Middle Level News & Announcements

MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE The Middle School Student Leadership Conference entitled “Making Acceptance Acceptable” is a CAS initiative to train middle-level student leaders from the diverse groups in Connecticut middle schools. [more]

HONOR ROLL SURVEY Several middle level schools responded to Silas Deane Middle School's request for information regarding middle school honor roll. Here are the results

EXEMPLARY TEAMING PRACTICES RECOGNITION The Professional Studies Committee of the Connecticut Association of Schools is accepting applications for "exemplary teaming practice" status. [more]

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS' WORKSHOP - ATTORNEY TOM MOONEY'S LEGAL UPDATE SAVE THE DATE - December 1, 2009 - 4:00 - 5:30 PM at CAS. Be sure to attend Attorney Tom Mooney's Legal Update for 09-10 which will include recent decisions on social networking, blogs, IM, Facebook, cell phones etc. [more]

CAS-CIAC H1N1 CONTINGENCY PLAN The CAS and CIAC Boards have approved the following contingency plan in relation to CAS-CIAC events: [more]

EXEMPLARY SCHOOL CLIMATE PRACTICES RECOGNITION The Professional Studies Committee of the Connecticut Association of Schools is accepting applications for "exemplary school climate practices" status. [more]

PRINCIPALS' CENTER PUBLISHES STUDY ON ADMINISTRATOR INDUCTION PROGRAMS The CT Principals' Center has just released a summary of research and promising practices on administrator induction programs. Click here to read the introduction to "Administrator Induction Programs: Summary of Research and Promising Practices." Or download the full report here.

CSAC APPROVAL LIST For an updated list of approved student activities click here to download

Middle Level Contacts
Earle G. Bidwell Asst. Executive Director	Janice Grecco Administrative Assistant

Committees

Raising a Spirit-ed Young Adolescent (and Your Spirits, too)

by Margaret Sagarese and Charlene C. Giannetti

Do you ever feel like a failure as a parent? Your easygoing daughter or good-natured son of yesteryear has morphed into a disrespectful rebel. He storms into his room every time you question him She cries every time you tell her no. You know that children are supposed to change as they grow, but now you worry. What lies ahead: the principal's office, the psychologist's couch, the drug treatment center, the hospital emergency room, or the county jail?

Today's parents push the panic button faster than any generation in history. They judge themselves failures, (and their adolescents as well) too quickly. Why? The world is a scarier place. Our expectations are higher than ever before. Neither parent nor child can measure up to the current popular standards. It's high time for a different measuring stick. [Click Here To Download The Complete Article].

Links

• New England League of Middle Schools
• National Middle School Association
• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
• Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE)
• Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE)
• Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS)
• Connecticut Education Association (CEA)
• CT Academy of Science and Engineering
• United States Department of Education
• National Center for Educational Statistics
• Educational Resource Information Center
• Operation Respect CT


• Higher Education Institutions in CT
  * Albertus Magnus College, New Haven
  * Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
  * Capital Community College, Hartford
  * Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
  * Charter Oak State College, New Britain
  * Connecticut College, New London
  * Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
  * Fairfield University, Fairfield
  * Gateway Community College, New Haven
  * Gibbs College, Norwalk
  * Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport
  * Manchester Community College
  * Middlesex Community College
  * Mitchell College, New London
  * Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury
  * Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted
  * Norwalk Community College
  * Post University, Waterbury
  * Quinnebaug Valley Community College, Danielson/Willimantic
  * Quinnipiac University, Hamden
  * Rensselaer University, Hartford
  * Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
  * St. Joseph College, West Hartford
  * Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
  * Three Rivers Community College, Norwich
  * Trinity College, Hartford
  * Tunxis Community College, Farmington
  * University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport
  * University of Connecticut, Storrs
  * University of Hartford, West Hartford
  * University of New Haven, New Haven
  * U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London
  * Wesleyan University, Middletown
  * Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
  * Yale University, New Haven

"WHAT IS A GOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL?"

A video production by the CAS Middle Level Professional Studies Committee, suitable for Student Orientations, Parent/Teacher Meetings, Board of Education Presentations and Open Houses is available now to member schools for $20 and non-member schools for $25 (plus $5 shipping).

The 16 minute video addresses:

• The early adolescent
• Standards and Achievements
• Expectations
• Cooperative Learning
• Interdisciplinary teaching and learning
• ...and much more.

To order send your name, shipping address and check or purchase order to CAS Middle School Video, 30 Realty Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410.

"YOUR MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL"
A Guide for Parents

A handout for Student Orientations, Parent/Teacher Meetings and Open House Presentations is available now to member schools for $15 per bundle of 50 and non-member schools for $20 per bundle of 50 (plus $5 shipping).

This 8-panel brochure answers many of the most common questions that parents ask about middle schools and early adolescent students. Direct and to the point, it is an inexpensive follow-up to your orientation programs, open house presentations or parent conferences.

To order send your name, shipping address and check or purchase order to CAS Middle School Parent Brochure, 30 Realty Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410.