My last Kindness Day post!

Hi friends! Happy Kindness Day!

Can you guys believe that it has been two years since I started my blog?! I am sad to say that this will be my last monthly blog post for a while. I have done two years and have decided that it is time for me to take a break. 

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support I have had throughout this wonderful experience! I especially want to thank Mr. Cofrancesco, Ms.Whipple, Ms.Fellenstein, my family especially my grandparents and my mom and dad, and all of the people who continuously read my blog over the past two years! 

To conclude my year as the Past Kid Governor, I participated in a panel discussion at the Connecticut Civic Ambassadors Summit on December 2nd. My mom was on the panel too! It was about parents and kids being civically engaged in their communities. You can watch the discussion below and HERE.

This month I want to share with you some of my favorite kindness suggestions! 

1. Go to your school library or your local library and see if they need any help or maybe make them a card. 
2. Smile to someone at school, you never know it may completely change their day around! 
3. Carry around positive cards with you that say things like smile today, or you are an inspiration to yourself and others. 
4. Make little anonymous cards to people about things that will make their day better 
5. See if there is a local food kitchen that you can go and help at! 
6. Maybe save a few dollars to buy a toy and donate it to a toy drive or a child in need. 
7. See if your teachers need any help after school or during school to lift some weight off of their shoulders! 
8. Try to make ten people smile today using only your smile or kind words 
9. Ask your friend how there day is going! 
10. If you see someone down, then ask them if they need anything or want someone to talk to, if they decline at least they know someone is there for them. 

The panelists from our discussion at the CIvic Ambassadors Summit!

My mom and me after our panel!

I hope you guys enjoyed my last monthly blog post! I just want to say a huge congrats to Megan our 2018 Kid Governor! I also want to give props to 2017 Kid Governor Jessica for all of the great things she has accomplished over the past year.

Talk to you soon and Happy Kindness Day!

- Elena 
CKGElena@kidgovernor.org

2018 Connecticut's Kid Governor-Elect Megan Kasperowski

On Tuesday, November 21, 5th Graders across Connecticut found out who will serve as the next Connecticut's Kid Governor. With 6,100 registered voters and seven candidates, students elected Megan Kasperowski of Portland to be the 2018 Connecticut's Kid Governor. Megan ran on a campaign to raise awareness about Cancer, saying Tuesday that she thinks it is a "huge issue in our community and that people are dying too often from this terrible disease. I want to help those suffering with cancer and make their days happier.”

Megan will be the third Connecticut's Kid Governor, succeeding Jessica Brocksom of Milford. Megan will be inaugurated in January at a ceremony at Connecticut's Old State House. 

You can check out the Connecticut's Kid Governor website for updates and more information about Megan's term.

Full coverage of the announcement of the 2018 Connecticut's Kid Governor.

Megan's campaign video about cancer awareness. 

Happy World Kindness Day and November Kindness Day!

Hi friends, it’s that time of the month again! Happy Kindness Day!

Here are 10 ways you can be kind this month:

1. Donate a canned food item to your local homeless shelter. 
2. Help a younger student with homework.
3. Save all the pennies you get and give them to someone in need.
4. Make someone feel like they belong by including them.
5. Tell someone "thank you" for all they do.
6. Tell a veteran "thank you" for all you do.
7. Pick up trash on the ground at school.
8. Make compliment cards to give to people you see in the halls at school.
9. Give yourself some time to think.
10. Give someone a smile and make them to feel welcome. 

Thanks for reading these kindness suggestions and let me know if you do any of them! How are you being kind to others? Email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org.

I hope you enjoyed this month's post. Talk to you next month!

- Elena

The Statewide Election for the 2018 Kid Governor is underway!

The 2017 Statewide Election for the 2018 Connecticut’s Kid Governor is underway!

After receiving a record-breaking number of nominees this year, seven students were selected to be this year’s Statewide Election Candidates. These students were nominated by the 5th graders in their schools and now it is YOUR turn to decide who will be the next Kid Governor!

Each candidate has created a campaign video outlining why he or she wants to be Connecticut’s Kid Governor; what leadership qualities he/she has; what community issue is important to him or her and way; and a three-point plan outlining ways for Connecticut’s 5th graders to make a difference around that issue.

We are pleased to announce that the candidates for the 2017 Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election are: 

A’aliyah: Bullying

Dillon: Bullying

Gwyn: Child Poverty

Liliana: Making the Elderly Feel Valued

Madison: Kindness

Megan: Cancer

Nathaniel: Eliminating Styrofoam Trays

You can watch the candidates’ campaign videos here.

