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CT Art Teacher Dies Unexpectedly, Middle School Says CT Art Teacher Dies Unexpectedly, Middle School Says
CT Art Teacher Dies Unexpectedly, Middle School Says A Connecticut middle school art teacher died unexpectedly over the weekend, school authorities announced to the community.  Saxe Middle School Teacher Alyssa Iwanski died this weekend, Bryan D. Luizzi, Superintendent of New Canaan Public Schools said in an email to parents on Sunday, Jan. 12.  He did not disclose when or how Iwarnski died. It's unclear how long she worked at the New Canaan middle school.  It is with deep sadness that I share the unexpected passing of one of our teachers, Saxe Art Teacher Alyssa Iwanski, over the weekend. We do not have additio…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Live Powerline Falls On School Bus With Dozen Kids, Driver Trapped Inside: Report Live Powerline Falls On School Bus With Dozen Kids, Driver Trapped Inside: Report
Live Powerline Falls On School Bus With Dozen Kids, Driver Trapped Inside: Report More than a dozen students were trapped beneath a fallen powerline in Haddam on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 11, NBC Connecticut reported.  Haddam firefighters were at the Maple Avenue scene and were working to get the children and driver out safely, the station reported. Calls to Haddam firefighters were not immediately returned.  Heavy rains and strong winds downed the live line.  Workers for Eversource, who manage the electrical grid, were on scene and planned to shut off the power so the kids can be evacuated, NBC said.  No injuries have been reported as of 5:30 p…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
CT Schools Dismissing Early Due To Extreme Weather Conditions CT Schools Dismissing Early Due To Extreme Weather Conditions
CT Schools Dismissing Early Due To Extreme Weather Conditions Schools across Connecticut have announced early dismissals on Wednesday, Dec. 11 due to a storm that is expected to bring up to 60 mph winds and coastal flooding to parts of the state. The following districts are dismissing early: Bolton Public Schools Colchester Public Schools East Hampton Public Schools Groton Public Schools Marianapolis Prep. School (Thompson, CT) Montville Public Schools Preston Public Schools Stonington Public Schools Did we miss one? Email [email protected] The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for southeast Connecticut, with south winds r…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Ex-Educator Sent 'Inappropriate' Texts To CT Middle School Student: Police Ex-Educator Sent 'Inappropriate' Texts To CT Middle School Student: Police
Ex-Educator Sent 'Inappropriate' Texts To CT Middle School Student: Police A former Connecticut middle school employee faces a felony charge after police say she exchanged inappropriate text messages with a student, authorities said.  Tamara Johnson, 37, turned herself over to the Meriden Police Department on Thursday, Nov. 21, following an investigation that began in late October. The police's Special Crimes Unit launched the probe after receiving a report about the alleged messages. Johnson, a former climate specialist at Lincoln Middle School in Meriden, was arrested after police conducted multiple interviews and forensic analysis of cell phones, Meri…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Student Brought BB Gun To Enfield High School, Causing Lockdown, Early Dismissal: Police Student Brought BB Gun To Enfield High School, Causing Lockdown, Early Dismissal: Police
Student Brought BB Gun To Enfield High School, Causing Lockdown, Early Dismissal: Police A Connecticut high school was put on lockdown and students were sent home early after a teenager brought what appeared to be a pistol and showed it off in a bathroom, authorities said.  Martin Williams, 18, of Enfield, was charged with including carrying a dangerous weapon, possessing a weapon on school grounds, first-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree breach of peace, Enfield Police said.  Related: 8 CT Elementary School Students Hospitalized After Bus Crash Students at Enfield High School told the school's resource officer around 10:30 a.m…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
'Our Students Deserve Better': CT Education Group Calls Out McMahon Nomination 'Our Students Deserve Better': CT Education Group Calls Out McMahon Nomination
