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