Volume 15, Issue 29

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: Social, Emotional, Behavioral Screening

Audience: all
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo the Agency of Education has released Memo: Social, Emotional, Behavioral Screening (7/27).
Contact: Laurel Omland at [email protected]

Vermont PBS: Kids and Education August Resources for Summer Learning and Back to School

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS have compiled Vermont PBS Kids and Education: August 2021. This resource is based on the PBS Kids Summer of Possibilities, which provides children with opportunities to play and learn through hands-on activities, games and tips that support literacy, math, science and life skills. The August edition also includes resources for back to school. Visit the new Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources for summer learning and back to school. For more information about the partnership between the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont PBS, visit the AOE's Vermont PBS webpage.
Contacts: Emily Leute at [email protected] or Heather Duhamel at [email protected]

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.

Equitable Education Systems Grant

Audience: Supervisory Unions/Districts, Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Education Leaders
The Agency of Education is pleased to share Equitable Education Systems Grant Summaries for the Supervisory Unions/Supervisory Districts (SU/SDs) awarded for the 2021-2022 school year. In the coming year, this grant will support Franklin Northeast SU, Hartford SD, Lamoille South Unified Union SD, Mount Abraham Unified SD, Washington Central Unified Union SD, and Windsor Central SU as they work with students, staff, faculty, and administrators to appreciate diversity, honor multiple perspectives, engage in courageous conversations, and engender civic and equity literacy across Vermont schools. Congratulations to the 2021-2022 awardees.
Contact: Jess DeCarolis at [email protected]

Request for Applications: Act 67 Community Schools Act Competitive Grant Opportunity

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, CTE Directors, AEL Providers, Curriculum Coordinators, School Counselors, Teachers 
With the passage of Act 67 - The Community Schools Act in June, the Agency of Education has developed a competitive grant opportunity for eligible applicants to develop and pilot Community Schools Programs. Community Schools serve as resource hubs that provide a broad range of easily accessed, well-coordinated supports and services that help students and families with increasingly complex needs. These schools, at their core, are about investing in children, through quality teaching; challenging, engaging, and culturally responsive curricula; wrap around supports; safe, just, and equitable school climate; strong ties to family and community; and a clear focus on student achievement and well-being. A total of over $3M in ARP-ESSER funds will be competed for three-year awards to eligible applicants that show the greatest promise for successful implementation of Community School Programs and positive change. Funding for the implementation of Community School programs will be awarded annually for a period of three years to successful applicants. The grant application will remain open for five weeks, closing on August 18, 2021. Please refer to the Community Schools Act Request for Application for details and the FY22 Community Schools Grant Application online form to submit an application.  Information about this competitive grant opportunity, including the links above, can be found under the Initiatives section on the AOE Flexible Pathways webpage.
Contact: Jess DeCarolis at [email protected] 

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.

Creating Emergency Prepared, Not Scared, Students

Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP)- is a free emergency preparedness program. STEP was created for children in 4th to 5th grades to help them be prepared and not scared during disasters. It is easy to teach and includes the components of math, science, and writing. The program includes modules focused on hurricane, tornado, and pandemic preparedness among others. Visit Ready.gov: Student Tools for Emergency Planning. All materials are FREE.
Contact: [email protected] at [email protected]

FEMA Preparedness publications

FEMA has FREE publications related to preparedness for children and adults. Prepare with Pedro is a coloring, activity book for students grade 2-4. Ready 2 Help is a card game that inspires thinking about emergency preparedness. Other free publications include family communication plans, Teen CERT and financial preparedness. Some publications are available in other languages. Visit FEMA-ICPD to download their promotional materials.
Contact: Pueblo.gpo.gov

Developing and Redesigning Your Work-Based Learning Program

Developing and Redesigning your Work-Based Learning Program course is ideal for those new to work-based learning or those who want to refine their existing program and will give participants the opportunity to design the format and systems of a WBL program that works for their particular role and school. This course will cover creating a new program or redesigning an existing program that aligns with your school's goals and available resources, outreach to new community partners and systems to help build and maintain those relationships, and other tools and strategies that will help you to effectively manage all aspects of your program.
Contact Kim McKellar at [email protected].

Snapshot

Stress, emotional turmoil, substance use and other problems interfere with student's ability to learn, socialize and positively interact with other students and staff in school, as well as with family and friends outside of school. The Center for Behavioral Health Integration (C4BHI) has a new tool, SnapShot, that can screen for emotional, behavioral, and social issues for all students in grades 6-12. The primary purpose of this screening is to identify students that may need extra supports. visit the Center for Behavioral Health Integration website for more information.
Contact Win Turner at [email protected]

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