Meeting of Awesomeness

Hello 5th Graders!

Last weekend I was at the Old State House in Hartford for ANOTHER Cabinet meeting! It was so much fun! I learned so much about my Cabinet and even got to meet one of the members in person. Let me tell you all about it. 

On Saturday, I went to the Old State House to have my second Cabinet meeting and to record a speech for an upcoming event for adults and high school students. I went with my mom and arrived around 11:30am. I had written a speech and Mr. C (the person in charge of the Kid Governor program) helped edit it. I went up into the green screen room (or as I like to call it, the "Seeeecret Roooooom" as I wave my hands around) and recorded the speech. This speech was for an event called the Civic Ambassadors Summit. Civic Ambassadors are people that try and spend at least one hour per week empowering others and making a difference in their communities. This program is run by Everyday Democracy and Secretary of the State Merrill (she was the one to swear me and my Cabinet in on Inauguration Day). My speech was all about how it is important to help out in your community because it makes the world a better place.

Once I was done recording my speech, it was time to meet one of my Cabinet members. The member of my Cabinet I got to meet was (drumroll please!): Sameer! Sameer came to the Old State House to attend the Cabinet meeting from one of the offices in the building. Keep in mind that we were social distancing and wearing masks when we met. Soon I went back up to the "Seeeecret Room" and started the meeting. 

We started the meeting by doing a fun ice breaker. I had come up with three questions and we went around in a circle and shared our answers. The three questions were: 

1. Who is your favorite music artist or type of music?

2. What is the best place you've ever been?

3. What is something about yourself that you want us to know?

For the last question, Sameer said that something he wanted us to know about himself was that he moved to America from Afghanistan two years ago. Houda said that something about her that she wanted us to know was that she has a twin sister! It was so cool to learn about my Cabinet members because their fun facts were so cool!

After that, we did a quick group activity before we got into the meeting. It was a game that Mr. Orcutt and Ms. Gorski (two staff members at the Connecticut Democracy Center) had come up with. Have you ever heard of Mute-iny? That's what we played! Mute-iny is a game you play where somebody get a funny secret sentence and has to say it on mute (if you're on a video call) or silently so no one can hear. The other players have to guess the sentence by reading their lips! One of the sentences was "Pink flamingos eat potatoes" and it made me laugh so hard! My sentence was "Cereal is cold breakfast soup". The only word that they could figure out was cold. I seriously couldn't stop laughing!

Next, we did updates on our platforms, went over a few things, and then we had a special guest: Ms. Irene Parisi, the Chief Academic Officer for the State Department of Education. My Cabinet and I have an upcoming event at the end of the month where we get to tell superintendents about our platforms! Ms. Parisi was telling us about the event and answering our questions. 

Finally the meeting was over and I went back downstairs. Mr. C wanted me to show Sameer the Kid Governor's office and he even let me show him the Museum of Curiosities. If you're not sure what that is, it is a museum of weird, dead animals and is similar to one that was there before the Old State House was a museum-- it was started in 1798! There are a bunch of creepy bugs, fish, and a two-headed cow, and a two-headed pig in there. I think Sameer was a little surprised by the Museum of Curiosities but I'm obsessed with creepy stuff. Finally, that was the end of my day at the Old State House and I went home. 

Now it's time for the fun fact of the week! I have two sisters, Madison and Mckena. Madison will be graduating from college in May and McKenna is a Sophomore in college. 

Make sure to check out Cora's blog post about Earth Day! 

Stay Positive! :)

From the CTKG Cabinet: Meet Myalee!

Hi, my name is Myalee and I am a member of the CTKG Cabinet!

My platform is Stopping Racism. I hope to accomplish my platform by:

1. Talking to government officials about how they can help.

2. Spreading the word on racism through social media.

3. Creating presentations for elementary school students to spread awareness of different cultures

Recently I have been sketching ideas for posters, talking to friends and family about anti-racism, and telling people around me to spread awareness. 

I think that racism is a problem in Connecticut and I want to fix it. I believe that nobody deserves to be discriminated against because of their differences. If you wish to support my platform, you can help by:

1. Spreading awareness on social media about anti-racism.

2. Telling friends and family about ways they can be anti-racist.

3. Make a poster.

Please remember that racism is everywhere and we can stop it! If we work together, racism can come to an end and we won't have to worry anymore! We are all in this together to work and stop racism for good. Join me because racism is a problem that I can't fix alone. Your support would mean a lot during this difficult time. 

Join me to end racism!

