GPS District Digest (v7, i18)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education knows what's up.
The GPS District Digest, Connecticut's favorite school newsletter, has taken home CABE's Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communications for the third time in four years. Correct us if we are wrong, but you should now call us a dynasty.
And if you do not know about the goodest boy, GP Sleuthhound, then you just are not looking at the right spot. That pooch grabbed his own plaque.
As mentioned in this very spot in issue 17, the achievements and recognitions keep pouring in - it is that time of year. You will need to have that second cup of coffee just to get through all good things GPS in issue 18.
Enjoy Issue No. 18 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker recently announced that New Lebanon School is one of just six schools in the state that have been selected by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) as 2026 Connecticut Blue Ribbon Schools in recognition of demonstrating high levels of academic excellence, creating inclusive and supportive learning environments, and advancing strong outcomes for all students.
“Congratulations to these Connecticut schools on being selected for this honor and earning this well-deserved recognition,” Governor Lamont said. “The success of these schools is an example of why Connecticut’s public schools continue to rank among the best in the nation and why we must continue supporting the educators and school communities working on behalf of our students every day.”
The honorees were identified by CSDE using 2024-25 results from the Next Generation Accountability System. All selected schools were designated as Schools of Distinction. There are two categories of schools for this award—Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.
New Lebanon’s overall accountability index earned in 2024-25 was 89.3, above the state target of 85 and their highest to date. The school’s performance has been improving steadily in recent years. They earned School of Distinction status for the first time in 2021-22 and repeated their performance in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
"This is a momentous day in the history of New Lebanon School and Greenwich Public Schools," Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones said the day of the announcement. "New Lebanon is the embodiment of all that is good at GPS. Principal Dr. Russo and Assistant Principal Eisenstein are amazing leaders who promote closeness, connection, and unity with their teachers and entire staff, families, and students."
Greenwich High School's Special Education Teacher Ms. Joy Colon was recently presented with the Connecticut Education Association’s highest teaching award, the John McCormack Award for Teaching Excellence. She received the award before 350 of her colleagues at the 178th annual CEA Representative Assembly, held at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center.
“Joy is a thoughtful, highly skilled professional who has dedicated more than 25 years to supporting students with diverse learning needs,” CEA President Kate Dias said. “She has a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and co-chairs the CEA Racial and Ethnic Diversity Affairs Commission, facilitating dialogue, supporting professional learning, and advocating for policies that address inequities in access and opportunity.”
Colon was recognized for her professionalism, high expectations, and dedication to her students, colleagues, and students’ parents. She was praised for her ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her students and create environments where students see themselves reflected in their learning. She strives for every student to feel capable, valued, and supported in their growth.
“Access to high-quality, equitable education shapes not only individual outcomes but the health of society as a whole,” Ms. Colon said. “Students carry their educational experiences into every aspect of their lives and communities. This reality reinforces the urgency of strong public schools. It also reinforces the responsibility educators carry every day. That responsibility continues to guide my practice, leadership, and advocacy.”
"The Greenwich Education Association is immensely proud to celebrate Joy Colon for receiving the prestigious John McCormack Award for Teaching Excellence, presented by the Connecticut Education Association," Greenwich Education Association President Ms. Margaret Jackins said. "This award recognizes educators who exemplify outstanding professional practice, leadership, advocacy, community engagement, and a deep commitment to students and public education. Joy Colon’s dedication to inspiring students, supporting colleagues, and strengthening school communities reflects the very best of the teaching profession. Her achievement is a testament to the positive impact educators make every day, and the GEA is honored to recognize her excellence and unwavering commitment to our students and schools."
Greenwich Public Schools announced the professional assistants who have been named honorees of the 2026 Paraeducators of the Year, for those that have exhibited an extraordinary commitment to their position at their respective schools, making a significant impact on both academic and personal development of students. From these 15 distinguished professional assistants, one will be chosen to represent the district as GPS’ nomination for Connecticut’s 2027 Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year Award.
“Each year, we share our devoted appreciation to all of the district’s dedicated paraeducators who provide exceptional support to our students with their adaptability, commitment, and professionalism,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Toni Jones said. “Paraeducators are beloved school community members, inspiring students to reach their full potential.”
