Greenwich CSD students and faculty assist with the distribution of Thanksgiving meals at the Greenwich Elks. 259 meals were distributed to members of the community through Comfort Foods Community.

The following 26 students were inducted into the Greenwich Chapter of the National Honor Society on Wednesday, November 18, 2020:

Greenwich Hosts NHS Virtual Induction Ceremony

NYSPHSAA Postpones Start Date for High Risk Winter Sports
Low and moderate risk sports on schedule to begin November 30^th

Latham, NY – The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced the start date for high risk winter sports (basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling) will be moved to January 4, 2021.  Until authorization is granted by state officials, NYSPHSAA member schools are not permitted to participate in sports determined to be high risk by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).  Low and moderate risk winter sports will be permitted to begin on November 30th as previously determined by NYSPHSAA.

“The NYSPHSAA membership has expressed concerns pertaining to the increase in infection rates,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “Minimizing risk and exposure to COVID-19 is a top priority of the Association.  We continue to make these types of decisions based upon readily available information and communication with state officials.”

Low and moderate risk winter sport practices (bowling, gymnastics, indoor track & field, skiing, and swimming & diving) are still on schedule to begin on November 30^th for those schools and sections who have determined it feasible to host interscholastic athletics at that time.  Regular season games/contests can begin for low and moderate risk fall sports once student-athletes have participated in the required number of practices as per NYSPHSAA bylaws.

“NYSPHSAA’s leadership recognizes the numerous challenges interscholastic programs are experiencing and the obstacles associated with resuming high risk sports,” said Julie Bergman, NYSPHSAA President. “While it is certainly the goal of the Association to provide all students with the ability to participate in interscholastic athletics we must remain steadfast in our decisions to ensure the safety of our athletes is our focus.”

At this time, all winter NYSPHSAA State Championship events remain as scheduled.

This article appeared in today’s Post Star.  It highlights the need to remain vigilant in defending against COVID-19.

Greenwich Junior High Students in the first quarter of Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS) class, learned basic sewing skills and created their own customized face masks.

News Announcement-Winter

Greenwich COVID Athletics Statement

November 13, 2020

The Greenwich Central School District is committed to providing a winter sports season for our student athletes.  At this time, basketball, wrestling, and winter cheer are considered high risk sports and are restricted in New York State schools.  We are following the NYSDOH, NYSED and NYSPHSAA guidance regarding indoor workouts & training.  We require our coaches to submit a plan for approval prior to beginning.  Decisions regarding the winter season will be grounded in the state guidance. 

As reported in the Times Union, on Monday, November 9, New York State budget director Robert Mujica stated the state was “not inclined” to allow the start of the winter sports season scheduled to begin with practices Nov. 30 as the state and nation continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Mujica added that the only sport currently on schedule to begin this winter is skiing — Alpine and Nordic — because it is an outdoor activity.

Robert Zayas, executive director of the NYSPHSAA, later issued the following statement: “After consultation with state officials today, NYSPHSAA has confirmed low and moderate risk sports (bowling, gymnastics, indoor track and field, skiing and swimming and diving) are permitted to be played. NYSPHSAA has established November 30th as the winter sports start date. At this time, authorization has not been permitted for high risk sports to begin play. The high-risk sports start date continues to be examined and will be revised if needed, but is contingent upon authorization from state officials.”  The state health department previously deemed such winter sports as basketball, hockey and wrestling to be “high-risk” activities because of the close indoor proximity each provides its competitors. 

Decisions regarding the winter season in Greenwich will be grounded in the state guidance. We pledge to be transparent in our process and to update the community as we process the guidance and plan for possible winter activity. 

Greenwich winter sports include Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, Indoor Track and Field, Competitive Indoor Cheerleading, Wrestling (with Schuylerville) and Skiing (with Schuylerville). 

Watts Dippin

This past October, Lauren Chuhta virtually attended the Global Youth Institute of the World Food Prize as a Delegate of New York. A junior at Greenwich High School, this past February, Lauren researched and proposed a means to address the Uganda water crisis through Warka Towers. In June, she presented her findings and proposals to a virtual panel of New York peers and agricultural experts at the New York Youth Institute of the World Food Prize. Judged on creativity, plausibility, passion, and academic effort, Lauren was selected as one of eleven delegates chosen to represent the New York Institute at the global convention.

Of the 10,000 papers submitted worldwide, Lauren’s was one of the 200 chosen to advance to the Global Youth Institute. In this two week virtual convention, Lauren presented her ideas to a group of students, experts, moderators, and World Food Prize laureates and received feedback and ideas from them in turn. She was able to listen to the proposals and research of students her own age from around the world, and even learn more informally about food, fashion, and lifestyles from new friends in Honduras and China.

In addition to round table presentations, Lauren participated in the drafting of a white paper for the United Nations Food Systems Summit. She also attended various workshops, learning about everything from agricultural advocacy in our domestic government to the importance of gender equality in creating sustainable food systems. Lauren was also able to meet in a small group with a past World Food Prize laureate, Dr. Haworth Bois, who gave inspiring advice about following your calling.

