Seaside Society Concludes Winter Semester at Greenwich Town Hall

Written by Will Stern

Just hours before a winter snowstorm swept through town, high school students from Seaside Society gathered at Greenwich Town Hall on Sunday, February 22, for a special culminating session celebrating a semester dedicated to gratitude and public service.

Seaside Society is a local Greenwich initiative for high school students who live in or attend school in Greenwich. Launched this past fall, the program empowers high school students to identify their unique talents and use them to give back to the broader community. Through hands-on service, leadership development, and creative collaboration, students contribute meaningfully to local organizations while gaining real-world experience.

The program is led by Rabbi Boruch Ceitlin and Chaya Ceitlin, directors of Seaside Society and Jewish Riverside Old Greenwich, who guide students in blending Jewish values with active community involvement.

A Semester of Gratitude

The fall semester focused on giving back to individuals and groups in need throughout the community. During the winter semester, the teens turned their attention to expressing gratitude to public service members. In recent sessions, participants honored and supported the Greenwich EMTs, Police Department and Fire Department.

Each session included Seaside Society’s signature “pods,” allowing students to contribute in different ways based on their interests and strengths:

• Culinary Pod – Prepared and provided lunches or dinners for the featured organization.
• Art Pod – Created meaningful artwork and appreciation pieces.
• PR Pod – Launched the “By the Seaside” podcast, interviewing representatives from each organization, while also producing blog posts and social media content to spotlight their work for the wider public.

The Town Hall gathering served as both a reflection point and a bridge into the upcoming holiday of Purim — a time that emphasizes responsibility, courage, and taking action.

“Purim reminds us that leadership isn’t always about titles — it’s about stepping up when you’re needed,” said Rabbi Boruch Ceitlin. “Queen Esther in the Purim story didn’t begin as a public leader, but when the moment came, she took responsibility. That’s a message we want our students to understand — each person has the ability to make an impact when they choose to act.”

Leadership Insights from Town Officials

At Sunday’s session, students heard directly from local leaders about their service and leadership skills. The program was led by First Selectman Fred Camillo and featured remarks from:

• Lauren Rabin, Selectwoman
• Rachel Khanna, Selectwoman
• David Weisbrod, BET Chair
• Tina Courpas, State Representative

Town officials shared personal insights into their paths to leadership and encouraged students to live their values authentically and lead by personal example.

State Representative Tina Courpas said, “All of us human beings have an innate desire to leave this world better than we found it. But there are so many ways to do that! Make the world a better place in your own way.”

David Weisbrod, BET Chair shared that we have to have a love and passion for what we do. In Mr. Weisbrod’s words: “I never worked a day in my life. Most of the time I was engaged in things I deeply enjoyed doing, and I was very comfortable that they were in the spirit of the love and values that the Jewish religion taught me from when I was little.”

First Selectman Fred Camilo reflected on some important values that he learned from his father. “Give and forget, and receive and remember. When you give something, don’t expect something in return. When you are giving, give from your heart. Do the right thing even when no one is looking.”

The session offered a rare opportunity for high school students to interact directly with municipal leadership and gain a deeper appreciation for civic engagement.

Empowering the Next Generation

As Seaside Society continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to empower local students to recognize their individual talents and channel them into meaningful impact. By combining service, creativity, and leadership exposure, the program is cultivating a new generation of community-minded young leaders.

The winter semester concluded on a high note at Town Hall, reinforcing the value of gratitude, civic responsibility, and active contribution to the Greenwich community — even as snow began to fall outside.