for ESSER I Equitable Services (4/9).
Conact: Jill Briggs-Campbell at jill.briggscampbell@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: New Distance Learning Schedule Format for Spring and Summer
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Schedule of Vermont PBS Programs for the months of April and May is based on the PBS Teacher Planning Kit for March-May, which includes bundled media and materials that can be used during in-person or remote instruction, both with or without internet access. Each planning sheet for elementary and secondary education has been pulled out individually and linked to its corresponding week on the schedule with a different program highlighted weekly. 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. Learn more about how to use the planning kits by viewing the screencast, How to Navigate PBS Teacher Planning Kits. For more information about the partnership between the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS, 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 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
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.
Mastery Transcript Consortium Panel Discussion
Audience: K-12 Educators, Educational Leaders, School Counselors
Join members of the Agency of Education’s Proficiency-Based and Personalized Learning teams as we learn more about how Vermont schools are currently using the Mastery Transcript, an innovative digital transcript that showcases the whole student. Panelists include a representative from the Mastery Transcript Consortium as well as students and teachers from three Vermont schools who will share their experiences with the transcript that highlights students’ unique learning paths, interests and abilities. The panel discussion will be held on Monday, May 3, 2021, from 3 - 4:15 p.m. Register for Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) Panel Discussion to reserve your space.
Contact: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov
Equitable Education Systems Grant: Fillable Form Added
Audience: Supervisory Unions/Districts, Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Education Leaders
A fillable form has been developed for applicants and added to the Equitable Education Systems grant Request for Proposals. This grant opportunity, for the FY22 (2021-2022 academic year), is to support Supervisory Unions/Supervisory Districts (SU/SDs) in the development and implementation of policies, practices and strategies that support culturally responsive and inclusive school communities. This can include developing/revising hiring policies, inclusive coordinated curriculum development, outreach and community engagement, and other related activities that support closing equity gaps for Vermont learners. This grant will support Vermont schools in guiding students, staff, faculty and administrators to appreciate diversity, honor multiple perspectives, respect diverse backgrounds, engage in courageous conversations, and engender civic and equity literacy. Applicants may apply for grants for up to $50,000; approved grants may be fully or partially funded. Grant applications will be reviewed by the Agency of Education after the May 7, 2021, application deadline with competitive awards being granted to SU/SDs or consortia of SU/SDs and community partners that show the greatest promise for positive change.
Contact: Jess DeCarolis at jess.decarolis@vermont.gov
2020 Annual Technology Survey Results Report
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Technology Directors, IT Managers
The AOE Annual Technology Survey is required of all Vermont schools to collect important data about many aspects of the education technology landscape in our schools. The survey (2019-2020 academic year) was opened in July 2020 and closed on Sept. 30, 2020. Fifty-one SU/SDs completed responses. From those responses, data was collected on 276 public schools and career technical education (CTE) centers, representing 95 percent of all public K-12 schools. Many thanks to the technology directors, IT managers and other SU/SD staff members for their work to compile responses to the survey. View the 2020 survey report at 2020 Annual Technology Survey Report | Agency of Education (vermont.gov)
Contact: Lisa Helme at lisa.helme@vermont.gov or (802) 828-6956
FY22 Nicotine and Substance Use Prevention Grant
Audience: Superintendents, principals, school nurses, counselors, health educators
The AOE FY22 Nicotine and Substance Use Prevention grant question and answer period has ended and all questions and answers are now posted on the AOE Substance Abuse Prevention website. Applications are due by April 30, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. in the GMS system. Please review the Q&A document as well as the grant document before completing and submitting your application.
Contact: Beth Keister at beth.keister@vermont.gov
Provisional Progress Reports
Audience: Superintendents and Designees
Please submit your Provisional Progress Reports to Lisa Pierson by Friday, May 14, 2021. More detailed directions on how to create and complete the report using the ALiS online licensing system are posted on our website. Creating the Provisional Licensing Report includes a link to our video tutorial which demonstrates how to complete the report using your online ALiS account.
Contact: Amy Scalabrini at amy.scalabrini@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.
Is Your High School in Need of a Mentoring Program?
The Dream Program has a new Mentoring Program. M² Guided Mentoring is a two-tiered, cross-age mentoring program that builds mentoring relationships between high school and elementary-aged students. We are looking to partner with Six High Schools in the State of Vermont for our First Year of Programming. The best part is that this program is free. Check out the One Sheet for Schools for more information.
Contact: Alicia Grangent at agrangent@dreamprogram.org
There’s Still Time to Complete the Vermont Grant Application
VSAC will soon be sending notifications of 2021-2022 Vermont Grant eligibility. If students haven't completed their Vermont Grant application or FAFSA, now's the time. The Vermont Grant application should take five minutes or less to complete. Don't let Vermont students leave money on the table. Students apply through their MyVSAC account.
Contact: VSAC Grant program at grants@vsac.org
Castleton University Center for Schools: Summer 2021 Course Registration is Now Open
Summer registration is now open for over 50 graduate level courses that have been designed specifically for practicing educators. Some courses are back by popular demand, plus many new courses have been added in response to requests. Courses will be offered outdoors and online and cover a wide variety of topics, including: online teaching and learning, wellness, classroom management, digital storytelling, outdoor education, resilience, literacy, math, and more. To review course descriptions and to register, visit the Castleton University website.
