GHS Constitution Team Headed for National Competition

The Greenwich High School 2010-2011 “We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution” team received a well-deserved standing ovation at last Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.

The team – comprised entirely of juniors - will be representing the State of Connecticut at the national finals in late April in Washington, DC. This will be the fourth time a GHS team has represented the state. Each year, the team is reconstituted with a completely new roster, under the direction of teacher Aaron Hull. The team begin studying the “We The People curriculum starting in June before testifying as teams of four to five students in simulated Congressional hearings. They must provide testimony before panels of experts on topics ranging from Political Theory, the Founding of the Nation, to The Civil War and its Amendments, American Governmental Institutions, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and American Citizenship.

The We The People class also prepares for the AP US Government and AP Comparative Politics Exams, and is in the process of earning 6 college credits from the University of Connecticut’s Early College Experience program.

Two students also have been recognized so far in a statewide Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, and are competing in the ACLU Essay Contest as well as the upcoming Town Defining Diversity Essay Contest, among others.

Helping Hull with coaching are media specialist Aaron Johnson and by CLP social studies teacher Lauren Siket.

“We The People” team members are: Carl Akerman, Noah Bardos, Warren Bein, Alina Carrel, Luke Cofer, William Hallisey, Connor Harris, Jennifer Hilibrand, Ellis Kim, Max Kim, James Knight, Hosung Kwon, Christina Lamoureux, Julia McDonald, Chloe McGovern, Cameron Molis, Thomas Newberry, Jonathan Palmer, Eduard Pey, Gwendolyn Pfetsch, Andrew Reynolds, William Sadock, Paul Singer, Matthew Van Rhyn and Frederick Whelan.

Greenwich Academy technology education earns recognition from Apple

Apple recently named Greenwich Academy an Exemplary Program for the 2010-2011 school year.  Its highest distinction for K-12 schools, Apple’s Exemplary Program award annually recognizes 40 schools across the country; this year, Greenwich Academy was the only Connecticut school to receive the distinction.

According to Apple, “Programs nominated for the designation  …  must demonstrate a strong, well-articulated use of Apple products in K-12 education and illustrate ‘best practice’ qualities of a 21st century learning environment.”

GA’s Director of Technology Dirk DeLo said GA’s recognition has a great deal to do with the school’s program and faculty work at integrating technologies such as wikis, podcasts, blogs, iWeb sites and iLife applications in the classroom.  The school also has done model work in exploring and integrating the use of digital video and – more recently – iPads into a variety of lessons and disciplines.

Hamilton Avenue students do their math homework for a cause

The subject of math recently took on a very special meaning and importance at Hamilton Avenue School for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

Sixty-three students participated in a “Math-a-thon” organized by fifth-grade teacher Cathy Byrne. Students received a special math packet. In addition to completing the assignment, the students were charged with raising money from family and friends. With each donation, the student would complete a segment of the packet.

For the students, “2 + 2” equaled much more than 4 - it actually equaled a total of $7,361, which was donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“Our goal when we set out to do the Math-a-thon, was to raise $1,000,” Byrne said. “but the kids performed beyond expectations. They did a wonderful job, for a wonderful cause, and learned mathematics in the process.”

Top money raisers were fourth-grader Jack Caruso ($785), third-grader Ryan LaPietra ($525), and fifth-grader Adonte Joseph ($200). Each student was recognized during a broadcast on WHAM-TV, the student-run television station.

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Residents named to Dean’s Lists:

Elmira College has named its Dean's List for Academic Achievement for the Fall 2010 term for students who have a minimum grade point average of 3.6.

Amanda Marini, a senior majoring in childhood education. She is the daughter of Linda and Anthony Marini of Greenwich.

Kalmia Cochran, a junior majoring in Adolescence Education: Social Studies and History. She is the daughter of Karen and Rick Cochran of Greenwich.

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Gettysburg College has named its Deans’ Commendation List for students who have earned at least a 3.33 GPA.

Senior Kathryn Versfelt of Greenwich;

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Villanova University has named its fall 2010 Dean’s List:

Senior Jenna DeVico of Greenwich,

Freshman Alyssa Lodato of Greenwich.