In the Schools: Jazz Violinist at DHS, School Events, DHS Senior Portraits

Here are some things going on in Darien Public Schools recently and this coming week. We publish pictures and information from schools and school organizations when sent to us at dave@darienite.com (if it’s not here, that’s because it wasn’t sent in — tell your PTO!):

Math Workshop for Parents of Students in Grades 2 to 5

From 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26 — Central Office, 35 Leroy Ave. Presenter~Deb Armitage, Math Consultant from Exemplars Please join in learning how students apply critical thinking and reasoning skills through problem solving tasks. Leave with an understanding of how student work is used to plan instruction.

Reminder: DHS Class of ’17 Senior Portraits:

Last Chance Monday & Tuesday

All photos are taken in the faculty lounge off the Cafeteria.

• Sample appointment card here.

You must have a portrait taken no later than the October 25-26 sitting to be included in the yearbook. Senior Portraits are formal pictures; T-shirts and hats are not acceptable. Most boys wear a shirt and tie, and girls generally wear a solid color with a simple neckline.

You must have at least one “head-and-shoulders” portrait shot with a “Blue Moonlight” background.

The basic sitting fee is $25, cash or check payable to Prestige Portraits. You do not have to order anything, your photo will be included in the yearbook without charge.

Reminder: Canned Food Drive at Darien High School

On Monday, Oct. 24, Global Connect is collecting much-needed canned goods and non-perishable food items (such as pasta, applesauce, dried beans, instant oatmeal) for the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. Please drop off donations to the box in the high school main lobby.

Holmes Back to School Picnic

Royle School Fifth Graders in ‘Little Scholars’ Enrichment Program

Fifth graders at Royle School participated in an enrichment program sponsored by the PTO called “Little Scholars.”  The topic was building.  The students designed, planned, and built roller coasters, bridges and statues using the scientific method.

In the process they learned about the importance of planning team work and cemented their knowledge of key terms such as momentum and kinetic energy.

 

Jazz Violinist Christian Howes Visits Darien High School

Jazz violinist Christian Howes made a stop in Darien on his recent tour to work with our DHS Orchestra students on Wednesday, Oc. 19. The students were lead through various approaches to improvisation with the accomplished jazz musician, and were engaged in creating their own music and finding their own unique artistic voices.

DHS Orchestra Director Jane Minnis arranged the visit and was praised by Mr. Howes for being one of very few string programs in the country to include composition and creativity in the Orchestra curriculum.

Since 2011, performer, educator and composer, Christian Howes was voted No. 1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll (“Rising Stars/Violin”), named among the top three jazz violinists in the JazzTimes critics poll, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association.

The Minneapolis Tribune called Christian “arguably the most intriguing young violinist in jazz.” His recent release on Resonance Records, “Southern Exposure” earned recognition in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Downbeat, Jazz Times, as well as a six-night run at Lincoln Center in April 2013.

Howes is the founder of “Creative Strings“, a nonprofit organization with a mission to expand music education through the creation of online curriculum, an annual summer conference, and dozens of visits to schools annually teaching improvisation, contemporary styles, and related subjects. He endorses Yamaha violins and D’Addario strings.

 

Holmes Students Participate in Walk-a-Thon School Fundraiser

On Friday, Sept. 23, Holmes School students, faculty and parents participated in a Walk-a-Thon fundraiser where every dollar raised goes back to the school.

Students submitted pledge forms, showed their school spirit and walked in the sunshine at the third annual event. Funds from previous walks helped install water bottle fountain stations and purchase benches for the Holmes school playground.