Contact: Tara Lidstone at tara.lidstone@castleton.edu or (802) 345-0092
Financial Education Without Limits – Learn with Zogo App
April is Financial Literacy month. Introduce your students to Zogo, a fun and engaging financial literacy app gamified with incentives for young adults (13 and older). This award-winning app has over 300 bite-sized learning modules that are aligned with the Jump$tart Coalition's National Standards in K-12 personal finance education. Each student can download the app from any app store, like Apple or Google Play. Sign in using the code 'NEFCU'. Students can play through short modules and start earning points that can be redeemed for gifts cards, like Amazon, Target and more. Parent involvement is not necessary to redeem prizes. For more information including a school kit, visit the New England Federal Credit Union website.
Contact: Patricia Selsky at selsky@nefcu.com or (802) 764-6940
Chinese Language Learning Opportunity in Summer/Fall 2021
SPIRAL International of Burlington is excited to offer an introductory Chinese language program for Summer 2021. This online language course is perfect for summer programming for schools. Programs are designed for beginners, but students with some prior Chinese language skills can be accommodated as well. The Have Fun with Chinese program is twelve 40-minute classes and is intended as an enrichment course or after-school program. SPIRAL International also offers full-semester, credit-bearing Chinese language and culture classes for schools wanting to add to their world language offerings.
Contact: Sydney at programs@spiralinternational.org
Professional Learning: Instructional Coaches Cohort
The CVEDC Instructional Coaching Academy is back, with Ellen Dorsey facilitating the 3rd Coaches' cohort with an optional 3 grad credit course. Note: We are starting in August so that we can help coaches set up systems for the beginning of the school year. Participants can invite an administrator to attend all or part of that first session to allow them to get on the same page. Includes two books: Jim Knight's Better Conversations and The Impact Cycle. This course will deepen your understanding of the processes and protocols involved in facilitating an instructional coaching cycle. Aug. 13 and Nov. 11, 2021, Jan. 12, March 16 and May 5, 2022.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Virtual Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness Training of Trainers - A Few Seats Left
The Center for Health and Learning is offering Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness Training of Trainers for community members, health care and school professionals in two virtual sessions on April 27 and May 4, 2021, from 9 a.m. - noon. Join us and become equipped to facilitate Umatter Suicide Awareness workshops in your community or place of work. You will gain the skills, knowledge, confidence and materials to bring suicide prevention awareness to your community.
Contact Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org
Power 2 Summit: Youth and Adults Reimagining and Transforming Education Together
A virtual gathering to connect, inspire and co-create action to transform learning, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. With the shift in our educational landscape, now, more than ever, it is critical that we work in partnership — youth and adults — to create opportunities that meet the needs of all youth. Our convening will celebrate the power of youth voice and youth-adult partnership as we share our experience, ideas, and strategies for transforming learning. This is an opportunity for youth and adult teams to share their past and current work, their stories and their ideas for the future. More information and registration online.
Contact: Harry Frank at harry@upforlearning.org or (802) 989-4913
Assessment Over Coffee: A Five-Part Webinar Series with Melissa Farrall
Registration is open for Assessment Over Coffee: A Five-Part Webinar Series with Melissa Farrall, offered by the Stern Center for Language and Learning. This webinar series is designed to add a little assessment excitement to your summer. Tune in to learn about why reading is so important, and why it is so hard for many students to become skilled readers and writers. Learn about the tools that literacy professionals use to identify dyslexia and dysgraphia, and how a comprehensive evaluation can be instrumental to providing effective, evidence-based instruction. Webinars run from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesdays from June 30 to July 28, 2021. Discounts available.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
The Summer of Possibilities from Vermont PBS
Vermont Public Broadcasting System (Vermont PBS) and the Agency of Education (AOE) continue to partner to support learning for Vermont students this summer. This partnership provides access to free educational programming, curricular connections, off-line kits and distance learning tutorials. Summer learning can be playful and fun with these anytime, anywhere resources. Find great online and offline resources on the Vermont PBS Distance Learning all summer long.
Contact: Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org or Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov
Working in Community to Make Community Work
Join us in exploring how we can work in community to make community-centered education work. Together we’ll explore this question: "How do we design and implement creative community-engaged projects that strengthen student agency, promote community connectedness and inspire system change?" The Community Team at Windsor High School, in Windsor, VT will present on how they believe their Portrait of a Graduate expectations can be supported by engaging in the Vermont Mural Project with the whole school exploring the essential questions of "Who are we?" and "Who do we want to become?" Workshop participants will learn about community-centered educational systems such as the Vermont Mural Project, as well as gaining inspiration and contributing ideas and feedback for the team at Windsor to use to make their project better. Educators will receive 1.5 hours recertification credits. Presenters: Keighan Eaker, Christie Keeney, Kim Gogan (Windsor HS). Facilitators: Susan Hennessey, Life LeGeros, Paul Gambil, and Eric Booth. Wednesday, April 28, 2021 4 p.m. EST. Register online.
Contact: Audrey Homan at events@tarrantinstitute.org
2021 Vermont Literacy Conference
Registration is now open for the 2021 Vermont Literacy Conference: “JOY AND URGENCY: Addressing Equity while Inspiring Learners K-12” on August 2, 3, and 4, 2021. Details about our two Keynote speakers, Corneilus Minor and Jennifer Saravello, and many expert Vermont presenters, as well as several published authors are available on the conference website. You can attend this conference and be a part of follow-up work for three credits from Saint Michael's College if desired.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521
Vermont History Resources
Registrations are open for spring virtual school programs at the Vermont History Museum. Students can take a 360° tour of the museum exhibits. Guided programs focus on mystery artifacts, Vermont maps, Civil War soldier letters or the 1918-1919 pandemic. The Vermont Historical Society has also relaunched the Vermont History Explorer website for elementary school students. Updates and new additions will continue through the summer.
Contact: Victoria Hughes at victoria.hughes@vermonthistory.org or (802) 828-1413