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 9th.

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Public Act (P.A.) 16-147, An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, included a provision that removed truancy and defiance of school rules as reasons for Family with Service Needs (FWSN) referrals to juvenile court. In light of this provision, which became effective on August 15, 2017, an alternative intervention, such as a formal referral to a Youth Service Bureau (YSB), may be necessary if collaboration with a parent/guardian has not resulted in improved outcomes for a truant/defiant student. To assist districts in developing a system to formally refer students who are truant to the community's YSB, the Connecticut State Department of Education has developed a Youth Service Bureau Referral for Truancy and Defiance of School Rules Form. This form is intended for districts to use to make referrals to YSBs in lieu of the previous FWSN referral form. The CSDE also developed a Youth Service Bureau Referral Guide designed to be used as a side-by-side resource to assist in completing the YSB referral form.

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CAS invites student leaders, along with their advisors, to attend the High School Student Leadership Un-Conference. Originally scheduled for March 2-3, the event was postponed due to weather and will now take place on April 27-28. This is not a traditional leadership conference! This is advanced training for established and emerging leaders featuring inspirational author, speaker and youth mover, Brandon Lee White. Born unable to speak, Brandon shares his odyssey from outcast to school president and how leadership and personal ownership made it possible. Register your students now – deadline is April 23rd.

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Meet the 2018 Connecticut Kid Governor® (CTKG), Megan Kasperowski from Brownstone Intermediate School in Portland! Megan was inaugurated as the state’s third Kid Governor in January. In Episode 9 of CASconversations, Megan opens up to CAS President Dr. Rosie Vojtek about the campaign process, her election victory and her plans for affecting change during her upcoming term. Dr. Vojtek also engages with CTKG program head, Brian Cofrancesco, and Brownstone principal, Allison Hine. Learn how easy it is to bring the CTKG program to your school or district so your students can share in this rich, authentic educational experience!

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While Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria are long past, the destruction left in their wake is still very present. Impacted communities are still in desperate need of resources to help them recover and rebuild. CAS-CIAC will be collecting hurricane relief donations at the hoops finals at Mohegan Sun this weekend. All contributions will be matched dollar for dollar by Brother’s Brother Foundation. If you are heading to the Sun for the championships, please consider donating!

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Norwich Free Academy has been selected as the winner of the 2017-18 CAS-CIAC Battle of the Fans contest! Members of the NFA student section will be honored with a plaque and recognition during one of the state championship b-ball games at Mohegan Sun this weekend. Click here to see what makes NFA’s student fans so special and to view their winning video submission.

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The State Student Advisory Council on Education (SSACE), composed of eighteen high school student members who meet monthly under the direction of the state department of education, has launched a new initiative called “CT SEES.” SSACE encourages all high schools to choose a week in April to engage in a series of kindness and inclusivity activities associated with improving school safety. High schools are urged to join this vital awareness campaign!

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The Connecticut Science Center invites teams to participate in the NGSS District Transition Planning Workshop on March 26, 2018. This full-day professional learning event will provide awareness of specific considerations of transitioning to the Next Generation Science Standards along with an adaptable framework that can be used for long-term roll-out of efforts around any set of standards. The workshop is designed for vertical teams of about six people, including district decision-makers (required), principals, science leaders, teachers, etc.

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The University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education invites you to participate in its second annual special education summit 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.

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The Fairfield Warde High School Achievement Gap Task Force and the SCSU Graduate Department of Educational Leadership are sponsoring their second annual Identity and Education Conference on March 29th. This student-driven conference, which will be held at SCSU, focuses on elevating the voices of students to promote equity in schools. Students and educators are encouraged to attend!

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The deadline for the 2018 CHET Dream Big! Competition, a statewide drawing and essay contest for Connecticut students K-8, is approaching. Forty-eight students will receive CHET college savings account contributions of up to $1,000 and the school with the highest percentage of student participation in each county will receive $500! For more details, go to www.chetdreambig.com. Entries are due on Friday, March 30.

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In collaboration with the CT Department of Children and Families and CT State Department of Education, the Trafficking in Persons Council is introducing a state-wide poster contest for CT students aged 11-17. The winning posters will be used in various establishments across the state including nail salons, hotels, motels, massage parlors, and other leading destinations for trafficking to occur. This is a great way for the youth in our state to show their artistic talent while becoming educated on one of the most massive human injustices to have faced our world. The deadline for submissions is April 12, 2018.

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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. CT high school seniors 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. First prize is a scholarship for $1,500; second prize is for $1,000; and third prize is for $500. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2018.

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