Creative Connections

Welcome to the first edition of our Visual & Performing Arts Department newsletter, Creative Connections! I am delighted to share this new way of connecting with you.

Every day, about 70 art and music teachers across our 15 schools help students sing, play, draw, sculpt, compose, and create. Much of that happens inside classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and studios, and families do not always get to see it. This newsletter is our way of opening those doors.

Each month, you can expect:

• Student work and performances from across all grade levels
• Spotlights on our teachers and the creative work they do
• Program news and updates, including exciting new opportunities for our students
• A district-wide calendar of concerts, exhibits, and events, all in one place

We believe every student deserves a rich and sequential arts education. This newsletter is one more way we can celebrate that journey together, and a chance to show how our schools and community can support it.

Thank you for being part of our arts community. We cannot wait to share what our students are creating!

At Hamilton Avenue School, every student begins learning strings through the Suzuki method, starting in PreK. Developed by Japanese violinist and educator Shinichi Suzuki, the approach is built on the idea that children learn music the same way they learn their first language: by listening, imitating, and repeating in a supportive, encouraging environment. Our youngest musicians start with the joy of making sound, and build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of music over time. Leading the program are Dr. Danny Hopemark, Ms. Victoria Boretsky, and Ms. Lisa Wolfe, whose dedication helps every child feel like a musician from their very first lesson.

To celebrate 20 years of the Greenwich Alliance for Education, students in every school created artwork for a one-of-a-kind, 9-foot column. Thanks to the creativity of our students and the guidance of our art teachers, each piece will become part of a larger whole. Once the column is complete, it will travel to schools and spaces across the district so everyone can see what we built together.

Thank you to the Greenwich Alliance for Education, whose partnership has helped bring so many creative opportunities to our classrooms.

Something special is happening at Greenwich High School, and it is taking shape on the wheel. This year, GHS opened a brand-new ceramics studio, and students have noticed. Enrollment in ceramics has grown from more than 200 students in 2025-2026 to more than 500 in 2026-2027.

The new space was built for makers at every level. Students can start with Intro, continue through Intermediate and Advanced, and go on to AP, all in one studio. Whether they are centering clay for the first time or building a portfolio, they have room to grow.

The studio is outfitted with new wheels, new furniture, a new pug mill, and a new kiln. Together they give students the tools and the space to experiment, problem-solve, and bring their ideas to life.

Thank you to our phenomenal visual art teachers for helping to make this transition possible, and to our district for its support in increasing arts access for our students.

When students have a place to create, they show up. We cannot wait to share what they make.

Our band, orchestra, choir, and art spaces at Central Middle School are incredible! These brand-new rooms give our young artists and musicians the space to rehearse, create, and grow together. Under the guidance of Mr. Strange (band), Mr. Lofaro (orchestra), Ms. Chenot (chorus), and Ms. Roth (art), CMS students now have spaces worth creating in. Come see and hear for yourself!