The Connecticut State Student Advisory Council on Education (SSACE) is now accepting submissions from middle and high schools for the statewide Challenge to Educational Citizenship Awards. The recipients of these awards embody the spirit of citizenship, commitment to serving others and altruism. Any student-organized activity that demonstrates intrinsic kindness is eligible for consideration. If you have a program or activity in your school that exemplifies civic awareness, cooperation, and boundless potential for community impact, please consider submitting a nomination.

A friendly reminder that the deadline for nominations for three of our most high-profile awards is this Friday, March 1st. We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to celebrate your schools and the individuals who make them great. Click on the links below for more information.

• School of the Year Award
• Exemplary Educator of the Year Award
• William Cieslukowski Outstanding First Year Principal Award

In conjunction with National Administrative Professionals Week, CAS will host the 2019 Conference for School Secretaries and Administrative Assistants on Friday, April 26th, at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville. This day-long program is designed to support the daily work of school secretaries and administrative assistants and spotlight their important role in the success of our schools. Click here for conference details.

Additionally, the CAS Administrative Assistant of the Year Award will be presented at the conference. This annual award recognizes a high-performing school office assistant who demonstrates excellent leadership, ongoing commitment to staff and students, and meaningful contributions to the overall school experience. We are now accepting nominations!

The Connecticut State Department of Education has published a position statement on reducing disproportionality in suspensions and expulsions in the state. The position statement, which was adopted by the state board of education on February 6, contains evidenced-based approaches and guidelines that will help districts maintain a safe learning environment without relying on the use of long-established exclusionary disciplinary practices.

The CAS Middle Level Scholar Leader Banquet is scheduled for Monday, June 3, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville. Now in its 35th year, this event is designed to give recognition to two students from each Connecticut middle school who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and leadership in their school and community. An important change in the criteria for the award was put in place last year. While, historically, schools were required to select one girl and one boy for recognition, they can now choose two students of the same gender. Register now! 

There is still time to register for the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) 38th Annual Conference at the R.I. Convention Center in beautiful Providence. This year’s event, coming up on March 21 and 22, is jam packed with more than 90 concurrent sessions, two outstanding keynoters - Monica Genta and Carla Tantillo-Philibert - and the opportunity to share and learn from your middle level colleagues from across New England.

The Connecticut AFL-CIO Health and Safety Committee is offering a scholarship essay contest to inspire high school seniors to think about the importance of workplace health and safety. Grade twelve students are invited to write on one of three topics/questions, each of which is designed to promote awareness of the true cost of workplace hazards on the lives of workers. Scholarships will be awarded to the top three essayists and the deadline for entries is April 1st.