The 2018-2019 school year starts for most students on Thursday, Aug. 30, but some students, and all teachers can be expected to visit the schools days earlier.

Senior portraits, obligatory presentations on substance abuse for students and their parents in order for the students to participate in sports or extracurricular activities, orientation meetings for students attending a new district school, registration for student parking are among the items on the calendar.

Here’s a list:

[Editor’s note: We’ve added sports tryouts below. Some of Darien’s elementary schools post information on Kindergarten orientation sessions (for instance, Royle and Holmes schools) and some don’t. If your child is entering Kindergarten this year and you don’t have information from the school on orientation, contact the school.]

Wednesday, Aug. 22

8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — (Wednesday through Friday) Darien High School senior portraits in the Wrestling Room

7 p.m. at Darien High School — Meeting on substance abuse for Grade 9 parents and students for any student wishing to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities (see “More on Extracurricular Activities Session,” below). Each high school student is required to attend a session with a parent at least once every year.

Thursday, Aug. 23

—Orientation for new staff

—8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — (Wednesday through Friday) Darien High School senior portraits in the Wrestling Room

—9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Darien High School seniors who want to parking stickers — an announcement on the DHS Web page: “Applications will be accepted starting Friday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main lobby. Seniors must display a parking sticker by Friday, Sept. 7. Click above [here] for link to application. Questions? See Jim Smith.”

—7 p.m. — Meeting on substance abuse for Grade 10 to 12 parents and students for any student wishing to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities (see “More on Extracurricular Activities Session,” below).

Friday, Aug. 24

—Orientation for new staff

—8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — (Wednesday through Friday) Darien High School senior portraits in the Wrestling Room

Monday, Aug. 27 and Tuesday, Aug. 28

Professional development meetings for teachers

— 1 to 3 p.m. — Orientation for new families to Hindley School with students in 1st thru 5th grades.

—7:30 p.m. — Board of Education regular meeting, 35 Leroy Ave.

Wednesday, Aug. 29

—Teacher work day.

—Orientation for new students:

10 a.m. — new student tour at Royle School

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — freshmen orientation at Darien High School — see below);

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. — orientation for Darien High School parents, who can listen to the orientation from the auditorium balcony

THURSDAY, AUG. 30 — FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

(An “A Day” at Darien High School.)

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Other back-to-school-related stories:

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More on Freshmen Orientation

Announcement on the Darien Public Schools website

Sports Tryouts

From this Web page on the Darien Public Schools website:

Image from Darien Public Schools website

2018 sports tryouts schedule

Location for nurses checking all required paperwork will be in the DHS Health Office an hour before start times. EXCEPT:

* Girls Swimming will be on Aug. 23 at 6:45 a.m. at Middllesex Swim Club — Girls Divers will be separate from Swim – as noted above

Aug. 23 – All other sports in the Health Office beginning at 7:00 a.m. NO CLEATS in the building, please! Current Health Assessment (HAR-3) and Coaches Emergency forms can be brought to the school nurses @ Darien HS during the summer — between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

More on ‘Extracurricular Activities Session’

This announcement is published on the Darien Public Schools website:

August 2, 2018

Dear Incoming DHS Students and Families,

I am delighted to welcome you to the DHS community and encourage all of our incoming students to look for ways to become involved in the wide array of clubs and activities that are such a vibrant part of life at DHS. As you prepare for the transition to high school, we invite you to attend our Participation Program for all students and families. As you may know, Darien High School revised its extracurricular participation policy during the 2017-18 school year. A committee of parents, coaches, teachers, and administrators met over a 16 month period and found that the former policy had little to no impact on student behavior with regard to the use of drugs and/or alcohol. Survey data suggested that parents play a critical role in influencing their child’s decision-making around illegal substances. DHS students consistently indicated the need for further education concerning the consequences of using drugs and alcohol in relation to their experiences growing up in Darien.

DHS substance abuse presentations schedule 2018

Image from the Darien Public Schools website

Schedule of substance-abuse presentations

The new Standards of Behavior Governing Participation in Extracurricular and Athletic Activities at Darien High School emphasizes educating students and families in understanding the impact of illegal substances on health and wellness and can be viewed by following this link.

The Darien Public Schools continues to believe that we must do everything possible to support our students in making good decisions. In an effort to utilize education as a tool for change, we will be requiring all students in grade 9 (and at least one parent/guardian) who plan to participate in extracurricular (all club related activities such as Model UN, Theatre 308, and Debate Club) or athletic activities to attend one workshop related to the use of illegal substances. Attendance is required once a school year, and the workshop must be completed by the student and guardian prior to participation in the extracurricular or athletic activity. We are aware that a small percentage of our students do not participate in DHS extracurriculars/athletics; however we encourage and welcome all Darien High School students and their parents to participate in these workshops.

Many students and families of incoming ninth grade students participated in the session offered on June 11, 2018 at DHS and have met the requirement by doing so. If you were unable to attend that session, there will be two additional offerings for ninth grade students and families in preparation for fall participation in extracurriculars on August 22, 2018 at 7 p.m. and on September 6, 2018 at 7 p.m. For those who will not participate until the winter season, an additional session will be planned.

Workshop topics will include: the impact of illegal substances on brain functioning and possible medical/psychological concerns, potential legal ramifications, and the “voice” or story of alcohol and drug addiction. We are confident that these presentations, led by top professionals in their respective fields of study, will be of the highest quality.

The student and guardian must sign-up in advance using this link to attend either of the upcoming sessions. Failure to participate in one of these sessions will result in non-participation in the fall extracurricular or athletic activity until completion of the workshop can be coordinated through the high school administration. Once again, each student is required to attend the class only once per year, accompanied by a parent.

We are asking that families partner with us to make a difference in the lives of our students today and in the future by improving their understanding of the impact of drug and alcohol use. By working together with one voice, we believe we can do more to protect their health and well-being and we look forward to this collaborative effort.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out by phone or email.

Sincerely,

Ellen Dunn, Principal DHS

Darienite - News for Darien

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