- Myalee Maxwell

Kid Governor's Cabinet

CREC Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School

Glastonbury/New Britain, CT

From the CTKG Cabinet: 22 for the Earth and You

Hi, my name is Cora Aitkenhead! 

I am a fifth grader at Meadowside Elementary School in Milford and a member of the 2021 Connecticut Kid Governor Cabinet. My platform is on Climate Change and Environmental Issues, which many people talk about in April because of Earth Day on April 22. Earth Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love it because of the activities you get to do to celebrate. I wanted to share five of my favorite activities with you so you can celebrate too-- this month and any month!

1. Plant a Seed or Grow a Plant

Plant a Seed - I like when we used to make seed cups out of old newspapers. You have a wooden mold and you take newspaper and wrap it around the mold to make a cup. Then you put soil and seed in it. People can put the cup on their windowsill, water it, and watch it grow every week. 

Grow a Plant - My teacher, Ms. Mezzoni, had a huge Zebrina plant that her friend gave her and she broke off a little piece for everyone in our class. We watered them every week and to see how they grow. Some plants have gotten really big. Mine is starting to grow big and starting to get the vines and stems that hang off. It started light purple and green and now its getting dark purple with green stripes. 

2. Get Outside or Visit a Nature Center Near You

Some of my favorite Earth Day memories are going to EarthPlace, a nature learning center in Westport, CT. At their big events, you could see all of the animals they were helping. Inside, I liked to see the Chinchillas. Outside, I liked to visit the Eagles. They also had trails so you could be outside to celebrate Earth Day. Sometimes on the trails, you would see wild bunnies. I really loved the tree themed playground inside where you could learn about snakes and look at bugs and plants through the microscopes they had. 

3. Share Your Green Knowledge

When I was little, we lived on a farm and used to celebrate Green Day, a town holiday that my dad helped create for Westport, CT, where we used to live. I remember he used to always wear his farmer overalls, his green hat, and his white shirt. We used to bring some chickens and plants and tell people about our animals and gardens. Another thing we did at our farm to get people inspired about spring is to create a Maypole to get people outside and having fun together. Sharing what you know helps to get other people inspired and excited to help. 

4. Celebrate the Earth by Reading

To celebrate Earth Day with my class, I am making a video to share with my school and reading How to Help the Earth by the Lorax. I chose that book when my brother found it at a store. I though it would be good to share because The Lorax is my favorite book and has been since I was little. Dr. Seuss is my favorite author and the book has a good message: you should care about the Earth and save what builds the future. 

Our class also heard a story about an old man who planted a seed and the King said to him, "Why would it matter that you plant this seed since you will not live to see it grow?"  But it did matter because what you build in the environment now could help generations to come. Planting a tree may not always help YOU get oxygen but it will help future generations. This is how you build a better world. 

5. Learn More: 22 for the Earth and You

The 22nd of April is Earth Day. Instead of learning about the Earth only ONE day a year, you can learn about a new way to save the Earth every month on the 22nd. If each month you learn a new way to help, by the end of the year you can do many things to help your community and you can educate others on how they can help the Earth, too. If we all work together, it will make more of a difference. Some ideas for celebrating the 22nd of each month are to practice: recycling, composting, reducing water use, reducing pollution and waste, saving electricity, planting a garden, and more. 

Together, we can do BIG things!

Thanks for reading!

- Cora Aitkenhead

Kid Governor's Cabinet

Meadowside Elementary School

Milford, CT

Up Next: A Virtual Talent Show!

 Hello 5th Graders!

This week, I started organizing something special for my school and my local nursing home with my principal. I can't wait to tell you about it!

Last week, I sat down with my teacher, Mrs. Chavez, and we looked at a list of future fun events to make nursing home residents happy. I made this list after sitting down with a nursing home representative. Two months ago, I did a drive-by car parade with three 5th grade classes at my school (you can read about it it HERE) to brighten the residents' lives and make them smile. This time we looked at the list and chose (can I have a drum role please?): a virtual talent show! A virtual talent show is when kids can make a short video of themselves doing an act such as singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, or doing a fun routine with a family member. 

After picking this idea, I made a meeting with my principal, Mrs. Rogala, and discussed it with her. She said that she loved the idea and that after we send it to the nursing home, we could have a special viewing of it at school so we don't miss the annual school talent show. Last year we missed it because of quarantine but this year the 5th graders will be able to participate in their last elementary talent show since we're making it safe! After I met with my principal, she told me to work on a flyer and a permission slip that parents can sign to let their student participate. 

