- 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 Year
Audience: Superintendents, Principals
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued FAQ: End of School Year Gatherings and Graduations (5/7).
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at aoe.support@vermont.gov
Guidance: Recovery
Audience: CTE Directors, Superintendents, CTE Regional Advisory and Governance Boards
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued Memo: Career Technical Education Recovery Planning Guidance (5/6) and Vermont Career Technical Education Recovery Plan Template (PDF Version) (5/6).
Contact: Ruth Durkee at ruth.durkee@vermont.gov
Guidance: Federal Funding
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued FEMA Eligibility Guidance (5/11).
Contact: Jill Briggs-Campbell at jill.briggscampbell@vermont.gov
Guidance: Child Nutrition
Audience: Superintendents, Summer Program Food Service Staff
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Food Services Guidance for Day and Overnight Summer Camps 2021 (5/7).
Contact: Rosie Krueger at mary.krueger@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: End of Year Teacher Planning Kit and Resources for Spring and Summer Learning
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
PBS has released the End of Year Teacher Planning Kit, the final teacher planning kit of the series. This kit includes resources and lessons teachers can use with students at all grade levels through the end of the school year as well as free professional learning opportunities and activities to engage families in learning over the summer. Also, check out the newly formatted schedule of Vermont PBS programs for the months of April and May, as well as some online and printable resources for spring and summer learning. The Summer of Possibilities provides children with opportunities to play and learn through hands-on activities, games, and tips that support literacy, math, science, and life skills. Both the Summer Learning Collection and the Science of Summer invite students in grades 6-12 to learn while exploring everyday summer activities. 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.
New Coordinated Curriculum Web Page
Audience: All
The AOE has launched its new Coordinated Curriculum web page and includes links to the Coordinated Curriculum in School District Systems: Act 173 Technical Guidance, which provides clarity about how coordinated curriculum is situated in the current regulatory and practice context, describes why coordinated curriculum is a major systems lever for the successful implementation of Act 173, and describes how to implement the focus area in the context of a school district system. In addition, you can find a Quality Criteria Single Point Rubric for coordinated curriculum that can be used as a self-assessment to identify areas of strength as well as those that require additional work. More resources for this page will be coming soon.
Contact: Sigrid Olson at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov
Endorsement Revision Group Members Wanted for Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Audience: AOE Licensed Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Higher Education Teaching Faculty, and other Field Stakeholders
The Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators (VSBPE) has scheduled a revision of the Teacher of the Visually Impaired endorsement. The process entails meeting virtually for one full day. The meeting will occur in the coming weeks contingent on group member availability. During the meeting, through AOE facilitation, stakeholders from the field will draft a new Teacher of the Visually Impaired endorsement for VSBPE approval. Participants are eligible for a certificate of professional contribution for use toward relicensing. If you are interested in participating in the revision group, please contact Terry Reilly.
Contact: Terry Reilly at terry.reilly@vermont.gov
PACE Vermont Recruiting Teens for Online Research Studies
PACE Vermont is back and recruiting Vermonters ages 12-25 for three new surveys starting this summer. Those who qualify can earn up to $50 in our new online research studies. Youth can take our brief online screener by May 31, 2021, to see if they’re eligible on the PACE Vermont website.
Contact: rhonda.williams@vermont.gov or (802) 363-2561
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 the Vermont Forward Plan.
VT-HEC Summer Catalog: Registration is Open
Registration is open for VT-HEC's summer semester. We have a full lineup of online graduate courses to gain endorsements in the areas of Special Ed, Early Ed, ECSE, Health Ed and Work Based Learning. We are also offering continuing education courses and virtual workshops on topics including Technology Integration (Google Tools) and Essential Topics in Sexual Health Ed. See the 2021 Summer Catalog for the entire list of offerings.
Contact Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350
Professional Development: Fundations® K-3
Registration is open for Fundations Levels K-3, Wilson Language Training® workshops offered by the Stern Center for Language and Learning. Fundations’ research-based approach and extensive program materials allow K-3 teachers to present a carefully structured reading and spelling curriculum using multisensory techniques. These four online workshops provide a practical application of reading research that will prepare teachers to teach Fundations Levels K-3 in Tiers 1 and 2. Level K is presented on June 24, 2021; Level 1 on July 15, 2021; Level 2 on August 10, 2021; and Level 3 on August 12, 2021. Registration due 1-2 weeks before each workshop.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
Professional Learning: Re-designing Learning Spaces
Registration is open for Innovative Learning Spaces: Creative School Design - facilitated by Ira Socol and Pam Moran. June 29, 2021 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. - virtual. If we're re-setting our physical spaces post-pandemic, how can that re-set move us toward spaces with learners at the center? This 90-minute virtual session with two experts in innovative and engaging school design will offer participants examples of schools that transformed settings and spaces to engage learners at any age.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Fostering Anti-Racist Classrooms Professional Development
The Center for Community & Social Justice at Champlain College is offering credit-bearing professional development for all Vermont Pre-K-12 educators. The Summer Institute for Educators: Fostering Anti-Racists Classrooms will be offered online from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., June 21 through June 25, 2021. This professional development opportunity will be led by local and national experts who will provide attendees with actionable suggestions for creating inclusive classrooms and classroom resources. Details and registration information can be found at Summer Institute for Educators: Fostering Anti-Racist Classrooms.
Contact: Patti Aldredge at communitysocialjustice@champlain.edu
2021 Vermont Literacy Conference
The 2021 Vermont Literacy Conference is happening online August 2-4, 2021. Literacy experts Cornelius Minor and Jennifer Seravallo will be the keynote speakers. With over 20 offerings to choose from K-12, there is something for every grade level. Just added to the lineup: an entire K-2 strand devoted to phonemic awareness, phonics and word analysis presented by Marge Lipson, Deb Boucher and Sara Blake. Consider sending a team from your school or district to deepen their learning on supporting their students’ literacy success.
Contact Mary Grace at mkgrace@pllvt.org