Feeling Connected in a Big Town: Popular Spots, Sports, Programs and Clubs for Middle/High Schoolers
By Olivia Schnur
In Greenwich, eleven public elementary schools feed into three middle schools, all of which combine into one high school. There are also multiple private schools with K-12 programs. The transition can be overwhelming, but much of the social spheres exist outside of GHS. As a large town, there are a number of popular spots. Below, you’ll find a list of just some of middle and high school student’s favorite restaurants, parks, and spaces to hang out with friends.
Greenwich Avenue:
Topping the list, Greenwich Avenue contains some of the best restaurants and shops in town. There are options for adults and children alike, but for students, Starbucks, Meli-Melo, and Steam are easily some of the most popular choices. As for shopping, there is a great range of options from Sephora to CVS, Lululemon, Athleta, Brandy Melville, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Arch Street:
Catering mostly to middle schoolers, Arch Street offers monthly parties for students to gather from all of the schools in town (public and private alike). They host programs for students and have a youth board that works on projects for students as well.
GHS fields, Bible Street, Binney Park, Havemeyer Field:
Though they are usually in-use for sporting events, Greenwich has a large selection of fields for students to go to, many of which are busy on weekends for recreational sports and activities.
Dorothy Hamill:
In the winter, students can skate on weekends at Dorothy Hamill! Students can rent skates and order food at the snack bar. This activity is loved among middle and high schoolers alike.
Outside of just physical spaces where middle/high schoolers go to unwind after their school weeks, there is also a wide variety of sports teams offered in town.
Private/Public School Teams:
GA, Brunswick, Sacred Heart, GCDS, and GHS all offer a variety of varsity-level sports options. For nearly every sport, GHS also has a freshman and JV team, which the private schools have equivalents of as well. Many high schoolers take advantage of these opportunities and compete in the FCIAC and state or national levels, and the middle schools also offer some competitive sports teams.
Town Leagues
For nearly every sport, there is a town league in Greenwich. There are multiple dance studios, including Allegra, Dancepoint, Greenwich Dance Studio, etc. along with many recreational centers (ex. OGRCC).
Chelsea Piers, YWCA, and YMCA:
These spots in and close to town provide private and group lessons for sports, competitive programs, and other recreational activities (Ex. birthday parties in the trampoline room at Chelsea Piers!).
Chelsea Piers and other centers close to town are utilized by many young athletes, especially at the middle school level. Though a large percentage of Greenwich K-12 students participate in sports, the theater scene is also vast and open to all age groups.
Private/public school classes and productions: GHS produces seasonal plays and stand-alone events throughout the year, as do the private schools. Students are able to showcase their talents musically as well as through acting and dancing. The public middle schools are also well-known for their yearly plays. Some examples are Aladdin and 13 The Musical.
The Greenwich Performing Arts Studio: Located in Cos Cob, the Greenwich Performing Arts Studio offers lessons to all students on acting and performance.
Open Arts Alliance: Like the Greenwich Performing Arts Studio, the Open Arts Alliance offers acting lessons to range of ages, from toddlers to seniors! Their programs involve composition, performance, and volunteering.
Finally, at each individual school, student government and club opportunities are incredibly impressive. Below are some of the most prominent co-curriculars at each high school.
Brunswick: Cause 4 Paws, Literary Magazine Clubs (there are a few)
GA: Daedalus, Breast Cancer Awareness Club, Yearbook Club, Model UN GCDS: Harry Potter Club, Cooking Club, Acting 101 (Drama Club)
GHS: Model UN, Roots & Shoots, Diversity Club, The Beak Sacred Heart: Mock Trial, Model UN, Pine Ridge Club, Blythedale
In Greenwich, opportunities for students in nearly every interest are available. School websites offer great resources for those looking to get involved.
Brunswick website: www.brunswickschool.org/ GA website: www.greenwichacademy.org GCDS website: www.gcds.net
Greenwich Public Schools website: www.greenwichschools.org
And, of course, the town page offers events, activities, and projects year-round.
Greenwich town page: www.greenwichct.gov
