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JANUARY news & updates

January 12th, 2024

SHOUT OUT!

Norwalk Housing Authority

Norwalk Housing, established in 1939, provides decent, affordable housing for eligible low-income families and the elderly through 1,084 Public Housing units and manages 1,067 Section 8 Vouchers for area landlords.


The mission of Norwalk Housing is to build, maintain, and preserve safe, affordable housing through well-managed, mixed-income properties that strengthen our community.

IN THE NEWS

CEO Corner

Jennifer D. Barahona, LCSW

Happy New Year! I hope the holidays were a time of connection with loved ones and rest, reflection, and rejuvenation. My highlight was an overnight, silent, contemplative retreat at Kripalu, a yoga & meditation center in the Berkshires. It was a wonderful way to reconnect with myself and set intentions for the coming year.


As we kick off 2024 and mark the halfway point of our fiscal year, we are starting to recruit board members for terms beginning July 1st. If you might be interested in serving on our board in the coming year, or in the future, please fill out this very brief interest form. The Board provides governance, strategic direction, and financial oversight to the organization. We strive to have board members who represent the community and the many different skill-sets needed for a high functioning organization. 

Learn More About This Opportunity

We're excited to invite you to our January Social Emotional Health (SEH) & Out of School Time Initiative (OST) meeting on January 25, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 pm at Norwalk City Hall. Please join us for a collaborative conversation and presentation on the Social Emotional Health Standard of Care Model, Social Emotional Health Systems Map, and SEH/OST goals in the 2024-25 year. Please use the registration link to register; we look forward to seeing you.  

REGISTER TODAY

Join Norwalk Public Schools in developing a Portrait of a Graduate


They are on a mission to identify the key skills and dispositions that lead to college and career readiness. Click the link below to contribute to the development of NPS’ Portrait of a Graduate. Your participation is invaluable as they strive to ensure all students graduate future ready.


Click the appropriate link below to complete the survey. The survey closes on Jan. 19, 2024.


Also, please share these links with others in the Norwalk community.


A Portrait of a Graduate is a collective vision that articulates our community’s aspirations for all students. The portrait encapsulates the hopes, aspirations, and dreams our community has for its young people and the skills and mindsets our children need for navigating the dynamic landscapes of today and the uncharted territories of tomorrow.

DATA

School & State Finance Project recently updated their unofficial District Reference Groups (DRG). These DRGs allow for the comparison of local and regional districts whose students are from similar socioeconomic groups.

REGISTER FOR 1/23/24 WORKSHOP

POLICY & ADVOCACY

Lawmakers in Connecticut recently changed a policy regarding when children can start kindergarten. Before this change, children had to be five years old by December 31st to enroll in kindergarten. Starting in 2024, they must be five years old by September 1st to enroll in kindergarten.


While this change makes sense from a developmental perspective and aligns CT with other states nationwide, a more thoughtful phase-in is necessary. With the average Connecticut family paying $13,000 per year for childcare and the existing early care shortage, this new change must be phased in in a planful way.


To learn more and take action, click here. If you are a family impacted by this change and interested in sharing your story, please email [email protected] or click here to book a 15-minute appointment to capture your story and learn about opportunities to advocate. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Please check out the updated early childhood page on the city’s website!  Please use it and let families with young children know about this great resource.

Visit Early Childhood Page

Kindergarten Registration 2023-24


  • A child must be five years old on or before January 1st of the 2023-2024 school year to be eligible.
  • Registration is currently open for the 2023-2024 school year. To start the registration process, click here.
Read The Article

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

In December, students from Norwalk, our Youth Advocates, and the Center for Youth Leadership hosted a Town Hall, reflecting on the War between Israel and Hamas. The students focused on how they stay informed, their reaction to the wars, and what communities across the nation are doing to address and support youth during global traumatic times.

OUT OF SCHOOL TIME

It’s National Mentor Month! It only takes one hour a week!

Learn More About Becoming a Mentor

Over the last three months, the SEH Leadership Team has been working together to orchestrate a “Standard of Care Model System of Community Training” and “SEH Systems Map” which they plan to share with SEH/OST Initiative members in the month of January 2024. 


SEH: Friday, January 19, 2024, 10 am-11:30 am at City Clerk's Office - SEH/OST Leadership Team Meeting


SEH/OST: Thursday, January 25, 2024, 12 pm-1:30 pm at City Clerk’s Office, Room 128 - SEH/OST Initiative Meeting

Norwalk ACTS

[www.norwalkacts.org]

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