GPS District Digest (v6, i3)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
The folks in the GPS District Digest newsroom are beaming. After just three issues this school year, we cannot believe how many views, and the amount of feedback, this newsletter has received from you, the Greenwich community. This is clearly your favorite publication to find all good things GPS. You keep telling us that you want more and we aim to please.
Scroll slowly, because you do not want to miss a thing. The achievements, recognitions, and fun is plenty. We even offer up everything you wanted to know about cryobacterium engineering, but were just too afraid to ask!
To Tony S.: Thanks for the extra shoutout! Let's keep you entertained.
Enjoy Issue No. 3 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Yes, Kenny. It is gold. That is what the folks at the College Board's Advanced Placement Program tells us.
Recently, Greenwich High School was named to the 2024 Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll, earning Gold distinction for its commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
GHS offers 32 AP courses, with a number of these courses approved for college credit through the UConn Early College Experience. In May 2024, 2,734 Advanced Placement examinations were administered to 941 students. Sixty-one percent of seniors in the class of 2024 scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam at any point during their high school career.
GHS reached Gold status in "College Culture" by enabling 66% of the class of 2025 to experience at least one AP course before graduating, Platinum status in "College Credit" by enabling 61% of the class of 2025 to earn college credit by earning an AP Exam score of at least a 3, and Platinum status in "College Optimization" by creating opportunities for 24% of the class of 2025 to take a total of five APs across their high school years, with an least one taken in ninth or 10th grade.
In addition, GHS received the AP Access Award for providing all students the chance to participate in AP, including students of underrepresented populations.
The “Difference Maker” recognition is a new Greenwich Public Schools initiative to recognize those staff members who have made an overwhelming impact on the lives of others inside and outside of our schools.
The “Difference Maker” award is presented monthly to full or part-time employees who, through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the GPS community through one life-changing event, extraordinary long-lasting efforts, or making a difference in the lives of others every single day.
Now, you can nominate that special GPS difference maker from one of our 15 schools, off-site programs Windrose and Community Connections, or the Central Office, who made a positive difference in the lives of our students, families, and their colleagues.
Simply, fill out this form and provide specific details of the difference making actions of your nominee. Difference Makers will be announced early each month during the school year.
This honor is open to all employees of Greenwich Public Schools, full or part time, in good standing, pending a human resources review. It excludes contractors or employees of other town agencies. Nominators can be staff, families, students, or community members.
Third graders at Parkway School had a special visit from the Town of Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo.
Mr. Camillo spoke to the students about his roles and responsibilities for the town. They learned that he supervises many departments, such as the police, fire, fleet, parks and recreation, and much more.
Mr. Camillo’s visit reinforced their understanding of fundamental social studies concepts found in their current unit of study, such as civic participation, tribal sovereignty, separation of powers, and taxation.
Congratulations to Greenwich High School teacher, Ms. Lisa Dempsey, for being named Next Gen Personal Finance Distinguished Educator. The NGPF Distinguished Educator Award is a lifetime award that educators earn by passing 6+ NGPF Certification Courses in real-world topics like Banking and Budgeting, Behavioral Economics, Credit, Insurance, Investing, Taxes and beyond.
At Greenwich High School, Ms. Dempsey has taught marketing since 1987 and personal finance since 2003.
NGPF tells us their mission is that every U.S. high school student will graduate having taken a one-semester course in personal finance by 2030 by advocating alongside communities with a collective mission to bring financial education to every single high school student.
Sources embedded at Greenwich High School told the Digest recently that senior Justin Bernstein was named the national winner of the 2024 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), a competition for students aged 15-20 who have developed research projects that can help solve major water challenges. He traveled to Stockholm, Sweden in August to represent the United States at the international competition.
For his research project, Justin genetically engineered cryobacterium to protect glaciers. The bacterium, exposed to a naturally occurring silicic acid on the glacier, converts into glass. This glass enhances the glacier's ability to reflect the sun, preventing ice cap melting and subsequent sea level rise.
“I live in a coastal town and have already seen the effects of flooding,” he said. “It is really concerning that in the future, many coastal towns and cities could be underwater. I wanted to help prevent that from happening.”
To learn more about Justin and his project, head to the webpage dedicated to him, watch his video presentation, or swing over to the Stockholm International Water Institute's website.
Our very own superintendent of schools, Dr. Toni Jones, was a special guest on the widely popular SmartSocial.com podcast. In this episode, Dr. Jones discusses the evolution of social media's impact on young people, the district's strategic planning, and effective ways to engage parents with host Andrea Allen.
