GPS District Digest (v6, i8)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
Bah humbug! The folks in the newsroom at the GPS District Digest have no interest in a Holiday Recess. There is so much great news around Greenwich Public Schools and we are on a roll. Eight amazing issues this school year. We do not want to take a pause sharing all good things GPS with you.
Nah! We're just joking ya! We cannot wait for Friday, just like you. The great news will still be there after the new year. We need a break.
But hold on! Not so fast! Before you go into winter hibernation, get a load of what we have for you today.
Enjoy Issue No. 8 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Earlier this month, Greenwich Public Schools hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Western Middle School’s new athletics fields after an eight-year closure.
In the summer of 2016, environmental soil samples were collected from the WMS fields resulting in concentrations of environmental constituents that exceeded the Connecticut CTDEEP Residential Direct Exposure Criteria in portions of the fields. During the Spring of 2020, GPS joined the voluntary program for a Remediation Action Plan. Cleanup work began November 2023 and excavation of the soil was largely completed by June 2024. Cleanup and restoration activities included: excavating and transporting more than 35,000 tons of contaminated soil to permitted disposal facilities; importing approximately 46,000 tons of backfill, planting soil and crushed stone material; and construction of synthetic turf athletic fields stone base and landscaped areas.
The ceremony was attended by scores of local and regional dignitaries who braved the cold and windy conditions. The entire eighth grade class patiently waited for the festivities to conclude so they could be the first students to enjoy the field with a group sprint.
Mr. Richard Catalano's kindergarten class at Parkway School received a fantastic surprise with a visit from a familiar face, WABC-TV's Brittany Bell. Brittany is an award-winning meteorologist who had earned the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society.
As part of their science unit, the students learned all about weather from an expert.
Brittany was joined by Shirleen Allicot, an Emmy Award-winning anchor for WABC-TV, who also happens to be a GPS parent.
The International School at Dundee's PTA recently kicked off the holiday season by creating special cookie boxes as a small token of their appreciation for the wonderful teachers and staff.
Parents dropped off home-baked cookies of all kinds and styles and donated a variety of items to stock the staff lounge for the holidays.
Several volunteers helped assemble these cookie boxes while listening to holiday music and sharing homemade goodies while bringing some festive cheer into the ISD café. A few boxes were also put together to be donated to Kids in Crisis, an organization that builds healthy communities where children and adults thrive.
Trust us here in the newsroom, the cookies were delicious.
North Mianus School's Energy Fair was a vibrant showcase of creativity and learning, where fifth grade students presented their projects on energy conservation and sustainable practices.
Parents were impressed by the students' innovative ideas, from solar and wind-powered models to energy-efficient designs. The students explained how they could reduce energy usage at home and in their community, demonstrating their understanding of environmental impact.
It was said to be a fun and educational event that highlighted the students' hard work and passion for protecting the planet.
Our friends at the Greenwich Alliance for Education recently gave the GPS District Digest the details of the 2024 Turkey Trot.
This amazing annual Greenwich tradition raised more than $90,000 for its programs benefiting GPS students and alumni. GPS students and families came out in record numbers with more than 1,600 folks registered for the race. Cos Cob School took home the School Competition Trophy this year with 110 registrants. The Alliance also said they had the highest level of sponsorship money in its history.
Congratulations to the top finishers!
- Men: Sean Reidy, Kyle Grieve, Lucas Chrostowski
- Women: Caroline Webb, Jenny Marshall, Kelly De Csepel
It was a surprise to nobody, but recently, Greenwich High School senior Peter Vomvolakis made it official and signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.
The 6-2, 290-pound state champion center had made it clear since he was a little boy that attending a military academy was his dream.
“Ever since I was a kid, I was watching the Army-Navy football games and I knew that was something I wanted to do growing up," he told Scott Ericson of GameTimeCT. "I thought that was a great thing, serving my country and getting a top-level education.”
Go Navy! Beat Army!
Did you miss the GPS Honors Choir Concert at GHS' Performing Art Center earlier this month?
No worries, we got you!
The evening featured GPS' grade 4-8 Honor Choir, GHS Witchmen & Madrigals, accompanying musicians composed of GPS music teachers, and Backtrack Vocals, a professional acapella group from New York.
Mornings at Cos Cob School are different. Principal Gavin makes sure of it.
His tradition, one that he brought with him from his days as an assistant principal at Western Middle School, of creating daily videos that are fun, creative, memorable, and educational.
Enjoy a recent video, but you are warned: there is math.
Everyone in the Digest's newsroom loves when GPS' food services director, Martha Ramkellawan, checks in. She is great to talk to and always has interesting things to share.
What's new, Martha?
"This December, Greenwich Public Schools proudly served 100% grass-fed, certified humane ground beef in student meals thanks to a partnership with Plymouth Meat LLC and the Northwest Connecticut Regional Food Hub. This initiative highlights the district’s dedication to providing nutritious and responsibly sourced food for its students. We serve more that 300 pounds of beef each month.
"In addition, the food services team has upgraded their uniforms, reflecting a renewed commitment to professionalism and pride in serving the Greenwich school community. These changes underscore the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance both the quality of meals and the dining experience for all students."
Dig in!
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 2,149 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.