Good luck to all of the Connecticut’s Kid Governor candidates! Polls close on Tuesday, November 14 at 5:00pm. Look for the announcement of the next Kid Governor soon!

Today is October Kindness Day!

Happy October Kindness Day!!! 

Can you believe it’s already October?? Lots of ya have been through one or more months of school! 

Here are ten kindness act suggestions!

1. Help someone bring their stroller down the steps.
2. Take some time over the weekend to create a card to send to children in the hospital.
3. Write a letter to someone serving in our military. 
4. Donate a bag of dog food to your local animal shelter or pound since it’s National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. 
5. Buy a candy bar for the person behind you in line!
6. Clean your siblings' rooms for them.
7. Create a card to tell your parents how much you love them.
8. Take some time in your day to think about the veterans who died to protect our country and you.
9. Help your little siblings with something they have always wanted to do.
10. Wake up a little early to make your mom or dad or whoever watches you a hot cup of their favorite drink! 

As always, I’d love to hear your kindness suggestions too!  Email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org. 

I hope you enjoyed this months post talk to you next month!

- Elena

Being Kind to Animals on September Kindness Day!

Hi friends, Happy Kindness Day!

This month I am talking about ways to be kind to animals! The 2017 Connecticut's Kid Governor Jessica Brocksom's platform is all about helping animals. So I want to help her get her point across. Earlier this month I visited Jessica's office at Connecticut's Old State House and looked at what people had said that they can do to help animals. I want to share my favorite ten of them with you!

Ta-Da! From the first CT Kid Governor to the next!

1. I can make an effort not to leave my pet at home for too long.- unnamed
2. I can make an effort to not leave my trash outside because I know it can hurt animals.- Grace
3. I can treat my pet like family. - Jayla
4. I can respect animals. - Daniel
5. I can make an effort to play with my animal everyday. - Ashie
6. I can do a can and bottle drive to raise money for animals. - Julia
7. I can treat animals that way I want to be treated. - Leah
8. I can learn about animals to keep them healthy. - Sarah
9. I can give my time at a local animal shelter. - Chelsey
10. I can put a container of water on the street on a hot day to help stray cats and dogs. -Camila

I hope you enjoyed this month's blog post!

I'd love to hear about ways that you're being kind to animals or what your kindness suggestions are! Email me at CKGElena@KidGovernor.org.

Talk to you next month!

-Elena

Back to School Tips for August Kindness Day!

Hello friends, it's Kindness Day again! This month since everyone is beginning to go back to school, here are some back to school inspired kind acts!

Give advice to younger students!  

1. Donate some school supplies to your school or a school in need
2. Give some advice to your previous grade level students 
3. Help out your previous teacher with setting up their room 
4. Bring in a box of tissues for the classroom on your first day of school 
5. Bring in some pencils for your class
6. Donate some books to your class 
7. Make a “get to know me” card for your new teacher explaining all of the reasons you are so excited that they’re your teacher 
8. Write little letters for your new classmates about something you are looking forward to doing this year 
9. Pick a new classmate and get to know them 
10. If you have a student new to your school in your class make them feel welcome! 

I hope you enjoyed my kindness suggestions this month! As always, I’d love to hear your kindness suggestions too!  Email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org. Talk to you next month!

- Elena

Kind people to look up to on July Kindness Day!

Hi friends, it's that time of the month again! Happy July 13th Kindness Day!

Once again, I'm changing things up just a little! This month, I am telling you about ten famous people who I feel we should look up to and live in the path they are living or lived!

   

1. Michelle Obama: This women makes everyone feel welcome in the USA. 
2. Ellen DeGeneres: She is constantly promoting kindness on her show and rewarding random acts of kindness. 
3. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: He wanted to make everyone equal in a kind and nonviolent way. 
4. Ed Sheeren: He is always contributing to charities. 
5. Taylor Swift: She also is vigorously contributing to charities. 
6. Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight: These very famous YouTubers are constantly doing random acts of kindness for their town, state and country. 
7. Ariana Grande: She, too, is constantly contributing to charity 
8. Tom Hanks: He is a kindhearted person who is always willing to do kind acts for anyone in need. 
9. Oprah Winfrey: Much like Ellen, she is always promoting random acts of kindness and also helps people herself. 
10. Adele: She is a very caring person who is caring towards others in the industry and all of her fans. 