Dr. Jones highlights GPS' accomplishments during the pandemic, new regulations surrounding social media, and proactive student initiatives. Additionally, the conversation dives into the district's approach to integrating artificial tools while maintaining compliance with strict data privacy laws.
Smart Social is known for keeping students safe on social media so they can shine online by hosting events that educate, engage, and protect students on campus and at home.
Get ready for a night of haunting melodies and spine-tingling performances!
Join the GHS Orchestra for its annual Halloween Spooktacular Concert on Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 PM. The evening will start with a side-by-side performance of ninth and eighth graders from all three middle schools!
The orchestra students will be playing popular favorites like "Danse Bacchanale" by Camille Saint-Saëns, "Night on Bald Mountain" by Modest Mussorgsky, and other seasonal favorites. Bring your family and friends for a night filled with music and fun- costumes are encouraged.
All GHS music concerts are free and open to the public. No tickets are required.
The GPS District Digest recently heard from our community partners, the YMCA of Greenwich, about its After School Program. They wanted us to know that they consider it to be the premier spot for safe, affordable, and convenient child care for K-5 children.
In the Y’s After School Program, children not only get homework assistance, but also an opportunity to play, stay active, and make friends. It consists of activities such as STEM workshops, arts & crafts projects, local field trips, homework assistance, reading with Greenwich United Way’s Reading Champions, sports & games, and tumbling time.
GPS provides bussing to the YMCA from Julian Curtiss, Hamilton Avenue, North Street, and New Lebanon Schools. After School is run from September through June, Monday through Friday, 3:00-6:00PM. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.
They tell us they are committed to ensuring any family, regardless of financial status, feels welcome to apply to the program. For more information, head to the YMCA's webpage.
Greenwich Public Schools’ community partner, Waste Free Greenwich, recently released its food scrap recycling program report for the 2023-2024 school year. They tell us that since 2023, food scrap recycling has been rolled out to six elementary school cafeterias, increasing the diversion rate from 45% to 74% on average. The program will be launched at an additional three schools this year.
A pilot of food scrap recycling, implemented at New Lebanon School from January to June 2023, achieved a diversion rate of 75% and eliminated 3,570 lbs. of organic material from the waste stream. During the 2023-24 school year, GPS Facilities, PTAC Green Schools and Waste Free Greenwich worked collaboratively to expand the program to additional elementary schools - Hamilton Avenue, Julian Curtiss, Old Greenwich, Parkway, and Riverside.
For more information, including procedures, educational training, launch schedules, and recommendations, read the full report or visit Waste Free Greenwich’s website.
The Greenwich High School Social Studies department recently hosted debates in the Performing Arts Center recently for Connecticut House of Representatives District 149 candidates Representative Rachel Khanna and Tina Courpas and for Connecticut House of Representatives District 151 candidates Representative Hector Arzeno and Tod Laudonia. GHS's We the People Team, coached by Mr. Aaron Hull, composed and asked questions, and acted as timers.
Pictured, l to r: Timer Anna Sanders, Timer Lorelei McGowan, We The People Coach Mr. Aaron Hull, Rep. Hector Arzeno, Rep. Rachel Khanna, Moderator Eden Citron, Moderator Abby Meyers, Moderator Elias Orrell, Challenger Tod Laudonia, Challenger Tina Courpas, and Timer Mark Asada.
The League of Women Voters of Greenwich helped organize all candidates, a tradition supremely valuable and significant support to the school.
Let's turn back the clock to circa 1911, shall we?
Did you ever shop at Ponty's Art & Gift Shop at 157 Greenwich Avenue? It is long gone now, but we do know that someone purchased this amazing postcard of the Havemeyer Building at this establishment.
The GPS District Digest research department was on top of their game with this one. They found out that Mr. Fred Ponty owned this store as well as one on Main Street in South Norwalk. Not only did they sell postcards, but they also offered Victrolas, "the chosen instrument of the world's great artists." Mr. Ponty did not accept substitutes!
As for the sender and receiver of this postcard, we do not know much. We believe Mr. William Brecker of Stamford found this in his mailbox shortly after March 28, 1911 from a friend in Greenwich. We believe Mr. Brecker had a house painting business with his son, also named William.
Do you know Mr. Brecker or the person who sent him this postcard? Do you have any memories of Ponty's on the Avenue? Don't be shy! Tell us about it!
Social media, when done responsibly, can be a great tool to share information. Here at GPS, we use social media to give you a behind the scenes look at what is happening in our buildings, celebrate staff and student achievement, and to break news.
Are you one of our 2,225 followers on X (formerly known as Twitter)? If not, why aren't you? We know the world can be a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. But here, it's all sunshine and rainbows.
