GPS District Digest (v3, i 17)

What an amazing week we had at GPS after coming back from Spring Recess.

Did you attend the 2022 Community Service Awards ceremony at the PAC on Monday? No? Maybe you should have. There were 27 amazing students honored on stage that would humble even the greatest philanthropists.

If you couldn't make it, maybe you can come celebrate six amazing teachers a week from today at the Distinguished Teachers Awards ceremony (4:30 PM at Central Middle School)?

In the latest GPS District Digest, you can read all about it, and more! So sit back, enjoy that sandwich or salad, and read (and listen!) about all of the great things happening.

Enjoy Issue 17!

GPS District Digest

The Distinguished Teachers Award Committee (DTAC) named the 2022 Distinguished Teachers on Tuesday. Did you see your favorite teacher on the list?

Congratulations go out to:

• Ms. Libby Craig, International School at Dundee, Advanced Learning Program

• Mr. Ryan Jones, Greenwich High School, Social Studies

• Ms. Alison Kistler, North Mianus School, Kindergarten

• Ms. Tyler Mecozzi, Western Middle School, Science

• Mr. William Ronk, Riverside School, Fourth Grade

• Ms. Darcey Zygmont, North Street School, Third Grade

“On behalf of the entire Committee, I want to thank all those who submitted nominations, and congratulate the 2022 Distinguished Teachers,” DTAC Chair Ms. Marlene Gilbert said. “This program is a reminder of the outstanding educators we are fortunate to have at Greenwich Public Schools. This year’s Distinguished Teachers navigated many challenges and we look forward to honoring this wonderful group, in person.”

The entire GPS community is welcome to celebrate our amazing teachers at the Distinguished Teachers Award ceremony, set for 4:30 PM on Thursday, May 5 at Central Middle School.

For more information, please head to our webpage dedicated to all things DTA. And add a reminder in your phone to nominate your favorite teacher next year!

Greenwich Public Schools held the 2022 Community Service Awards on Monday at Greenwich High School’s Performing Arts Center to recognize student participation in service activities that help to improve both their school and the community.

Since 1986, students are annually selected from each elementary school to accept the award on behalf of the entire school for service activities and projects that they have participated in throughout the year. Community Service Awards are presented to middle school students (one from each school) and five high school students (one from each house). An additional high school student is also selected to receive the Fleishman Service Award. Dr. Ernest Fleishman, a former Greenwich superintendent of schools and the Community Service Awards founder, presents this award to a GHS student who has made significant contributions to their school and community.

Head the District's webpage dedicated to all things Community Service Awards for a complete list of winners.

And if you want to be inspired, watch the video of GHS Senior Prathit Kurup receiving his prestigious 2022 Fleishman Service Award.

Earlier this month, as part of the partnership GPS has with the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra (GSO), nearly 1,400 fourth and fifth graders went on one of their first field trips in quite some time. Students attended the GSO's Young People's Concert, "Music Beyond Borders," and enjoyed a live symphony orchestra concert. In order to accommodate the large audiences, three separate performances were performed.

"We are so fortunate to have this 40-year partnership with the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra," Education Coordinator for the GSO and ISD Music Teacher Sandra Heikel said. "Bringing professional musicians into the schools is exciting, inspiring, and engaging, and it helps build our instrumental programs. Thank you Greenwich Symphony!"

The partnership between GPS and the GSO, which serves more than 3,000 students, is a community funded music education program for Greenwich students.

During their core music classes, students learned about the musical elements, the romantic and contemporary periods, and the composers through listening to the music. In the winter months, the GSO joined WMS and CMS instrumental students in performing side-by-side concerts under the direction of orchestra and band teachers Jillian Corey, Karen Anderson, Michael Strange, and Aaron Lofaro.

Last month, nearly 100 GHS Orchestra students in grades 10-12, along with the GHS Wind Ensemble, were joined by musicians from the GSO in a collaborative side-by-side concert, under the direction of Bethany Fuscaldo, performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 1.

To reach our middle schoolers at all three schools, several GSO musicians performed for Grades 6-8 music students and the musicians spoke about their diverse careers in music.

So turn the radio up for that sweet sound and watch the below videos for some amazing performances, including:

• Orchestral composition Danzón No. 2 by Mexican composer Arturo Márquez
• A simulated rainstorm using body percussion
• GSO string, woodwind, and brass musicians

Congratulations are in order for GHS Family Consumer Science Teacher Kristina Schule for winning the University of Connecticut Early College Experience (ECE) "Rookie of the Year" Award for excellence in first-year course instruction.

UConn ECE is a concurrent enrollment program that allows motivated high school students to take UConn courses at their high schools for both high school and college credit. Every course taken through UConn ECE is equivalent to the same course at the University of Connecticut. Students benefit by taking college courses in a setting that is both familiar and conducive to learning. The University of Connecticut certifies high school teachers to serve as UConn ECE Instructors and teach UConn courses.

“UConn ECE is a model program across the country,” Associate Vice Provost of UConn’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Peter Diplock said. “One of the reasons it is so admired and respected is because of all of our instructors and administrators and all they work they do every day and their commitment – commitment to students and their growth and learning, and commitment to the program and to excellence.”

Earlier this month, a familiar Cardinal was installed at GHS' Cardinal Stadium. Called "larger-than-life," the red cardinal logo was installed by a crew above the home bleachers.

As much as the editorial staff at the GPS District Digest loves postcards of the Havemeyer Building on Greenwich Avenue, they might like depictions of other schools even more because it gets the staff photographer out of the office.

The school on this postcard says it is "High School, Sound Beach, Conn.," but you know it today as Old Greenwich School on Sound Beach Avenue. Built 120 years ago in 1902, OG is truly an original, because it is the oldest current school building in GPS.

A 21-year-old Ida Aurora Wikstrom received this postcard at her home in Brooklyn, NY in November of 1908 from a secret admirer living in Old Greenwich, also known as Sound Beach.

While we may never know who put on that 1¢ Ben Franklin second bureau issue postage stamp, I am sure they knew Ida was a Finnish immigrant who had only been in America for three years when this postcard was sent up to the Nutmeg State. She worked as a milliner, a person who designs, makes, or sells hats for women (yes, we had to look that one up). She proudly applied for US citizenship in May of 1928.

The next time you get down to Brooklyn (where my Brooklyn peeps at?), you can pay your respects at Green-Wood Cemetery, where she was buried in December of 1967, along with her closest 600,000 friends.

Click on the images below to see what our administrators, teachers, and others in the community have been sharing on social media!

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