GPS District Digest (v7, i02)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
Raise your hand if you know a hard working teacher at Greenwich Public Schools.
Thank you for your participation. You can put your hand down now.
While your children get to know their teachers throughout the school year, we here at the GPS District Digest think that you wish you knew more about them. It is easy to forget there is a person behind those emails. Teachers are people too, you know.
The Digest is proud to roll out a regular video feature called, "Get To Know Your Educator." We think that you will really enjoy hearing from some of the best that the district has to offer.
This week, we sit down with Riverside School's Ms. Carrie Hancock and learn about her life in the classroom and how she became one of the most respected teachers in the business.
Enjoy Issue No. 2 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Semifinalists
We still do semifinalists.
Nine Greenwich High School seniors have been recognized as 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program Semifinalists. These students will now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered in the spring.
The GHS 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists are: Catherine Broderick, Maia Coplit, Miller Fishback, Ambika Jha, Ruth Mund, Hadrian Nobay, Davin Shin, Marley Wies, and Annabelle Wu.
The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships based on their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) scores. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
“Greenwich High School continues to be an exceptional educational institution providing each and every student the tools to succeed,” GHS Principal Ralph Mayo said. “The educators that call GHS their home are dedicated and committed to ensure our students reach high achievements such as these.”
Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones recently announced the appointment of Mr. Matthew Salvestrini as director of human resources, effective the second week of October. He will report directly to Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Jonathan Budd.
“Matthew Salvestrini is an outstanding educator with 30 years of experience in high-performing districts,” Dr. Budd said. “His background as a teacher, school principal, and district administrator will enable Greenwich Public Schools to continue to enable all staff to reach their highest potential on behalf of Greenwich children.”
As director of human resources, Mr. Salvestrini will perform various human resources leadership functions in relation to certified and non-certified staff.
“Greenwich Public Schools’ focus on excellence and student well-being drew me to this role,” Mr. Salvestrini said. “My priority is to build strong relationships with staff, educators, and administrators to create the best possible learning environment for students."
For more than 20 years Mr. Salvestrini has served as a school administrator in the State of Connecticut. Since 2015, he held the position of director of digital learning for New Canaan Public Schools where he led the hiring and onboarding process for specialized roles. He also led district initiatives on policy compliance by collaborating with teachers, union representatives, and stakeholders. For the previous six years, from 2009 through 2015, Mr. Salvestrini was the principal of Gainfield Elementary School in Regional School District 15 serving Middlebury and Southbury. His extensive experience in education began in 1996 as a classroom teacher in grade 5 and continued until 2003 when he started his career as an administrator as an assistant principal in Darien Public Schools.
Mr. Salvestrini earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Loyola College and a master’s degree in Teaching from Sacred Heart University. He also received a University of Connecticut Administrator Preparation Program leadership degree and holds an Intermediate Administrator/Supervisor (092) certification.
The list of great teachers at Greenwich Pubic Schools is incredibly long. They are a dedicated bunch, with a reputation like no other, committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Here at the GPS District Digest, we will get to meet some of these teachers and share them with you in a new video feature called, "Get To Know Your Educator."
In this first episode, the Digest meets fifth-grade teacher Ms. Hancock from Riverside School. It is a wonderful conversation with someone who realized that their dream job was not what they first thought.
Come aboard, we're expecting you.
By Julie Faryniarz
Special to the Digest
It is September and school is back in session! To all teachers, administrators, students, and families, we wish you an exciting year of learning.
At the Greenwich Alliance for Education, our summer focus was preparing GHS AVID graduates for their first day of college. Transition to College (T2C), a 12-hour workshop series, equips first-generation students with skills for college success. Topics include budgeting and banking with the First Bank of Greenwich, alcohol and drug awareness with Liberation Programs, and how to manage time, tasks, and materials as a college student. We are proud of these students and grateful to the Greenwich United Way and the Greenwich Department of Human Services for funding T2C.