   

While these celebrities may have made mistakes, as we all do, they are very kindhearted people! I hope you will look them up and learn about what they are doing or did to be kind!

Do you know of other celebrities who are doing kind things? Email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org to tell me!

I hope you all have an amazing Kindness Day and the rest of the month. Talk to you in August!

- Elena

Inspirational quotes for June Kindness Day!

Hello friends, it's Kindness Day again!

I feel like I have given a lot of suggestions for acts of kindness in the past year and a half, so this month I wanted to give ten quotes about kindness that I feel you should read on a day to day basis!

1. "If you're not kind, kindness will not come your way." 
2. "Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there's footprints on the moon."
3. "Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much."
4. "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
5. "Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns."
6. "You don't get harmony when everyone sings the same note."
7. "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's if you get up."
8. "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken."
9. "Wherever there is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness."
10. "What this world needs is a new kind of army- the army of the kind." 

If you need suggestions for acts of kindness this month, feel free to look at at previous month's blog post!

I hope you enjoyed reading and really soaking in this quotes! Talk to you next month and Happy Kindness Day!

- Elena

It's Time for May Kindness Day!!

Hello friends! It's another Kindness Day!! That means it's time to celebrate the good in people! If you know somebody who is awesome at being kind, email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org so we can recognize them for their kindness!!

Here are my 10 suggestions for acts of kindness on May 13!
1. Let someone go in front of you at the store!
2. Help someone with their homework!!
3. See if your teachers need help during lunch!!
4. Offer to carry someone's books to class!!
5. Ask "How are you doing?" to someone in the hallway!
6. At school, say "hi" to five students you don't know!
7. Help a family member clean their room!!
8. See if your neighbors need any help with outdoor work!!
9. Offer to help your parents garden!!
10. See if your parents need help with any yard work!

Writing a card for someone is another great way to show some kindness!

I have one shout out this month -- thank you to my grandmas for ALL of their acts of kindness!!

Happy Kindness Day!!

- Elena

Announcing the 2017-18 Connecticut's Kid Governor Kickoff Workshop!

A message from your friends at the Connecticut Public Affairs Network...

Join us for our first ever Kickoff Workshop as we officially launch Connecticut's Kid GovernorSM 2017-18! 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 

5:00pm-7:15pm

Central Connecticut State University

Social Sciences Hall, Rooms #123 and #126

1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050

REGISTER HERE by Friday, May 12, 2017.

Come join 5th grade teachers and administrators from across the state, State Social Studies Consultant Steve Armstrong, and the staff from Connecticut's Kid Governor (CKG) to learn more about the program!


The Kickoff Workshop will feature two tracks:

• Teachers and Administrators who are NEW to the CKG program: Get an introduction to the program; learn how your class can participate; and learn more about the program Toolkits and lesson plans. You'll also hear from Donna Stuart (CKG Jessica's teacher) about the Kid Governor program, and learn about other tools and resources to enhance your students' CKG experience! 
• Teachers and Administrators who are RETURNING to the CKG program: Participate in a recap and discussion of the 2016-2017 program; hear from teachers who created unique, collaborative, school-wide, and even district-wide CKG experiences this past year; and develop new ideas for expanding and enriching student participation in the 2017-18 program. Bring a local high school social studies teacher along if you'd like to learn about elementary/high school collaborations!

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING:

• Full overview and scope of CKG from the program's creators! (including tips and tricks for success) 
• Free printed copy of the "Toolkit for Classes Nominating a Candidate and Voting" (lesson plans) 
• Free autographed copy of "E is for Election Day" book by author Gloria Davis for the first 25 registrants 
• Insight into the Red, White & Blue Schools initiative (brought to you by the State Dept. of Education and Secretary of the State's Office 
• Pizza and refreshments provided 

If you are interested in participating in Connecticut's Kid Governor 2017-18, taking your class' participation to the next level, or simply learning more about the program, this workshop is for you!

REGISTER HERE!

Questions? Email Brian.Cofrancesco@kidgovernor.org or visit CT.KidGovernor.org. 

Connecticut’s Kid Governor is a national award-winning statewide civics program created by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network and made possible in part through support from the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and Connecticut State Department of Education.

It's Not a Prank, it's April Kindness Day!!

Hi friends!!! Can you believe it's already April?!!!!! I want to know what you all are doing to be kind so email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org!! 

This month two Buddy Benches were installed at Pleasant Valley School in South Windsor! Yay!! To read more about how Pleasant Valley supported my Campaign for Kindness by bringing Buddy Benches to their school, click HERE!

