Darien High School 2017-2018

Letter: NBA Player Chris Herren’s Moving Talk at DHS Shook Up Students

Former NBA Star Chris Herren Speaks Thursday, Nov 30 to DHS Students, Parents

Darien Educator Named Connecticut Tech/Engineering Teacher of the Year

8 Darien High School Girls Divided Into 2 Teams Saturday = Yale Math Competition + Advice

Darien Schools Hold Veterans Day Observances, Invite Veterans

DHS Community Council Makes Wheelchair Costumes for Darien Students

Livin’ La Vida Dariénita: DHS Video Made for Spanish-Speaking Students Abroad

Turkey Bowl at Boyle Stadium This Year and Next

Darien High School Fighting Substance Abuse in a New Way: With Student/Parent Info Sessions on the Dangers

15 From Darien High School Named ‘Commended Students’ by National Merit Scholarship Program

Darien Police Issue Traffic Regulations Announcement for Saturday’s Homecoming Game

DHS Students Choose Among 60 Groups at Club and Activities Fair

Police Announce Traffic, Parking, Other Regulations for First Darien High School Night Football Game

Darien Police: Tight Parking, Heavy Traffic Expected for DHS Open House Thursday Night

Letters to the Editor

By David Gurliacci | December 13, 2017

Community Organizations

By David Gurliacci | November 29, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | November 21, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | November 15, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | November 15, 2017

Holidays

By MARC MARIN | November 7, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | November 1, 2017

News

By David Gurliacci | October 17, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | September 30, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | September 27, 2017

Public Safety

By David Gurliacci | September 22, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | September 19, 2017

Public Safety

By David Gurliacci | September 15, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | September 14, 2017

Chris Herren visit to DHS on Nov 30 with Youth Asset leaders

“Every student I have talked to went home after school and told his or her parents how amazing the experience was, or discussed in class the general feeling of awe following the presentation.” To the editor:

On Thursday Nov. 30, I was one of nearly 1,400 Darien High School students who filed into the auditorium expecting to hear the same drug and alcohol lecture we have heard repeatedly from parents, teachers, coaches, and previous presenters. Students awaited the usual litany of intimidating data on brain development and the statistics on alcohol-related car crashes that had been displayed on screens numerous times before. Ninety minutes later, nearly 1,400 students filed out of the auditorium profoundly and unforgettably moved by the honest and often heart-wrenching words that former NBA star and recovered addict Chris Herren came to share with our community.

Former NBA player Chris Herren is coming to Darien High School on Thursday, Nov. 30 to speak about addiction and recovery. Herren will speak to students during the day and, starting at 7 p.m., to parents at the high school Auditorium. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1999, Herren was traded to the Boston Celtics after his rookie season, then lost his career to substance abuse. In other DHS-related news:

In Darien’s Latest Pre-Turkey Bowl Fiasco: How Police Say Juvenile Trash Talk Led to Adult Arrests (Nov.

It was a good month for the Technology & Engineering Department at Darien High School with one teacher was named state ‘Teacher of the Year’ and another invited to a national conference to speak about fuel cell cars. DHS teacher Greg Darin was named the Connecticut Technology & Engineering Education Association High School Teacher of the Year for 2017-18. “I understand there was some stiff competition this year,” said Richard Reynolds, Technology Education department coordinator. “He is a stellar teacher, a wonderfully resourceful and respected department member. It gives me great pride to be able to work alongside him every day.”

Darin was presented the award at a statewide conference in Portland, Conn., which was attended by DHS Assistant Principal Kate Dimoulas and members of his department.

Eight Darien High School girls divided into two teams entered the first ever “Girls in Math” event Saturday, which featured math competitions plus advice from a college professor on entering a math- or science-related field. Participation in the event, which took place at Yale University, was sponsored by the DHS chapter of the Mu Alpha Theta national math honor society. “This was a great opportunity for our female math students to learn more about what it is like to work in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] fields from other girls and women those currently in those fields,” said Matt Buchta, DHS Math Teacher and Mu Alpha Theta club advisor.

The day included a math competition that had an individual and team component. Schools were allowed to send a maximum of two teams of four, and Darien fielded a full complement.

Holmes School Veterans Day Palen Althoff

In honor of Veterans Day, the Darien Public Schools hosted a variety of assemblies and gatherings for students last week. The following is a snapshot of efforts to honor those who answered the call of duty. Hindley School

Over 30 veterans attended the 12th Hindley Veterans Day Share. Fourth and fifth grade students kept the school in a patriotic mood with songs like, “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” The question and answer portion of the assembly was informative. “Veterans answered the students’ questions with facts and stories that complimented their learning about this special day,” said Principal DJ Colella.

With cardboard, costumes, and a lot of creativity, members of the Darien High School Community Council made Halloween a little brighter for three Darien students.

