Some typical school bus snafus cropped up this past week since Darien schools opened on Monday, but the new school year opened “relatively smoothly,” district Superintendent Alan Addley told parents in an announcement emailed on Friday.
Photo from the Granby Public Schools website
Alan Addley, named superintendent of Darien Public Schools
“We appreciate your patience as we make final adjustments to some busing routes,” Addley said. “Typically, these settle down by the end of the first week of school.”
In his email, also addressed to staff members, he thanked everyone “for making this first week of school a tremendous success for the students. There was certainly shared anticipation, joy and excitement as the school doors reopened to welcome everyone back to school.”
Addley also reminded parents to check the district website for information on the new MySchoolBucks portal for lunch payments. He also reminded them that school open houses are in person this year, that COVID-19 test kits are available on request through the school nurse contact list, and school COVID-19 regulations can be found on the district website.
The superintendent also gave out detailed information on what happens when schools close, are delayed or release students early due to bad weather.
Full Text of Addley’s Message
Sept. 2, 2022
Dear families & staff,
Thank you for making this first week of school a tremendous success for the students.
There was certainly shared anticipation, joy and excitement as the school doors
reopened to welcome everyone back to school. Students met their teachers and
friends, found their classes and began a post-pandemic new year of learning.
The opening of school went relatively smoothly. We appreciate your patience as we
make final adjustments to some busing routes. Typically, these settle down by the end
of the first week of school. Information on the new MySchoolBucks portal for lunch
payments can be accessed on the district website. Open houses are in person this
year.
With the wellness of our community of utmost importance, we had a healthy transition
into the new school year. Please visit the District’s Safe Return Plan and the school’s
Health Services Department webpage for additional health information, resources and
practices. COVID-19 test kits are available on request through the School Nurse
Contact List.
Inclement Weather School Closures, Delays & Early Dismissals
As we experienced last year, it is not uncommon to have storms this time of the year. In
anticipation of any inclement weather, it is important that all of your personal
information is accurate and updated in Aspen. If you have not already done so, to
ensure you receive notifications, please update Aspen with your personal information
as soon as possible. Emergency Weather-Related Information is accessible via the
website but the following describes possible weather modifications to the regular school
day:
Morning Emergency Dismissal: all schools will dismiss during the morning hours.
○ Darien High School will dismiss at 10:30am
○ Middlesex Middle School will dismiss at 10:30am
○ Hindley, Royle and Tokeneke will dismiss at 11:00am
○ Holmes and Ox Ridge will dismiss at 11:30am
○ ELP 8:30am start will dismiss at 10:00am/ ELP 9:30am start will be closed
Afternoon Emergency Dismissal: all schools will dismiss during the afternoon hours.
○ Darien High School will dismiss at 12:18pm
○ Middlesex Middle School will dismiss at 12:25pm
○ Hindley, Royle and Tokeneke will dismiss at 12:55pm
○ Holmes and Ox Ridge will dismiss at 1:30pm
○ ELP will dismiss at 12:00pm
Delayed Opening: all schools will start TWO HOURS later than normal.
○ Darien High School will open at 9:40am
○ Middlesex Middle School will open at 9:55am
○ Hindley, Royle and Tokeneke will open at 10:25am
○ Holmes and Ox Ridge will open at 11:00am
○ ELP 8:30am start begins at 10:40, 9:30 start begins at 11:40am
—Buses run approximately two hours later than normal.
—Early Learning Program will be DELAYED BY TWO HOURS AND TEN MINUTES.
School Closure: In most cases, you will receive communication between 5:30 am and
5:45 a.m. on the morning of the closing. You can expect to hear about modifications to
the school day through email, phone and/or text. In addition, the district webpage
and news channels will also be alerted of any school modifications. All activities on
school closure days are canceled unless otherwise noted.
The message at the staff convocation this year was making a difference, one moment
and one feeling at a time. … we look forward to doing that for your children!
Welcome back and enjoy the extended Labor Day holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Alan Addley, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Editor’s note: The text above is word-for word from the original, Darienite.com commonly changes punctuation and paragraph breaks to make texts conform to our house style.