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Weekly Field Memo - Volume 17, Issue 3

January 18, 2023

Agency of Education, State of Vermont and Federal Updates

This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education (AOE), other State of Vermont agencies, federal agencies or Vermont's congressional delegation.

Vermont Framework for Proficiency-Based Learning Grant Application

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals, K-12 Educators
The Vermont Agency of Education invites SUs/SDs to apply for Secondary School Reform grant funding, totaling $150,000, to improve their Framework for Proficiency-Based Learning. This competitive grant will be for FY23 (2022-2023 academic year). Applicants may apply for grants for up to $10,000 to fund expenses related to participation in the Vermont Framework for Proficiency-Based Learning professional learning series facilitated through the Agency’s contract with the Great Schools Partnership. Applications are due Feb. 3, 2023.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov

Holocaust Education Week

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, 7-12 Educators
The Vermont Agency of Education is collaborating with Vermont Holocaust Memorial, Echoes and Reflections, and other Holocaust education institutions to inaugurate the first Vermont Holocaust Education Week. From Jan. 23-27, 2023, teachers in grades 7 to 12 will be offered a menu of programs, lesson plans and presentations to share the fundamental history and lessons of the Holocaust with their students. Please visit the Holocaust Education website to learn more.
Contact: Martha Deiss at martha.deiss@vermont.gov

Vermont Public: Winter Resource Highlight

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
Too cold? No recess? Are you looking for a snowy and cold day indoor activities for PreK-Grade 3? Find great indoor activities using the Agency of Education’s Incorporating Hero Elementary into Your Classroom document. Also, check out these PBS LearningMedia Hero Elementary Resources and Episode Specific Activities. Visit the Vermont Public Kids and Education page to find more recommendations for high-quality media and resource collections. Don’t forget to visit the Education Ambassadors page to learn more about how Vermont educators are involved in our partnership.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpublic.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.

Mindfulness Program Grant for All Vermont PK-12 Schools

Inner Explorer has partnered with Project Hoeppner to provide all interested Vermont teachers with an audio-guided daily mindfulness program specifically designed for schools. Mindfulness has been proven to improve mental health by reducing stress by 43%, improving emotional regulation and behavior by 60% and increasing grade point average (GPA) by 15%. These breathing and focusing practices help with learning recovery and are an ideal countermeasure to the stress and anxiety fueling the current mental health crisis. The 5-10 minute-a-day practices are simple to implement, require no teacher training, are proven effective and benefit teacher wellbeing as much as student wellbeing.
Contact: Lisa Cahill at lcahill@innerexplorer.org

Free Webinar - Where Our School Milk Comes From: A conversation with a New England Dairy Farmer

Have you been fielding questions or comments about the milk you serve? Bring your questions about farming practices to our conversation with dairy farmer Melissa Griffin. This webinar will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, from 2-3 p.m. In addition to your questions, Melissa will discuss cow care, technology and milk safety on the farm. Participants will be entered for a chance to win a new cow spot-wrapped milk cooler. For more registration information and official rules, go to New England Dairy’s webpage.
Contact: Jill Hussels at jhussels@NewEnglandDairy.com

Curriculum Map: Targeting Postsecondary Planning Skills

The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) Curriculum Map offers educators a framework of social-emotional, academic and postsecondary planning skills across grades 6-12. These are skills that VSAC believes all students should know and be able to do before graduating high school. VSAC has created nearly 100 learning activities to target these skills. Visit the VSAC Curriculum webpage for more information, to get help finding a learning activity that targets a specific skill and to download the map.
Contact: Lauren Hood at hood@vsac.org

Partnerships for Literacy and Learning presents: Adolescent Literacy Partnerships NEXIS

Adolescent students often arrive at middle and high school with a complex literacy background and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of these students is essential. Participants will work to understand and define the necessary collaborations between intervention and universal instruction. These seven virtual sessions begin on March 16, 2023, from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Come as a team or literacy partners (interventionist and universal level partners). Details are on Partnerships for Literacy and Learning’s professional learning webpage.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521

Statewide Conference on the Education of Immigrant and Refugee Students K-12

Save the date! On May 5 and 6, 2023, Burlington School District will be hosting We All Belong: A Conference on the Education of Immigrant and Refugee Students. This free program is open to all Vermont educators and professional credit is available. If interested, please respond to the Conference Survey. To submit a proposal to share your experience and expertise, complete the call for proposals.
Contact: Miriam Ehtesham-Cating at mcating@bsdvt.org

Accepting Registrations: Two-day Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care Training

The Mental Health and Trauma Informed Care training is free of charge thanks to the generosity of the Free Masons of Vermont and the Grand Lodge of Vermont. The program is designed to help educators become more effective in recognizing and understanding mental health and trauma concerns present in their students. This interactive training is on March 14 and 15, 2023, at the Burlington Elks Lodge located at 925 North Avenue, Burlington, VT 05408. To register please submit your name, school or organization, job title and your email and send it to Casey Boyle-Eldridge at casey@cbeeducationalservices.org.
Contact: Casey Boyle-Eldridge at casey@cbeeducationalservices.org

