Treasured, Time-Honored 8th Grade Greenwich Public Schools Washington DC Trip Reinstated For 2023!

After a three-year hiatus, this May, eighth grade students at Greenwich’s Eastern, Western and Central Middle Schools will once again travel to Washington, D.C. for a three-day, two-night educational experiential trip with their peers and teachers.

As of September 2022, the future of the D.C. trip was uncertain due to a lack of funding.

Because the trip is such a treasured, time-honored tradition spanning four decades, the principals, PTA Co-Presidents and parents at all three middle schools quickly organized a fundraising committee to help facilitate the trip in 2023. By October 2022, the 8th Grade D.C. Trip Fundraising Committee was born, with the goal of fundraising for the 2023 D.C. trip and beyond.

CMS 8th Grade DC Dunks Free throw champions, Lily Nogaki and Timmy Kurczewski. Contributed photo

Many community organizations sprang into action to help make this trip a reality.

The Greenwich Alliance for Education was instrumental in helping to set up a myriad of logistical, technological and accounting infrastructure for the Committee.

Pitch Your Peers, a local peer to peer philanthropy, so believed in the spirit and mission of the trip that they provided a $20,000 grant which will be applied toward scholarships to those students with demonstrated financial hardship.

The Committee also received countless pledges from donors including, but not limited to: The Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation, Feast & Fettle, and the parent communities at CMS, EMS and WMS.

Additional funds were raised by the EMS, CMS and WMS students themselves who organized school-based fundraisers such as a basketball themed free throw fundraiser and candygram and bake sales.

Finally, a town-wide live music fundraiser was held on March 8 at Old Greenwich Social Club which featured EMS parent band “The Tide” who provided a rockin’ good time to all in attendance.

Old Greenwich Social Club graciously donated their event space for the evening and area merchants donated items and gift cards for CMS, EMS, and WMS themed gift baskets which were raffled off.

CMS 6th Grade DC Dunks Free throw champions. Contributed photo

This trip would not have been made possible without the incredible collaboration and support of the many generous individuals, businesses and organizations within Greenwich.

If you would like to continue to keep the D.C. trip tradition alive for our rising eighth graders, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Greenwich Alliance by visiting its website and specify “D.C. Trip” under “Allocation.” In addition to the 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip, the Greenwich Alliance also provides funding and support for many other educational enrichment, health, wellness, and arts programs for Greenwich Public Schools.

The Tide, an Old Greenwich/Riverside based band, played rock cover music to a packed house at Old Greenwich Social Club on March 8, 2023. Darryl Pardi from Riverside (guitar & vocals), Adam LaRosa from Old Greenwich (drums), Matt Barcewicz from Norwalk (keys), Jay Anderson from Greenwich (bass & vocals), Amanda Anderson from Greenwich (vocals). Contributed photo
The Tide Fundraiser attendees at Old Greenwich Social Club. contributed photo

About the 8th Grade D.C. Trip Fundraising Committee:

The 8th Grade D.C. Trip Fundraising Committee is a 12-member group with representation from all three middle school PTA Co-Presidents and parents. They are committed to ensuring that the trip continues for years to come, for all eighth grade GPS students regardless of financial need.

Middle school families with demonstrated financial hardship should reach out to their building principals for confidential assistance. Washington, D.C. is more than just about seeing monuments; it’s about making lifelong memories with friends and experiencing the soul of our Nation through an immersive trip to its capital.