Open letter to the Greenwich Board of Education submitted by Silvana Cipollone, Parent of a GHS Sophomore and Teacher at Greenwich High School – Cantor House
Dear Members of the Board of Education,
I write to you today not only as a parent of a current sophomore at Greenwich High School but also as a teacher who has proudly served this community for the past 23 years. I am writing to express my deep concern and opposition to the proposed restructuring of the high school’s five-house system—specifically the potential elimination of one of the houses.
As a parent, I am extremely worried about the negative impact this change would have on my daughter, who is entering her junior year. These are critical academic and emotional years for any student. For her to be uprooted from her current house, potentially reassigned to a new counselor, and forced to reestablish relationships within a new support system is not only unfair but also unnecessarily disruptive. Adolescents thrive on consistency, and the proposed change would introduce stress and instability at a time when students should be focused on preparing for their post-secondary paths.
As a teacher and a longstanding member of the Cantor House since its inauguration, I have witnessed firsthand the immense value the house system provides. It transforms what could be an overwhelming, impersonal school experience into one of community, connection, and care. The house system fosters strong relationships between students, counselors, and staff. It allows us to truly know our students and support them academically, socially, and emotionally. Eliminating a house will stretch resources thin, increase counselor caseloads, and diminish the quality of support each student receives.
This change may seem administrative on the surface, but its consequences would be felt deeply by students, families, and educators alike. I respectfully urge you to reconsider this proposal and preserve the integrity of the five-house structure that has served our students so well for so many years.
Thank you for your time and your commitment to the well-being of our students.
Sincerely,
Silvana Cipollone
Parent of a GHS Sophomore
Teacher, Greenwich High School – Cantor House