Deadline for School Choice applications for the 2024-25 school year has been extended to March 18
Connecticut families with students entering prekindergarten through grade 12 now have have until 11:59 p.m. on March 18, rather than March 15, to submit an on-time School Choice application for the 2024-25 school year at ChooseYourSchool.org through the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Regional School Choice Office (RSCO).
Through RSCO’s school choice program, Connecticut families can apply to three different types of free, public schools in the Greater Hartford Region, including:
- 43 magnet schools incorporating specialized themes into the core curriculum, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); computer science; visual and performing arts; Montessori; International Baccalaureate (IB); and dual language. There are approximately 20 different themes across the system that bring the core curriculum to life!
- Open Choice public schools in districts outside their town. This program is primarily for Hartford-resident students to attend schools in surrounding suburban communities.
- Three regional technical high schools that specialize in career and technical education. Students graduate ready for college or to enter directly into their chosen career.
Placement notifications for families who submit an on-time application will begin in mid-April. Those who do not receive a placement offer in the first round will be able to view the size of waitlists in real-time and adjust their school preferences to increase their likelihood of a placement opportunity.
Families who would like support or who have questions during the school discovery and application process can contact RSCO’s newly established Parent Resource Center (PRC). PRC staff are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and for extended hours during the on-time application period by phone, email, in-app messaging, and in-person appointments. Extensive language interpretation and translation assistance is also available.
Additionally, RSCO’s enhanced website and online application make it easy for families to explore their school choice options by grade level, location, academic theme, sports, and extracurricular activities, learn about transportation options, and track their application and placement status.
For more information about school choice and to apply, visit ChooseYourSchool.org and follow RSCO on Facebook.
Veterans Strong and Wernicki Family accepting nominations for annual Patriots’ Day awards
The Veterans Strong Community Center and the Wernicki Family are accepting nominations for the Annual Patriots’ Day awards for the 5th Annual Patriot’s Day ceremony to be held Monday, April 15, 6 p.m., at Luna’s Banquet Facility on King Street.
The awards honor local Veterans or Servicemembers, either living or deceased. Nominees do not need to reside in Bristol, as long as they contribute to the Bristol community. Those making nominations share with the committee how this person has been heroic in serving our country and city.
Nominations are reviewed by a committee and honorees are selected and notified by mail.
Please send all nomination letters by or before March 25, to the attention of Veterans Strong Community Center, 111 North Main St., Bristol, CT 06010.
Nominations may also be emailed to Maggie.wernicki@gmail.com or by completing an online form at www.vetstronginc.org/patriots-day.
Bristol Boys and Girls Club seeks sponsors for this year’s gala
The Bristol Boys and Girls Club is seeking sponsors for its Golden Ticket Galas to be held at the Aqua Turf in Plantville, on Saturday, April 20.
For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Keleigh Courtney at 860-540-3101 or KCourtney@bbgc.org. Click to download the Sponsorship Form here. Click to download the Advertisement Form here.
Proceeds from the event will support the transformational youth programs that we provide to the thousands of children and families across our network of 13 sites in the club’s community.
Public library offers free seed packets and gardening programs
In preparation for spring planting season, the Bristol Public Library is offering free seed packets, a workshop for beginning gardeners and a discussion group featuring gardening techniques.
Admission is free; however monetary donations are always greatly appreciated and accepted. For more information, please visit the BBWE web site at www.bbandwe.org/.
Bristol residents with a Bristol Public Library card are eligible for up to five see packages free of charge as part of the “Bristol Seed Library” program, which begins Monday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m.
Packages of vegetable, herb and flower seeds will be available in the main lobby of the Bristol Public Library on 5 High St. Library cards are also available at the library free of charge to Bristol residents.
A seed starting workshop will be held the same evening, Monday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m. Led by expert instructor Mark Gostkiewicz of Tri Gable Lea Farm, the “Seed Starting Success” class will guide participants through the basics of beginning a garden from seeds.
