Volume 15, Issue 21

June 2, 2021

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: All
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education and Vermont Department of Health have issued Memo: COVID-19 Prevention Recommendations for End of the School Year (5/28) and the Agency of Education has issued Instructional Operations for Fall 2021 (5/28).
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at aoe.support@vermont.gov

Guidance: Special Education

Audience: Administrators, Special Education Directors, Special Education Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has issued Considerations for ESY Services and Coordination with Summer Programming as Part of School COVID-19 Recovery Planning for Students with IEPs (5/27)
Contact: Jacqui Kelleher at jacqui.kelleher@vermont.gov

Vermont PBS: Kids and Education Summer Resources

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
In lieu of a schedule for June, the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS have compiled Vermont PBS Kids and Education: June 2021, a resource based on the End of Year Teacher Planning Kit. 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 these 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.

Student Member Sought for State Board of Education

Audience: Vermont Secondary Students Graduating in 2023 or later
The Governor’s Office is seeking a candidate to serve on the State Board of Education as one of its two student representatives. The State Board of Education usually meets on the third Wednesday of every month and establishes policies, regulations and rules related to education in Vermont and in keeping with statutes passed by the Legislature. During the pandemic, the Board has continued to meet virtually each month via MS Teams. Candidates may apply using the Application for Gubernatorial Appointment. The deadline for applications is June 11, 2021. Questions about the State Board of Education may be directed to Suzanne Sprague (802-828-1130) or Maureen Gaidys (802-828-0047) at the Agency of Education. Questions about the application or the nomination process itself can be emailed to EXE.Appointments@vermont.gov.
Contact: Suzanne Sprague at (802) 828-1130

Educational Benefit Review Training

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Special Education Directors
The AOE is now offering Educational Benefit Review (EBR) Training beginning in the Fall of 2021. EBR is a process to determine if an IEP is reasonably calculated to increase the likelihood of the student achieving educational benefit. More in this article from Education Leader. Should your SU/SD need to schedule a training, please fill out this Professional Development Request Form. All requests will be considered according to availability and varying schedules.
Contact: Betty Roy at Betty.Roy@vermont.gov

2020-2021 Vermont Multi-Tiered System of Supports (VTmtss) Survey Extension to June 7, 2021

Audience: Superintendents, Principals
The Agency’s extended deadline for completing the VTmtss online survey is no later than June 7, 2021. This is a one-week extension provided to encourage a more robust response rate as your information is important to Vermont Agency of Education. The survey offers a “save and resume” feature this year to accommodate busy schedules, and you will receive a copy of your data upon submission. As required by Act 117 – VSA Title 16, Section 2904, each superintendent shall annually provide to the Vermont Secretary of Education the status of the tiered system of supports in each school in the supervisory union or school district. The link to the survey was sent to superintendents and principals on April 30, 2021. Please contact Nancy Hellen if you need assistance in completing this survey by June 7, 2021.
Contact: Nancy Hellen at nancy.hellen@vermont.gov

Linking Health and Learning Newsletter, June 2021

Audience: Health Educators, Physical Educators, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Superintendents, Higher Education
The June 2021 Linking Health and Learning newsletter is now posted on the Vermont Agency of Education Health and Physical Education (PE) webpages. This newsletter communicates pertinent information about Health and Physical Education as well as professional learning events and resources to support Vermont’s health and physical educators.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov or (802) 828-6553

June Issue of Literary Learning: Newsletter for English Language Arts in Vermont

Audience: English Teachers, Literacy Coaches
The June 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 an article about supporting gender-diverse youth and accompanying resources, links to informational videos about the Lexile Framework and Hub, and information about some great professional offerings and activities. Also included is an interest inventory to inform the development of future professional learning opportunities for ELA. 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

2022 Vermont Teacher of the Year Nominations Open

Audience: All
Did a colleague in your building differentiate herself during the pandemic? Did a specific teacher make remote instruction more accessible for you or your child? Is there teacher who you think has never received acknowledgement for his innovation in the classroom? Now is your chance to celebrate that great work by nominating an educator as the Vermont Teacher of the Year. Any currently practicing, licensed teacher in Vermont is eligible for nomination. Nominations are open through June 30, 2021.
Contact: Patrick Halladay at patrick.halladay@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 the Vermont Forward Plan.

Professional Development: Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing® (LiPS®) Course

Registration is open for Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing® (LiPS®) Course, a professional development course from Commonwealth Learning Center, hosted by the Stern Center for Language and Learning. This course prepares teachers to help students develop phonemic awareness for reading and spelling using the LiPS® Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech methodology and materials. Participants will gain knowledge of current research in phonemic awareness and reading development and become familiar with assessment instruments, including the Lindamood® Auditory Conceptualization (LAC-3) Test. This virtual course takes place July 26-29, 2021.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org

UP for Learning and Shelburne Farms Present Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability

How do we reimagine our school landscape based on universal human rights, educational equality and respect for our environment? It starts by engaging youth as leaders and active change makers. UP for Learning and Shelburne Farms are excited to announce the 6th annual Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability, a year-long program designed to empower youth to become actively involved in their school and local communities. Teams will engage in a year-long Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) process to address one or more of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which focus on pathways to building a socially, economically and ecologically just society.
Contact: Sarah Popowicz at sarah@upforlearning.org

VCSEA New Leader Academy Begins in July

The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrator's New Leader Academy is a year-long professional development program, beginning in July and meeting once monthly throughout the year, designed to support new and aspiring special education administrators. The Academy uses a cohort model and provides academic and practical instruction in an array of skill and knowledge areas important to success as a special education administrator. This year will be a hybrid model, both in-person and virtual.
Contact: Meagan Roy at mroy@cvsdvt.org

Astronomy Lecture Special Event

Southern Vermont Astronomy Group, the Dublin School, Middlebury College, and Mittelman Observatory present Dr. Amanda Bosh of the Lowell Observatory. She will be presenting on “What the Outer Edges of Our Solar System Tells Us About Its Beginnings.” Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 7 p.m. This is a virtual event and registration is required.
Contact: Margot Schmitt at margot.goodnow@gmail.com or (802) 380-9206

Professional Learning: Anti-Racist White Educators

Registration is open for The Mindful Anti-Racist Cohort for White Educators led by Annie O'Shaughnessy. They will meet during the 21-22 school year (virtually) from 3:14 - 4:45 p.m. one Thursday a month (15 total recertification hours). The cohort, using restorative practices to build a brave space and apply mindfulness principles and practices, will cultivate the courage, discernment and vulnerability needed to 'dare greatly' to use our power and privilege to speak out, educate, and lead in this country's journey towards racial justice and equity. You will be asked to read one article a month.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642

Transforming Trauma: How Schools Become Healing Places with David Melnick

VT-HEC is offering two summer learning opportunities with Dave Melnick, LICSW, Director of Outpatient Services at Northeast Family Institute (NFI Vermont). Plan to get back into the school year with a strong foundation by attending this one day virtual workshop on August 20, 2021, where participants will study the harmful effects of trauma on students and on the workforce, and the premises for trauma-informed practices. Or, dive deeper into this work with a 3-credit summer graduate course that begins on July 9, 2021. During the course, participants will examine the core beliefs and mindsets necessary to become trauma-informed, as well as the practices used to begin to transform ourselves and the students and families with whom we serve.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350

Professional Learning: Create Make Learn Summer Institute 2021

Create Make Learn Summer Institute 2021 Option 1: Virtual/Remote or Option 2: Hands on Workshops (Aug 9-13, 2021) in Newport, VT. 3-credit graduate credit option through Castleton University. Create confidence with new tools and techniques for learning through creating and making (Design Thinking; STEAM Infused Literacy Projects; Circuits and Code; Create with Cardboard, Paper and Loose Parts; Design for 3D Printers, Laser Cutters and Vinyl Cutters). Plan a curricular unit or school project where creating and making are central to learning goals and provide opportunities for students to develop proficiency of Vermont Transferable Skills. Connect with peers that best meets your needs PreK / Elementary /Middle School / High School.
Contact: Lucie deLaBruere at ldelabruere@gmail.com or (802) 752 6086

Mister Chris and Friends Short Videos about Routines

Each Monday this May, a new video will guide children and their families through special daily moments: waking up, brushing teeth, washing hands, cleaning up and going to bed. This video shorts series welcomes Elephant, a new friend who joins Mister Chris for these activities. Each video has a new original song and features a peek into lives and routines in our community thanks to participation from viewers. Videos will be available to watch on the Vermont PBS Mister Chris page, where families can also watch full episodes of seasons one and two of Mister Chris and Friends.
Contact: Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

2021 VEEP Summer Institute: Local Connections to Energy and Climate

The Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) invites all Vermont and New Hampshire educators to the 2021 VEEP Summer Institute: Local Connections to Energy and Climate. This year’s program explores local connections to energy and climate. The virtual program dates are August 9, 10 and 12, 2021, with each day’s online session lasting no more than three hours. articipants may expect some asynchronous work prior to and between virtual sessions. After the conclusion of the synchronous program, our participants may then collaborate with VEEP educators to bring to fruition custom curricula. Through the program, participants earn PD hours and may also enroll for one graduate credit. The registration deadline is July 26, 2021. Scholarship funds are available if cost is a barrier.
Contact Nial Rele at Nial@veep.org