Thanks to the many Connecticut schools who are participating in the CAS Hurricane Relief Effort, we are making steady progress toward our goal of collecting $300,000 to help schools in areas devastated by the recent hurricanes. With matching funds from Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF), we can reach $600K if each CT school raises just $353! Be a part of this incredible statewide effort to support needy schools in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands!

Back to Contents

Rick Wormeli, national educational consultant, author and acclaimed presenter, is coming to Connecticut next week to talk about the challenges of working with rapidly morphing humans ages 10 to 15. Sponsored by NELMS, this workshop promises to be a provocative and practical day of exploration into what really works with this age group. There is still time to register!

Back to Contents

Registration for the always popular elementary student leadership conferences is now open. These annual events feature unique, interactive lessons in communication, problem solving, decision-making and productive thinking. Choose from four college sites: Sacred Heart University in Fairfield on January 4; Naugatuck Community College in Waterbury on January 8; Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield on January 10; and, Three-Rivers Community College in Norwich on January 11. Each conference offers an impressive line-up of breakout presentations and hands-on activities. These events fill up quickly, so register now!

Back to Contents

Looking for a constructive way to pass the time on your morning commute? Listen to CASconversations, our new bi-weekly podcast series! Each episode engages practitioners and thought leaders in conversations about issues, ideas and innovations relevant to today’s busy educators. Our most recent guest speaker, Attorney Tom Mooney, talks about a number of issues impacting school administrators, including the 2017 legislative session, teacher evaluation practices, funding of the state teacher pension system, and the pitfalls of email. Listen now!

Back to Contents

This fall, CAS and the Clifford Beers Foundation arranged five screenings of the documentary “Resilience” at various locations around the state. "Resilience" deals with the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on student performance and long-term wellness. Catch one of the two remaining screenings - on November 1st at Nathan Hale Middle School in Norwalk or on November 8th at Botelle School in Norfolk. The November 1st screening will be followed by a panel discussion on how to support the social-emotional well-being of students.

Back to Contents

The next session of the 2017-18 CAS New Leaders Academy (NLA) will be held on November 9th from 8:30-12:00 at the CAS office. Amy Tepper, senior contributing consultant for ReVISION Learning Partnership, will help participants shift their practices toward learner-focused feedback through purposeful evidence gathering and analysis of teacher impact on student engagement and learning. The NLA is a six-session workshop series offered at no cost to member schools. Administrators in years 1-3 of their leadership careers are encouraged to attend!

Back to Contents

Congratulations to the following Connecticut schools which were named 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education:

• East Lyme High School in East Lyme 
• Oakdale School in Montville 
• Thomas W. Mahan School in Norwich 
• Morris Street School in Danbury 

The National Blue Ribbon Program distinguishes schools in two categories — Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. East Lyme High School and Oakdale School were identified in the High Performing category and Thomas W. Mahan and Morris Street School were recognized for their work toward closing Connecticut’s achievement gap. 

Back to Contents

Connecticut public school students have significantly increased their participation and performance on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to results released by the College Board last month. The number of students who took at least one AP exam in 2016-17 rose to 28,961, an increase of 4.9% from 2015-16. Those students took 53,106 exams, an increase of 5.1% from the prior year. Of the exams taken, 36,404 exams earned a three, four, or five, an increase of 3.6% from 2015-16. These improvements were evidenced among students from all racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Back to Contents

In the wake of Governor Malloy’s budget veto two weeks ago, the What Will Our Children Lose Coalition, comprised of CAS, CABE, CAPSS and CASBO, has issued a statement urging all parties to come together to formulate a budget that will support the state’s communities and education system in a thoughtful and sustainable manner. The Coalition members warn of the adverse impact that the vetoed budget would have on Connecticut's education system and call for a bi-partisan budget that equitably funds all districts.

Back to Contents

PJ Day for the Kids is a day for students and business partners across Connecticut to come together in support of patients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. This annual fundraiser was conceived as a way to pay tribute to the children at the hospital who wear their PJs for days, weeks or longer while fighting life-threatening illnesses. The 7th Annual PJ Day for the Kids will be December 8, 2017! Please consider joining in this statewide effort that is not only fun but leaves a lasting impression on both participants and patients.

Back to Contents