Board Should Set Graduation Date on Wednesday

This week Thursday will fall on a Wednesday for the who, in a rare schedule change, has moved its April Work Session to hump day. Among the topics expected to be on the board's agenda Wednesday evening are:

• Update on MISA
• Program Review: ALP Step II
• Presentation on Common Core Standards
• Board Goals
• First Read on a proposed Policy Revision to Curriculum, Programs and Services
• Monitoring Report on E080-Public Involvement in Schools

However, at the top of the agenda for many, especially GHS seniors, is the board's decision on the 2012 graduation date.

At last month's Board meeting held at , following the Superintendent's proposed postponement of the decision, board member Steve Anderson called for "hard wiring" the graduation date after April 1st.

In his proposal for deferral on a decision, interin Superintendent Dr. Roger Lulow commented that while last year graduation date was set on March 24, the date was set "under a different circumstance than this year." The graduation date last year was more a "moving graduation date" target contingent upon possible school closure dates between the end of March and end of June.

Lulow observed that adopting the date prior to April 1 caused confusion for some parents. "It might just be safer to do this at the April 4th meeting; (so that it will) be with complete compliance with the law..." proposed Lulow.

Action on Changes to 2011-2012 School Calendar  will not only set the the 2012 graduation date, but also the last day of school for students who are equally anxious to hear when their summer vacation will begin.

The end of school picture will mostly likely look like:

• The last day of school for 6th graders will be on June 20, 2012 (181 days);
• the last day of school for all students will be on June 21, 2012 (181 days);
• the last day for teachers will be on June 22, 2012 (187 days)
• GHS graduation will be held on June 20, 2012 (180 days)

Solar at Greenwich High

The Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony last Tuesday morning at to unveil the first solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at the school.

Among those who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony were First Selectman Peter Tesei, Superintendent Lulow, GHS Headmaster Chris Winters, town Conservation Commissioner Denise Savageau, Bob Director, Marketing and Outreach, CEFIA and Greenwich resident Frank Alfano who happens to be the CEO of Mercury Solar Systems.

Greenwich High School, one of the largest high schools in Connecticut, installed a 7.7 kilowatt (kW) solar system in November 2011. The system was designed and installed by Mercury Solar Systems and funded by a grant provided through CEFIA’s Clean Energy Communities Program.

After joining CEFIA’s Program in March 2008, Greenwich quickly demonstrated dedication and active engagement to clean energy with a number of Clean Energy Community accomplishments.

 “I am pleased that our commitment to becoming a Clean Energy Community has resulted in this green opportunity for Greenwich Public Schools” said Tesei. "The town and its residents together share in this accomplishment."

According to program data, Greenwich is among the top 20 municipalities supporting clean energy through CEFIA’s Clean Energy Communities Program. Greenwich achieved these results by garnering 347 CTCleanEnergyOptions signups and deploying 36 clean energy systems. "The Town of Greenwich has demonstrated outstanding leadership in its support for clean and efficient energy. The Greenwich High School system will provide energy and environmental education opportunities to the faculty, students, and the community as a whole.  By following their example, town residents and businesses may create a healthier environment, and help earn more clean energy systems for town buildings” said Bob Wall, CEFIA Director of Marketing and Outreach.

State Rep. Livvy Floren, who attended the ceremony along with state Rep. Lile Gibbons, praised the school and the initiative. "Greenwich High School has been in the forefront of environmental education programs—faculty, staff, students, parents—work together to instill best practices in day to day activities and facilities. This photovoltaic system is yet another tangible example of our sincere efforts to be a clean energy community." 

Summer is still a cool time to school

It may be April, but its not too early to start thinking about summer. The 2012 GPS Summer School brochures and registration forms are now available on the district's website.

The "World of Discovery" pre-kindergarten program will be held at Hamilton Avenue School (8 am - noon), while the K-5 elementary school programs will be held at Cos Cob School (8 am - 2 pm): Session I will run July 2 - July 20 and Session II from July 23 - Aug. 10.

The middle and high school programs will be offered at Greenwich High School from July 2 - Aug. 3 with times depending on the course taken.

The summer program offers academic courses and workshops for credit, enrichment, acceleration, review, or make-up. The wide variety of selection enables course takers to grow intellectually, maintain skills as well as stretch their imaginations. The journey begins with registration!

Are you satisfied?  Here is your chance to speak up!

The district wide satisfaction survey administered by Harris Interactive School Poll will begin this week with students in grades 5-12 taking the surveys starting April 2 through May 11 during Media Labs. Parents did have the opportunity to opt their children out of the survey.

All GPS parents should be on the lookout for an email invitation from Harris Interactive's email address, Research@hpolsurveys.com, on or about April 16. The subject line will be: Greenwich Public Schools - Parent Satisfaction Survey 2012.

To GPS Students, Grades 5-12: You will be scheduled into Media Labs between April 2nd and May 11th to take the on line survey, unless your parents have completed and submitted the Opt Out Form below.

GPS Staff (via email), elected officials, town department heads and community organization leaders will also be invited to partake in the satisfaction survey opportunity.

This will be the fourth administration of the district-wide satisfaction survey giving the district solid comparative data.

According to the GPS website; the information and analysis generated from the results of this survey:
* are essential components of the Board of Education’s Success System – the district’s annual ‘report card.’
* assist the Greenwich Public Schools in their strategic planning efforts for continuous improvement.
* provide data for individual school’s Strategic Improvement Teams as they develop their goals and plan to address areas of concern.

* Reported to All Stakeholders: The results of the survey are reviewed by the Board of Education, central office administrators and school building personnel. The results are also shared with parents and the broader Greenwich community.

* By each school: The results for each school are reviewed by the respective School/Strategic Improvement Teams and the data is used as the basis for establishing school improvement goals.

* By the District: As results indicate areas that may be in need of improvement, the District conducts further research into those areas to determine the best course of action.

Greenwich Reads - Children's Book Drive

Greenwich Reads Together, a highly anticipated community-wide reading experience, will begin on April 17.

As a precursor to the many town-wide events available as part of Greenwich Reads Together, the Greenwich Alliance for Education will once again be collecting new or gently used children's books for redistribution to local kids beginning on Thursday, April 5.

Greenwich Reads Together is designed to nourish a love of reading and literature and to build community connections through the shared reading of a single book. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, a National Book Award winner, has been selected as this year's title.

Zeitoun is the true story of the experiences of the Syrian-American contractor, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, and his family during and after Hurricane Katrina.

Please refer to Greenwich Reads Together for this years' program of events.

Children's Book Drive: April 5 - 20: Donation bins will be located at the
Greenwich, Cos Cob, Byram Schubert and Perrot Libraries and at BNY Mellon Wealth  Management 10 Mason St., Greenwich, CT.