Hindley School 4-27-16

Board of Education Names New Principal for Hindley School

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The Darien Board of Education appointed DJ Colella as Principal of Hindley School at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The appointment is effective July 1. Mr. Colella is a graduate of Rutgers University, received a master’s degree in education from Manhattanville College, and a second master’s degree from Bank Street College of Education from their Future School Leadership Academy. ___________

— This is an announcement from Darien Public Schools. ___________

Mr. Colella was a 5th grade teacher for ten years, a 6th grade science teacher for five years and has served as the assistant principal at the Somers Middle School in Somers, N.Y. since 2010.

Shell Eco-Marathon hydrogen fuel cell vehicle 4-26-16

Darien Team Participates in International Energy-Efficient Vehicle Contest

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The DHS Principles of Engineering Class placed third in their division of the Shell Eco-Marathon competition last weekend in Detroit, Michigan. Thanks to a grant from the Darien Foundation which provided funding for a hydrogen fuel cell, the team was able to compete with hundreds of colleges, universities and high schools from the U.S., Canada and South America. […]

The announcement above is from the Darien Foundation for Technology & Community on Facebook. Darienite.com has more information below:

“Shell Eco-marathon challenges student teams around the world to design, build, test and drive ultra-energy-efficient vehicles,” according to the website for the competition. The Darien High School team competed against a team from Queen University in Canada and the Wheat Ridge High School team, from Colorado in a division for hydrogen-fueled prototype vehicles.

Around the World Festival at Royle School

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Third grade students at Royle Elementary School took a trip around the world without leaving the building this month. As part of an interdisciplinary unit, all Grade 3 students researched a country of their choice. Using the information from the research, students created presentations – slide shows, poster boards — to demonstrate a “Day In The Life” of a student living in that special place. As a culminating activity, students put together a booth or station with artifacts and food to represent their country. They then shared their new learning with parents and staff (pictured above).

Carol Smith Susan Cator 4-23-16

Honorees Accept Going For Green Awards from Darien Chamber

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On Thursday, April 21st , in preparation for Earth Day, The Darien Chamber of Commerce awarded the winners of the 9th Annual “Going for Green”awards. The event promotes environmental awareness and this pledge:
“I pledge to the community to make “Going for Green” part of my way of doing business and making lifestyle choices in Darien. As I make decisions for my business, or my life, I will consider green options to help make Darien and the Earth, a safe and hospitable home for present and future generations.”
This year “Going For Green” was sponsored by First County Bank, and the awards reception was held at the Darien branch on the Post Road. _________

— This is an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce. _________

Chamber members, Estias: Back Porch Café and Meatball & Company generously provided delicious appetizers for the reception.

Zagrodsky 3-4-16

With State Aid Threatened, Board of Finance Tightens Town Belt and Votes to Raise Taxes

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Reacting to Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposal to cut state aid to towns, including $1.1 million to Darien, the town’s Board of Finance at a special meeting Monday replaced the state funding with budget cuts and tax increases. Under the board’s proposal, which now goes to the Representative Town Meeting for final approval, taxes would increase by an additional $515,425,  and the mill rate would go from the $15.73 in the proposed budget passed earlier this month to $15.80 — a tax rise of 2.93 percent from last year (the budget proposal passed earlier this month would have raised taxes 2.48 percent). _________

Editor’s note: More information from Monday night’s discussions will be published later Tuesday by Darienite.com, when this note will be removed. _________

The state aid cuts aren’t certain to take place. (The RTM can cut the budget further, and therefore cut taxes, but not increase spending.)

The board adopted a proposal from its chairman, Jon Zagrodzky, who offered what he called a “balanced” plan to cut something from the Board of Selectman’s budget ($250,000 for a generator for Town Hall, to be used during power outages), and $530,000 in a proposed a set of cuts in capital projects for the Board of Education budget.

Middlesex mural 4-12-16

Mural at Middlesex Middle School Shows Opportunities There for Students

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Along the first floor hallway at Middlesex Middle School (MMS), the finishing touches are being made to an out-of-this-world installation. Students in Art teacher Rebecca Stern’s 8th grade class are completing the first-of-its-kind mural for the school. The mural, which does not have a name yet, has the planet Earth in the center.  

Students representing all the teams and activities orbit the planet. At MMS, students are grouped into teams — four per grade level — which are named by color, such as Red, Yellow, Aqua, Purple, and Green.

DHS Orchestra in Orlando Youtube screenshot 4-12-16

Here’s What Darien High School Orchestra Looked (and Sounded) Like in Orlando

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Darien High School Orchestra performed Sunday and Monday at Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday and Monday, and you can now see them on a video. This Video of “Sing, Sing” was posted to Youtube:

According to the DHS Orchestra’s Facebook timeline, more videos are coming. On Sunday, April 10 at 11:30 a.m., DHS Pop Strings played at Epcot’s Melody Gardens at Walt Disney World Resort. On Monday, April 11, the DHS Orchestra played at 10 a.m. at Universal City Walk Stage.

