Congratulations to Rockville High School Principal Michelle Zawawi, the 2018-19 Outstanding First Year Principal at the high school level. Nominated for the award by her superintendent, Joseph Macary, Michelle was selected for her compassionate and visionary leadership, her adherence to high standards of performance, and her emphasis on instructional practices and embedded professional learning.

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CAS-CIAC is pleased to partner with the McMikle Group and the Windsor Public Schools to offer an innovative summer learning camp that combines leadership, sports and academic enrichment. The D.R.E.A.M. Sports Summer Learning Camp is a six-week youth camp that is open to any Connecticut student in first through tenth grade. Find out more at www.dreamsportscamps.com. Questions can be directed to Jenn Buckley at jbuckley@casciac.org.

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Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Arts in the Middle Conference. Middle level students and teachers are invited to the University of Hartford on May 23rd to develop their artistic abilities within the context of challenging, hands-on workshops involving both traditional and non-traditional artistic media. Working artists will lead all of the sessions. Participants will have the chance to do some great artwork, meet other artists and have fun!!!

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The 2018 Administrative Assistants’ Conference is coming up and there's still time to register! This full-day program is designed to support the daily work of school secretaries and administrative assistants and spotlight their important role in the success of the school. This year’s conference features an impressive lineup of speakers. Attorneys Tom Mooney and Gwen Zittoun from Shipman & Goodwin will cover new laws and updates on legal issues critical to every administrative assistant’s work. New this year is Scott Driscoll, founder of Internet Safety Concepts, who will provide important tips on the safe use of technology. Join us on April 27th!

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Could your anti-bullying program use a make-over? Have an idea for a new school climate initiative? Funding is available for members looking to expand or start a school-based activity or project that fosters positive learning outcomes for students. The CAS-CIAC Endowment and Flanagan Grant Program, made possible by the generosity of sponsors whose dollars have helped us build a stable endowment fund, provides grant money to member schools to support new or existing initiatives that lead to enriched educational experiences and/or improved learning environments. The deadline for proposals is April 25th. Apply now!

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Looking for a fantastic summer leadership experience for your students? Look no further! The 8th Annual New England Student Leadership Conference (NESLC) is scheduled for July 17-20, 2018, at Worcester State University (MA). This four-day, residential event provides opportunities for students who participate in interscholastic athletic and activity programs to develop leadership skills, engage in hands-on community service activities, and network with some of the best and brightest student leaders across New England. Registration opens soon!

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The CALAS spring general membership meeting, held at CAS on April 4, 2018, was one of its best meetings yet, with engaging speakers and rich discussions on several important topics. Guest presenters included Jean Silk from Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) and Dario Soto, STEAM educator for the Hartford Public Schools.

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Every year, the Governor appoints two public school students entering their senior year to serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education (CSBE) for a one-year term. Student board members participate fully in discussions about education policy and lend an important perspective to board deliberations. The CSBE is now accepting applications from Grade 11 students who are interested in serving as members of the state board for the 2018-2019 year. Please encourage qualified students in your school to apply. The deadline for applications is April 13th.

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Each year, the Connecticut Storytelling Center honors three people who have made extraordinary contributions to the Connecticut storytelling community. Dr. Rosie Vojtek, principal of Ivy Drive School and current CAS President, has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Spencer Shaw Educator’s Award because of her longstanding support of storytelling residencies in Bristol schools. Rosie has embraced the value of storytelling as a way to enhance literacy and has helped to spread the word to her colleagues. The Connecticut Storytelling Center now has a full-blown “Start With Stories” program in five schools in Bristol. Rosie will be honored at the 37th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Conference reception on April 28th.

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On April 26, SERC and CAS are sponsoring a full-day workshop on Section 504 and the ADA. Presenter Perry Zirkel, PhD, JD, LLM, will provide important legal lessons for both general and special educators. Join us at the Radisson in Cromwell.

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Governor Dannel Malloy and Commissioner Dianna Wentzell announced yesterday that graduation rates in the state reached a record high of 87.9% in 2017, marking an increase for the seventh consecutive year. Also on the rise are the graduation rates for school districts that participate in Connecticut’s Alliance District program.

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The University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education's second annual special education summit will be held on April 24 at the UConn School of Law campus in Hartford. Co-sponsored by the Klebanoff Institute, this daylong event is geared toward developing effective school environments that support the needs of all students with disabilities. The summit will bring together professionals in special education, advocates of persons with disabilities, school administrators, policymakers, family and community members, and other experts from across the region. Click here for more information, including a detailed summit agenda, presenter and panelist bios and more. Space is limited — register online today.

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U.S. News & World Report released its rankings of best graduate schools in the country for 2019, and a number of Connecticut graduate schools ranked high across the disciplines evaluated by the publication. The six major disciplines U.S. News looked at were: business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing. A Connecticut school ranked among the top 50 in all six disciplines, and even took the top spot in one.

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