SEL Ambassadors Program Earns 2026 Challenge to Educational Citizenship Award

The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) has recognized West Rocks Middle School’s SEL Ambassadors program with a 2026 Challenge to Educational Citizenship Award for its student leadership and commitment to promoting mental health awareness and support within the school community.

The school will be honored with a plaque during an awards ceremony on June 2 at the CAS offices in Cheshire, Connecticut.

The Challenge to Educational Citizenship Awards celebrate schools whose efforts embody the spirit of citizenship and a strong commitment to serving others. Projects are evaluated based on the depth, breadth, and quality of their impact on the school community, with judging conducted by high school members of the State Student Advisory Council on Education.

West Rocks’ SEL Ambassadors program grew out of the school’s participation in the Connecting Schools to Care IV Students (CONNECT IV) grant, awarded last year by the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI). CONNECT IV is part of a statewide initiative focused on strengthening comprehensive school mental health supports and building connections with community-based behavioral health services.

In the first year of the grant, the school focused on staff and leadership training, including partnering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to deliver its “End the Silence” program, which was also presented to seventh grade students.

This year, the school expanded that work by establishing the SEL Ambassadors, a student group made up of volunteers and staff-nominated students from all three grade levels. The group reflects the diversity of the school community, including both English and Spanish speakers, and is dedicated to promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging peers to seek support when needed.

Under the guidance of school social workers Wendy Chum and Caitlin Ornousky, the SEL Ambassadors have taken an active role in leading school-wide initiatives—including organizing West Rocks’ first-ever Mental Health Fair.

“I think for our students, what they wanted is to share what they're doing with the whole school,” said Chum. “The ambassadors are taking a lead in breaking up stigma around mental health and showing how important it is to ask for help—and how you can help others. They wanted to share that message with their peers.”

Seventh-grade student Emma Hernandez, one of the SEL Ambassadors, said her motivation to join was rooted in the importance of emotional awareness.

“I volunteered to be an SEL Ambassador because I've always had more of a connection to social and emotional learning,” Hernandez said. “To really understand our surroundings, we have to understand ourselves. It’s so important for students to learn how to connect with others socially and emotionally.”

The Mental Health Fair, organized by the SEL Ambassadors, brought together students, families, and local mental health providers for an afternoon centered on awareness, support, and connection. More than two-thirds of students in grades 6–8 participated during the school day, along with family members.

The event featured community-based organizations that shared information about mental health services available both within the school and throughout the Norwalk area, helping increase awareness and accessibility of those supports.

The SEL Ambassadors program and the work connected to the CONNECT IV grant are part of West Rock Middle School’s larger schoolwide commitment to social and emotional learning.

“At West Rocks, we continue to embed SEL into daily routines, student leadership opportunities, staff learning, and schoolwide practices so students feel connected, supported, and ready to learn,” said Principal Adam Reynolds.

Social and Emotional Learning in Norwalk Public Schools

In Norwalk Public Schools, student success is about more than academics alone. To truly thrive, students need the skills to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, navigate challenges, and feel connected to their school community. That’s why NPS places a strong emphasis on mental health and wellness programming as a critical part of social and emotional learning (SEL).

By embedding mental health and wellness supports throughout the K–12 experience, NPS is helping students develop the confidence, resilience, and emotional skills they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

Learn more about how NPS mental health and wellness programs strengthen social and emotional learning.