Are you ready for Kindness Day on April 13?!

Hello friends! It's Elena here!! Can you believe it is already April?? But since it's a new month kindness day is just around the corner!! Here are this month's kindness suggestions!!

1. Volunteer - check your library or school, they are always in need of extra help 
2. Make a "just because" card for a friend 
3. Help a neighbor with their spring cleaning!!
4. Fill a box of your old toys and send them to a shelter in need 
5. Say "thank you for all you do" to 10 different people 
6. Stop and listen to a friend who wants to be heard 
7. Ask any teacher in your school if they need extra help 
8. If you see someone has made a mess, just clean it up
9. Get together a group of friends and make cards for your local police or fire department 
10. Try and make 10 people smile who seem like they are having a rough day!! 

Sharing my campaign for kindness with members of my local East Hartford Police Department and Fire Department at the 2016 Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade!

I hope you like my suggestions!! Please email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org and tell me all about which of these you did this month, or what other acts of kindness you're doing!! Talk to you soon - bye!! 

- Elena 

Watch CKG Elena's historic meeting with Gov. Malloy and Commissioner Wentzell!

A message from your friends at Connecticut's Old State House...

As you may have read in CKG Elena's "Meeting Governor Dannel Malloy!!" blog post, Elena had a special meeting with Gov. Dannel Malloy, Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell, and members of the O'Connell Elementary School Leadership Team on Friday, March 18.

Thanks to our friends at CT-N, the presentation and discussion around Elena's campaign for kindness are available for you to watch! Tune in HERE or click the "Play" button below.

Enjoy, and be sure to send your reactions and kindness ideas to Elena at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org!

Stay tuned for CKG Elena's April Kindness Day blog post later this week!

- Your friends at Connecticut's Old State House 

Meeting Governor Dannel Malloy!!

Hey guys it's Elena again. I have something really cool to tell you about. The Governor came to my school on Friday, March 18! It was really awesome and we got to talk a lot about kindness.

My selfie with Governor Malloy!

It started with me giving him a tour of my school. Governor Malloy was super nice. I then gave a PowerPoint about my platform of kindness. Governor Malloy said he liked our hands for kindness! The Leadership Team at my school presented with me and was super excited to meet him. 

Showing Governor Malloy and Commissioner Wentzell around O'Connell!

We asked him so many questions. First we asked him "Who inspired you?"  He said his mother had a huge impact on his life. We asked" Have you met the president?" and he said that yes, he had lunch with him a couple weeks ago!! 

Asking Governor Malloy questions about being Governor and his career. 

Another person who came to my school with him was the Commissioner of Education Mrs. Dianna Wentzell, she was really nice too. Shout out to Mrs. Wentzell's son who was excited she had come to O'Connell! She said she was excited about my platform and spreading the message of kindness. 

I got to meet Commissioner of Education  Wentzell and talk about my platform of kindness!

At the end of the day, Governor Malloy even signed autographs for us, and I signed one for him! 

Governor Malloy's autograph!

Governor Malloy's visit was on a few news stations Friday night. Check out the news story from WFSB HERE!

I had so much fun on Friday!

Don't forget guys kindness day for April is just around the corner. I will be having another blog post for kindness day soon - talk to you later! Bye!!

- Elena 

Get ready for Kindness Day this Sunday, March 13!

Hello guys! How kind have you been in the month of February?? This month I will give you 10 more ways you can be kind. I hope you do them!

1. Instead of spending your money on the newest video game or toy, donate the money to a charity.
2. Get together a box of your old toys and send them to an orphanage.
3. Every day make at least 5 people smile.
4. Do one thing around your house just out of the kindness of your heart.
5. Get some hot cocoa and cookies and give them to your local firehouse.
6. Write ten thank you cards to people who really help you out.
7. Just simply say thank you to some one who helps you out a lot.
8. Make your friend a small goodie bag and a thank you card for all they do for you.
9. Talk to someone new and tried to make a new friend.
10. Tell your family that you love them 10 times each day of one week. 

This month I have 2 shout outs. Thanks to the East Hartford Public Library for having me at their TED talk! And way to go to Jacqueline Langholtz from Monticello in Virginia - thanks for the email!! 

Speaking at the East Hartford Public Library. 

Me with East Hartford's Mayor Leclerc at the East Hartford Public Library. 

So guys remember to be extra kind this month and don't forget to email me at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org so Maybe you can get a shout out in my next blog post! Keep being awesome! Talk to you soon!

- Elena

CT's Kid Governor Inauguration Day 2016!

A message from your friends at Connecticut's Old State House...

What a busy, festive and super-fun day for attendees at the CT’s Kid Governor Inauguration Day Ceremony at Connecticut’s Old State House! On January 29th, CT Kid Governor-elect Elena Tipton was joined by the six other 5th grade CKG candidates, their classmates, and state and local officials for a truly unique and interactive event celebrating her Inauguration. More than 230 attendees watched on as Secretary of the State Denise Merrill delivered the official CT’s Kid Governor Oath of Office to Elena in the historic Courtroom. 

During a news conference which followed the Inauguration ceremony, all 7 CKG candidates had the opportunity to answer questions from their fellow 5th graders about their campaigns and platforms.

