GPS District Digest (v6, i11)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
GPS! Welcome to the 11th issue of the GPS District Digest of the 2024-2025 school year.
Maybe you have not been the most loyal reader, but we will forgive you...this time. There is always time to change your ways. The Digest is really chock-full of all good things GPS.
In this issue, we are happy to share student recognitions, amazing athletic prowess, fundraising opportunities, reminders, and more. Reminders? That is right - the deadline for your Distinguished Teacher Award nominations is fast approaching. What are you waiting for?
Let's get this stuff started.
Enjoy Issue No. 11 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones recently announced that 61 GPS employees have been named GPS’s “Difference Maker” award recipients for the month of January as staff members who have made an overwhelming impact on the lives of others inside and outside of our schools.
“I have always been impressed with the powerful impact our staff members are making, and while reading the praise and love our community has for our GPS staff, I find myself filled with inspiration,” Dr. Jones said. “The honorees for this month have made long-lasting and positive connections on their nominators and families, and I am overjoyed that their efforts can be recognized and shared with the community.”
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. Each building holds its individual celebrations to honor winners with certificate presentations and other recognitions.
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. It excludes contractors or employees of other town agencies.
The love of literacy, dedication to lifelong learning, and commitment to growing as global citizens took center stage at the sixth annual Battle of the Books. The event, hosted by Greenwich Public School library media specialists, was held recently at Greenwich High School's Performing Arts Center.
In an exciting and closely contested competition, readers from all 11 elementary schools participated with enthusiasm and skill. Ultimately, Cos Cob School emerged victorious, proudly taking home the trophy. Dr. Toni Jones, a steadfast supporter of the program and the evening’s MC, remarked, “The room was electric, and the students were so impressive!”
The library media specialists curated a collection of 10 exceptional novels for the event, carefully selecting works that reflect a diversity of themes and genres. This year’s titles included award-winning and nominated books from Nutmeg, Caldecott, and Newbery honorees, ensuring a rich and engaging literary experience for all participants.
It is never too late to dive into great literature. We encourage families to explore library media specialists' selection of outstanding titles from the 2024–2025 Battle of the Books. Start reading and join them in celebrating the power of stories.
Greenwich High School seniors, Thomas Stowe and Anthony Bozza, were recently featured in the "Innovation Issue" of Connecticut Magazine for their student-run endowment.
Reporter Jessica Simms wrote that in fall 2023, Stowe and Bozza started the fund, and club to run it, with assistance from an Advanced Placement economics teacher. One year later, it had $50,000 in it.
Read the entire feature for more details on the endowment at the magazine's website.
Loyal Digest readers will remember that in the last issue, we promised to feature the high school Connecticut region honorees of the 2025 Scholastic Art Awards.
The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Awards program is arts education based and as such, recognizes teachers as the central connection to the completion of successful student submissions. This program is a high quality level, professionally juried event which recognizes only the best Connecticut student artwork.
Greenwich High School's honorees include:
Gold Key
Junior Alexa Loera (Photography): "Harbor Waves"
Senior Arianne Pires (Ceramics & Glass): "Tilted Edifice"
Sophomore Yihan Shao (Painting): "Unseen Path, Unshaken Will"
Silver Key
Sophomore Greta Garcia (Photography): "Confess"
Junior Hannah Hochman (Digital Art): "Nighttime Routine"
Honorable Mention
Junior Heidi Farnum (Comic Art): "Are Those Things Really You?"
Senior Ella Piu (Photography): "Roots of Resilience: A Legacy of Lebanese Women"
Junior Adam Shin (Photography): "Life, Liberty, and the Place of Rebirth"
Senior Chloe Stranzl (Portfolio): "Between Tides and Stones"
Sophomore Lula Wang (Film & Animation): "Singularity"
Gather your team of 10 players or less and join the Greenwich Alliance for Education for a lively evening of trivia fun.
The Alliance is hosting its annual Trivia Challenge on Friday, February 28 from 6:30-10:00 PM at Tamarack Country Club. The evening includes a team competition with six rounds of trivia. Event proceeds benefit Alliance programs and AVID Success Scholarships. For more information, head to the event’s webpage.