The Connecticut State Department of Education defines a paraeducator as an employee who assists teachers and/or other certified professionals or therapists in the delivery of instructional and related services to students. The paraeducator works under the direct supervision of the teacher and/or other certified or licensed professionals. The ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional programs, including assessment of student progress, is a collaborative effort between certified and licensed staff.
Each building held its individual celebrations to honor winners with certificate presentations and other recognitions. An announcement regarding GPS’ nomination for Connecticut’s 2027 Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year Award will be made in the coming weeks.
Julie Faryniarz and the Greenwich Alliance for Education was recently recognized by the Connecticut Arts Administrators Association at its Arts Advocacy Breakfast.
Each year, the CAAA takes the time to recognize those that have been supportive for the arts in schools and school districts. They are a professional network and resource for arts administrators and educators whose mission is to provide support, advocacy, and professional development opportunities for individuals involved in arts administration and education in the state of Connecticut.
The Alliance is the local education foundation supporting students at Greenwich Public Schools. Since their founding in 2006, they have dedicated $5.6 million to funding innovation, expanding opportunities, and inspiring educators.
Greenwich High School Senior Lauren Judge recently shared with the GPS District Digest (or did she?) an amazing video created by the Honors American Sign Language 4 class. Students decided on four songs from their childhoods that they wanted to sign. They took time translating and figuring out how they wanted to portray each song.
"It is not only a tribute to our ASL class and teachers," Lauren told the Digest, "but to ourselves and how much we have grown in the past four years."
She explained that in the first song, everyone you see playing and singing, are the ones playing the actual recording. All clips and pictures were sent to her, and she edited it all together.
"I hope you and everyone who watches it enjoys it," Lauren added.
Enjoys it? How about amazed by it?
Calling all rising first through fifth grade students for Camp Invention.
Led by our very own GPS staff, this exciting summer program provides hands-on STEM activities where campers build confidence, practice creative problem-solving, and bring their innovative ideas to life.
Camp will be held at Glenville School from July 6-10, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Camp Invention is a nonprofit program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Secure your spot today for a week full of fun and discovery. See the camp’s flyer for rates, discount codes. and more information.
Here in the Digest newsroom, we recently read about a large group of Greenwich Public Schools PTA volunteers gathering at Town Hall to honor nominees for the annual Essence awards in the Greenwich Free Press. This year there were an unprecedented 16 nominees.
The PTA Council Essence Award for Excellence in Volunteerism went to Maureen Harper, and the 2026 PTA Council Essence Lifetime Award for Excellence in Volunteerism went to Monica Huang.
Parkway School students journeyed around the world earlier this month during their newly expanded International Week, grabbing their passports to honor and celebrate the amazing cultures that make the community a true reflection of "One School, One World." Parkway families represent more than 40 countries across five continents, and their community speaks over 12 different languages.
They kicked off the week with an incredible performance by their very own fourth grader and his partner, who showcased a traditional Peruvian dance. Students were also treated to a spectacular, high-energy Lion Dance from MiuMoo Lion Dancing, complete with the traditional eating and scattering of lettuce for good luck.
The adventure continued with their very first International Market, where students used customized passports to "visit" nations ranging from Egypt to Italy and to “purchase” unique bazaar items. The Taste of the World Luncheon was a massive success, allowing students to sample delicious food from Switzerland, Hong Kong, Peru, Mexico, Italy, France, El Salvador, Spain, Ukraine, England, South Africa, Hungary, Brazil, Ecuador, Portugal, and more.
Parkway ended the unforgettable week with the Get Outside and Play Day going global. The day was packed with interactive fun, including Henna tattoos, a World Music Freeze Dance, and a school-wide World Map scavenger hunt. Students also got hands-on cultural experiences by learning West African dancing from the Cumbe Center for African & Diaspora Dance, practicing peaceful Yoga, and mastering martial arts moves from Club Kung Fu/CT Wing Tsun.
An event of this scale would not have been possible without the dedication of the Parkway community. A special, heartfelt thanks went out to the amazing International Week Committee, spearheaded by parent Jenet Grant, and including Mari Alves de Queiroz, Mia Gyesky, Norma Suin, Alina Dumitrasc, and Amy Li Liu.
Luke Sayers, an eighth grader at Western Middle School, recently arranged for a local pet adoption agency to come to his WMS pet adoption event as part of his Capstone Project. Luke has chosen a topic that is very dear to his heart: pet abandonment.
It was important to Luke that his capstone project has a real impact on our community. That is why he has chosen a service project to demonstrate his capstone learning.
