From the CTKG Cabinet: Clare discusses her Hobby Fair!

Hello everyone. I’m Clare Perreault, a member of the 2024 Kid Governor’s Cabinet. 

My platform focuses on kids finding hobbies that bring them happiness. One part of my three-point plan of action is for schools to hold Hobby Fairs for students to learn about different organizations that offer places for them to participate in activities that connect with their interests.


My school, Gainfield Elementary School in Southbury, recently had our first Hobby Fair. On Thursday, May 2nd, thirteen businesses made their way into the gymnasium of GES. It was a lively two hours of students learning about opportunities to explore their interests. It was filled with fun, laughter, and raffles!


I would like to give special thanks to my Mom and Dad, my school Media Specialist Mrs. Schwenger, Mr. Cofrancesco, Mr. Olamuyiwa, and all my family and friends. Big thanks to you all for helping me and believing in me as I made this dream of mine come true. I had so much fun! I would like to think everyone who attended did too! If you came, I would love to hear what you thought.


Now that you know a bit more about the Hobby Fair, what if I told you that there’s a way for you and your school to have one? Hobby Fairs are fun, open to the whole school, and best of all, free! Here’s all you need to do:

1. Talk to your school principal and teacher for permission and to come up with a date, time, and location for the Hobby Fair.
   
2.  Ask students what hobbies they enjoy or want to learn more about. 
3. Brainstorm local businesses and organizations that may want to participate.
4. Create an invitation and Google Form signup (we included a QR code on the invitation for people to easily access more information and the Google Form).    
5. Get businesses interested!   

• Email your invitation
• Call Businesses
• Drive around town and drop paper copies of invitations

6. Get official RSVP’s from businesses about a week before the Hobby Fair

7. Get your school interested! Distribute flyers, send emails, speak during the morning announcements, or post on your school’s social media account.

8. Determine a layout for your space, where each business is going to go, and what they may need.

9. The day of, set up tables, chairs, and anything else businesses or attendees may need.

10. HAPPY HOBBY FAIR!!!

After my school's Hobby Fair, I felt extremely proud and excited about what I had just done. I hope you give it a try at your school too!


You can email me at Clare@CT.KidGovernor.org telling me all about your experience!

Clare Perreault

2024 Kid Governor’s Cabinet

Gainfield Elementary School

Southbury

From the CTKG Cabinet: Max talks about Internet Safety

Hey there fellow fifth graders! My name is Max Parisi and I am a member of Kid Governor Cristiano’s Cabinet. 

Today, I want to talk about something super important: staying safe on the internet. You know, the internet is like this huge playground with tons of cool stuff, but just like in real life, there are some things we need to be careful about.

First things first, let's talk about passwords . Make sure your passwords are strong and unique. Mix it up with letters, numbers, and even symbols. And never ever share your password with anyone, not even your BFF!

Next up, let's chat about personal info. Remember, not everyone online is who they say they are. So, keep information like your full name, address, and school a secret. It's like playing hide and seek – you wouldn't want to be found too easily, right?

Oh, and speaking of chatting, be careful who you talk to online. Stick to chatting with people you know in real life like your classmates or family. If someone you don't know tries to talk to you, it's okay to just ignore them or tell an adult that you trust.

Now, let's talk about clicking. You know when you're exploring a new video game and you come across a shiny object that looks too good to be true? Well, sometimes those flashy ads or links are just like that shiny object – tempting, but they may not be safe. If something looks suspicious or weird, it's best to steer clear and keep on scrolling, just like you'd avoid picking up a strange item in a game that might make your character lose points!

And last but not least is cyberbullying. It's being mean to someone, but online. If someone says or does something mean to you online, don't keep it to yourself. Tell an adult you trust like your parents or a teacher. And remember, it's never okay to be mean to someone else online either.

So, there you have it, some simple tips to help you stay safe in cyberspace. Just like we look both ways before crossing the street, let's remember to think before we click! Together, we can make the internet a safer and happier place for everyone.

If you have any questions about Internet Safety or any part of my three point platform, you can reach me via email at Max@CT.KidGovernor.org.

Max Parisi

2024 Kid Governor's Cabinet 

East Haven Academy,

East Haven