Here are my ten kindness suggestions for this month!!!

1. Give ten compliments in one day! 
2. Offer a free tutor session to a younger student!! 
3. Make a card for your teachers!! 
4. Write little letters and hide them around the house for someone to find!! 
5. Hold the door open for people!! 
6. Help someone carry their backpack! 
7. Create a list of ten compliments and see how many times you can repeat the list! 
8. Help your mom or dad do chores around the house!! 
9. Write a list of all the amazing things about someone and give it to them!! 
10. Make a special treat for your family and friends. 

Helping younger students during my Summer Library Circuit visit to the New Haven Free Public Library!

Those are my ten suggestions for April! I'll talk to you again next month!! 

Happy Kindness Day!!

- Elena 

What did you do for March Kindness Day??

Hi friends!!! Can you believe it's already March??!!! What did you do to be kind on Kindness Day, March 13??

Here are my ten suggestions for ways you can be kind the rest of this month!

1. Help your teacher after school 
2. Help someone who is shy come out of their bubble
3. Take a few minutes to send postcards to children who are sick in the hospital
4. See if your library needs any help 
5. Donate some of your old books to those in need
6. Let someone know they mean a lot to you and that they are amazing!
7. Try saying twenty compliments in one day 
8. Create cards for your teachers 
9. Create a holiday for someone you love 
10. Help a friend with their homework!!                                 

Selfie with United States Teacher of the Year Ms. Hayes (from Waterbury) and CT Council for the Social Studies President Mr. Bosso (from Berlin) in October. Teachers rock, be kind to your teachers this month!


I have one shout-out this month and it's for Aniya!! Great job being kind by helping your middle school teacher after school and helping with the girls basketball team!!

How are you being kind to others? Do you have a suggestion for my April list of suggestions? Email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org to tell me!

Be kind this March! Talk to you next month!!

- Elena

It's February Kindness Day!

Hello friends, it's Kindness Day once again!! Who's exited?! Also, this is my birthday month, yay!!

So I have ten suggestions this month!!

1. Give a homemade Valentine to someone who really needs it!! 
2. Give your parents an extra special homemade coupon book!! 
3. Shovel the driveway. 
4. Get the mail!! 
5. Help a friend in need. 
6. Make a homemade Valentine for your librarian!! 
7. Offer your apple to someone who needs it at lunch!! 
8. Buy someone a special treat!
9. Donate some of your old clothes to a homeless shelter!! 
10. Let your teacher know how much they mean to you. 

No shout outs this month, but just because there is a new Connecticut’s Kid Governor does not mean you can't email me anymore, so next month let’s get five shout outs!! Email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org!! 

Happy Kindness Day!!

- Elena

The first Kindness Day of 2017!

Hi friends, it's Elena. Can you believe it’s already the first Kindness Day of 2017?! January 13th is tomorrow! Don’t forget to email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org about what you have done this month to be kind. This month, I made cards for the lunch ladies, security guards, and the custodians at my school with the help of my friend Zora. Thanks Zora!! 

So here are the ten suggestions!

1. Make you lunch ladies cards 
2. Write someone a secret letter everyday!
3. Hold a door open for someone
4. Give a friendly smile everyday 
5. Make a New Year's resolution focused on kindness
6. Tell someone they're doing great if they're struggling!
7. Create a list of kind things you will do in January 
8. Help someone who is struggling with their work 
9. Tutor someone or free 
10. Help your parents around the house 

In December, I officially met my successor, 2017 Connecticut's Kid Governor Jessica Brocksom! We had a transition meeting at the Old State House where she and I had the chance to talk about my year and her upcoming term, our families talked about the Kid Governor experience, and our teachers met and talked. It was a fun meeting and I gave Jessica a tour of the Old State House!

Jessica and I with George Washington in the Senate!

Jessica and I fighting for the CKG sash! (joking, of course!) 

Jessica and I also made our first appearance together at the Electoral College meeting at the Capitol on December 19! We toured the Capitol, and then led the Pledge of Allegiance in the Senate Chamber. We then watched as Connecticut's electors cast their official votes for President and Vice President of the United States!

Jessica and me with Secretary of the State Merrill and Connecticut's electors

Jessica and me in the Senate just after the Electoral College meeting!

One more thing I want to say congrats to the 7 final candidates in this past year's Statewide Election for Connecticut's Kid Governor! You all had winning campaign platforms and I hope you will carry them out whether or not you won! 

Talk to you next month!

- Elena