For the nearly 200 student attendees, the day was filled with post-Inauguration activities including: touring the historic Old State House, demonstrating their impressive knowledge about government through a Civics First “pop quiz”, and listening to CT State Rep. Henry Genga, Supreme Court Justice Dennis G. Eveleigh, and SOTS Denise Merrill talk about their jobs, about what inspired them to become involved in state government and about why it’s so important for people, both young and old, to take an active role in the life of their communities. Of course, these students already have experience doing that! They took the very important active role of electing from among their peers the first-ever CT’s Kid Governor – Elena Tipton! And they’re continuing to promote the platform Elena outlined in her campaign: to spread kindness throughout their communities.

Throughout the day, students joined Elena in her executive office at the Old State House to create colored-paper hand-shaped cutouts on which they suggested the many thoughtful ways anyone can show kindness. The hand-shaped cutouts will be strung together to create a colorful “garland” in Elena’s office for OSH visitors to view and contemplate, and perhaps even put into civic action themselves!

Every student in the state is invited to share thoughts on ways to show kindness by emailing Elena at CKGElena@kidgovernor.org, tweeting @CTKidGovernor, or posting to CTKidGovernor on Facebook.

Enjoy the following sample of photos from inauguration day! For more photos of the day’s events visit the CTKidGovernor’s Facebook page. You can also watch a recording of the Inauguration Day Ceremony and News Conference HERE, courtesy of our friends at CT-N. 

CT's Kid Governor Elena at her official desk at CT's Old State House!

All seven candidates from the 2015-2016 CT's Kid Governor Statewide Election.
L to R: Mackenzie, Lilly, CKG Elena, Hunter, Nathaniel, and William. 

Inauguration Day 2016 Ceremony. 

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill administers the CKG Oath of Office to CKG Elena, with her parents behind. 

Congratulating CKG Elena!

The seven candidates from the statewide election participating in the news conference. 

Gloria Gavris, author of E is for Election Day, donated a copy of her book for each of the candidates. 

Elena's friends from O'Connell Elementary School enjoying her new CT's Kid Governor Office!

Even the Governor needs some fun - Elena riding a replica of Mark Twain's bicycle in the History Is All Around Us exhibit at the Old State House. 

- Your friends at Connecticut's Old State House

February Kindness Day is this Saturday!

Hi friends! How have you been!! I cannot believe it is already February! The thirteenth is just around the corner! So get ready to be extremely kind!! This month I have several shout outs to give and ten suggestions.

First the shout-out for kindness to people who wrote me: Abbie Miller, Mrs. Robinson, Ms. Finch's class, Aniya and Dr. Grande. Now lets do the suggestions.

1. Help your parents with the groceries 
2. Give a friend a hug if they are feeling down 
3. Give 13 high fives 
4. Walk your neighbor's dog
5. Hold a door open for someone 
6. Help a friend with their homework 
7. Take the time out of your day to ask your friend how their day was
8. Let someone go in front of you in line
9. If your friend drops something pick it up for them 
10. Ask your principal or vice principal if he/she needs any help with anything at all

Last week was my Inauguration at Connecticut's Old State House, a special event at the East Hartford Town Council Meeting, and a visit to the Capitol for Opening Day of the General Assembly. 

More thank you shout outs to: Secretary of the State Merrill, Senator Larson, Representative Rojas, Representative Currey, Representative Genga, Mayor Leclerc and Supreme Court Justice Eveleigh who all took time and came to my Inauguration!

Thank you to Mayor LeClerc for your gifts at the town meeting and for funding the Kid Governor's Office!!! That was very kind! 

Shout out to Senator Larson and the State Senate who were kind enough to recognize me and give me a state flag on Opening Day! That was fun! Shout out to Lieutenant Governor Wyman who was very kind to me and showed me around the Capital. Last a shout out to Representative Rojas who was kind and let me sit in his seat and see Governor Malloy speak! 

More shout outs this week go to Ms. Fellenstein, Mr. Weaver's class, O'Connell Elementary School, and all the people from East Hartford and beyond who came to my Inauguration to support me! 

Thank you all and remember to keep being kind and be yourself!

- Elena

Help Connecticut's Old State House build a CT's Kid Governor Office and Civics Action Lab!

A message from your friends at Connecticut’s Old State House…

This November, hundreds of 5th graders participated in the election of the first ever Connecticut’s Kid Governor and elected Elena Tipton, who ran on a Campaign for Kindness platform. Now she needs an office and we need YOUR help in creating it!

We have the perfect place for Elena’s office: the space that served as the Governors’ Office for 58 years in the state’s venerable Old State House, one of Connecticut’s most historically-significant buildings. We want Elena’s office to double as a Civics Action Lab in our museum. Our initial goal is to raise $6,000, but the more donations we receive the more we can enhance the Lab.

The Civics Action Lab will engage kids and adult visitors alike with activities centered on civic engagement and Elena’s platform of kindness. The space will serve as an office for Connecticut’s Kid Governor, feature information about Elena’s Campaign for Kindness and provide an area where visitors can learn, explore and share ways to make a difference in their own communities.

With your helpful donation, you can bring the historic Governor’s Office at Connecticut’s Old State House to life and connect this space of civic leadership with contemporary examples of civic participation! Please visit our CT’s Kid Governor Office and Civics Action Lab fundraising page on Indiegogo at http://igg.me/at/ctkidgovernor to learn more and donate. The fundraiser closes on February 16 – please share or consider donating to help us reach our goal!

With much appreciation for your enthusiasm and support,

Your friends at Connecticut's Old State House