Then, this week, I met with her again. She said she loved the flyer and that I just had to add a few more things. This week I am currently on April Break so the flyers and permission slips will be going home the day that we come back to school. I am so excited to see my school's acts and I'm looking forward to editing them all together for the nursing home residents.

This is something that I am super excited to share with you because you can do something like this in your own school for nursing home residents in your community! It is a great way to make the elderly in your town smile!

Now it is time for the fun fact of this week. Are you ready? I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. A few years ago, I was able to tour the Harry Potter set in London and see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a play set after the original seven books. 

I hope you have a great week!

Stay Positive! :)

Virtual Elementary Celebration of the Arts Banquet

 Hello 5th graders!

This week, I'm going to tell you about an event some of your possibly attended! On Tuesday night, I attended the Elementary Celebration of the Arts event hosted by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS). 

When I first hopped on the event, I thought it would be a regular Zoom call but it ended up that all of our cameras and mics were turned off so it was just a presentation. When it started, a lady named Dr. Vojtek started speaking. She was the one who organized the Celebration of the Arts events. She said that when she was in school, some of her favorite things to do were to draw. She said that she wants kids to keep having fun with the arts which is why CAS has the Celebration of the Arts event. This was the 22nd annual event!

You can view my remarks during the banquet starting at 25:37.

I got to attend this event because I pre-recorded a speech that was featured in the program. I talked about the steps of my platform and how student artists can use their artistic abilities to support my platform (like creating a poster for my upcoming poster contest!). My favorite part of being featured was that when Dr. Vojtek introduced me, she talked about my pets Walter, Stanley, and Lucy!

There were two speakers at this event that really stood out to me. One was a 17-year old actress named Alexis who has been in several movies and plays. Her story stood out to me because it made me realize that anyone's dream can come true if they just try. 

The other speaker who stood out to me was an artist named Rob Surrette. He is an artist that painted at least three of the paintings in my school. These paintings are of Martin Luther King Jr and Albert Einstein. He stood out to me because I was blown away when he painted Martin Luther King UPSIDEDOWN IN 5 MINUTES. I was just impressed by watching this event. 

Now, it's time for the Fun Fact of the Week! I LOVE to read! Any chance I get to read, I do. I'm reading the book series Wings of Fire right now. 

Thank you for reading my blog post this week!

Stay Positive! :)

Fun with my Cabinet

Hello 5th graders!

Last weekend I had my very first Cabinet meeting! It was SO much fun! Anyway, let me tell you all about it.

Last Saturday, I went to the Old State House to film a speech for a virtual event happening this week. I filmed my speech in the green screen studio on the highest level of the building. After that, I stayed in the room and started my Cabinet meeting. 

Not all of my Cabinet could make it to the meeting but I was able to speak with Claire, Cora, Nathan, and Sameer. We started off by doing a fun ice breaker. I got to come up with three questions for everyone to answer. We went into virtual break out rooms to talk about the questions with a partner. Then, we went back to the main Zoom call and each of us introduced one of the other Cabinet members. The three questions we had to answer were:

1. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

2. What is something or someone that kept you happy during quarantine?

3. What is your favorite hobby?

I was in a breakout room with Cora. I learned that her favorite hobby is soccer; someone who kept her happy in quarantine were her cousins; and her favorite thing to do in the summer is swim in her pool. 

After that, Mr. Orcutt and Ms. Gorski, two people who help run the Kid Governor program, did another fun activity with us! Have you ever played a game called Pictionary at home? Well, we played Pictionary on zoom! Mr. Orcutt found a way to have us draw on his shared screen and then Ms. Gorski would privately messages one of us a secret word to draw. The words were all Connecticut themed. Do you know what word I got? The song Yankee Doodle!! How on earth did I draw that, you ask. Well, lets say nobody was able to guess it so...

Then, my Cabinet and I actually got to work as we went around and shared the progress on our platforms. Cora said that on the 22nd of every month in her school she does something to educate her classmates about recycling. Last month she made a video and this month she is sending home a flyer about recycling. I also shared what I have done so far with my platform. 

After a few more activities, my first Cabinet meeting ended. It was so much fun and I'm looking forward to next month's meeting!

Speaking of my platform, I want to thank all of the classes who have submitted positive messages to the virtual community crate so far! I have loved to see all of the messages and mask designs that students have made and I can't wait to see more of them! Fun fact, in the first week we received almost 70 submissions! You and your class can still submit your own messages. Click HERE to learn more about how to participate. 

Now, it's time for the fun fact of the week! Here it is: I enjoy spending summer vacation with my family. My favorite place that we've traveled is an island called Grand Cayman in the Caribbean.

Stay Positive! :)