 So, turn it over to you. Sure. So, I'm going to introduce you to... This is Buddy Singh. He's a co-president of our PTO parent, of a student at our after-school program. And Christy Gilles is our program director for all of BSD after-school programming. Carly Gundersen is our program director here locally. And Malik Maaz, who is our assistant program director of after-school programming. Thanks for coming. I know you've got some questions from your friends here, but they're all really happy. Yeah, listen, for me, when we're... First of all, I love visiting schools. I was at a really childhood center this morning. I got to meet some adorable students and talk to parents about what school means and having their kids back. And I'm really pleased to be here. I'd love to hear from the folks that are coordinating some of these after-school programming that we have to... When we talk about re-imagining, that sounds nice. What does it look like? Vermont gets it. Vermont gets it. After-school programming needs to be a bigger part of school experience for our students. Of course, it's great for families, parents to know where their children are and around educators and community partners that are planning for these students. So I want to hear more about that. We believe the American Rescue Plan funds will be used to support programming like that. And we want to hear what's working really well so that when I'm in Washington and I'm having conversations with policymakers across the country, I can look to this model and say, well, call over there or talk to the Secretary of Vermont because they're doing it right. So that's number one. Number two, I'm impressed with how Vermont got, I think it's 33% of the students within 48 hours signed up, 5 to 11-year-olds. That to me is a function of good communication, good partnership between the school officials, elected leaders and our pediatricians and our medical folks, sharing with parents how important it is for their children to get vaccinated to protect the community. So I'm interested in hearing how those efforts are going. I think about 50% of the 5 to 11-year-olds in Vermont are already registered. So that's something to be really proud of. So I'd love to hear, and really we just want to open it up, after-school programming. What are we seeing when our kids are returning and how is after-school programming helpful for them? Not only from an academic perspective but I think almost more importantly from that social-emotional perspective. So I'll pause there and open it up to whoever. Maybe we can talk a little bit about the big picture for the state and then I'd love to hear from them. Yeah, and I think, now certainly welcome and appreciate your visit. It's great. As you saw this morning, just to draw a through line, I think between pre-K, vaccination and after-school, what you see in Vermont is that partnership playing out. It's the communication, but we have a long tradition of working together. It's to say a very flat chain of command, but like our team, we work on an integrated basis with our partners at the health department and we have very close connections to our school leaders and so forth and that's the secret sauce that allows us to navigate these challenging moments but we're really proud of our after-school program in particular and it's a great thing you're here at one of our showcase programs today. So tell me about it. Well, here in the Burlington School District we are really thankful to know that after-school is seen as that strategy to help support recovery, to help support students getting back and to making those social connections. We serve over 1,500 students in after-school and summer programs here in the district and some of the federal funds that we really appreciate the support for and at the state level have allowed us to increase the number of community partners that we've been working with, especially over the summer, and increase the capacity to serve more students. We know that now more than ever it's critical for our students to be in the same place where we can support working families, provide access to food and exciting experiences. You mentioned community partners. Sometimes we don't talk about it enough, but our community partners have been, their doors have been closed for a year and a half too. A lot of our 501C3s or these agencies that are out there helping our kids, they have to close down for a year and a half too. So I love when I see programs that engage those builders in our community and our schools are just working closely. I mean for the students they don't know who's a school staff and who's a community-based organization. They're just part of the family, right? So I'm glad to hear that you mentioned that it created a wider net for more to join. And I think that's something that Carly and Malik and the team here at Champaign do really well. You know, the number of community partners that they outreach to, you want to share with me? Yeah, so far this year we've worked with kids on the ball, with Jake Agna, who does tennis. So he's committed to do tennis for us. We are partnering with the generator across the street where they're doing some steam activities later in March. Grow family yoga is right on Pine Street. So they're coming in and doing some yoga classes as well. And as well as a climbing gym. So we're going to go climbing later with this good care of them. We'll get our kids to know. So, yeah, we're really utilizing myself and partners right now about being at this and what that means. Okay. You want to tell me anything about what made you stand out to you? What stands out for the program? Just in general, yeah. The whole experience and what experiences you had. Honestly, just the overall happiness of kids when school goes over and they come in and line up for after school and they're ready to engage and lead the program basically themselves. It's mostly student led with like teacher guidance for students like interest basically. And you can see that like we have our student planning council that we were really proud of. And this year it was like my first time experiencing it for the first time and