GPS District Digest (v4, i1)

Another school year and another exciting issue of the GPS District Digest. Miss us?

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Our loyal readers know what to expect from the newsroom at the Digest: photos of smiling children, videos, awards, recognitions, silly rhymes, old postcards, and maybe a few obscure movie and music references (extra credit if you can spot them).

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Enjoy Issue No. 1 and thanks for reading!

GPS District Digest

No one says good morning to Greenwich like Cos Cob Interim Principal Kerry Gavin says good morning to Greenwich.

Wait! You don't know about Mr. Gavin's morning video announcements? Well, it's about time you do. So put on your tropical shirt, your Phoenix gear, and your bowtie, and get ready.

Students and families from Western MS are most familiar with Mr. Gavin's morning announcements where as the Wildcat's assistant principal, he created these videos for everyone to stay connected to their school, even those that were participating in school virtually. There are filled with school news, upcoming events, and loads of great fun.

Take 2:44 of your time and watch this morning video announcement from the first day of school last week. You'll be glad you did!

Last month, we asked you to share the best photographs of your children representing their schools. Now that Summer Vacation 2022 is just a memory, let's take a look back at the fun, smiles, and pride.

In July, GHS alum Tiffany Ferreira graduated from Fordham University and shared her success with the people who made it all possible: her parents. After her ceremony, Ferreira placed her cap on her mother and wrapped her father with her gown. The gesture honored her parents and the sacrifices they made immigrating from Brazil for their family to have a better life in this country. Now, she is the first college graduate in her family.

A proud member of the GHS Class of 2018, Ferreira was a part of Mr. Ken Alcorn's AVID class and over the years, received $8,000 from the Greenwich Alliance AVID SUCCESS Scholarship Fund.

"Tiffany Ferreira exemplified the AVID ethos in numerous ways," Mr. Alcorn said. "She embraced the concept that every offer of support was an opportunity for growth. She collaborated generously with her peers, as eager to help as she was to be helped. She always accepted her individual responsibility for her progress. And Tiffany was congenial, enthusiastic and positive. She is a highly accomplished student and impressive young person."

You are welcome to watch this brief feature from NBC News below that focuses on Tiffany.

In late August, the staff of New Lebanon welcomed prekindergarten, kindergarten, and new-to-school students and families prior to the first day of school school for a building tour, meet their teachers, and a great opportunity to talk to community partners, such as the Boys & Girls Club, United Way, and Family Centers. Acting Principal Linsey Eisenstein handed out backpacks and supplies donated by Verition, a hedge fund based in Greenwich.

Proud Principal Jen Bencivengo graciously shared amazing photos from Day 1 at Old Greenwich School last week. Each Dolphin was greeted by the smiling staff at the front steps of the historic school building making the most welcoming of first days for their PreK-5 students.

We hope you enjoy these spectacular images much as we do!

Late last month, the YMCA of Greenwich launched Running Start, a new back-to-school program serving K-6 students in our district who can benefit from a back-to-school shopping trip.

With the financial support of donors and through a grant by the John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation, along with the help of many volunteers, the Running Start program was able to provide 34 children with clothing, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks. GPS supplied school buses for the trip. The YMCA has said that they aim to increase the program’s impact in 2023 and take 75 local children back-to-school shopping.

To make this year’s program a success, the YMCA partnered with GPS, Neighbor to Neighbor, Jewish Family Services, Barbara’s House (formerly Community Center, Inc. of Greenwich -CCI), Arcuri's Pizza & Salad and Kohl’s.

“At the Y, we do not want financial concerns to be the reason a child is not set up for academic success. Confident and prepared children today are tomorrow’s engaged community members,” YMCA of Greenwich Chief Executive Officer Matthew Skaarup said. “We believe every child should start the school year ready to excel.”

The YMCA of Greenwich Running Start program takes a unique approach to helping children prepare for back to school. Children were paired with community volunteers for a fun and special night of back-to-school shopping. Children, their family members, and volunteers shared pizza, donated by Arcuri's, to begin the evening.

"Greenwich Public Schools are a proud first-year partner of the YMCA of Greenwich’s Running Start program," Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones said. "We are thrilled to collaboratively find new ways to support our students and families."

GPS is working to build and strengthen family engagement with the rollout of the Families As Partners In Learning program. The program was field-tested in three district elementary schools and is now being expanded to the other eight elementary schools.

The first strategy in the program is the welcome calls that all elementary general classroom, Special Education, English Language Learner and Advanced Learning Program teachers are making to students’ parents early this school year. Teachers learning about a student through the lens of parents is important at any time during the school year, but can provide a head start on being able to serve a student well at the beginning of the year.

The Families As Partners In Learning program will provide more tools for teachers and families this year, to strengthen family engagement and build the kind of partnerships that support student success.

For more information, contact your school's administrative team.

Are you one of the 1,875 loyal followers of @GPSDistrict on Twitter?

On social media, we will keep our community informed of breaking news and all good things GPS. Sometimes, we will even have a Twitter Takeover with some of your favorite people. In the upcoming issues of the Digest, we will show you some of our favorite posts around the GPS Twittersphere.

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