The Darien High School Cafeteria is so loud “you cannot really hear yourself think” a school official said. Even worse, it’s become too small as the school population has expanded — and, still worse, the population is expected to get bigger when the current 7th grade gets into the high school in a few years. It’s already so bad that students will leave the cafeteria to eat somewhere else in the building (or, in warmer seasons, outside). So the Facilities Committee of the Board of Education, working with consultants, has been looking into expansion plans for the room. Committee Chairman David Dineen on Tuesday night presented an outline of the committee’s proposal to the full board.
Police have issued a citation to a man whose hunting trip in camouflage near Darien High School on Thursday led to emergency conditions going into place in the school and an email about it going to parents. The hunter, Andrew Ham, 52, of Wilton, told police he had a longstanding verbal agreement with the owner of property near the school to allow him to hunt in the woods on the owner’s land, according to a Darien police announcement issued Wednesday. Darien police issued Ham an infraction ticket for trespassing. ____________
Here’s Darienite.com’s original article (as updated) on the day of the incident:
UPDATE: New Twist: Man in Camouflage Near High School Found After Earlier ‘Lock In’ at School (Nov. 17)
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But, according to police, the owner said he hadn’t given permission, and the hunter didn’t have it in writing, as he was required to by state regulation, according to police.
Every year, the Darien High School band collects fresh and frozen turkeys for the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. Last year, the band donated 107 turkeys to local families in need!
The entire Darien community is invited to donate a turkey or sides such as stuffing, canned corn and instant mashed potatoes. Food items can be dropped off outside the Darien High School (look for the turkey!) on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 from 7 to 8 a.m.
— an announcement from Darien High School
This November, Darien High School’s Theatre 308 presents As You Like It, William Shakespeare’s hopeful, joyful and thought-provoking comedy. Banished from the court, Rosalind disguises herself as a man and flees to the Forest of Arden, where she unexpectedly reunites with Orlando, with whom she has recently fallen in love, and encounters a colorful cast of characters, including Jaques, who proclaims that “All the world’s a stage.”
Students have been rehearsing for the past two months, using the Shakespearean language of the original text but staging the story in modern-day Connecticut—at a country club and a campground. Using the lyrics included in Shakespeare’s song-filled text as inspiration, the students have also composed (and will perform live) original music to complement the storytelling. The production showcases the work of nineteen student actors and over fifty students engaged in various behind-the-scenes roles, including set design and construction, stage management, dramaturgy, and costume, sound, and lighting design. Performances will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov.
Update, 1:22 p.m.:
A man wearing camouflage when he was bow hunting near the high school has been found, Darien police announced, and they say he was hunting not on school grounds, but in the woods nearby, where he was authorized to do so. The man was seen when he was returning to his vehicle in a parking lot at the Darien United Methodist Church, 345 Middlesex Road after hunting, not to hunt in an unauthorized area, police said. Here’s the police news release, emailed at 1:13 p.m.:
On November 17, 2016 at approximately 8:30 am, the Darien Police Department received a report of a white male dressed in full camouflage in the woods within close proximity to Darien High School. Based on the report, the Darien High School and two nearby nursery schools were alerted and took precautionary measures until the Darien Police determined that there wasn’t a danger. Officers remained in the area for the next several hours. At approximately 12:30 pm, officers were able to identify the subject as a local hunter who was hunting in a nearby area he had authorization to be in. When he was observed this morning, the subject was simply returning to his vehicle which was parked in the parking lot of 345 Middlesex Rd.
When Darien Public School officials recently saw a campus security video recording, they decided to suspend DHS Football Coach Rob Trifone for another two weeks. The school district’s announcement (full text below) did not indicate what was on the video recording, but it was related to the Oct. 1 incident that sparked Trifone’s initial two-week suspension (announced Oct. 11), when Trifone hit the helmet of a Darien player during a game with Norwich Free Academy. _____________
See also: Letters on Coach Robert Trifone’s Suspension (Oct.
A panel of college admissions representatives will talk Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in Darien High School Auditorium. All are welcome to hear admissions representatives from Babson, Duke, and Lehigh discuss all aspects of the application process. — an announcement from Darien High School
The Junior/Senior Class Parent Coffee takes place Thursday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. in the Little Theatre. Join Mrs. Dunn and Mr. Ribeiro for highlights of the year ahead. The Little Theatre is just outside the DHS Auditorium. — an announcement from Darien High School
Update, Wednesday, 12:20 p.m.:
From an announcement on the Darien High School main web page:
“Budget extra time and patience. Bring a copy of your child’s schedule (available in Aspen under “Published Reports”) and proceed to your first classroom for a 7:15 bell. During a “free” period attend a Guidance grade-level presentation, or cruise by the Cafeteria for refreshments, spirit wear sales, and DHS publications. “DHSPA [Darien High School Parents Association] Directory for sale in Cafe, Main Entrance, and outside Library, 1 for $20, 2 for $30. Directory sales end at 8:45.