A gardening discusson groups will address garden tasks, techniques and accomplishments on April 15 and May 13, at 6:30 p.m. A number of resources will be available for participants to take home.
There is no charge for these programs, but the library requests participants R.S.V.P at bristollib.com, in-person at the library, or by calling: (860)584-7787 ext. 3.
eesmarts Student Contest registration deadline is March 22
Registration for the 19th annual essmarts Student Contest is March 22, Energize Connecticut announced in an updated release.
Students in Grades 9-12 are being asked to produce a persuasive image in words or pictures, such as a short poem (125 words or less) or cartoon strip (12 cells or less) that advocates for an energy topic as part of this year’s eesmarts Student Contest.
Entries will be evaluated based on scientific validity and concise and convincing imagery.
Students in Grades K-8 are asked to submit their entries in the form of a poster (Grades K-2), limericks (Grade 3), outdoor billboard (Grade 4), fictional story with an energy-saving character (Grade 5), persuasive letter (Grade 6), comic strip (Grade 7), or social media post (Grade 8).
Contest registration is open until March 22. Project submissions are due on March 29. All work must be completed by the individual submitting the entry. No group projects are being accepted this year.
Finalists in all categories and grade levels will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May 2024. Winners will receive a certificate and an Amazon gift card.
For nearly two decades, the contest has invited Connecticut students in grades K-12 to answer grade-level-specific prompts on how they would promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable solutions.
For more information about the contest, please visit EnergizeCT.com/student-contest.
Bristol Veterans Council fundraising for POW/MIA monument
The Bristol Veterans Council continues to raise funds for a POW/MIA monument to be installed on Memorial Boulevard. The six-foot high, 10-inch thick and three-feet wide gray granite monument will honor each branch of the military. The goal for the installation is Memorial Day 2024.
Donations may be sent to Bristol Veterans Council, Inc., P.O.W./ M.I.A. Fundraiser, c/o Stanley J. Piotrowski–Treasurer, P.O. Box 2634, Bristol, CT 06011-2634.
Lamont announces new one-stop-shop portal for jobseekers
The launch of Connecticut’s new jobs portal, jobs.ct.gov was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont last week, in a release from the governor’s office. The portal is aimed at assisting Connecticut residents and those seeking to move to the state in the process of finding a job.
Jobs.ct.gov joins health.ct.gov and business.ct.gov as the next service category to be developed in the new digital, one-stop government ecosystem. Some of the resources available through the jobs portal include:
- Powerful job search tools;
- Job search tips and personal help;
- Free and low-cost training, certificate, and classroom programs; and
- Resources to help employers hire, train, and retain employees.
Yard waste barrels available from Public Works
Public Works is accepting applications for yard waste barrels for the 2024 yard-waste season.
New customers are ones who do not currently have a yard-waste barrel on site, and are required to pay a $90 yard-waste fee, plus a $50 barrel deposit fee per barrel.
Renewal customers are ones who already have a yard-waste barrel on site, even if from a previous owner, and are required to pay the $90 service fee.
The 2024 season will begin Monday, April 1, and will run through Friday, Dec. 6. The online form that must be filled out with all forms of payment may be obtained here: https://bristolct.seamlessdocs.com/f/yardwaste2024.
For more information on the city’s yard waste program, click here: https://ct-bristol2.civicplus.com/240/Yard-Waste.
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program accepting applications
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is accepting applications through May 31. CEAP helps Connecticut residents afford to heat their homes. Applications for CEAP typically take 30-45 minutes. Basic benefits towards heating bills range between $180 and $530. Benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for additional free tank fills.
Connecticut residents that meet the following may be eligible: already receive food stamps (SNAP), SSI, TANF or other benefits from the Department of Social Services and have an annual household income falls at or below 60 percent of the state’s median income.
In Bristol, CEAP applications are available at HRA, 55 South St., (860) 356-2000. Email: energyapp@hranbct.org.
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.