The 2024-2025 Year in Review

 

Message from our PTA Co-Presidents 

 

Dear EMS Community,

 

As we wrap up another amazing year at EMS, we want to take a moment to reflect on all we’ve accomplished together and share our heartfelt thanks.

 

Congratulations to our 8th-grade graduates and their families! We are so proud of all you’ve achieved and can’t wait to see the bright futures ahead of you.

 

Thank you to our amazing PTA volunteers! Your time, energy, and support helped make this year truly special. From field trips to guest speakers, art, music, poetry, and more, students benefited from enriching programs made possible by your donations and involvement. We also thank the teachers, staff, and Principal Guarino for their partnership in bringing these experiences to life.

 

Take a look (see below) at all the programs we were able to provide this year.

 

Our goal for next year is to expand our fundraising efforts so we can bring even more enriching and inspiring programming to all EMS students.

 

Our community relies on YOUR generosity. Get Involved in 2025–2026. Let’s keep building something great together.

 

Thank you,

 

Ruchita Chhajed & Alejandra Fajardo

EMS PTA Co-Presidents

 

Your PTA at Work

6th Grade Enrichment

Scott Driscoll, Internet Safety Concepts: Internet safety presentation.

Hip Hop Fundamentals: Residency in PE Classes.

3GNY/We Educate: Stories of Holocaust survivors by Stacey Delikat and Hilary Daniels.

Ballet Hispánico: Latinx dance and culture presentation.

SoundWaters Field Trip: Coastal Explorers program.

Outspoken Literacy: Poetry workshops by Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger.

 

 

7th Grade Enrichment

Scott Driscoll, Internet Safety Concepts: Internet safety presentation.

Dr. Michael Fowlin: Theatrical performance on inclusion and tolerance.“You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me”.

Hip Hop Fundamentals: Residency in PE Classes.

Evelina Puzaite: Professional concert pianist and EMS parent (Band/Orchestra students).

"The Outsiders": Attended Broadway performance after reading the novel in ELA classes. 

Alvin Ailey, Arts in Education: A percussion lecture-demonstration.

Mr. Bol Riiny, Lost Boy of Sudan: Presentation on resilience and education in South Sudan.

 

8th Grade Enrichment

Dr. Michael Fowlin: Theatrical performance on inclusion and tolerance.“You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me”

Hip Hop Fundamentals: Residency in PE Classes

Evelina Puzaite: Professional concert pianist and EMS parent (Band/Orchestra students)

Shamiel Gary: Retired NFL player and motivational speaker.

Ellen Kaidanow: Holocaust speaker

Washington DC Field Trip: Exploration of the Nation's capital.
Career Day: Professional journey talks by various speakers.

 

Community Engagement

 

Family & Parent

Parent Social & Raffle: Our biggest fundraising event for EMS parents.

Back-to-School Coffees: Informational meetings with school staff
New Families Coffee: Introduction for new families. 

Back-to-School Family Social: An evening of games, food and fun. 

Veteran’s Day: Veterans discuss military experiences with students.

 

Student

6th Grade Social Dances: Traditional dance program by Arthur Murray Dance School.

7th Grade Social: An evening of games and music.

8th Grade Social: An evening of games and music.

8th Grade Beach Day: End-of-year celebration.

8th Grade Washington DC Trip Fundraiser: Fundraising event for 8th-grade trip.

Spirit Wear: EMS merchandise sales.

GatorWalk: Fundraiser for student activities.

 

Teacher & Staff

Back to School Teacher's Luncheon: Provided by PTA.

Holiday Lunch and Gift Cards: Provided by PTA.

Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week: Hospitality, treats and gift cards for staff.

 

Scholarship Initiatives

EMS Book Awards: Financial support for graduating GHS seniors.
PTAC Scholarship: Contributions to the Greenwich Scholarship Association.

Washington DC Fundraising Committee: Scholarship funds for 8th graders.

 

The Amazing Tween Years

EMS community platform with speaker series, parent roundtable discussions, and resources

  

Speaker Presentation 11/12: Connection between Belonging and Identity

Speaker Presentation 2/4: The Impact of Parenting Styles on Child Development

 

Parent Roundtable 11/20: Further discussion on belonging and identity 

 

Facilities

School Beautification: Seasonal plantings at the entrance.

Media Center Display Board: Highlighting various topics.

 

Communications

Electronic Communications: Information about events, ticket sales, volunteer opportunities.

Gator Bytes Newsletter: Weekly updates on school and PTA events.
Family Directory: Online directory via Membership Toolkit.
Online Membership: Efficient sign-ups and information provision

Event Sales & Tickets: Ease of buying tickets

Volunteer Signups: All signups are in one place for convenience

 

Thank you

 

A huge Thank You to all of our parent volunteers who helped out this year.   As you can see from the list below, it takes a village to pull off the many events that make EMS so special. 

 

PTA Executive Board: Ruchita Chhajed, Alejandra Fajardo, Amena Ali, Erica Jacoby, Elda Buonanno Foley, Erin Lubman, Kristin Sterling, Caitlin Wardell, Jennifer Imbrogno, Kathryn Cooper, Sarah Klocinski, Michelle O'Donnell

 

6th Grade Social Dance: Monica Harriss, Karen Kovacic

7th Grade Social: Maria Bergholt, Sowmya Gadden

8th Grade End of Year Committee: Cynthia Andrew DiPreta, Jennifer Meth, Roli Agrawal, Elisabeth Miranowski

8th Grade Social: Kerry Murphy, Jamie Voehl

Back to School Family Social: Lynda Cha, Paz Campos

Beautification: Angie Hartofilis, Monica Harriss

Book Fair: Ana Carolina Lobo, Elda Buonanno Foley

Building Tours: Paz Campos, Wendy Browning-Lynch, Jessie Clifford

Career Day: Tara Waters, Gitika Jain, Steviann Martines

Community Projects: Arathi Subramanian, Courtney Murphy

DC Fundraising Committee: Arathi Subramanian, Wilhelmina Bieshaar, Paz Campos

Gator Walk: Amy Johnson, Maureen Stanley

GatorBytes Newsletter: Emily Brown, John O'Neill

Graphics: Brett Weiner (Kroeger)

Hospitality: Heather DeVries, Danyelle LaRosa, Paz Campos

Media Center Display: Lisa Palmer, Bey-Shan Liu, Fiona Hopkins Rothenberg, Haelim Oh

Membership Toolkit: Carey Bisbee

Newcomers: Laura Davis Stahl, Wilhelmina Bieshaar, Elda Buonanno Foley

Nominating: Roli Agrawal, Kate Fix, Laurel Fine

Parent Social: Frances Bittman, Amy Williamson, Mary Ann Ranalli, Natasha Kloster, Caragh Lengle, Tracy Salvatore, Paz Campos

PTA Council Representatives: Cory Logan (Academic Excellence), Caitlin Wardell (Advanced Learning Program), Silke Oellrich (Digital Learning), Roli Agrawal (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), Silke Oellrich (Facilities), Amy Dolan, Ana Carolina Lobo (Green Schools), Ruchita Chhajed (Scholarship), Monica Harriss (Special Education), Silke Oellrich (Twice Exceptional)

Spirit Wear: Karen de Sousa, Vanessa Adovasio, Mallika Singh

Teacher Appreciation Week: Elisabeth Miranowski, Jackie Dowling, Elda Buonanno Foley, Sandra Galano, Paz Campos

The Amazing Tween Years: Joanna Willott, Karen Maze

Veterans Day: Melissa DeVita

Website: Carey Bisbee