- 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.
Advisory Memo: Indoor Winter Sports
The Advisory Memo: Indoor Winter Sports was sent on Oct. 26, 2021 and it gives information to support local decision making around implementing indoor winter sports programs during the 2021-2022 school year.
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Updated Advisory Memo: COVID-19 Prevention Measures for Fall 2021
The Advisory Memo: COVID-19 Prevention Measures for Fall 2021 was updated on Oct. 26, 2021 to recommend that schools should require universal masking for all students and staff when indoors until Jan. 18, 2022.
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
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.
Webinar: Strengthening Work-Based Learning Partnerships
Audience: Secondary School Educators, WBL Coordinators, CTE Instructors, School Counselors
The ECHO-Leahy Summit invites educators providing work-based learning opportunities and programs to participate in the Strengthening Work-Based Learning Partnerships webinar, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, from 10:30 a.m.–noon at no cost. Learn how work-based learning (WBL) coordinators are creating valuable career connections between students, businesses and community partners. Participants will receive 1.5 professional learning hours for WBL. For more information and registration details please visit the Eventbrite registration page.
Contact: Veronica Newton, veronica.newton@vermont.gov; Barry Lampke, blampke@echovermont.org
The Vermont Seal of Biliteracy
Audience: Superintendents, Administrators, Directors of Curriculum, CTE, AEL and 21C, World Language Teachers, Students
The Vermont Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by the Vermont Foreign Language Association under the authorization of the Agency of Education. The award recognizes students who have studied and attained the required level of language proficiency in English plus one or more languages by the time of high school graduation. There are both multiple entry points and multiple methods for attaining the Seal. Students can qualify by learning a world language, indigenous language or American Sign Language at school, or a location other than a Vermont public school, such as through homeschooling or a Flexible Pathways program, learning English at school and Heritage Learning. The Seal of Biliteracy takes the form of a seal that appears on the transcript or diploma of the graduating senior and is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions. The Vermont Seal of Biliteracy website provides detailed information regarding the Seal, as well as an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.
Contact: Martha Deiss at martha.deiss@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: Website Refresh for October and Resources to Celebrate Fall
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education has updated our Vermont PBS webpage to include more resources for educators, organized by grade band and subject area. We will be updating this webpage monthly, so check back often to find new featured resources related to monthly themes. Also, visit the Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources. To share resources and network with colleagues, join the Vermont PBS Educational Resources group on Edmodo. Activate your Edmodo account and join the VTED Learns community by filling out this form.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org
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.
Poetry Out Loud School Registration
School registration for Vermont Poetry Out Loud (POL) is currently open. POL is a poetry recitation contest that provides pathways for students to explore, memorize and recite great contemporary and classic poetry and enhance presentation techniques. The program begins at the school level where students use POL resources to explore poetry and memorize at least one poem. Each school may move one student forward to recite two poems at the statewide semifinal contest. The program culminates with the state final competition on March 14, 2022. One Vermont student will be selected to represent the state at the national competition, competing for the top prize of $20,000. To participate, schools should register by Dec. 31, 2021.
Contact: Troy Hickman at thickman@vermontartscouncil.org or (802) 402-4496
All Learners Network - Menu Differentiation: An All Learners Approach
Menu Differentiation: An All Learners Approach is a 3-credit graduate course that explores an All Learners Main Lesson/Menu model for differentiation, reframing Tier I and II math instruction in order to meet the ongoing range of instructional needs. Learn how to manage a ‘menu’ approach to your teaching and restructure your math block to allow for higher levels of inclusion and access. Classes will be from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., in person, at the ALN Learning Center, Burlington, VT, starting Nov. 3, 2021.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com
All Learners Network: Algebra Tiles for Conceptual Understanding
The Algebra Tiles for Conceptual Understanding workshop will let you experience how using algebra tiles can promote student learning and algebraic understanding for all learners. Tiles support students to move from concrete to abstract reasoning at their own pace. This workshop will focus on using tiles to enhance student algebraic understanding, especially in using distributive property and solving linear equations. If time permits, we will explore using tiles to model multiplying binomials. The workshop will take place from 4-6 p.m., in person, at the ALN Learning Center, Burlington, VT, on Nov. 8, 2021. It is for grades 6-8.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com
Nominations for Vermont School Nurse of the Year
Do you think your school nurse is fabulous? Do you ever think I couldn't imagine our school without our school nurse? The Vermont State School Nurses' Association is now accepting nominations for school nurse of the year. Nominees must be a registered nurse, practicing as a licensed school nurse in the state of Vermont and an active and current VSSNA member for the past two years. If interested in nominating a School Nurse of the Year, please email rmccray@vssna.org to request a nomination form to be completed by Dec. 1, 2021.
Contact: Rebecca McCray, MSN, MA, RN, NCSN, VSSNA President, rmccray@vssna.org
Pullman Porters: Unsung Heroes Offered by Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
During this live, virtual, standards-based program, students in grades 6-8 discover the critical role that Pullman porters played in giving rise to America’s black middle class, the formation of the black labor movement and the momentum for the civil rights movement. For a complete program description, visit our school programs page. The program is available fall through winter. Fee: $4/student.
Contact: Diane Newton at newton@hildene.org or (802) 367-7965
Professional Learning: Building Blocks for Literacy Scholarships
Registration is open for Building Blocks for Literacy, a professional learning program by Stern Center for Language and Learning for early care and education professionals to help ensure that our youngest learners are prepared for literacy success when they enter kindergarten. Building Blocks for Literacy® scholarships are available through Boon Philanthropy. This scholarship reimburses 100% of the cost of the online course. The course gives early childhood educators the knowledge they need to meet licensing and salary requirements for future growth.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
NEXIS: Coaching Forums – Developing Literacy Expertise in our Schools
One of the most urgent priorities for Vermont is to close the achievement gaps for our neediest students while still propelling all students to learn as much as they can. Literacy Coaches play a critical role in this hard work and coaching forums give coaches support and assistance with their work. Registration and more details at our event page.
Contact: info@pllvt.org or Mary Grace at (802) 828-0521
Teaching Essential Topics in Sexual Health Education - A Virtual Workshop Series
VT-HEC is proud to sponsor a 3-part virtual workshop series that will offer participants an opportunity to explore and use the newly-released Essential Topics in Sexual Health Education in Vermont, developed by a group of sexual health education stakeholders from Vermont. This resource and series will identify how to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ and youth with disabilities, as well as incorporate racial justice principles as part of essential sexual health education. Participants can attend some or all of the workshops. The first workshop takes place on Nov. 16, 2021, on the topic of Teaching Consent and Healthy Relationships. Full and partial scholarships may be available.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350