Volume 15, Issue 48

December 8, 2021

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- School Vaccine Incentive Program
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.

School Vaccine Incentive Program

Yesterday, Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Education announced the School Vaccine Incentive Program, committing $2 million in federal emergency funds to schools that achieve a student vaccination rate of 85% or higher. To read more details, view the press release.
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at AOE.vaccine@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.

What if Wednesday

Audience: Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The What if Wednesday, Edition 1 - 2021 is designed for Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members to facilitate a conversation about school emergency preparedness. Please complete the exercise and share with your faculty and staff as appropriate
Contact: Robert L. Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448

New Advisory on Interoperability and School Platforms

Audience: Education Technology Directors, IT Managers, Education Technologists, School Librarians, Principals, Superintendents, CTE Directors
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many school districts to rely on learning platforms to a degree they had never engaged with before. As part of education recovery efforts, Vermont SU/SDs may have implemented platforms that now pose interoperability challenges as educators and administrators attempt to efficiently utilize these systems. An AOE advisory on interoperability was recently released with information and resources as a guide to address interoperability challenges. The intent is to provide basic information that will facilitate productive conversations on school platforms, data standards and vetting educational products for interoperability.
Contact: Lisa Helme at lisa.helme@vermont.gov

December Rule Changes Work

Audience: Principals, Superintendents, Curriculum Coordinators, Everyone, Special Ed Administrators, Educators
Please join us for the December Office Hours event supporting the upcoming Special Education Rule changes. It will focus on the rules changes related to the addition of Functional Skills as a basic skill area. To learn more and access the released content, please visit our Rule Changes webpage and join in the virtual meeting on Dec. 13, 2021, from 9-11:30 a.m.
Contact: Chris Kane at christopher.kane@vermont.gov

Becoming a Sexuality Educator and Trainer – FREE Training

Audience: Sexual and Reproductive Health Educators, Comprehensive Health Educators, Disability Educators, Developmental Services Workers, School Nurses, Maternal and Child Health Workers, Community Health Workers, or anyone teaching or interested in teaching comprehensive sex ed to people with disabilities
The Vermont Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Division is partnering with Elevatus Training to bring a unique and free training experience to partners in sexual and reproductive health, comprehensive health education and disability work. The goal of the 3-day “Becoming a Sexuality Educator and Trainer” training is to become more confident and comfortable leading sexuality education classes for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. This 3-day training will be held Jan. 10-12, 2022, via Zoom live video conference. Please email Sara Chesbrough by Dec. 10, 2021, to get a link to register.
Contact: Sara Chesbrough at sara.chesbrough@vermont.gov or (802) 373-1969

Responses to the Tragedy at Oxford High School | Vermont School Safety Center

Audience: Superintendents, Principals and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The messages from Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell and Principal Dave Manning, members of the VT School Crisis Planning Team give some thoughts on the Responses to the Tragedy at Oxford High School, Michigan. Please take a moment to read this important information on how we can continue to work together to stop violence in our schools.
Contact: Robert L. Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, revans@margolishealy.com or (802) 839-0448

Vermont PBS: December Resources to Celebrate Winter and School Vacation

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education has updated our Vermont PBS webpage for December. This month, celebrate winter and school vacation with activities and resources to send home with students. Other topics of interest include social-emotional learning, VPR podcasts about Latin American music, recycling laws and Abenaki people in Vermont today. We will be updating this webpage monthly, so check back often to find new featured resources related to monthly themes and organized by grade band and subject area. 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.

Career Exploration: Engaging Teens in Their Own Career Development

This course is ideal for work-based learning coordinators, flexible pathway coordinators, cooperative education coordinators, school counselors and anyone involved in supporting student career development. We will provide the theory and tools needed to engage students in their own career development while helping them find meaning and relevance in their high school experience. Participants will explore the necessary steps to walk students through career planning, as well as design practical applications and new career planning ideas to help students discover a path that aligns with their interests and motivations. Dates will be on Jan. 12, March 9, and May 4, 2022, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The course will be asynchronous Zoom class session with the rest online. Visit our course page for more information and/or to register.
Contact Kim McKellar at kim.mckellar@vthec.org

Nominate a K-12 school employee for the LifeChanger Award

All K-12 school/district employees are eligible to receive one of 18 awards and cash prizes up to $10,000. This holiday season, LifeChanger of the Year will also be sending your nominee a congratulatory certificate and poster, a holiday card with a personalized message from you, and a $25 donation to an education nonprofit in their name. Learn more and make your free, simple nomination by Dec. 31 on our award webpage.
Contact: Ashley Chiu at achiu@strykermunleygroup.com

Professional Education: Deeper Learning Course

Registration is open for Inquiry Into Deeper Learning at the Upper Valley Educators Institute. Deeper learning describes approaches to teaching and learning that seek to make learning both personally and cognitively engaging, with the goal of fostering in-depth understanding while increasing relevance, authenticity, engagement and intellectual rigor for students. In this 2-3 credit course educators will create and teach a backwards-designed, project-based unit with an explicit focus on deeper learning of content and skills important to students. Begins in January of 2022.
Contact: Kristen Downey at kristendowney@uvei.org or (603) 678-4888

The VSAC Senior Survey: What is in it for you?

