Nearly the entire senior class at Darien High School (DHS) will not be found in the usual places — in classrooms, hallways, or in the library.
Look for them on Wall Street, working on cars in a local auto shop, like Henry Hathaway at Darien Auto Center (pictured here), assisting museum staff, and even inside classrooms at some of Darien’s other schools. At last count, 326 students have branched out into the community and beyond as part of the Independent Study Program.
Henry Hathaway working at Darien Auto Center as part of the Independent Study Program.
Now in its seventh year, the program aims to match graduating seniors with a workplace experience for about five weeks.
DHS teacher Francis Janosco, who co-leads the program, said it’s grown significantly over the last three years.
“We have students on farms, art studios, design firms, fire departments, retail businesses,” Janosco said. “It grew from a boutique program, to half the class, to now almost the whole class.”
To participate in the program, the experience starts with students submitting an online job-like application. Matches between employers and students are then coordinated, and a DHS teacher assigned as a mentor. For their part, seniors submit a weekly journal and time sheet to their mentor, and must submit a presentation on their experience.
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— This article originally was published in Darien Public Schools’ “News of the Week” newsletter.
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On the last day of final exams in June, the presentations are made to a large audience.
Janosco said there is a committee that has shaped the program. The experience for students, especially for graduating seniors is especially positive.
“This is a way to continue their learning in a meaningful way,” said Janosco. “It is a wonderful transition to what they will experience in the world.”
For questions about this publication, please contact Marc Marin, District Director of Instructional Technology.