just witnessing their ideas coming to fruition and seeing that like these kids are actually like functioning members of like the community who can bring something to their own program and have it be something that they want to do. That's just something that I love to see. Yeah. You know, the principal and I have something in common. We're both fourth grade teachers. We'd like to think that the kids are going to go home raving about the reading lessons that we just put in. Oh, my teacher taught math so great, but they're not. When we talk to kids how is school? What they're talking about is those experiences that they had after school, the social stuff like as a parent when my kids come home how is school? Good. What do you do? Usually it's what they did in the extracurriculars or in the after school or before school program. Nothing against the experience in school, but that's what kids remember. So by providing that for more students, 1500 that's great. And making sure that students have an opportunity to engage socially and emotionally in a structured setting with community partners. I think that's excellent. I'd love to hear from everyone else. I think it's really important to have Dad speak from Dad's perspective about the value of having an after school program that really is just a transition from the school day to a safe space. We don't have to drive people different places. We're here, housed in the building, pick up happens at the same place where drop off does. It's the same trusted adults that you're working with during the school day that they transition to at the after school program. So that's why I invite you. Great. Yeah. So what I would say first, thank you for coming and just proud to be here representing the parents and being part of this Champlain. We can't say enough about this school and Joe's leadership or parent perspective. The biggest thing for after school, I'll take it from the Dad's perspective as a professional, both me and my wife work full time. You have to have an after school program or else, if I had to come home earlier, my wife would come home. It would really wreak havoc with our professional and what we can provide for our families. So it's very important sustainability and support from the federal level. We will always welcome and I'm sure the teacher will welcome. From a Dad's perspective, the messaging is huge. If you're talking social emotional, how am I feeling? They use the same nomenclature, you have the same terminology. I'm in the green zone and the blue zone and the yellow zone. Yeah. And you say that at school, but when they go to after school, everybody's on the same page. Everybody has the same aspect of what's going on with kids emotionally. And to do that and that communication is just going to be able to bring more things out to children. You know, there's more leadership opportunities. There's more learning opportunities. There's mixing of grade level where you have older kids that can start to become mentors. You see fifth grader and fourth grader and it's all on the same school. So that's not only going to carry over to after school, but the next day they come to school. If a kid is being picked on on the playground or something like that, there's a fourth grader that knows that first grader and is going to be like, hey, you fourth graders, leave that person alone. You know, we know to be kind. And these messages from school to the after school and then carrying it over to home and all that communication that's what you want. You talk about the consistency and I think I'm just looking at it from a perspective of a building leader, right? Staff know you mentioned the consistent language at every school. That's really important as students move through. It's more likely to stick when it's consistent at different buildings with the community partners at school, everyone. And I have to look at the board chair and the superintendent because I think it's important the approach you've taken to make it systemic, not just random acts of partnerships. So that's great. And I think, you know, another thing that we don't speak enough about is the challenge that parents have had during the pandemic to not only be the teachers, but also now as you're transitioning back to full-time work, it's harder maybe to have the flexibility because you're back now. So having a program where you know your kids are safe, they're learning, it's more than just they're safe, they're grown. And, you know, you mentioned the through line, you mentioned consistency. Isn't that what our schools should be? Like hubs of the community? Right? We're trying really hard with some of the budget proposals to really lift up community schools for everything that you said. Parents, you articulated best. As parents are working, they need to know their kids are good. They need to know that kids are in a safe environment where they're growing, they're engaging, and they're learning those skills that make them mentors and help them grow as young people in the community that will be leading the community. So, love to hear that and I love to hear that as a parent, you're feeling supported and that there's a great partnership here. It's also too, you know, you're at the dinner table and you say, how was your day? You know, you usually get fine or something. But if you could say, oh, you know, you hear it's like, oh, I hear you're talking to me. Or, I'm sorry. Yeah, like this morning we were rushed out the door. I was a little bit in the yellow zone. Well, you can say that and then it just starts a whole conversation that I don't think parents sometimes struggle with at the dinner table after a day at work. So on Saturday morning when you tell your kids to clean up their room, do they tell you you're going into the red zone? What would you tell me, you know, it's really important that we at the Department of Education adapt to what parents need now. And I'm asking you to speak to all the parents across the country about it. What do we need to know? What should we reinforce? Or what would you like us to know so that when we're making decisions, we take into account what parents are feeling