Midterms will start soon for Darien High School Students this Friday, Jan. 15 and continue to the following Friday, Jan. 22. The high school and Darien Library provide a lot of support activities and study time for students that weren’t available in generations past.
Even if you’re not a student and don’t have any in your family, your time at the library may be affected, and you’ll find many more students there during the day and at night. Traffic patterns will change around the high school, too.
Darien police say this is a time when students are more likely to exchange illegal and prescription drugs. Last fall, at a panel discussion about heroin and opioid drugs in Darien, police Sgt. Jeremiah Marron said parents should be more alert to signs of abuse of illegal drugs, including illicit use of prescription pills:
“We do notice during finals, midterms, that there is a spike in medication, transactions, illicit narcotics use,” he said. “We hear that kids go to study at the library […] and the library’s been dubbed ‘The Candy Shop.’ […] a trading ground for prescription ‘study drugs,’ as they call them.”
Speakers on the panel gave advice for parents about spotting drug addiction in their children and how to prevent it. Making sure your prescription pills are secure so a kid at home won’t steal them is one of the tips. For other tips, see this article.
Here’s a short announcement from the high school for freshmen, a library announcement, and the main announcement from the high school on promoting studying:
For Freshman at Darien High School
Cocoa and Cram(ish), Monday 1/11, 6-8pm A-wing Second Floor
Link Crew and National Honor Society members will conduct study skill sessions for freshmen who want a little extra help before midterms.
Come for the cocoa, stay for the tips and assistance these seasoned veterans will provide – so in the end you won’t have to cram.
Darien Library extended hours, etc.
To help Darien High School students maximize their study time, the Darien Library will once again offer extended hours the week of midterm exams on the following days:
Thursday, Jan 14 — 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday, Jan 18 — (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan 19 — 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan 20 — 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
And here’s a lineup of amazing programs:
Thursday, Jan 14 — Yoga for Teens from 8 to 8:30 p.m./ Ozzy Therapy Dog at 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan 18 — (MLK Day) Meditation for Teens from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan 19 — Yoga for Teens from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan 20 — Meditation for Teens from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Getting Help While You Study: The Library offers many resources to students, including spaces for both quiet and group study, school supplies, and power cords. Librarians are also on hand to answer reference questions in person, by IM, email or phone.
Study Rooms: Study Rooms may be reserved one month in advance in two hour increments. Students will be asked to give their name, phone number, and show their student ID. Reservations will be held for 15 minutes before being made available to others who are waiting.
To reserve a study room, contact AskUs@darienlibrary.org or call 203.669.5236.
Food Policy: Students are welcome to bring beverages and light snacks anywhere in the building.
Pizza, sandwiches, and fast food meals can be enjoyed at the café tables on the first floor.
If you order food to be delivered to the Library, please wait at the first floor entrance to meet the delivery driver.
Frosty Bear Café will also offer extended hours and will be staying open late until 9 p.m. that week.
High School scheduling and other changes
MID-TERM EXAM SCHEDULE & INFORMATION
- Fri, 1/15 Exam Period 1 (8:00) & Exam Period 2 (10:30)
- Tue, 1/19 Exam Period 3 (8:00) & Exam Period 4 (10:30)
- Wed, 1/20 Exam Period 5 (8:00) & Exam Period 6 (10:30)
- Thu, 1/21 Exam Period 7 (8:00) & Exam Period 8 (10:30)
- Fri, 1/22 Exam Make-up Day (for Excused absences only) and Placement Testing
- Mon, 1/25 Begin 3rd Quarter – Second Semester
“The Young Student” by Ozias Leduc, 1894 (image via Wikimedia Commons). You’ll see a lot of this in Darien Library in upcoming days, in different dress and with digital devices, but otherwise, same as it ever was.
BUSES AND PARKING
AM buses will operate over the usual routes at the regular time. Afternoon buses leave DHS at 12:35 p.m. Student parking regulations remain in effect. Parking for seniors with permits only.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to be in attendance for each exam. Individual arrival and dismissal times depend on each student’s schedule. Students may leave school when they are dismissed from their last exam for that day. There is no school on make-up day (unless student has a scheduled make-up exam or placement test). Students who miss an exam for illness or other excused reason must contact their teacher directly to schedule the make-up exam. Make-up day is for excused absences only.
CAFETERIA
Breakfast items and beverages will be available in the cafeteria from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cafeteria will be closed on make-up day.
DHS LIBRARY
Library open for quiet study only 7 a.m. -3 p.m.
DARIEN TOWN LIBRARY
A description of extended hours and events planned at the town library can be found on the DHS Students page [see above for Darien Library’s announcement on its website]. We are grateful to the library for accommodating our students, who are reminded to be mindful of other library patrons during exam time.
WEATHER DELAYS OR SCHOOL CANCELLATION
In the event of a weather-related 2-hour delay, the exam schedule will be as follows: 1st exam: 9:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. 2nd exam: 12:10 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. AM buses will run routes two hours later; afternoon bus will be at 2:25. If school is closed for inclement weather, power outages, or emergencies, the exam schedule will be adjusted so that the next school day will have the exams that were missed and the schedule will move along in order.
SECOND SEMESTER SCHEDULES
Students need to print or download a schedule and bring to school on Monday, January 25. Students and parents will receive instructions on that process via email and website notice.