‘Going for Green’ Town Environmental Awards for Student Graphic Designers, Businesses

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The Darien Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the award winners of the 9th Annual “Going for Green” effort to promote green choices of a variety of different ways in everyday living and doing business by taking the following pledge:

“I pledge to the community to make ‘Going for Green’ part of my way of doing business and making lifestyle choices in Darien. As I make decisions for my business, or my life, I will consider green options to help make Darien and the Earth, a safe and hospitable home for present and future generations.”

This year the “Going For Green” initiative is sponsored by First County Bank. Poster Contest

The first part of the initiative is the annual poster contest with the DHS Graphics Design Class, (taught by Dorine Bosler). The students are given an assignment to create a poster to be used in the Darien Community promoting green choices. This year, First Place went to Valerie Lee and Second Place went to Cheyenne de la Rivera.

Maker Faire Ox Ridge 4-4-16

Ox Ridge ‘Maker Faire’ Gives Kids Experiences in Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math

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Blending play, imagination, and creativity, staff and students at Ox Ridge Elementary School launched the school’s first Maker Faire this month. During the week-long event, the school’s 461 students rotated through a variety of stations in the school’s library that allowed them to experiment and explore. Exhibits included opportunities to make instruments, create short movies, build an electric fishing rod, drive programmable cars, use a Makey Makey programmable circuit board, and direct the school’s Sphero robots. Students from Darien High School’s Independent Projects in Engineering course ran a few of the exhibits. There were even stations to construct paper airplanes, and build with Legos and cardboard.

Scott McCarthy DPS Special Education 3-30-16

Darien Special Ed Official Named ‘2016 Outstanding Early Career Professional’ by UConn School

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Scott McCarthy, program director of special education and student services for Darien Public Schools, has been named the 2016 Outstanding Early Career Professional by the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education Alumni Society. McCarthy was recognized in March at the 18th Annual Awards Celebration of the Neag School of Education Alumni Society, held in Storrs. McCarthy earned four degrees from UConn, beginning with his bachelor’s of science degree in 2008 in psychology. He later received from the Neag School his master’s degree and 6th year diploma, followed by his Ph.D. in educational psychology with a concentration in school psychology. “Dr. McCarthy holds the distinction of being one of the most talented, hard-working, and knowledgeable psychologists I have had the privilege to work with in my career and has my highest regard as a professional,” says Mary Forde, director of pupil personnel services for Greenwich Public Schools.

Markus Zusak 3-12-16

‘Book Thief’ Author Markus Zusak Visits Darien High School

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Markus Zusak, author of the international bestselling book, The Book Thief, shared personal stories and insights about being an author with Darien High School (DHS) students. Zusak, who lives in Sydney, Australia, presented with a combination of  humor and seriousness about writing to more than 600 students in attendance in the school’s auditorium last week. “When you are a writer, you basically hate yourself all the time. You always have doubt hanging around your shoulders,” said Zusak. “There is only a 1 in 1,000 chance when you are a writer that you will ever be published.

Depot Logo

Presentation for Parents on Preparation for College Tests

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A free presentation on preparing for college tests, for parents of freshmen sophomores and juniors at The Depot, 25 Heights Road, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5. Join us for a presentation on navigating the world of college test prep. Find out the differences between the SAT and the ACT, when to take SAT Subject Tests, and how to prepare for these tests. For more information, see the CarnegiePollack.com website.

Young Student Leduc

How to Support Your Student to Finish the School Year & Transition to the Next

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Free Parent Seminar: Learn how to support your student as they finish the school year and transition into the next. In a one-hour highly dynamic, action-specific, and interactive seminar, parents are invited to learn how they can support their middle or high school student for finals, and prepare them for the next school year. Parents will learn seven practical tools they can implement at home. There is no charge for the program, but registration is requested. Bring a friend!

Darien High School entrance

Darien High School Guidance Dept Named State’s Outstanding Comprehensive Program of the Year

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Darien High School’s guidance department has been recognized as “The Outstanding Comprehensive School Counseling Program for 2016″ by the Connecticut School Counselor Association, the high school announced. “I am honored to accept this award from the Connecticut School Counselor Association,” said Paul Ribeiro, co-ordinator of the department, said in the announcement. The award given based on the department’s Guidance Seminar Program in which school counselors meet with students in different grade levels each quarter. In the program, first fully implemented in the 2014-2015 school year, counselors work through key skills with small groups of students, to improve their experience in school. Counselors work with different grade levels each quarter.

Jeromy Nelson CT

DHS Educator Jeromy Nelson Named ‘CT Technology & Engineering Teacher of the Year’

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Jeromy Nelson, coordinator of the Darien High School technology and engineering education department, has been named the “Connecticut Technology Education and Engineering Teacher of the Year.” The International Technology and Engineering Education Association gave Nelson the award at the group’s annual conference in Washington, D.C.

 

“This award is one of the highest honors given to technology and engineering education classroom teachers and is presented in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the profession and their students,” according to an announcement from Darien High School. The announcement quoted two unnamed students:

“Mr. Nelson is the teacher that in 20-30 years you will remember as the one who changed your life. He is devoted to the success of his students, not simply educating them but making them into positive, functioning members of society.”
“I have met few people in my life as supportive as Mr. Nelson. Each day he goes above and beyond to give his students every opportunity to be successful in exploring their interests and furthering their education.”

Nelson has taught in the department for 13 years.