GPS District Digest (v6, i5)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
It is November. It is Thursday. The GPS District Digest has now distributed five issues of the school year. That is your update. What else do you need to know?
The good folks in the Digest newsroom recently took the time to reflect on how far this publication has come. Full disclosure - you all are awesome. Our sources embedded in the District feed this newsletter with all good things GPS. You are all doing great - we always knew you had it in you.
Enjoy Issue No. 5 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones recently announced that 37 GPS employees have been named GPS’s first “Difference Maker” award recipients as staff members who have made an overwhelming impact on the lives of others inside and outside of our schools.
“Each and every one of our buildings at Greenwich Public Schools are filled with amazing and talented educators and support staff,” Dr. Jones said. “The inaugural class of Difference Makers are a special group, recognized by their peers and student family members, who are committed to develop students’ academic, personal, and interpersonal capacities.”
The Greenwich Public Schools “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.
GPS families, students, co-workers, or community members can nominate their difference maker online and is open to all employees of Greenwich Public Schools, full or part time, in good standing; contractors or employees of other town agencies are excluded.
A Spirit Assembly? We here at the GPS District Digest did not know about those until Hamilton Avenue School checked in to alert us of its surprise for Mrs. Simonelli and Dr. Carabillo recently.
Assistant Principal Mrs. Simonelli returned from her maternity leave and the students seemed thrilled to have her back. Sources within HAS have told us that her leadership, dedication, and passion for education were greatly missed.
But those same insiders also shared that they were incredibly fortunate to have Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ann Carabillo during Mrs. Simonelli's absence.
"Dr. Carabillo has been an invaluable asset to our school community from the start of the academic year," Ham Ave's principal, Mrs. Diane Fox, said on the record. "Her insightful leadership and wisdom have left a lasting impact on our students and staff. We have truly enjoyed working alongside her and have all benefited immensely from her guidance."
Western Middle School recently hosted its annual "Western Day." The entire day was dedicated to promote school norms as well as what it means to be an AVID school. Students moved through fun, collaborative activities in order to work together to compete against other teams from both their grade and other grades.
Stations included Cafeteria Motivational Mini Murals, Western Day Mural, SocksForSam, Spirit Lockers, Chalk The Walk, Be Safe Station, Flip The Tarp Activities, Be Here Station!, Don’t Spill The Beans Challenge, Let Go & Move On Station, Minute To Win It, Be Honest Station, and Minefield.
How is your jack-o'-lantern game? Not as strong as those in the central office at the Havemeyer Building.
The third annual Havemeyer Pumpkin Decorating Contest was a smashing success and the bar continues to be raised year after year.
Employees were told, "As the leaves fall & the temperature drops, let your October creativity shine!" the flyer read. "We’ll provide the pumpkins, you provide the creativity!" And did they deliver!
While the judges exclaimed during the elite award ceremony that everyone was a winner in their eyes, the GPS District Digest uncovered the truth - there were winners and there were losers. Participant trophies were not distributed. Better luck next year.
Julian Curtiss School held its 33rd annual United Nations Day celebration recently with an all-school assembly and Parade of Nations. Sixty countries and 30 languages were represented. All students, dressed to celebrate their diverse culture and in native costume, promenaded around campus under a flag that represented their family’s heritage.
“Today, we gather to celebrate not just our diverse cultures and the rich tapestry of backgrounds that make up our community, but also the values that unite us: pride, respect, and appreciation for one another,” Julian Curtiss Principal Eduardo Calderón said. “As our students march together, they are sending a powerful message of unity, standing firm against hate, prejudice, and discrimination.
“As we celebrate, we must also remember the important lessons we must continue to impart to our children,” Mr. Calderón added. “First and foremost, we must continue to teach them the value of empathy. Understanding and appreciating the experiences and perspectives of others fosters compassion and creates a more inclusive world.
“We must continue to emphasize the importance of standing up for what is right. Encouraging our children to speak out against injustice - whether it be bullying, racism, or discrimination - empowers them to be advocates for change. Additionally, let’s continue to instill in them a sense of curiosity and a love for learning about different cultures. By embracing diversity, we enrich our own lives and build bridges that connect us to one another.”
Eastern Middle School recently hosted the 11th Annual "Gittens" Gator Walk with the theme: "Lights, Camera, Action."
During the course of several weeks, students and teachers worked together in homeroom to design unique T-shirts and decorations inspired by this theme. Each homeroom competed to showcase the most school spirit and creativity, enthusiastically designing costumes, posters, and accessories. This spirited competition fostered unity and excitement as students strove to outshine each other.
Their collaborative efforts not only strengthened community spirit, but also allowed them to express creatively which contributed to the success of the annual fundraiser
The Gator Walk event exemplifies EMS' commitment to fostering community spirit and belonging while having fun. The funds raised will support student programs to enhance learning experiences for students in a variety of ways thanks to the generous support from our teachers, parents, and incredible community sponsors.
Special recognitions went out to Ms. Maureen Stanley and Ms. Amy Johnson for the endless hours they put in to help make Gator Walk a success. Deep appreciations were also felt for all of the parents who volunteered and came to cheer on their children.
Back in issue No. 2 of the Digest, we told you the great news about the three finalists in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. The Thermo Fisher JIC is considered to be the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition.
We have more amazing news to share about our GHS students being honored at the recent ceremony in Washington, D.C. All three Cardinals received notable recognitions.
- Tyler Malkin was awarded the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, for his development of a rapid, color detection test for those with iodine deficiency. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement recognizes the student whose work and performance shows the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect health. Tyler, who has experienced iodine deficiency—a disorder that impacts nearly 2 billion people worldwide—developed a saliva test that makes it easier for people to monitor their iodine levels without medical intervention.
- Mikah Kaalund was awarded first place in the Science category for her work on the simple and effective filtering of indoor air pollutants, using an inexpensive dehumidifier, combined with a $1 charcoal filter. She was awarded $3,500 to support her choice of a STEM summer camp experience and will receive a new iPad.
- Mackensey Wilson was awarded second place in the Science category for her work which identified the continued use and prevalence of harmful Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) preservative in artificially formulated dog foods. She was awarded $2,500 to support her choice of a STEM summer camp experience and will receive a new iPad.
Greenwich High School's We The People team and it's coach, Mr. Aaron Hull, hosted a debate between incumbent, Ryan Fazio and challenger Nick Simmons for the State Senate seat in Connecticut's 36th district at the Performing Arts Center.
Photographed, l to r: Mr. Aaron Hull; Nick Simmons; juniors Nicolas Sosa, Angela Bai, and Parker Young; and Ryan Fazio.
Greenwich High School senior Zara Haque was recently recognized by the Connecticut Youth Services Association with the Youth Leadership Award for her outstanding contribution to her peers and community.
Ms. Danielle Jean-Guillaume Sittol from the Town's Department of Human Services, made the nomination.
“It was an honor to nominate Zara for this recognition,” Jean-Guillaume Sittol told the Greenwich Free Press. “Her engagement with STEM to Stern, an organization that promotes STEM education to diverse communities of youth; role as director of the Greenwich Middle School STEM Fair, a program that will enter its fifth year as an event that welcomes the participation of all members of the Greenwich Community; and spirit of collaboration that introduced the First Selectman’s Youth Commission to new community partners, have led to the commission’s increased impact in the Town of Greenwich.”
Zara's list of recognitions continue to grow. In April 2024, she was awarded the Gender & Racial Equity Scholarship Award from the YMCA of Greenwich and in May 2024, she was honored with the Junior League of Greenwich's Community Service Award.
Way to go, Zara!
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 2,221 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.