There was a great turnout, and at least one puppy found a new home with WMS teacher, Ms. Anjelica Rahaniotis.
Bilingual and English as a Second Language teachers recently headed to Hamilton Avenue School to host a parent event for New Lebanon School and HAS families.
Parents and grandparents had a chance to meet each other and learn about the importance of bilingualism and biliteracy. Teachers modeled an interactive Spanish read aloud with families and engaged in questions before, during, and after the reading.
Parents were invited to bring their children, who had the opportunity to read and discuss a bilingual book with teachers and worked on making an authentic Mexican craft. Parents left with a resource folder that included sample questions to ask their children while reading with them in both languages, a bilingual family journal to develop strong parent-child communication and relationships, and copies of bilingual songs, chants, and rhymes that they can enjoy with their children.
Dedicated teachers Ms. Jacqueline Agashe, Ms. Ana Chejin, Ms. Virna Diaz-Jimenez, and Ms. Stephanie Paulino were amazing.
Congratulations to Greenwich High School seniors Angela Bai, Sydney Friedman, Sylvester "Sly" Pecora, Shaurya Singh; juniors Benjamin Huang and Hiroya Karube; and sophomore Brody Tice on recently competing in The DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA. These competitors stood out among the 30,000 participants at ICDC.
DECA, or Distributive Education Clubs of America, seeks to support the development of leaders and entrepreneurs who will be successful in a global economy.
Angela, Sly, and Shaurya were finalists, while Benjamin was also recognized for his performance. Everyone performed at a high level and were great representatives of Greenwich HS.
The North Mianus School chorus hit a high note with their debut performance of the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," at a New York Mets baseball game in Flushing late last month.
Led by 2025 Distinguished Teacher Ms. Robin Chenot, the chorus performed before a crowd of enthusiastic fans, creating an unforgettable experience for the young singers.
Glenville School fifth grader Laurel Gorman won several photography awards at the recent Connecticut Daffodil Show held at Christ Church in Greenwich.
In her first photography competition, Laurel earned first-place awards in all three youth photography categories, color (entry titled “Hello Spring!”), B&W (“Generations in Bloom”), and manipulated photography (“250th Red, White & Bloom”).
She also received special honors for Best Youth Photographer and Best Youth Photo, winning the Richardson Trophy for excellence in the youth photography division. The awards ceremony happened to fall on her 11th birthday, making for an extra special memory.
The CT Daffodil Show is one of the largest in the country and is now in its 68th year, combining highly-competitive horticulture judging with an artistic exhibition competition in floral design and photography, with dedicated youth divisions.
The Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Dallas, and Richmond recently announced the results of this year’s High School Fed Challenge, an academic paper competition. The competition, now in its 31st year, is open to high school teams across the nation.
Greenwich High School's team submitted their paper, "Swinging Towards Shutdown: Why Jazz Clubs Are Losing the Market," and was selected for publication in the 2026 Journal of Future Economists.
The 2026 theme was Economics of Music; teams were encouraged to think about how economic principles can be applied to what we listen to, how it is produced, and who benefits. School teams submitted 207 papers; of those, Federal Reserve reviewers selected 12 to publish.
GHS' team consisted of seniors Gabriel Elezaj, Boden Farmer, Sylvester "Sly" Pecora, Axel Persson, and Shaurya Singh; and juniors Alex Jackson, Youhan Liang, and Jasper Wies.
Greenwich Public Schools music teacher, Ms. Holly Brown, recently had an article published in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education called, "NAfME Eastern Division Elementary Music Teachers’ Perceptions of and Practices Related to Assessment: A Survey Study." The article focused on a research study she conducted with co-author Alden Snell, a member of the music education faculty at the Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester, NY).
Music teachers who participated in the study completed a survey focused on their perceptions of and practices related to the use of assessment in elementary level music classes.
“This study ties directly to my work and experiences as a teacher in Greenwich," Ms. Brown said. "Assessment in music can be seen as a gray area because it is difficult to objectively grade a subjective topic, such as music. On top of that, much of the existing research out there either focuses on general music at the elementary level or ensemble music at the secondary level. It can be hard to decipher what will work in elementary level ensemble music, which is where I have spent the bulk of my teaching career."
She added: "I am proud that now there is something future teachers can reference through the work I did and I hope I can expand upon it in the years to come.”