The district's psychologist, Dr. Alina Boie, and interim director of school security, Mr. Brent Reeves, recently presented an informative workshop designed to help parents navigate the challenges of keeping their children safe online. Parents learned practical strategies for managing screen time, understanding social media, identifying online risks, and fostering open communication with their children.
Some of their objectives included: 1. Understand common online threats such as cyberbullying, scams, inappropriate content, and online predators; 2. Learn practical strategies for setting boundaries, using parental controls, monitoring online activity, and teaching children responsible internet use; 3. Foster open dialogue with your children about online behavior and digital experiences; and 4. Learn how to create healthy habits for balancing screen time and offline activities.
Be on the lookout for more of these family workshops. They are can't-miss events.
Cos Cob School recently took going green to the next level with the addition of food scrap recycling to the cafeteria sorting station. The Phoenixes achieved an astounding 80% waste reduction - a district high - by separating their food waste from liquids, recycling and trash and using the share refrigerator for any uneaten, unopened items from Food Services. A daily average of 28 pounds of food scraps were diverted from incineration to instead create energy and compost by anaerobic digestion. Through the Zero Waste Schools program, Cos Cob students are projected to eliminate over 8,900 pounds of trash from the waste stream during the school year.
Volunteers from the PTA Council Green Schools Committee and the nonprofit Waste Free Greenwich conducted a four-day training. Some of the educational highlights included an instructional video, a worm encounter to see composting in action, a "Ready, Set, Sort" video game and a school wide food scrap recycling competition. To date, food scrap recycling has been launched at seven district elementary schools as part of the Zero Waste Schools program.
So far this school year, students have diverted over 15,000 pounds of food scraps from the waste stream. Way to go!
Calling all high school essay writers! It is time for the social studies department's annual Black History Month Essay Contest.
This year, students are tasked with spotlighting lesser-known events in American History. Their task is to write a 500-word essay describing a pivotal event in Black history that they feel has been left out or underutilized in the Greenwich High School curriculum.
The deadline is March 1, so get on it! For more information, read all of the details on the criteria and how to submit.
By Gemma Hardwick
Special to the Digest
The Greenwich High School Girls Indoor Track & Field team recently competed in the FCIAC Western Division Championship and won, scoring a total of 143 points. Staples High School, their toughest competitor, scored 105.
This is the girls’ third year in a row winning this meet, which has not happened since 1980-82. Since the very first FCIAC Western Division Championship in 1978, the Greenwich team has only won a total of seven times.
Across all events at the meet, many athletes scored points for the team and almost every athlete was able to contribute. The team this year has been looking incredibly strong so far this season, and is in a great place going into the rest of championship season.
Next, the girls prepare for their upcoming postseason meets, first being the FCIAC Championship.
Go Big Red!
Do you know a teacher, social worker, guidance counselor, instructional coach, or specialist that deserves consideration for the 2025 Distinguished Teacher Awards? Start the thorough process now. The main emphasis in identifying a distinguished teacher is the quality of work with students. To learn more about the criteria and eligibility requirements, read the 2025 Nomination Instruction Packet online.
Now is the time to fill out those nominations forms - time is running out. The deadline is Thursday, March 6.
The Greenwich Varsity Cheerleading Team competed in the FCIAC Cheerleading Championship at Trumbull High School.
Having been 21 years since Greenwich has taken home this title, these athletes put on an incredible performance that showcased just how hard they have been working this season.
A staggering 4.5 points ahead of their nearest competitor, a team who had won the past eight years in a row, the Greenwich Varsity Cheerleaders scored a 96.15 out of 100 securing the FCIAC Grand Championship title, which is awarded to the highest scoring team at the competition.
They are not done yet! Their quest for a state championship continues with the state competition scheduled for Saturday, March 1, also at Trumbull High School.
As a friendly reminder to all loyal Digest readers: LET'S GO BIG RED!
The new Greenwich Adult and Continuing Education Spring Catalog is now available online.
There are many new and exciting classes. Most classes start in the first week of March. Classes are held in-person and online. Registration is currently open. Register now because classes fill up quickly!
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 2,155 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.
Are you active on other social media platforms? Should the district join you? Let us know!
