Hey Greenwich Did You Know ... Distinguished Teachers Have Been Named?

Today is Tuesday, May 1, 2012 and it's National Chocolate Parfait Day. It's also the start of the month in which culinary aficionadoas mark National Asparagus Month, National Barbeque Month, National Salad Month and National Hamburger Month.

This day in history:

In 1786, Mozart's immensely popular opera Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) received its world premiere in Vienna, Austria.

In 1931, the Empire State Building is dedicated by President Herbert Hoover. What's pretty amazing is the building was erected in just over a year, under budget (at $40 million) and well ahead of schedule. During certain periods of building, the frame grew an astonishing four-and-a-half stories a week, according to history.com. And as lore goes, it is believed the building was borne out a competition between Walter Chrysler and General Motors' John Jakob Raskob to see who could build the tallest building. The Empire State Building became the tallest.

And for all Yankee fans, even though he was wearing an Oakland Athletics uniform back in 1991, outfielder Rickey Henderson stole his 939th base to break Lou Brock's record for stolen bases in a career. Henderson stole a total of 1,406 bases in his major league career, almost 500 more than the next closest player, according to history.com.

Distinguished Teachers Chosen

The Greenwich Distinguished Teachers Awards Committee has selected the 2012 Distinguished Teachers.

• Christine Begole  Eastern Middle School, Advanced Learning/English,
• Andrew Bramante, Greenwich High School, science,
• Richard Kurtzman, Greenwich High School, mathematics,
• Elizabeth Manning, North Street School, kindergarten,
• Barbara Brennan Oxer, Old Greenwich School, Grade 4,
• Cynthia Sherwin, North Street School, Grade 5.

While the teachers were recognized at last week's Board of Education meeting, they will be formally honored at a ceremony at Western Middle School on Tuesday, May 8 at 4 p.m.

Eastern MS Assistant Principal Promoted

The assistant principal of Eastern Middle School, Judith M. Nedell, has been tapped to be Greenwich Public Schools' guidance services program coordinator.

The appointment is effective July 1. In announcing the promotion, interim Schools Superintendent Roger Lulow said, "Her years as a
counselor at Greenwich High School and administrator in the district have provided her with the clear understanding of the needs of the Greenwich students."

Lulow added, "She impressed me with the commitment she has in working with the students, faculty and parents to address the varied needs of the students as they navigate the middle schools and high school and prepare for transitioning to college and/or career.”

Bedell began her career in 1985 at Immaculate High School in Danbury, where she was a guidance counselor and standardized testing coordinator for 10 years. After spending 5 years as head of guidance for a Boca Roton, FL high school, Bedell Guidance Counselor and PSAT and SAT Coordinator for Greenwich High School. Nedell also acted as the high school’s Career Center Counselor, mentored colleagues new to the position, and participated on numerous school and district committees designed to improve student achievement and the learning environment.

While at Eastern Middle School for 5 years, implemented the building’s master schedule, planned professional learning for the staff and served as the Title IX Coordinator, on the school'a data team and has overseen the administration of standardized testing for the school.

Meetings today:

If you prefer the clicker instead of being there, there's Greenwich Community Television on either Fios Channel 24 or Cablevision's Channel 79.

And if prefer movie entertainment, here's the schedule for: