GPS District Digest (v8, i05)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
With almost a quarter of the way into the school year, news, stories, and photos that fill the GPS District Digest newsroom is overwhelming. Student achievement, staff recognition, and local history - it is all here.
And like Sir Paul would ask: What's wrong with that? I'd like to know 'cause here we go again.
Also, we recently heard from Sheldon House Social Worker Ms. Michelle Franks at Greenwich High School. With GPS since 2012, she will be running her second NYC Marathon on Sunday. We have added her to our list of runners we will be rooting for.
Enjoy Issue No. 5 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Kindness, generosity, and school spirit was recently on full display at Hamilton Avenue School as students celebrate the tremendous success of their first-ever "Kindness in Motion" fundraiser, collecting more than $15,000 to benefit their school.
Organized by the Hamilton Avenue School PTA, the fundraiser brought students, families, and the school community together around a shared mission: demonstrating that small acts of kindness, when combined, can make a big difference.
The celebration culminated in a recent schoolwide assembly where students were recognized for their enthusiastic participation, generosity, and commitment to making Hamilton Avenue a welcoming and inclusive community.
"While raising more than $15,000 is an incredible accomplishment, what makes me most proud is the kindness and sense of community our students demonstrate every day," Hamilton Avenue School Principal Diane Fox said. "Our Huskies have shown that when we work together, support one another, and lead with kindness, there is no limit to what we can accomplish."
Did you spot Greenwich High School senior Teddy Aarons on People magazine's national website recently? The exclusive story is all about a free app he co-created, "Soothe Note," after experiencing cancer from a different perspective.
Cancer has been part of Teddy’s life since he was 8 years old when his mother began treatment for ovarian cancer. “I’ve seen cancer through a different type of lens my whole life, growing up around it,” Teddy told People. “It's really just changed my point of view on the world and what I have built to help others and how I approach issues every day.”
The website dedicated to Soothe Note states: Most health apps are built to win attention. Cancer care needs something simple and useful on hard days. That became Soothe Note, a cancer care tracking app with one place for check-ins, symptoms, medications, questions, private notes, caregiver sharing, and visit-ready reports.
We encourage you to read all about this amazing story on People magazine's website and head to the Soothe Note website.
Perhaps you recognize the names of some of the student participants or remember the teachers involved. Gwen Sorrento, the third-grade teacher mentioned in the article, had lived with her parents on Pemberwick Road. She graduated from Greenwich High School in 1954, received her B.S. from Central Connecticut State College, and her M.A. in Education from Columbia University. Before accepting a teaching position at Cos Cob, she worked as supervisor of the Julian Curtiss playground, responsible for planning activities and events.
The Cos Cob School and its location have a long and compelling history. The site was long associated with a large, ancient oak tree said to have a circumference of at least 30 feet at its base. Nearby was a Mead family homestead dating from the period of the Revolution. This residence was also known as “Old Oak” for its famous arboreal neighbor.
The Rev. James C. Beecher and his wife lived at Old Oak for many years. Rev. J. Beecher was the half-brother of Henry Ward Beecher, a famous Congregationalist preacher, abolitionist, and champion of social reform. Mrs. J. Beecher ran a school for girls out of the couple’s Cos Cob home, so the location’s ties to education predate the Cos Cob School.
The property was eventually acquired by Ebenezer Young who sold the plot in 1913 for $18,000 (roughly equivalent to $600,000 today) so construction of the school could proceed.
To help those in our community, the Greenwich High School Roots & Shoots club has partnered with the Greenwich Department of Human Services to provide Thanksgiving meals to 100 families in our community. They will be hosting the 16th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive at GHS from Monday, November 2 through Friday, November 20.
The club has provided a list of needed food items. Collection boxes will be located outside each GHS house, and whichever house collects the most food will earn a special prize. Please focus donations on unopened and unexpired foods. Also, please consider donating low-sodium, high-protein healthier foods.
Families recently headed to Hamilton Avenue School after school for its Hispanic Heritage Book Club with FLES Teacher Ms. Jacqueline Agashe to discuss illustrated chapter book, Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome.
The main character confidently describes herself as awesome and faces challenges with self-assurance. Inspired by the book, students chose a word that best describes them and decorated their own aprons with their families to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Are you a local veteran, or do you know someone who is? The good folks at Cos Cob School warmly invite all veterans to join them for a very special event.
Each year, Cos Cob honors local veterans for their service and sacrifice. This year, their Veterans Day celebration will be held on Wednesday, November 11. The morning will begin at 8:30 AM with coffee and light refreshments in the cafeteria, followed by a school assembly at 9:30 AM, lasting an hour.