This is the second year Community Council members designed costumes around wheelchairs for students who use them for mobility. One of the students enjoyed his new ride in a Lightning McQueen-inspired costume which was test driven through the halls of DHS. “One of the aspects of this project that is most meaningful for our students is the tangible contribution that they have made to their peers — the reactions of both the kids who made the costumes and the kids who received them was a reflection of how meaningful an experience this was,” said Chris Buckley, co-adviser for the Council along with DHS teacher Janet Keeler. DHS staffer Paul Brager, who was also involved in the project added, “Hearing the cheers from classmates as they cruised through the parade and seeing their faces in response was nothing short of amazing.”

The Community Council is made up of 25 students and 10 advisers and serves as the student government organization for the school.

So what does a day in the life of a Darien student look like? Now describe it in Spanish for an international audience. That was the challenge for Darien High School (DHS) seniors in Jonathan Smith’s class, who made documentary films that have been shared with 25 Spanish-speaking schools in countries such as Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.

Darien is the only American school participating in the Canary Island-based Educación Vital project, which has just received an international award. The main Darien documentary film submitted includes drone footage of DHS; on-location shots in the library, art room, and cafeteria; and clips of various after-school activities Darien students may get involved in like swimming and dance. There is even a night-time dinner scene complete with cooking and a dog resting on the couch.

Boyle Stadium at Stamford High School will be the venue for this year’s Turkey Bowl game between Darien and New Canaan football teams and next year’s as well, Darien Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner announced late Tuesday afternoon. The stadium, with a capacity for more than 10,000 spectators, can handle the crowds of football fans from both towns, making it a good fit to host the rivalry, Brenner said. Here’s the announcement:

The Darien Public Schools and the New Canaan Public Schools are pleased to announce that we have secured the use of Boyle Stadium in Stamford to host the 2017 and 2018 Turkey Bowls on Thanksgiving morning each year. With a capacity of over 10,000 spectators, Boyle Stadium is the ideal venue for this traditional rivalry game between the schools, and we are thrilled that our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in this exciting environment. Neither school district’s stadium has such a large capacity, which has resulted in many community members from both towns being turned away from attending the event in the past.

All but 226 Darien High School students (less than one in seven) has participated in a presentation in which a Silver Hill Hospital, a lawyer and police officers talk about the problems teens have when they take alcohol, marijuana or other illegal drugs or alcohol. The students must attend the 90-minute session with a parent or guardian. Both student and adult must attend in order for the student to participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities. Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner reported the attendance information to the Board of Education on Tuesday. The sessions began over the summer, and the last one (until winter) was held Sept.

Fifteen Darien High School students have been named “commended students” by the National Merit Scholarship Program, the high school announced on Wednesday. Here’s the announcement:
Ellen Dunn, Principal of Darien High School, announced today that the following students have been named “commended students” in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program:
Kerry Blatney, Abigail Cragin, Tighe Ekern, Maxwell Gasvoda, Oliver Knight, William Krueger, Brooke Murphy-Petri, Emily Neuner, Kara O’Rourke, Griffin Ott, Clare Phelps, Nicholas Servas, Ari Singer-Freeman, Rory Washecka, and William Wilson. A letter of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by Mrs. Dunn to these scholastically talented seniors. Approximately 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2018 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, commended students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2018 competition by taking the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

The Darien Police Department will enforce traffic regulations and monitor security for Darien High School’s Homecoming football game, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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— an announcement from Darien Police Department

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All traffic will enter the DHS campus from Noroton Avenue. High School Lane and Nutmeg Lane will be closed to incoming traffic at 12:30 p.m. Spectators are strongly urged to carpool as parking at the high school is limited. Due to the large number of vehicles expected, parking regulations and designated tow away zones will be strictly enforced.

DHS Club and Activities Fair Students 2 Students 09-19-17

Outside the Darien High School Cafeteria, students wandered past tables and banners looking at the many ways they could spend their time beyond the classroom. Under bright skies, DHS held their annual Club and Activities Fair last week where students learned about the more than 60 clubs open to students. The clubs reflected a range of interest, including those that promote public service, outdoor adventure, and academic challenge, according to Kate Dimoulas, DHS assistant principal. Among the academic and service minded clubs were National Honor Society, Debate, Programming Club, and Chess Club. Those that promoted a vision of a kinder, brighter, and safer world include One Love, Natural Disaster Response, and D.A.W.G.

Those clubs that encouraged students to enjoy fun activities in competitive and non-competitive venues include Theater 308, Gaming Club, and Outdoors Club.

Darien Lights Brigade Stadium Lights 910-26-16

The Darien Police Department will enforce traffic regulations and monitor security for Darien High School’s first night football game, to be held on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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— an announcement from Darien Police Department

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All traffic will enter the DHS campus from Noroton Avenue. High School Lane and Nutmeg Lane will be closed to incoming traffic. Spectators are strongly urged to carpool as parking at the high school is limited.

« August 2022 »

The Darien Police Department is issuing a traffic advisory related to the Darien High School Open House, scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 14. Parents who are attending the event should be aware that parking at the high school is limited. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Due to the large amount of traffic that is anticipated it will be necessary to limit vehicular access to the high school campus.