History

Greenwich Alliance for Education holds its first official board meeting as the 501 © 3  non-profit education foundation for Greenwich Public Schools (GPS).

Founders: Nancy Kail, Eve Barron, Joanne Zammit, Janice Riddell, Laura Geffs, Chuck Downey, Jerry Rosenband, Kim Eves, Hilary Stark

Tuning In To Music program begins and Ken Kuo, President, CT School of Music is hired to administer lessons. GPS music teachers nominate 30 students for the inaugural year.

Going Places With Books, the Alliance’s early literacy program, puts the Storymobile on the road to bring interactive read aloud experiences to over 350 preschool students at 7 targeted schools annually. 

Hires Executive Director, Julie Faryniarz

Tuning In To Music Fundraiser at Asiana celebrates musical performance by students

First Turkey Trot 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk registers 50 runners and raises a net $4600. Thanks to Emmy Stocker for starting this community event. 

As part of Greenwich Library’s Greenwich Reads Together, the Alliance holds its first Children’s Book Drive and distributes hundreds of books to the children at the  Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich.

The Alliance wins Turbo Award – Honorable Mention from the Harvard Business School Community Partners for the Bridging the Digital Divide grant, which provides desktop computers and internet access to students without this crucial technology at home. 

AVID’s “Sweet Sixteen” graduate from GHS and all are accepted to college. 

Proven success – GHS AVID opens two sections per grade beginning with the Class of 2018.

After 1.5 years of R&D by five teachers, Innovation Lab – a program-within-a-school founded on project-based, authentic learning where student choice and passion is encouraged and expected – opens at GHS.  In Lab at $392K is the largest grant funded by the Alliance and ran for 10 years.  

Alliance investment continues to expand AVID to Western Middle School (WMS)

First Trivia Challenge, a spirited and competitive event, tests the community’s knowledge about “All Things Greenwich” and wonders “Are You Smarter Than a GPS Fifth Grader?” 

Western Middle School selects AVID school-wide as its magnet theme. 

Tom the Turkey gets a make over! Turkey Trot raises $69K with 1000 participants.

Greenwich Alliance for Education is invited to present at the AVID National Conference in Dallas, TX as a valued community partner and supporter of AVID in GPS.

During this time of uncertainty, the Alliance responds to special requests from educators and parents to help children learn and have some fun at home. 

• Online curriculum enrichment experiences for students attending the Remote School 
• Books, art materials and homework supplies for students at Hamilton Avenue, New Lebanon and Julian Curtiss schools
• Tuning In To Music lessons taught on Zoom –  100% attendance
• GPS teachers are recognized as “Super” heroes
• AVID 2020 grads get a delivery of dorm supplies and special lawn signs
• Incoming AVID students find cardinal balloons tied to their front doors

The Alliance formalizes its support of AVID related activities under a separate initiative: AVID SUCCESS (which includes AVID extensions)

Greenwich Alliance adopts new logo

The Alliance expands its support of the arts with the New Lebanon School Theater Arts grant. This grant creates a school wide experience for all ages to get involved with Theater Arts and sets the stage for future expansion to other elementary schools.

Unbound Innovations XR Summer Camp opens for all students to explore the  power of virtual reality in game design, coding drones, and much more.  

“The PARTY” celebrates 10 years of college dreams for GPS AVID graduates at Arch Street Teen Center with food trucks and the Kovac Brothers Band. 

New! Transition to College (T2C) takes place over two-weeks for first generation AVID students to prepare them for a successful start in college.

Hires Assistant Director, Trish Rohr.

STEM expansion for Middle School Science Bowl Teams with coaches at EMS, CMS and WMS creating a pipeline of participants for the GHS Science Bowl Teams.

Turkey Trot adds the Mini Trot! Largest race ever with 1800 participants.

Trivia Challenge “ 1776” sells out! Competitors step up giving for the Scholarship Fund!

Kick-off of 20th Anniversary Celebration.