A Few Clouds 70°
Schools
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School A brand-new study has uncovered surprising trends in teen phone use during school hours, raising fresh concerns about digital distractions in the classroom. The study, published by JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, Feb. 3, found that students spent a significant portion of the school day on their phones, with messaging, Instagram, and video streaming among the most-used apps. Researchers also noted that a quarter of students logged more than two hours of screen time during class. In addition, students whose parents held bachelor’s degrees or higher spent about a half-hour less on their phones dur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Group Threatens To Sue New Britain Schools For Suspending Teacher Over Crucifix Group Threatens To Sue New Britain Schools For Suspending Teacher Over Crucifix
Group Threatens To Sue New Britain Schools For Suspending Teacher Over Crucifix A Connecticut teacher was placed on administrative leave earlier this month after refusing to remove a crucifix affixed to a wall near her desk, authorities said. Now, a group known for handling religious liberty cases in public schools is championing her cause. Marisol Arroyo-Castro, who has worked in Connecticut schools for 32 years, has been a teacher at DiLoreto Elementary & Middle School in New Britain since 2003. She has kept the crucifix by her desk for a decade, according to a Jan. 21 letter from the First Liberty Institute. However, in December, one of the school’s vice princip…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Ex-West Hartford Teacher Nabbed After Tickling Students At Private School: Police Ex-West Hartford Teacher Nabbed After Tickling Students At Private School: Police
Ex-West Hartford Teacher Nabbed After Tickling Students At Private School: Police A former Connecticut private school teacher has been arrested after being accused of inappropriately touching students in West Hartford, authorities said. Nicholas Ricciardi, 46, of Manchester, was arrested earlier this month and charged with risk of injury to a child and second-degree breach of peace, according to West Hartford police. A parent came forward around Thanksgiving to report Ricciardi had tickled their child at Solomon Schechter Day School, police said. School officials placed Ricciardi on leave after the incident. NBC Connecticut reported that he tickled a student's…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
CT Teacher Ran Facebook Scams Using School Computers: Police CT Teacher Ran Facebook Scams Using School Computers: Police
CT Teacher Ran Facebook Scams Using School Computers: Police A Connecticut high school teacher is facing serious charges after police uncovered an alleged vehicle-selling scam on Facebook that he was allegedly running using school equipment, authorities said. James O’Neil, a teacher at Stratford High School, was arrested following a weeks-long investigation by Stratford police, officials said. Authorities allege O'Neil used Facebook Marketplace to sell vehicles illegally by altering documents, including bills of sale, police said. Detective Jennifer Murolo began investigating in November 2024 after receiving an anonymous tip about O’Neil’s activitie…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
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