Congratulations, Mrs. Fellenstein!

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

On April 13th, Mrs. Carol Fellenstein won the 2018 Excellence in Social Studies Education Award from the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies. The award highlights her passion for teaching through involving her students and school in historical inquiry, civic community engagement, and geographical expeditions. She is even working to create a brand new social studies curriculum for her district in East Hartford! Mrs. Fellenstein has been a participant and supporter of the Connecticut's Kid Governor program from the beginning. She was even our first Kid Governor's teacher. 2016 CTKG Elena had this message to share with her former fifth grade teacher, who she nicknamed "Frank."

Elena shares a tearful hug with her teacher, Mrs. Fellenstein in 2016 on the day when she was announced to be the first Connecticut's Kid Governor. 

Congratulations to my fifth grade teacher, Frank, for winning such an amazing award. If you don't know Mrs. Fellenstein then you are missing out. She is an amazing teacher who puts each and every one of her students in front of herself. She always makes sure that they walk out of the building with a smile on their face. She works hard to make sure that her students feel safe and loved. She works tirelessly everyday and deserves this award more than anybody I know!

Love you, Frank.

-Elena

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