Lauren recounts; “It was an incredible experience, and I’m extremely grateful for Mrs. Foote and Ms. Hoffman for introducing me to the program and helping me with my research paper. Having attended the conference means the world to me, because it connected me to the world even in the midst of a pandemic. I think that’s really important as I figure out what I want to do with myself beyond high school.”

Inspired by the experience, Lauren is looking into a future in international communications, and more immediately, the Global Youth Institute internship program. She stays connected with friends met through the conferences, and continues to follow Warka Water and the Uganda water crisis.

Community Bulletin Board

Holidays During the Pandemic

Tips for reducing stress, helping kids cope, and making new traditions

The Witches’ Brew

Apparel Flyer

A group of Greenwich students are raising a donation for the Uyghur Human Rights Project to help provide aid to refugees and finance the research of the crisis. After first learning about the Uyghur genocide, they decided to do something to help the oppressed people. They have crafted nearly a dozen designs for a COVID-safe apparel fundraiser. They have until Wednesday, November 18th to publicize the project and sell as many t-shirts, sweatshirts, and masks as they can.

Below, is a link to the storefront, a brief article summarizing the Uighur crisis, and a PDF of a promotional flyer.

Sincerely,

Lauren

Link to storefront: https://www.bonfire.com/store/fundraising-for-uighur-freedom/

Link to article: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/04/887239225/china-suppression-of-uighur-minorities-meets-u-n-definition-of-genocide-report-s

The Greenwich Central School is one of ten districts selected to participate in a Vanderbilt Capstone Research Project about Family-School Partnerships in NYS Rural Middle Schools.  The other schools are Royalton-Hartland Middle School; Kendall Middle School; Town of Web School; Beekmantown Middle School; Norwich Middle School; South Seneca Middle School; Pawling Central Middle School; Arkport Central School and Montauk Public School.  The survey will be used to collect information about family involvement at the middle-school level from grades 6, 7 and 8 parents, teachers and administrators. The survey will remain open through December.

Most surveys will be completed online and the data will go directly to a secure account. Paper copies will be scanned back to the researchers.  The survey may be accessed at https://redcap.vanderbilt.edu/surveys/ with the access code of CPJE4KX3P.

The survey findings will be shared with the district for use in planning and possible improvement.

Parents & Caregivers: learn how to help your children manage stress, practice coping skills and build resilience.

Join our Learning Community November 10-13.

Soldiers and seniors

Message to our School Communities Ahead of Holiday Travel – 11.06.2020

The class of 2023 will be collecting Christmas Cards to send to local senior citizens and soldiers without much family.  We would love you to join us in spreading some Christmas Cheer!  If you would like to participate, please provide a card that is signed, either with your family name or just Greenwich Community,  place a stamp on the envelope, and send to school with a student or there will be a drop box in the vestibule of the high school.   We will be collecting cards until December 1^st for soldiers and until December 15^th for seniors.

Thank you for helping us to spread some Holiday Cheer!

Spirit Week 2020

Substitute teachers, teaching assistants, teacher aides, & nurses are in high demand! We need you! Join us for an information session on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 12-1 p.m. OR 3-4 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Register here: https://bit.ly/34C802Z

Letter to families regarding changes to COVID procedures 11 4 20 (1)

This newsletter is for educators, parents, and students about mental health in schools. The information contained in this is intended for reuse. 

Keegan, Wyatt, Wellness Wednesday and hot air balloons…

Greenwich Free Library

I am excited to announce the GCS Freshmen Class is participating in the Hoffman Car Wash Helping Hands fundraiser.

The fastest and easiest way for us to sell these car wash tickets is online at our custom home page on the Helping Hands website.

http://www.hoffmanhelpinghands.com/fundraisers/gcsfall2020freshmen

Here you can buy tickets and have them delivered electronically directly to an email or mobile device.

You can also see our fundraiser progress and learn more about our organization.

Feel free to share this address with your friends, family, coworkers – everybody needs a car wash and selling them online is easy for everyone.

If you have any questions please let me know and thank you for supporting the GCS Class of 2024.

We will “NOT” be offering the Print out order form option on the page – this fundraiser is strictly electronic with “ONLY” contactless transactions.

Thank you,

Mrs. Sloan-Haynes

Class Advisor

Greenwich Central High School

Greenwich COVID Athletics Statement

November 2, 2020

The Greenwich Central School District is committed to providing a winter sports season for our student athletes.  To that end, the Wasaren League Superintendents regularly meet to dialogue and to better guide our athletic directors in preparing for a possible winter season.   At this time, basketball and wrestling are considered high risk sports and are restricted in New York State schools.  We are following the NYSDOH, NYSED and NYSPHSAA guidance regarding indoor workouts & training.  We require our coaches to submit a plan for approval prior to beginning.

Decisions regarding the winter season will be grounded in the state guidance. We pledge to be transparent in our process and to update the community as we process the guidance and plan for possible winter activity.  

Greenwich winter sports include Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, Indoor Track and Field, Cheer, Wrestling (with Schuylerville) and Skiing (with Schuylerville).