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Norwich Public Schools wins CABE communication award; Big Brothers Big Sisters honored at school board meeting
Summary
The board recognized district communications with a CABE Bonnie B. Carney Award for the "What's Happening" calendar and heard a presentation from Big Brothers Big Sisters about expanding mentorship at Standish and other schools; the board gave multiple staff and student recognitions.
The Norwich Board of Education opened its meeting with several recognitions, including a presentation from Carol Burgess of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) and a profile of local mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Carol Burgess, CABE Area 9 Director, presented the Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communication to Norwich Public Schools for the district "What's Happening" calendar. Burgess outlined the award criteria — clarity of message, readability and editing, graphics and design, and value of expenditure — and congratulated district staff on combining school schedules, athletics and events into a single community calendar. "I am very happy to present Norwich Public Schools with the Award for Excellence in Educational Communication for the What's Happening Calendar," Burgess said.
Administrators also recognized teachers and volunteers: Britney Vasquez received a Key Is Me award and a $100 classroom award; Bailey Tracy was honored for behavior-support work; Danielle Drake was named Volunteer of the Month; and several students and staff were acknowledged for progress and contributions, including Latrell "LJ" Johnson, recognized as an inspiring success story who was accepted to Norwich Tech.
Later in the meeting, Acting Assistant Superintendent Jamie Bender introduced a Big Brothers Big Sisters presentation. Ryan Matthews, Chief Programs and Operations Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, described the organization's statewide programs and local partners, including General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Connecticut Foundation for Eastern Connecticut (CFECT). The organization highlighted a nearly 70% increase in children served at a local site and Foster Grandparent programming at Mahan and Huntington elementary schools.
A local mentor, Lauren Knapp, described her role as a Big Sister at Standish Elementary and said the site-based program lets volunteers "support them, to encourage them" in non-teaching, mentoring roles. District staff said the program relies on community partnerships and grant funding; the board welcomed continued expansion but noted funding is required to reach additional sites.
Why it matters: Community communications recognition highlights the district's work to keep families informed, while the mentoring presentation underscores local partnerships that provide one-to-one supports for students and connect volunteers with classrooms.