Here’s Jack Book’s latest Darien High School Lacrosse hype video — this one for both the boys and the girls playing for the state championships:
As the video says: The state championship games are Saturday, June 11:
The girls, with a 20-1-1 record, are playing Fairfield Prep at 10 a.m. at Jonathan Law High School
The boys, with a 22-0 record, are playing Simsbury at 1 p.m. at Brien McMahon High School
This Twitter feed has every Darien sports Twitter account we could find (it appears every day in the right-hand column of Darienite.com Web pages:
Tweets from https://twitter.com/TheDarienite/lists/darien-sports
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To help Darien High School students maximize their study time, the Darien Library will once again offer extended hours the week of final exams.
Hours were extended on Wednesday and the library will be closing later on these days:
Thursday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 10 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.
Amid the field of Spring sports teams, there was one group of Darien High School athletes that made a debut wearing their Darien blue. The DHS Unified Sports team participated in their first track and field event at Fairfield Ludlowe High School recently, competing against seven other area schools. Led by Coach and DHS staffer Paul Brager, the team (pictured) participated in a variety of events, including: 2 x 25, 2 x 50, 4 x 100, 4 x 200 meter relays, turbo javelin, shot put, tennis ball throw, long jump and running long jump. “We competed side by side with other teams for the races, but then traveled as an individual team where all students participated in the throwing and jumping events,” said Brager. “The Ludlowe meet was our only track event and all athletes were recognized for their athletic accomplishments.”
Unified Sports brings together individuals with and without disabilities to inspire inclusion and respect for everyone on and off the field.
Students from Darien High School had the opportunity to speak with internationally recognized human rights activist Dr. Frank Mugisha. Frank Mugisha is an Ugandan activist on behalf of the rights of the LGBT community. His work has been widely recognized by the international community; in 2011 he was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and in 2014 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. ____________________
— an announcement on the Darien Public Schools website
____________________
He is currently the director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) which serves as an umbrella organization assisting LGTB rights groups around Uganda and the African continent. Dr. Mugisha’s visit was made possible as part of his inclusion in RFK Human Rights’ Speak Truth to Power curriculum, through which the life and work of human rights activists are used to help make classroom content come to life.
To the editor,
Darien High School would like to thank the many donors within the Darien community who offer generous scholarships to our graduating seniors. The scholarships were recently awarded at the Darien Community scholarship ceremony to deserving seniors enabling them to achieve their college dreams. The generosity of the Darien community means so much to the students, their families, and Darien High School. We offer our sincere thanks to the following civic organizations, groups and families:
Darien Arts Center
Darien Chamber of Commerce
Darien Community Association
Darien Education Association
Darien High School Class of 1974
Darien Junior Football League
Darien Kiwanis Club
Darien Little League
Darien Masonic Club
Darien Old Timers
Darien Police Association
Darien Rotary Club
Darien Youth Hockey Association
Noroton Fire Department and Henry Bennet Family
Post 53
Royle School and Roger Tamburro Family
Southern Fairfield County Retired Teachers’ Association
The Blue Wave Booster Club and James Girard Family
The Bruno Family The Clem Miner family
The Dana Family
The Depot
The George Nelson Family
The Ginny Wright Family
The MacMannis Family
The Meloy Family
The Myles Beringer Family
The Piedmont Associates
The Shannon Dunleavy Family
Tokeneke School and MaryLee Fisher Family
With gratitude,
Ellen L. Dunn Principal, Darien High School
Two Darien High School Seniors and two Darien residents attending Regis High School in Manhattan have been named National Merit Scholars, each winning an award for $2,500 in college tuition. One of the National Merit Scholars, Katie Tsui, was just named a Presidential Scholar. The others named are Chloe Zhou of Darien High School. At Regis, Andrew Aoyama and Charles Burke also are National Merit Scholars. Tsui is interested in pursuing a career in neuroscience; Zhou, in mechanical engineering; Burke, in finance; Aoyama, in the foreign service.
