Middle Level News & Announcements

ARTS IN THE MIDDLE CONFERENCE The annual middle level arts conference for middle school students and art teachers is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at the Hartford Art School on the campus of the University of Hartford. In its seventh year, the conference features a full lineup of workshops ranging from primitive art of the indigenous people of Australia to contemporary art using computer Photoshop. [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]

3RD ANNUAL DATA SHOWCASE REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 1 Register now for the 3rd Annual CT Data Showcase on May 13 & 14, 2008! Are you new to data? Already using data? Come! Learn! Grow! May 13th/Day 1 will focus on Culture & Climate with keynote speaker Jane Bluestein, Ph.D. May 14/Day 2 will focus on Leadership & Change with keynote speaker Brian McNulty, Ph.D. Differentiated Breakout Sessions and Facilitated Sharing Sessions! [more]

CANHS STATE CONFERENCE Registration is now open for the 10th Annual Connecticut Association of National Honor Societies State Conference to be held Friday, May 23, 2008 at the Hartford Marriott in Rocky Hill from 7:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. All members of National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are welcome. The Keynote Speaker will be Ted Sergi, President & CEO of the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. Registration deadline is April 30, 2008. [more]

RESPONSE TO SECONDARY REFORM PROPOSALS CAS, CAPSS and CABE have issued a joint response to the commissioner's proposal for secondary school reform which was adopted by the state board of education in December 2007. [more]

REGISTER NOW FOR PRINCIPALS' SUMMER INSTITUTE (JUNE 24 - 26, 2008) Registrations are now being accepted for the Annual Principals' Summer Institute, June 24-26, 2008 at the Heritage Inn, Southbury. The theme this year is "Change Leadership: Improving Instruction and Developing a Shared Vision of Good Teaching." For more information and to download a conference registration brochure, click here.

LET THE BREAKTHROUGH COACH HELP YOU GET INTO CLASSROOMS Despite those New Year's resolutions, are you continuing to work 60, 70 or more hours a week and still not getting into classrooms enough? Want to work less, play more, and still get the job of an instructional leader done in a reasonably normal week? Sounds like you're ready for The Breakthrough Coach (TBC) - and he's returning to CT for the seventh time on May 13 & 14, 2008. [more]

UNIFIED SPORTS BOWLING EXPANDS West Haven High has sponsored a Unified Sports Bowling day for the past two years. The popularity of this event has caused us to expand it to include middle schools in 2008. Woodlawn Bowling in West Haven has served as our venue and graciously donated the facility for this to happen. Jon Capone, Athletic Director at WHHS, serves as the facilitator for this event and arranges for the pizza for the teams. Any middle school coach who is interested in joining the fun, may contact Jon at (203) 937-4360 or jcapone@whschools.org for additional information. We hope to see the interest continue to grow!

MIDDLE LEVEL HONORS AND AWARDS Every middle school in Connecticut has its share of outstanding middle level teachers! Consider nominating one of yours for CAS Middle Level Teacher of the Year. [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]

NEW SERVICE ASSISTS SCHOOLS WITH ACCREDITATION PROCESS CAS has initiated plans for a new service to schools for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process. The CAS Board of Directors approved the project at its September meeting. [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.