

GPS District Digest (v5, i12)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools

Home Sweet Home
We are back!
How did you spend your Winter Recess? On the slopes? On TikTok? Or maybe you did not move off of the couch, curled up with a good book? We hear that there is new technology called "streaming" where you can watch entire seasons of television shows in one long snack-filled sitting.
Not us! The good folks in the newsroom were hard at work compiling all good things GPS for your reading pleasure.
Drop us a line once in a while, will ya'? Let us know that you are good.
Enjoy Issue No. 12 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
'Cause I Got That Sunshine In My Pocket
By Sophie Lenschow
GHS Class of 2024
Right before break on February 9, all the schools in the Greenwich Public School district came together and held a "PJ Day" fundraiser for Connecticut Children's Hospital for pediatric cancer research.
Thanks to all of the extremely generous staff, students, and families, we raised an astounding $22,796!! This money will make a huge impact and help countless children across the country.
For the the past three years, we as a community have managed to raise more than $55,000 for pediatric cancer through PJ Day. Thank you to each and every one of you who supported this fundraiser.
When I Come Around
Our community partners at Waste Free Greenwich alerted us recently that Hamilton Avenue School is going zero waste with the addition of food scrap recycling to their cafeteria sorting station.
The Huskies achieved a 76% waste reduction by separating their food waste from liquids, recycling and trash, and sending any uneaten, unopened food to the share refrigerator. A daily average of 31 pounds of food scraps were diverted from incineration to instead create energy and compost.
The fifth graders visited classrooms to share the importance of food scrap recycling and led a baseline audit to assess results. Some of the educational highlights in the cafeteria included instructional videos, a compost challenge competition between grade levels, and interactive "Ready, Set, Sort" video game.
The students will experience the fruits of their labor in the spring with a delivery of compost for the school's gardens, bringing the process full circle!
Here We Are Now, Entertain Us
Congratulations to the Greenwich High School varsity cheer team who recently placed first in the All Girl Large Varsity Division, scoring an 89/100, at the Hatter Fest Cheer Competition at Danbury High School.
"I am so incredibly proud of this team," Coach Ms. Julia Vyskocil said. "They have been hard at work since August, not only getting their competition routine ready, but also cheering at all varsity football games, boys' and girls' basketball games, and even a hockey game!
"The drive, determination, and passion that these student-athletes have is so admirable and I am extremely excited to see what else they will accomplish this season. They are becoming more and more confident each week and are working so hard to reach their goals."
Onto the Cheerleading State Championship at Trumbull High School in March!
You Can Read It In The Sunday Papers
It seemed like only yesterday that cub reporter and current Greenwich HS sophomore, Gemma Hardwick, sent the Digest her first update on the girls track team. Actually, it has been about a year now.
Imagine how proud we all are of her that we now get to read her prose on the locally popular news website, the Greenwich Free Press.
Her latest story tells us about the wonderful results of the 2024 Class LL Championship at Hillhouse High School's Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, CT.
We are excited to read more from Gemma soon!
Turn Back The Clock 🕰️
Loyal GPS District Digest readers know that there is no one that loves old postcards more than the good folks in the Digest newsroom. But they also know how sad it can be when an antique card has gone unused. Its destiny unfulfilled, while the research department is left unsatisfied.
This early 20th century postcard depicting the Havemeyer Building joined our collection recently and it is a beaut. It is the 11th of this town landmark in our collection.
Anyone headed to the ephemera conference in Old Greenwich from March 16-17? Keep an eye out for some postcards for us!
Are You Waiting On A Lightning Strike?
Did you start filling out the Distinguished Teachers Award nomination form for your favorite teacher, social worker, guidance counselor, instructional coach, or specialist yet? What are you waiting for? It is a lot of work, but so worth it!
The main emphasis in identifying a distinguished teacher is the quality of work with students. To learn more about the criteria and eligibility requirements, head to the webpage dedicated to DTA that includes the Nomination Instruction Packet online.
Get going!
So, Why Can't You See?
It was recently announced by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education that GPS earned Honorable Mentions in two categories in the 2023 Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communications contest.
The 2023-2024 Superintendent's Proposed Budget book was recognized in the "District Budget" category, while Mr. Aaron Johnson Takes Over Twitter was named in the "Social Media" category.
GPS X-Cellent Adventures 📱
We love sharing good news with our 2,108 closest friends on the GPS X (Twitter) account, @GPSDistrict. Can we get to 3k by the end of the school year?
Follow us, but only do it if you are family, student, staff, or community member that wants to see all of the good things happening around the District. No negativity from us!
At the Digest, we love to show you some of our favorite posts from around the GPS social media world, including from some new accounts on Instagram.
Do you have a favorite social media account? Let us know!
To Our Loyal Readers...
- If you have a great story or photograph to share from our schools inside the District, alert the good folks in the GPS District Digest newsroom. We want to know!
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- Have you missed any past issues? Go to our archive to catch up.
- The first headline of each issue? Get it?
- Karen and Linda: The world won't get no better if we just let it be. The world won't get no better we got to change it yeah, just you and me.
- Do you read the last part of this newsletter, or do you stop before you get here. Let us know if you do not read this part.
Email: communications@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Location: 290 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 625-7415
It is the Mission of the Greenwich Public Schools to:
- • Educate all students to the highest levels of academic achievement;
- • Enable them to reach and expand their potential; and
- • Prepare them to become productive, responsible, ethical, creative and compassionate members of society.