GPS District Digest (v5, i09)
Stories, news, and updates from Greenwich Public Schools
Happy New Year, GPS!
We have a tradition here at the GPS District Digest: the first issue of the brand new year we send to not just you, but to EVERYONE! We love to give you the opportunity to get yourself off the naughty list by subscribing, much like our ~3k loyal readers.
And if you think about it, who would not want all good things GPS sent directly into your inbox every other Thursday at 11:00 AM sharp? You do not want to miss a single issue of fun, photos, and feel-good stories. Is there a better lunch companion than the Digest? We should think not.
So sit back, sip on that soup (slowly, it's hot!), and dive into the only newsletter that shares this much GPS news!
Enjoy Issue No. 9 and thank you for your support.
GPS District Digest
It's over. Deal with it. The holidays are in the rear view mirror. But the Digest is still hanging on and we want to share some highlights.
Under the direction of Mr. Luke Rosenberg, 27 students in the Greenwich High School Chamber Chorus performed traditional holiday songs for two dozen Greenwich Public School administrators at the Havemeyer Building located on Greenwich Avenue.
Watch and listen. You will be glad you did.
Students in Greenwich High School's English for Speakers of Other Languages recently visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Sixty-five Cardinals toured the museum and went to see the Space Show: Worlds Beyond Earth thanks to the generous support from the PTA and a Title III grant.
Many English Learners from all over the world visited this museum for the first time.
Loyal Digest readers will remember back in issue no. 4 about the 2023-2024 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest open to fourth and fifth grade students to help promote "Fire Prevention Month."
The GPS District Digest has learned Cos Cob School fourth grader, Madeleine Boldt, was named the Greenwich winner and will now compete against other students in Fairfield County and Connecticut.
Way to go, Madeleine, and thanks for reminding us to stop, drop, and roll!
We received great news recently out of Orlando, FL. GHS senior Max Lu was named co-champion, along with The Dalton School's Gus Huston, at the US Chess Federation's 2023 National K-12 Grade Championships.
The US Chess Federation (US Chess) is the official governing body and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for chess players and chess supporters in the United States. Its mission is to empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess.
The competition boasted a total of 2,405 players from 41 states (plus some from the territories and foreign countries), who played in 13 different sections.
For a full report and recaps, head to US Chess' website.
It was a day of celebrating both new and old traditions at North Street School as all the students and staff gathered in the gymnasium for their monthly Spirit Celebration and Annual Holiday Sing-Along before the Holiday Recess.
The Spirit Assemblies started in the 2021-2022 school year as a way to celebrate hardworking students who exemplify the district norms of GPS: “Be Here, Be Safe, Be Honest, Care For Self and Others, Let Go and Move On.”
Along with the assemblies, the school created an ambassadors program that allowed fourth and fifth grade students to serve in certain leadership roles within the school. Each week, students can earn Dragons Roar stickers for demonstrating one of the norms and at the monthly assembly, selected students get to walk down a red carpet while being applauded.
“It is a wonderful way for the students to get to cheer on their classmates and share in the joy of their hard work throughout the month,” North Street Principal Ms. Flood said.
In December, the focus was on “Care For Self and Others,” as the entire school read the book "Those Shoes" by Maribeth Boelts and explored the themes of kindness, generosity, and paying it forward. All the students were asked to write about acts of kindness they did or received and each day during morning announcements, the children shared some on the loudspeaker.
The month culminated in the Spirit Assembly where students walked the red carpet and members of the fifth grade ambassadors program wrote, directed, and performed in skits that highlighted the norm and explained to their peers and younger classmates about the value of kindness.
Assistant Principal Ms. McEvily said that she loves the program because “not only does it teach leadership skills to our young learners, but it allows for our fifth graders to share their creativity in writing and performing in front of their peers.”
To cap off the special morning, the entire school community joined in a joyous holiday sing-along - an annual tradition at North Street that dates all the way back to the 1980s.
(GHS sophomore Gemma Hardwick will be checking into the GPS Digest from time to time with girls track team updates. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Gemma!)
Bishop Loughlin Games
By Gemma Hardwick
It was a successful start to the season for the Greenwich Girls Indoor Track Team. In their first competitive meet, the 69th Bishop Loughlin Games held at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island, Greenwich finished ninth out of 32 teams from the northeast.
Several athletes qualified for FCIACs and Class LLs. The top performances included Esme Daplyn's second place in the varsity 1000 with a time that is currently 10th in the US, followed by several personal records in the 1000 as well as the 600, and 300.