Spring Professional Development Course: Gardens & Mindfulness for Educators

Enroll now in Mindfulness Practices to Enhance Science Observation Skills (Spring Tea Project Course). This course is designed for educators to engage in science routines for empowerment and mindfulness routines for social, emotional learning. It will be an immersion in establishing a perennial herb garden from seed and mindfulness skills. Depart with a curriculum designed to approach these topics in the classroom. Adapted for PreK-8 grades. Synchronous class times are on Mondays from 6:30 - 8:15 p.m., Feb 13-June 2, 2023. Learn more about The Tea Project or register for the course.
Contact: Angie Barger at luna-root@gmail.com or (802) 595-2512

All Learners Network Math Professional Development: PreK Math Workshop

PreK Math Workshop is a six-hour workshop offered on Feb. 8-9, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. on Zoom. This workshop is designed for teachers, special educators and math specialists who are interested in identifying and creating meaningful learning opportunities for mathematics in Preschool and PreK settings.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com

Volunteers Needed for Destination Imagination Tournament

Vermont Destination Imagination is looking for volunteers, 18 or older, for their annual Creative Problem-Solving Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Main St. Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. Appraisers will watch team presentations, give encouraging feedback and score according to specific parameters of challenges that incorporate STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), collaboration and creativity. One brief training session is required (online or in person), scheduled at your convenience. An enjoyable and inspiring experience!
Contact: Jane Youngbaer at vtdicreativity@gmail.com or (802) 272-2766

Applications are now open for the 2023-24 Northeast Farm to School Institute

Vermont FEED is now accepting applications for the 2023-24 Northeast Farm to School Institute. The Institute is a unique, year-long professional learning program for a school, district and early childhood teams in New England and New York. With the support of a coach, teams build action plans to strengthen the connections between the classroom, cafeteria and the community. Applications are due Monday, Feb. 13, 2023.
Contact: Courtney Mulcahy at institute@vtfeed.com

Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills - February

Join Center for Health and Learning's Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training on Feb. 8, 2023, at 10 a.m. This will be a 90-minute virtual live session structured to enhance knowledge, comfort and skills to identify those at risk for suicide in your organization or community, including resources to get help. Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training provide the fundamental knowledge to build a suicide prevention-aware community or workplace. Visit the course registration webpage to register for free or low-cost training opportunities offered by the VT Suicide Prevention Center, a Center for Health and Learning program supported by Facing Suicide VT.
Contact: Karen Carreira at karen@healthandlearning.org

Earn a Teaching License/Additional Endorsement and Master's Degree in One Year

Saint Michael’s College (SMC) is offering a competitively priced Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program that provides both one- and two-year options. The MAT offers initial licensure tracks in art, elementary, middle, secondary and special education. For licensed teachers, the MAT offers additional endorsements in special education and English language learner (ELL). Join us for an information session on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, from 4-5 p.m. Priority application deadline is Feb. 1, 2023. For more information, please go to the SMC MAT website.
Contact: Claudine Bedell at cbedell@smcvt.edu or (802) 654-2741

Comprehensive Evaluation of Students with Complex Communication and Learning Profiles

Join Dr. Richard Reid, School Psychologist, for a free virtual workshop series hosted by the Vermont I-Team. This series will take educators, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists beyond the necessary question of special education eligibility. Dr. Reid will focus on comprehensive evaluation as more than an eligibility process and discuss unique approaches to evaluating learners. Participants will be able to offer case studies and problem-solve during coaching sessions. The series begins Jan. 27, 2023, and will run from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Register for the workshop on the I-Team Series registration page.
Contact: Valerie LeClair at valerie.leclair@uvm.edu

Scaling Makerspaces in Vermont Schools

With support from Senator Leahy’s office, the U.S. Department of Education provided funds for Generator to help build out five makerspaces in five schools across the state. This program will increase access to hands-on, experiential STEAM education to meet demands for education and workforce development in manufacturing, fabrication and innovative technology. The funding will also support the launch of our Train-the-Teacher Program in which Generator helps schools create their own safe and sustainable makerspace environment. This opportunity is available to middle and high schools across the state. For more information and application details go to Generator’s webpage: VT MakerSchools: Scaling Makerspaces in VT Secondary Schools.
Contact: Veronica Newton at veronica@generatorvt.org

Professional Learning: Culturally Responsive Teaching-Equity

Still some seats left for Dr. Gholdy Muhammad Culturally & Historically Responsive Education for Equity and Excellence (virtual) on March 8 and April 12, 2023. These refresher and practical application sessions are designed to be not only a refresher for past participants of her Cultivating Genius session, but also incorporate the newest teachings in the CHRE (Culturally & Historically Responsive Education) framework. Dr. Muhammad will clearly define culture, equity, anti-racism and culturally and historically responsive education. In the second session, you will bring your own unit/lesson to embed the framework within it. Sessions are small so that you get personalized feedback from Dr. Muhammad and her new book Unearthing Joy will be included.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org

Professional Learning: Orton-Gillingham for Intervention: Associate Level Course & Practicum

Registration is open for Orton-Gillingham for Intervention: Associate Level Course & Practicum, a professional learning course by the Stern Center for Language and Learning, beginning on July 10, 2023. You will dive into the structure of the English language and learn how to teach it sequentially and systemically to struggling readers, including students with dyslexia. Participants can earn certification at the Associate Level to successfully teach the OG Approach, either in-person or online. A brief application and interview are required to be accepted. Application is due by Feb. 8, 2023. Visit the course page to register.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org


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The field memo has time-sensitive and relevant information designed for students, teachers, and staff. The agency encourages principals, headmasters, and superintendents to share the memo with their education community. Additionally, individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe online.

Questions? Email aoe.edinfo@vermont.gov.