today? Well, again, consistency, you know, that we're all in the same place. Communication is always a big thing with any parent. You know, they want to feel like they're being communicated to, by their teachers, by their after school, by their administration. That communication goes from the parent to the child. And here, this is what I'm talking about, all these consistent messages. And, you know, I'm not going to pretend like we have great conversations every day with my seven-year-old, but these communication things help that conversation happen. And that's what a parent wants. Like, you know, if you're trying to figure out how to deal with whatever it's Saturday morning or the weekend or you're rushing around to all your events, if you can speak in calmly and speak in their language, and they speak in your language, and you're all understanding where you are all of our emotional needs. And consistently, you're going to be able to accomplish so much more as a family, as a parent, as a kid, as a school. And those are all the things, and you're well aware of this social movement. Yeah, it's definitely, and I think, you know, we have an opportunity to reopen, to really do more to make schools places that have reciprocal communication. You understand different places now. We've all experienced trauma, right? Some more than others. So our schools have to be receptive to where the families are. And as much as it's important for us to communicate to the parents, it's also important that we listen. But we're designed to listen to what the needs of the parents are, what the concerns, frustrations, fears are. You know, we can't ignore the fact that our parents have gone through this pandemic as well. And, you know, schools are the hubs, schools are the communities, and with great after school programs I think you guys are great examples of what we want to see across the country. That's great. Thank you. Anything else anyone want to share before? Jordan, how much time do we have left? We actually have to move to the classroom. So any parting thoughts before we head out? This is a chance, you know, we had the moment of closure and now we're starting to, you know, reopen buildings, reopen schools, bring community partnerships as you've heard. This is an opportunity in time where we have the chance to redesign things in education. We can say we know that we were doing it this way and that was, you know, that was not an effective model. We've done it this way because that's just what we were used to and now is a chance to take a step back and say what is going to work best for a student now comes community partnerships for families and so the time is now and the opportunity is now we may not get another one No, I'm just going to observe it's really nice to have a secretary who understands these things I listen to you from your experience you know, you're able to make sense of these different aspects of the operation but you're also able to have that informed national policy that's going to serve as well in the country so thank you. Let's hope so listen the house passed the framework yesterday breaking news but look you get it there's funds for after-school programs community schooling you're an example of that I visited early childhood center where Vermont is far ahead of so many other states so in this framework there's a universal pre-kindergarten for three or four years we're going to be knocking on your door saying hey what's your playbook so that we could start getting some states that haven't even thought about it engage in that so keep up the great work the students here are lucky to have the leadership that we have I know Senator Sanders a big advocate for these programs as well he was really big on the after-school program so you get it we appreciate what you're doing for students they're fortunate to be here and continue the great work thank you you know who that is? Joe Biden he's president Joe Biden to me so I thought how cool would it be if I can bring cards to the president made by students now I'm not just any students I wanted the best card makers in Vermont and I was told that this second grade class is that class is that true? yeah maybe is it true? come on I think it is I think it is and because you did that for me and I know you've changed your schedule are you going to give them a lot more homework now because they missed out on stuff? no we're going to go have some extra research is that sound so good yeah I remember that good so what is the most popular recess game in Vermont these days? monkey bars monkey bars? what else? I don't see I don't see I didn't see okay good helicopter helicopter I don't know that one also the jump rope and then you have to who's really good at that game? I don't think I would do well with that I think I'd hurt my ankles and well that's good maybe someday I'll come back and I'll watch you play that I don't think I have the right gear for that today but listen I have something for you these are coins they're chocolate they're made of chocolate so they're better than real coins and it has a symbol of the department of education on one side and it doesn't matter you're going to open it up and eat it anyway right? so I'm going to give it to your teacher she's going to give it to you maybe before recess and you can get a little bit more I'll give you two two of them okay two of them two of them you're welcome I think there's enough there maybe the teacher can get them to you is that what you have for me? I will give them to you later later can you bring that up to me please what is your name? Sophie hi Sophie so how do you spell Sophie? S-O-P-H-I-E I have a niece with the name Sophie and it's spelled like yours on the president's face and the secretary too can I just mention that Angeline is going to be in Washington DC tomorrow so she wants to drop her card off in person if that's okay that's great are you visiting DC tomorrow? it's a pleasure to meet all of you I hope you enjoy recess I hope you enjoy your chocolate and hope you enjoy the rest of second grade thank you everybody say thanks so much thanks so much have a good day have a good day bye bye