GPS District Digest (v6, i09)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
Recently, 22 members of the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers performed a selection of holiday songs for the staff at the Havemeyer Building. The group was led by music teacher, Mr. Luke Rosenberg.
For those many staff members that work for your public schools in the Central Office, this is a wonderful annual tradition that gives them a small break and gets them into the holiday spirit.
Right before the Holiday Recess, Greenwich Public Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of the new Central Middle School construction.
The new Central Middle School will be a dynamic learning center for generations to come that will house up to 660 students each year, in approximately 125,000 gross square feet in a two story structure. The building will be designed with safety, flexibility, and sustainability in mind – goals generated in a Visioning Session with civic leaders, community members, and school faculty, in conjunction with the Educational Specification set forth by the Board of Education.
After a school-wide assembly, the adults went outside and literally put their shovels to the ground.
Dr. Toni Jones recently announced that 54 GPS employees have been named GPS’s “Difference Maker” award recipients for the month of December as staff members who have made an overwhelming impact on the lives of others inside and outside of our schools.
“We continue to be grateful and impressed with the amazing support our staff is receiving from the GPS community,” Dr. Jones said. “We created this program to shine a light on the wonderful and selfless work being done throughout our district. As we announce our third month of Difference Makers, we are seeing the depth of talent and caring of individuals that educate and look after our students on a daily basis.”
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 it 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.
You keep making a mess. Thomas "The Tank" McKinney keeps cleaning it up.
The Greenwich High Senior and his friends at Greenwich Green & Clean will not be bored anytime soon because you keep forgetting where your rubbish belongs. This past weekend, Mr. T headed to Bruce Park, your personal dumping ground.
Anyone else every wonder what the bedroom of our main man, Thomas, looks like? It has got to be immaculate, right?
We know your kids love PJ day. You know your kids love PJ Day. What is not to love?
A fun and amazing tradition at GPS, PJ Day was created many years ago by Ms. Sophie Lenschow (GHS class of 2024) to raise funds and create awareness for children battling cancer at Connecticut's Children's Hospital. Now, GHS junior Anna-Louise Lenschow has taken the reins.
Why PJs? To honor those kids that wear their pajamas all day, every day, during their hospital stay.
Check in with your school administration to ask if Friday, February 7 is PJ Day in your neck of the woods. If you want to help out even more, check out her fundraising webpage.
When school is out, the Y is in!
GPS' community partner, the YMCA of Greenwich, is hosting a Vacation Camp for children ages 3-10 on Monday, January 20 from 9:00-4:00 PM when schools are closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The program offers tons of creative, engaging, and fun activities including arts & crafts, gym games, pool time, fitness classes, and so much more. Financial assistance is available for this program. For more information, visit the YMCA of Greenwich’s Vacation Camp web page.
But wait, there is more!
The YMCA of Greenwich is also partnering with GPS to launch "Play Everyday!" a new recess support program at Hamilton Avenue School for fourth and fifth graders. YMCA recess coaches will lead fun, inclusive games to encourage movement, social connection, and lifelong healthy habits. From January 6 through May 31, YMCA staff will visit on Mondays and Fridays, providing 30 minutes of engaging activities per grade. On rainy days, the program includes indoor group activities to ensure every student stays active and involved.
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.