'Our Students Deserve Better': CT Education Group Calls Out McMahon Nomination The Connecticut Education Association says President-elect Donald Trump's choice to run the Department of Education is a threat to vulnerable students and local school districts.  Trump announced Tuesday, Nov. 19, that Connecticut's Linda McMahon, co-founder and former CEO of WWE, chairwoman of a Trump super PAC and think tank, and co-chair of his transition team, would head the department in his new administration. She also served as his administrator of the Small Business Administrator from 2017 through 2019 during his first term.  "The nomination of billionaire Linda McMah…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
School Goes On Lockdown After Student Brings Fake Gun; 2 Arrested: Police School Goes On Lockdown After Student Brings Fake Gun; 2 Arrested: Police
School Goes On Lockdown After Student Brings Fake Gun; 2 Arrested: Police Two Connecticut high school students were arrested after one brought an airsoft pistol to class forcing administrators to go into lockdown, authorities said.  Police swarmed West Have High School on Friday, Nov. 15, just after 10 a.m. after a student reported seeing another student handle what they believed to be a handgun, authorities said.  The gun was not real, but airsoft weapons are designed to look like the real thing.  The student who brought the airsoft weapon left the school before officers arrived, but they found him nearby with the gun soon after, West Haven …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In Manchester School Bathroom Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In Manchester School Bathroom
Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In Manchester School Bathroom Students at a Connecticut high school were sent home early on Friday, Nov. 15, after police found fentanyl on the bathroom floor, authorities said.  The school resource officer at Howell Cheney Technical High School in Manchester noticed a suspicious powdery substance in one of the bathrooms just after 10:30 a.m., Connecticut State Police said. A field test showed it was fentanyl.  Cheney Tech students, teachers, and faculty were dismissed early so the powerful and potentially dead drug could be cleaned and safely removed.  “There have been no reported incidents of exposure …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
CT Teacher Resigns After Video Of Her Threatening Trump Voters Goes Viral CT Teacher Resigns After Video Of Her Threatening Trump Voters Goes Viral
CT Teacher Resigns After Video Of Her Threatening Trump Voters Goes Viral A Connecticut school teacher who was put on leave after a video surfaced of her delivering an angry message directed at President-elect Donald Trump and his voters has resigned, officials said. Annie Dunleavy, a special education teacher for the Cheshire School District, submitted her immediate resignation from Chapman Elementary on Wednesday, Nov. 13, two days after being placed on temporary leave, school officials said. 'Related: You Will End On A Stretcher': Teacher on Leave After Threatening Trump Voters She shared the minute-long viral video in a private group message on Snapchat, b…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
(Update) 'You Will End On A Stretcher': CT Teacher On Leave After Threatening Trump Voters (Update) 'You Will End On A Stretcher': CT Teacher On Leave After Threatening Trump Voters
(Update) 'You Will End On A Stretcher': CT Teacher On Leave After Threatening Trump Voters Update: A Connecticut teacher who threatened to fight President-elect Donald Trump's voters in a viral video has resigned from the New Haven County school where she worked. Click here to read more.  Original: A Connecticut elementary school teacher was placed on temporary leave after a video of her threatening people who voted for President-Elect Donald Trump was shared on social media.  Cheshire Schools Superintendent Jeff Solan announced the decision on Monday, Nov. 11, and said the New Haven County school district is investigating the incident.  In the minute-long vi…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
CT Filmmakers Up For Emmy For Documentary On ABC Journalist Nearly Killed In Iraq CT Filmmakers Up For Emmy For Documentary On ABC Journalist Nearly Killed In Iraq
CT Filmmakers Up For Emmy For Documentary On ABC Journalist Nearly Killed In Iraq Two young Connecticut filmmakers have made it to the finals for a Student Emmy for their documentary on ABC journalist Bob Woodruff, who nearly died covering the war in Iraq and his work to help troops who suffered the same fate as him.  Emily Sedgwick and Devan Jordan, both 2024 Sacred Heart Greenwich alumnae, made the movie titled "Upon Return." The documentary won-out over thousands of entries to make the finals for the illustrious prize.  Woodruff was riding on top of a tank in 2006 in Iraq when it was hit by an IED. The blast nearly killed the then anchor of ABC's "World News…

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by Josh Lanier