The new year also brings tuition bills. Sixty Greenwich High School AVID alumni received $83,000 in AVID SUCCESS scholarships this fall. More than reducing debt, these awards - now totaling $1.1 million - give students time to study, lead on campus, and avoid working multiple jobs.
Our Reaching Out Grants fund innovation and equity. This year’s grant recipients include Greenwich HS’ Student-Facing AI Tools, middle school teams in the U.S. Department of Energy Science Bowl, and the BookBreak author platform. Equity-focused grants support AVID professional development, theater arts at New Lebanon and Julian Curtiss Schools, and afterschool programs at Hamilton Avenue.
Finally, Tuning In To Music resumes, offering free private lessons to students recommended by GPS music teachers who are eligible for free/reduced lunch. Taught by the Connecticut School of Music, these lessons expand access to ensembles and, in the words of one teacher, foster “confident, independent thinkers who are actively engaged in learning and expressing themselves.”
A new school year always reminds us how vital every year of education is for the student. We live in a wonderful community, and investing in our children is worth it!
For more information, including on how to make a donation, head to the Greenwich Alliance for Education website.
The International School at Dundee community recently came together in the best way possible at this year’s Ice Cream Social and Movie Night, featuring "Lilo & Stitch." The energy, joy, and enthusiasm from the new leadership team of Principal Mr. Philip Hammack and Assistant Principal Dr. Kevin Thompson set the sweetest tone for the school year ahead.
The sun was shining as families enjoyed a total of 20 gallons of ice cream, served up with big smiles by more than 20 of ISD's amazing teachers, staff, and even sixth grade alumni who jumped in to help scoop.
A festive photo booth captured memories, while Sparky, the beloved mascot, brought extra spirit to the day.
The evening doubled as an unofficial kick-off to the school’s 25th anniversary year-long celebration. Families proudly sported 25th anniversary T-shirts and swag, helping to raise funds while celebrating the school's milestone year.
As the sun set, blankets and lawn chairs came out, and more than 500 attendees settled in for a movie under the stars. With laughter, community spirit, and a little magic, the event was the perfect blend of tradition and celebration.
Society for Science recently announced the 30 finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics competition, and guess what? Our own, Rajsi Choudhary, made the list! Let's go, Rajsi!
Rajsi conducted her individual research project, "Fabrication of a Biodegradable, Nutrient-Rich, Orange Peel-Loaded Hydrogel for Thermally-Programmed Release of Water to Maintain Soil Moisture," as an eighth-grader in the Junior Innovators class.
She will now join her fellow finalists to participate in Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week at the end of October in Washington, D.C. An esteemed panel of judges will evaluate the finalists’ scientific research along with their communication, creativity and collaboration skills during team challenges.
As another school year begins, students have started to think about acquiring volunteer hours, especially for the National Honor Society, senior community service projects, or civic class requirements. The Nathaniel Witherell senior nursing facility and rehab center is just around the corner and may be a great place to do so. Students must be 15 years of age or older.
Students can reach out to the director of volunteer services, Ms. Mary Tate <mary.tate@witherell.org>, directly to discuss volunteer hours, shifts/activities or projects.
She said that a great idea has been having entire sports teams host a Wednesday afternoon Bingo game. This is a very popular event for their residents (they win money!) and they always need help from volunteers with the Bingo cards.
Beloved New Lebanon School cafeteria monitor, Ms. Angie Petrone, was recently honored at Greenwich's Town Hall to celebrate her 20 dedicated years working for your children and community.
"We are so grateful for the impact she makes each day with our students," Assistant Principal Lindsey Eisenstein said. "Students will always remember her "Happy Birthday" serenade that she sings on someone's special day in our cafeteria."
You can be like Angie and become a cafeteria monitor for any of the district's elementary schools. Under the supervision of the school administration, cafeteria monitors manage student behavior during student lunchtime, working daily from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM and are compensated. Head to the district's Frontline page for more details.