Ms. Brown can be found teaching at the International School at Dundee, Julian Curtiss School, and Parkway School.
Khushi Choudhary has it altogether, and she wants to help others.
The current junior at Greenwich High School started a small baking business when she was 13 years old called, Baked by Khushi. It has since raised more than $15,000 for charities including: Save the Children Ukraine, Kids in Crisis, and the YWCA.
She had to figure out every single piece on her own: licensing, packaging, marketing, and pricing. There was no place a teenager could find a mentor, connect with other young founders, or get practical guidance.
So she built one.
According to Khushi, the numbers are striking: 60% of teens want to start a business, and 45% want to learn from someone who has done it. But 68% say fear of failing alone is what holds them back. The Entrepreneurial Teen exists to close that gap, a free platform connecting teen founders with mentors, 100+ tools, workshops, and a growing community. Whether you are a teen and already building something, or you have been there and want to pay it forward as a mentor, your path starts here.
It is proudly sponsored by the First Selectman's Youth Commission of Greenwich, where Khushi now serves as a Youth Commissioner.
Children who are enrolled to attend Parkway School next year as kindergartners were recently invited to visit the school and meet their teachers. During the visit, students had the opportunity to make new friends, participate in creative activities and a counting game, and enjoy a read-aloud with kindergarten teachers, Mr. Catalano and Mr. Sweeney.
At the same time, parents were welcomed by Principal Mary Grandville, along with PTA representatives Shari Aser and Jenet Grant. Families learned more about what makes Parkway such a special community and the exciting experiences their children can look forward to in the coming school year.
This event, which also takes place across all elementary schools, is a wonderful opportunity for our newest school community members and their families to become familiar with their new school and begin building connections before the school year begins.
Award-winning journalist and author, Elaine Weiss, visited with Mrs. Norris-Olivia's sophomore Honors U.S. History classes at Greenwich High School earlier this month to discuss the research she undertook in connection with her two most recent books: The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote and Spell Freedom and The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement.
In addition to writing narrative non-fiction books, Weiss' byline has appeared in The Atlantic, Harper's, New York Times, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Christian Science Monitor.
Weiss spoke at length about the research process and how she goes about finding and exploring the untold stories in American history, focusing on the ordinary people behind the scenes. Students asked excellent questions about both her process and the subjects of her research.
Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones recently announced that Ms. Kristina Remy has been named Special Education program coordinator, effective July 1. She was named interim Special Education program coordinator on January 13, 2026.
“Continuity with our program coordinators in the Special Education and Student Supports department is imperative,” Chief Officer of Special Education and Student Supports Dr. Stacey Heiligenthaler said. “In just a few months, Kristina Remy has jumped into this role with exuberance, diligence, and sensitivity to support all students and staff. She is a great asset to the district.”
Since 2022, Ms. Remy has been a Special Education teacher at Greenwich High School where she has provided academic support for students with learning differences. Her experience as a Special Education teacher goes well beyond GPS. For the past 20 years, she has taught in Connecticut at Middlesex Middle School in Darien and Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, and in New York at Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in Yonkers, Pathways School in Eastchester, and The Westchester School in Yonkers.
Summer Camp at the YMCA of Greenwich (6 months-10th grade)
The YMCA of Greenwich still has spots available for Summer Camp 2026, with programs for children and teens of all ages and interests. Financial assistance is available for all camp programs. In partnership with Greenwich Public Schools, the YMCA is offering half-day camps for students enrolled in GPS summer school, with bussing directly from schools to the YMCA for grades K-5 and to Camp Seton for grades 6-10. Families can also explore new one-week specialty camps focused on interests like sports, coding, archery, leadership, and outdoor adventure. New this summer, select camps will take place at the outdoor grounds of Camp Seton in the Glenville neighborhood, with optional bussing available from the YMCA.
After School Care at the YMCA of Greenwich (kindergarten-fifth grade)
The YMCA of Greenwich After School Enrichment Program is now open for registration for the 2026–2027 school year! Open to students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade, the program provides a safe, supportive, and engaging environment after the school day ends. Children enjoy homework help, enrichment activities, sports, arts, STEM, weekly free swim, and opportunities to build friendships and confidence. Flexible scheduling options are available, along with bussing from eligible Greenwich Public Schools. Financial assistance is available to ensure all families have access to quality after school care.