The 4x800 team of Kate Friedman, Lauren Resnick, Ellie Daplyn, and Esme Daplyn ran a very fast time, which finished second, and is currently eighth in the U.S.
The final show of the day, which was the highlight of the meet, was the Sophomore 4x400 relay of Gemma Hardwick, Maggie McCooe, Ellie Daplyn, and Orla Muir, who placed first. Last year, two of the girls were part of a Freshman 4x400 team which also placed first, continuing the winning streak.
The second meet was the North Shore Invitational, which over 100 teams attended from several different states at the Armory in New York City. A most significant performance was senior Esme Daplyn in the 600 who placed fourth overall with a time that is currently seventh in the U.S.
Several other athletes qualified for FCIACs and Class LLs in the 600, 1000, and 300. Esme also ran the 1500 and is currently US no. 8 with a time that placed first at the meet.
Parkway School students were treated to the What's Out There? planetarium experience before the Holiday Recess.
The Starlab Portable Planetarium System made it possible for students to observe the evening sky from their own location and to become amateur astronomers. With interactive presentations, students were the assistants to the presenter, helping to locate major stars, planets that are visible, and the moon. The goal of the program is to engage all students in learning, to have them develop an appreciation of astronomy, and a genuine curiosity about the world around them.
Made possible by the Parkway PTA, each grade level had the opportunity to gather under the big dome in the gymnasium and stroll the universe with the guidance of guest astronomer, Mr. Matthew Meyer.
You can try, but you will not be able to stop our main man, Thomas McKinney, from cleaning this place up.
Every loyal Digest reader knows "The Tank" by now. He is the Greenwich High School junior that helps organize community cleanups. In mid-December, he and 38 of his closest friends ascended onto Cos Cob Park for his final event of 2023 to collect 120 pounds of trash in only two hours.
Do not forget to follow him on Instagram at @thomasmck5 for details on his next cleanup.
Before the Holiday Recess, Parkway's student council officers headed to The Nathaniel Witherell to share the 160+ holiday cards made by students from every grade. The residents were so grateful for the children's generosity and holiday spirit. Parkway students truly exemplify the school norm of "Caring for Self and Others."
Owned and operated by the Town of Greenwich since 1903, the Witherell, a not-for-profit healthcare facility, is dedicated to providing the highest level of skilled nursing care and quality of life for seniors. It also offers exceptional short-term rehabilitation and sub-acute post-hospitalization care for all those in need.
It was recently announced that Greenwich Police Department’s Detective Sergeant Brent Reeves has been appointed interim school safety director following the retirement of long-time Director of School Safety Tom Bobkowski.
“Tom Bobkowski served nearly two decades at Greenwich Public Schools with tremendous dedication and passion,” Chief Operating Officer Blaize Levitan said. “His numerous innovations, including the creation and implementation of the district’s safety program, his working relationship with the Town of Greenwich’s first responders and leaders, and the respect he earned from every GPS staff member should be commended. Words cannot truly express how grateful the entire Greenwich community is for his work through the years.”
“We wish Tom Bobkowski the absolute best in the next chapter of his life,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Toni Jones said. “We know Tom as a hardworking member of our team, but he is also a great family man who will get to enjoy even more time with his immediate and extended family.”
Familiar to many in Greenwich, Detective Sgt. Reeves comes to GPS from the Greenwich Police Department, where he has spent the past 26 years in law enforcement, most recently as the supervisor of the community impact section, overseeing the school resource and community impact officers, and acting as a juvenile matters detective. He was the detective division supervisor for a decade and as the sergeant in the Special Victims Section for seven years, supervised a squad of investigators. He is the Greenwich Police Department’s Domestic Violence subject matter expert and a CT State Certified Police Instructor teaching Domestic Violence Investigations, Lethality Assessment, and Juvenile investigations.
“We welcome Detective Sergeant Brent Reeves to Greenwich Public Schools,” Jones added. “His valuable experience, expertise in the Town of Greenwich and our school district, and his overall knowledge of school safety immediately makes him a tremendous asset.”
“Our children are our most precious resource and our most vulnerable population,” Detective Sgt. Reeves said. “As a police officer for the last 26 years, I have seen first-hand what dangers threaten our young population. In this position, I will continue to have the opportunity to keep our children safe. By leveraging my experience, our security team and technology, I will endeavor to build on the work of my predecessor, with the goal of establishing the safest learning environment possible.”
Head to the district's webpage to read the full press release.
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