The GPS District Digest recently learned that Greenwich High School has partnered with the Greenwich Alliance for Education to introduce two innovative artificial intelligence platforms, SchoolAI and Khanmigo, to support teaching and learning for students.
These platforms are designed to:
Enhance student engagement and personalize learning experiences.
Provide teachers with new tools to monitor progress and support students’ individual needs.
Prepare students for the 21st century by thoughtfully integrating AI into the classroom.
Offer students new ways to review and practice for assessments through personalized study supports and guided practice activities.
Both SchoolAI and Khanmigo are educationally focused platforms that prioritize safe and responsible use of AI. Teachers will receive training on how to integrate them into instruction, and safeguards are in place so that AI use supports, not replaces, the essential human connection between teachers and students.
Funding for this project is made possible by a Reaching Out Grant from the district's best friends at the Greenwich Alliance for Education.
Our friends at Waste Free Greenwich will be hosting an evening of “all taste, no waste” at their first-ever Zero Waste Dinner. This unique event, where gourmet dining meets sustainable innovation, will be held on Thursday, October 16 from 6:00-8:30 PM at St. Catherine of Siena Church Lucey Parish Hall in Riverside.
The main event of the evening is the "Tossed" Zero Waste Cooking Competition, where top chefs will face off in a sustainable showdown, turning “scrappy” ingredients into culinary masterpieces. From the menu and service ware to table décor, every detail of the dinner is meticulously designed to reduce waste and encourage sustainable habits.
The Zero Waste Dinner will highlight the critical issue of food waste, which makes up almost a quarter of Greenwich’s waste stream. Waste Free Greenwich’s strategies focus on building a more sustainable waste management system by reducing food waste through prevention and donating surplus food to those in need. When waste is unavoidable, they promote composting to return nutrients to the soil. Since 2020, Waste Free Greenwich has been a driving force behind the Town of Greenwich's food scrap recycling program that has diverted over 600,000 pounds of organic material, a number expected to grow with the upcoming installation of "smart" food scrap collection bins that provide 24/7 access.
“We are excited to host our first zero waste dinner, an event to empower waste free living, heighten awareness and cultivate community spirit,” stated Julie DesChamps, Founder and Chair of Waste Free Greenwich. “Not only will guests share a delicious sustainable meal with neighbors, but they’ll also be inspired by our innovative chefs and speakers to rethink habits and build a just, healthy and zero waste future in Greenwich.”
Tickets for the Zero Waste Dinner are available at www.eventbrite.com. Proceeds from the evening will support the mission of Waste Free Greenwich, as well as benefit Food Rescue US, Fairfield County. For additional information, please visit www.wastefreegreenwich.org or contact info@wastefreegreenwich.org.
Every loyal reader of the GPS District Digest knows the love we have for vintage postcards. Our collection boarders on spectacular and our passion to share it with you is obsessive.
Imagine the excitement we felt when a little green postcard book found its way into the newsroom, complete with a typewritten label on the cover, "This is Greenwich, Connecticut." Digest editor-extraordinaire, Linda, found it for us deep in the depths of the Havemeyer Building.
Opening the book is like sitting in a DeLorean and programming the date to November 5, 1955. Not only do the postcards depict local Greenwich scenes of a day gone by, but you can practically hear the click-clack of the typewriter and smell the glue from the old fashioned cut-and-paste method of captions. It is heavy.
Click-clack on this Greenwich Avenue postcard to view the entire book. Say hello to Doc Brown, if you see him.
Tell me Michael, how could 2,200 people be wrong?
That is how many close friends we have reading what we post on social media. It can be a great tool to share information when done responsibly. 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 active on other social media platforms? Should the district join you? Let us know!
IG: salpalespn
IG: cardscheer
IG: ghs_gobigred
IG: greenwich_pd_sro
IG: greenwich_pd_sro
IG: xreducator
IG: gwlibrary