The statewide survey of twelfth graders is a rich dataset that enables stakeholders to inform local strategy and statewide policy; in exchange for participating, high schools receive two reports. The first report, based on the online survey, details seniors’ experience in high school and their post-high school plans. The second report uses data from the National Student Clearinghouse, at no cost to schools, and presents indicators of postsecondary enrollment and persistence. HS Principals: Be on the lookout for an invitation to participate in the Class of 2022 Senior Survey.
Contact: Robert Walsh at WalshR@VSAC.org

Is your High School in need of a Mentoring Program?

The Dream Program has begun recruitment to identify seven high schools in Vermont to partner with for Fall 2022. Our M² Guided Mentoring program is a two-tiered, cross-age mentoring program that builds mentoring relationships between high school and elementary-aged students. The best part is that this program is free and allows for students to receive transferable skills credit toward high school. View our flyer or visit our website to learn more.
Contact: Alicia Grangent at agrangent@dreamprogram.org

Vermont PBS and Vermont Public Radio: One Small Step Conversation

Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS have united and are collaborating on an exciting project through StoryCorp called One Small Step. One Small Step is a nationwide initiative to help bridge political divides and strengthen communities, one conversation at a time. This One Small Step conversation guide will help teachers of High School Students set up scaffolded opportunities to explore political identity and differences, but most importantly--find common ground. For more information on how to get your school involved, email Heather Duhamel.
Contact: Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org

All Learners Network: Improving Fact Fluency

On Jan. 4, 2022, from 4-6 p.m., Dr. John Tapper will explore models of recall and memory, the importance of knowing and using additive facts, and techniques for improving recall and fluency. Participants will leave with strategies they can apply immediately. Visit the event webpage to register.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com

Professional Learning: Math K-6

Registration is open for Enhancing The Math Gameplan: High Impact, Low-Cost Shifts to Increase Engagement, Equity, and Understanding with Christian Courtemanche K-6 Christian Courtemanche brings his energy and expertise to a new course (optional three grad credits) that will level up pedagogy and create resources that will be more impactful, more accessible and more inclusive for every learner. The course will be on June 20-23, 2022 with 2 follow-up sessions after school in the fall. In-person and zoom options are available.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642

Professional Learning: Fundation® Workshops

Registration is open for Fundation Workshops, offered on Saturdays in January and February 2022. These professional learning workshops are offered through the Stern Center for Language and Learning and have grant funding available. Fundations teaches the foundational skills, and significantly supports reading, writing, speaking and language standards found in states’ rigorous college- and career-ready standards. The program addresses all five areas of reading instruction with an emphasis on systematic phonics and word structure. Visit the course page to register.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org

Castleton University Center for Schools: Spring 2022 Course Registration is Open!

The Castleton University Center for Schools Spring 2022 course registration is open. Some courses start as early as Jan. 6, 2022. Many new courses have been added. View course descriptions and register today.
Contact: Tara Lidstone at Tara.lidstone@castleton.edu or (802) 345.0092

Vermont Family Network Free Workshop: Post-secondary Education Options in Vermont for Youth with Developmental Disabilities

Vermont’s Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) and Voc Rehab collaborate to provide post-secondary education (PSE) and work training for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities. In this workshop, you will learn about the three PSE support programs that help young adults to attend VT colleges, Project SEARCH, independent living programs and Global Campus and Vermont’s Supported Employment Services. If you are unable to attend, please register anyway and you will receive an email with a link to the recording which you can watch on your own time. Register for Post-secondary Education Options in Vermont for Youth with Developmental Disabilities.
Contact: Rachel Boyers at rachel.boyers@vtfn.org

Umatter® for Schools: Virtual Youth Suicide Prevention Training

Umatter for Schools is a 6 week, virtual training on March 2 – April 13, 2022, this newly designed online training consists of meetings and coursework over six weeks. The Umatter® for Schools training is a national best practice program for suicide prevention and was developed by the Center for Health and Learning. The training has routinely been offered to school staff in grades 7-12, this training will also include K-6 specific content.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org