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APRIL, 2020

Greetings,

I hope that this inaugural issue of the Student Services Monthly Update finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. This is a time of many challenges and changes for all of us and we recognize the importance of staying connected and supporting one another. I hope you find the information and resources in this newsletter helpful in navigating these unchartered waters. As the student services team prepares for future installments, we welcome your input on needed resources via this Feedback from the Field Survey.

Take care and be well,

Maribel Saimre

Director 
Office of Student Services
Department of Special Education and Student Services

In This Issue

• VDOE RESOURCES
• RELEVANT SUPERINTENDENT & PRINCIPAL'S MEMOS
• HIGHLIGHT RESOURCES
• IMPORTANT DATES AND UPCOMING EVENTS
• STAY CONNECTED

VDOE RESOURCES

Updated Coronavirus Information & Resources

The Virginia Department of Education has been working closely with the Governor’s Office, the Virginia Department of Health, and other state agencies to ensure our public schools and communities have the most up-to-date information and resources. The health and safety of our students and staff are our top priorities. 

• Visit COVID-19 & Virginia Public Schools and Frequently Asked Questions for the latest information.
• Helpful resources for student services personnel include the Guidance from the Department of Special Education and Student Services and the Parent Guide. 

Virginia Learns Anywhere

In an effort to support Virginia educators, VDOE created the Continuity for Learning (C4L) Task Force consisting of teachers, leaders, and collaborating educational partners across Virginia. The C4L Task Force has prepared Virginia Learns Anywhere (PDF) which reinforces much-needed structure while also empowering individual teachers to support students in learning remotely. The C4L Task Force encourages divisions to develop and implement continuous learning plans in partnership with local county health departments, families, staff, and local boards of education. Please visit the VDOE C4L webpage for more information.

GoOpenVA COVID-19 Resources

#GoOpenVA is Virginia's home for Open Educational Resources. Visit #GoOpenVA:COVID-19 Extended Closing Resources for materials provided by Virginia school divisions to support educational activities when schools are closed. Refer to the Quick Guide to Open Educational Resources (OER) to learn more.

Virginia Purple Star Designation

The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Applications for SY20-21 will be available for download this month. For information or the application please visit the VDOE Military Families webpage. 

SUPERINTENDENT & PRINCIPAL'S MEMOS

Grant Application for Education of Homeless Children and Youth Programs – Superintendent’s Memo, April 3, 2020. 

Early College Scholars Certificates – Superintendent’s Memo, April 3, 2020.

HIGHLIGHTED RESOURCES

Child Trends: Resources for supporting children’s emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Center on PBIS: Brief on responding to COVID-19 though Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). 

National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH): The NCSMH has compiled a number of resources to support mental health during and after COVID-19, including an online training to help prepare school mental health clinicians to use telemental health to provide services and supports to students and families.

MHTTC School Mental Health Resources: The Mental Health Technology Training Center (MHTTC) offers free webinars and other resources for school mental health providers during this public health crisis.

CASEL Cares Initiative: The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) provides social emotional learning (SEL) resources for building relationships and supporting each other during these difficult times. Webinars are featured as well as resources for educators, parents and caregivers, and policy makers.

Prevent Child Abuse COVID-19 Resources: provides a comprehensive list of resources and tips for parents and children to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic, including tips for staying connected, managing stress and anxiety, and staying active and engaged as a family. 

COVID -19 Updates for the Military Community: The Department of Defense is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of State to provide support in dealing with the coronavirus disease outbreak. This site houses the latest information on COVID-19 and supports military families in need of financial, counseling, child-care or other support during this time.

Mindfulness Meditation Webinars for Military Families: During the month of April, Military OneSource health and wellness coaches host weekly mindfulness meditation groups. 

COVID-19 and Social Insurance and Benefit Programs: Individuals with disabilities who regularly access a series of public benefits are left with a variety of questions about the impact of the various federal and state legislative and administrative actions on various benefits. This document from Cornell University serves as a guide to navigate and understand the impact on benefits.

Specific Resources School Counselors School Psychologists School Social Workers

IMPORTANT DATES AND UPCOMING EVENTS

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year's theme is "Everyone Can Make Great Childhoods Happen -- Especially You, Especially Now." Show your support by wearing and distributing blue ribbons. For more information on how to strengthen families and communities and prevent child abuse and neglect, visit the Virginia Department of Social Services Child Abuse and Foster Care Prevention website.

April is the Month of the Military Child. April 22, 2020, Purple up Day! Each year VDOE encourages schools to “Purple Up! For Military Kids.” Now more than ever our military connect students need to know that we are thinking of them and their families during this pandemic. The VDOE encourages the entire school community to think of ways we can do this through social media platforms so – teachers, administrators, students, parents, and others can display their wearing of purple on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, as a sign of support for our military students. Consider submitting your photos to twitter using the hashtag #PurpleUpVirgina.

May 1, 2020. Deadline to submit nominations for the Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity. 

May 6, 2020, is School Nurse Day. The theme this year is “School Nurses: Supporting Students in Times of Crisis.” We recognize our school nurses by celebrating National School Nurse Day as a way to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. School nurses are essential for all students: in the public health arena, providing care coordination, organizing access to resources to help address the social determinants of health, and in policy development, particularly to support the health and education of our students during this pandemic. Learn more about School Nurse Day at National Association of School Nurses. 

September 30, 2020. The Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) has canceled all face-to-face events until September 30, 2020. The following summer professional learning events will be hosted virtually:

• Tier 1 Forum: New Team Training only (June 2020)
• Effective Classroom Systems (July 2020)
• Advanced Tiers (July 2020)
• Tier 1 Forum: New Team Training and Academic Enhancement only (July 2020)
• Defusing Disruptive Behavior (TBD Fall 2020)
• Data-Informed Decision Making (TBD Fall 2020)

More information regarding these events will be available in the near future at the VTSS Professional Learning page. VTSS Systems Coaches will have more information to assist divisions in navigating registration and “attending” the virtual event(s).

STAY CONNECTED

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