If you or a veteran close to you has a service picture and would like it included in their slideshow, scan it and email it to teacher Chris Powers <chris_powers@greenwich.k12.ct.us> or put it in snail mail: Cos Cob School – Attention Chris Powers, 300 East Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob, CT 06807. All service pictures will be returned.
Their Veterans Day celebration has become one of Cos Cob School’s most treasured events and promises to be a special morning for all. They look forward to honoring all of the heroes who have protected and served our country.
Parkway School students were in for a treat with a visit from author Jerry Pallotta. An award-winning children’s author, Mr. Pallotta has written dozens of books and is best known for the bestselling "Who Would Win?" series, pitting one animal against another in a fact-filled face-off.
Esteemed media specialist, Ms. Lauren Bird, worked with students in grades K-3 to build excitement ahead of the visit. They took a deep dive into "Lion vs. Tiger," learning the features of each animal and drawing their own animals and features. Ms. Bird also had students use STEAM equipment to build their animals in 3D with blocks and interlocking pieces, then showcase their creations to the class.
Mr. Pallotta engaged every student in a lively discussion of his writing process. He even hinted that a new book was coming soon, and the kids are eager to guess the matchup.
Who would win? Parkway readers, every time!
The good folks at Greenwich Green & Clean recently held their Beautification Awards at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses and wouldn't you know it, they honored Greenwich High School alum and GPS District Digest all-time favorite Thomas McKinney (class of 2025) with the Mary Raymond Memorial Award for focusing on community cleanups.
Digest loyal readers know all about our main man because we regularly featured his amazing work of cleaning up your messes all around town. Without your inability to pick up your own garbage, GPS would not have been able to recognize him as a Community Service Award recipient last year.
Thomas was up at Cornell University working hard on his studies, likely cleaning up somewhere on campus, and preparing for Ithaca's harsh winter weather, so his mother, Noriko McKinney, accepted the award on his behalf.
Our good friends at Waste Free Greenwich love share their great news. Let's see what is new:
What’s the Zero Waste Schools Program?
A collaboration between Waste Free Greenwich, PTAC Green Schools Committee, and Greenwich Public Schools Facilities, this initiative empowers students to practice environmental stewardship and civic responsibility by diverting waste to the highest and best use by donating, recycling and composting.
Training Highlights
Through interactive activities like an instructive video, a customized sorting game, and a live worm encounter, students at Old Greenwich School and Parkway School developed sustainable habits: emptying liquids, composting food scraps, placing unopened items in donation fridges, and recycling right.
Stupendous Stats
Old Greenwich and Parkway crushed their cafeteria training - both reducing trash by 76%. Students collected more than over 40 pounds of food scraps daily to be processed at Quantum Biopower, an anaerobic digester that converts waste into clean energy and nutrient-rich digestate. Because food and liquids make up nearly three-quarters of total lunchroom waste, simple actions like liquid separation and composting dramatically reduce our district's environmental footprint.
To The (Food) Rescue
Old Greenwich is the only school in the district that practices external donation to keep edible food out the trash, while directly supporting neighbors facing food insecurity. Students place uneaten, unopened items into the donation fridge, and families deliver the surplus to the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. Last school year, volunteers made 73 rescues, diverting 1,327 pounds of surplus food, equivalent to 1,106 meals, and the Dolphins are on track to make another incredible community impact this year. At Parkway, a share refrigerator is utilized internally, ensuring hungry students have extra servings of nutritious food and reducing waste an additional 8%.
Our good friends at the YMCA of Greenwich asked us to share some of the great events happening, especially for Greenwich High School students looking for volunteer hours or non-athletic activities after school.
- Y-Leaders Lawn Care Heroes Project: Volunteers needed for a day of service helping local seniors and individuals with disabilities or physical limitations prepare their yards for fall on Saturday, November 7. Volunteers must be 14+ years old and volunteers ages 14–15 must attend with an adult.
Registration is now open! Give your child the opportunity to meet new people, explore their potential, and build skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.Youth & Government for children in grades 6-8: Students experience government firsthand by researching real-world issues, writing and debating bills, and developing public speaking skills. The program culminates in a statewide conference at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, where students debate their proposed legislation.
Y Achievers for children in grades 9-12: High school students prepare for college, careers, and beyond through mentorship, career exploration, college visits, guest speakers, networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops. Highlights include Career Clusters with local professionals and a Spring Break College Tour.
Leaders Club for children in grades 6-12: Students make a difference through hands-on community service projects while earning volunteer hours and developing teamwork and leadership skills.
