Thank you, Anne-Lise Brown, for your volunteer efforts in the Darien High School Parents Association, raising money with students for human services, planning DHS events and more at the school. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. Anne-Lise Brown Did This in the DHSPA
Anne-Lise has served on our Executive Board for many years in several capacities. Her current role on the DHSPA is the student life chair. She works with students and coordinates with our DHS Community Council to plan events, raise money for human services, and many other valuable DHS student activities.
Thank you, Tiffany O’Connor, for your volunteer work in the Darien High School Parents Association. —This article is part of a series of daily articles profiling the volunteers recognized in May at the Darien annual volunteer recognition luncheon organized by the Community Fund of Darien. Tiffany O’Connor’s Efforts at Darien High School
Tiffany O’Connor has been a tireless and dedicated volunteer within the Darien High School Parents Association and has served in the role of co-chair during the 2018-19 school year. Tiffany has a sunny disposition which shines through in every endeavor she undertakes. She has a wonderful sense of humor which allows her to lead with grace.
Good evening Ms. Tara Ochman, Chair of the Darien Board of Education, Members of the Darien Board of Education, Dr. Elliot Landon, colleagues, parents, grandparents, guests and most distinguished members of the Darien High School Class of 2019. Following a long standing tradition, I am told the class of 2019 will present me with a gift as they receive their diplomas this evening. Pieces of sea glass, tiny jewels, are a fitting symbol for a class we have come to cherish and provides a beautiful metaphor around which to weave a message for the graduating class. Sea glass takes us to another place and time. It holds our imagination, mysterious and magical, and conjures memories of long days at the shore, unfettered by the cares of today.
On behalf of the Darien Board of Education, it is my distinct honor to welcome parents/guardians, families, teachers and administrators to this exciting, and ultimate celebration of the Class of 2019. This ceremony and the accomplishments of our graduating seniors are the definitive moment in education for local communities. We believe school exists for the children. We are here today to celebrate their journey, because, as Mark Twain said “Out of our public schools grows the greatness of a nation.” And, it is our honor to bear witness to this tonight. Many have nurtured this growth and deserve thanks.
Due to the ongoing rain, Tuesday, Darien High School’s graduation will be held indoors, in the Auditorium, Principal Ellen Dunn announced. Admittance to the Auditorium will be given only to those with rain tickets (each graduating senior is given two of them with his or her cap and gown on Tuesday — the ticket envelope is white with a blue stripe on it). “Lost tickets will not be replaced and seating will be at the discretion of DHS Administrators,” according to the high school website. Indoor Graduation Rules
According to the DHS website, these further rules apply for indoor graduations:
If the ceremony is moved indoors, doors to the Auditorium will open at 4 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served. Admission to each level of the Auditorium will be limited to the number of seats available on that level (no standing).
U.S. News, which regularly ranks public high schools across the country, has named Darien High School the best in the state and ranks it 150th in the nation, citing the high participation rate in advanced placement classes at the school. DHS also ranked 49th in STEM (science-technology-engineering-mathematics education) in the nation. “Darien High School is ranked first within Connecticut,” U.S. News said in its high school rankings feature, just published. The magazine said that 74% of the high school’s students take advanced placement courses and exams. The magazine noted that only 2% of DHS students are economically disadvantaged, and total minority enrollment is 11%. A total of 98% of the school’s 1,354 students go on to college, U.S. News reported. Schools in the magazine’s survey “are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college,” the report said.
Darien High School is pleased to announce that Alexander Hu, a DHS Authentic Science Research (ASR) student, is one of the 10 Honorable Mention winners in the 2019 DNA Essay Contest, sponsored by the American Society of Human Genetics. — an announcement from Darien High School
Science teacher, Christine Leventhal, is Alexander’s ASR mentor, and had this to say about his Honorable Mention, “Over 3000 entries were submitted to the essay contest from around the world. There were 13 winners in total — first-, second- and third-place, plus 10 honorable mentions. I am thrilled that Alex received an honorable mention!”
A total of 12 trophies were brought home from the state Technology Student Association conference two weekends ago by Darien High School’s Technology Student Association and its advisor, teacher Gregory Darin. — an announcement from Darien High School
Students Toby Cowles and Chris Stoumpas secured first place in board game design. Evan Tong also brought home a first place win in photographic tech. Darien had two teams competing in the debating technical issues event, both of whom fought hard. Declan O’Mara and Andrew Skogland secured second place, while Tommy Lasagne and Thomas Kiernan earned a third place trophy.
A Darien High School student who posted a picture of himself last week with a gun, later determined to be a BB gun, was charged with breach of peace, Darien police said. Police said they charged the student because the picture had been circulated among students and caused some alarm and concern. DHS Principal Ellen Dunn sent an email to parents and guardians of students at the high school to inform them that the matter was being dealt with and there didn’t appear to be any threat to students. As Darienite.com reported last week, no threats were made in connection with the student’s online picture, and police today announced that the student didn’t intend to make any threats, and the picture initially had been sent to a small number of students. A group of students informed the high school administration about the picture, and the administration brought the matter to the school resource officer (a police officer) at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27.
Darien High School’s Theater 308 has kindly invited Darien seniors to attend the dress rehearsal of Chicago The Musical at Darien High School on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 7 p.m.
(The date has been changed from an earlier announcement.)
Seniors can enjoy the show free of charge without the crowds expected at performances over the weekend. Free transportation to and from the Darien High School is also available through At Home In Darien. — an announcement from At Home In Darien
Using volunteer drivers in conjunction with their professional drivers, At Home In Darien has arranged for transportation at about 6:30 p.m. Seniors can be picked up at their homes and will be returned home safely after the show. Theatre 308 will present the longest running American musical in Broadway history, Chicago, the winner of six Tony Awards for its revival in 1996, takes place in the roaring twenties, a time of great political corruption and media sensationalism. Failed vaudeville performer Roxie Hart murders her faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap — until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie.
It would be criminal if you missed it: Darien High School’s Chicago the Musical! Theatre 308 will present the high school edition of the longest running American musical in Broadway history, Chicago, at the Darien High School Auditorium, March 22 – 30, 2019. — an announcement from Darien High School and Theatre 308
Chicago, the winner of six Tony Awards for its revival in 1996, takes place in the roaring twenties, a time of great political corruption and media sensationalism. Failed vaudeville performer Roxie Hart murders her faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap…until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and fellow inmate Velma Kelly vie for the spotlight and headlines with help from Chicago’s slickest lawyer Billy Flynn.
Darien police will be conducting a training exercise at Darien High School for the next three Monday nights, from 6 to 10 p.m.
“Be advised that this is a training exercise only and is NOT based on any current or active threat to the town of Darien or the school system,” DHS principal Ellen Dunn said in a message emailed Friday afternoon to DHS staff and parents. Dunn added, “The training will be confined to the first and second floors of the B Wing section of the high school.” Here’s the full text of the email:
DHS staff and families,
The Darien Police Department will be conducting scenario based training at the high school during three Monday nights in March. The training will revolve around responding to an active threat inside of the school. Be advised that this is a training exercise only and is NOT based on any current or active threat to the town of Darien or the school system.
Twelve Darien High School students in the school’s Authentic Science Research program earned top prizes last weekend at the Connecticut STEM Fair. The fair was held Saturday, Feb. 9 at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, just outside of New Haven. — an announcement from Darien High School
A total of 42 DHS students were at the all-day fair, which had 15 high schools and over 400 students, judges and volunteers participating. Each student was required to create a poster exhibit, make a presentation, and participate in a question and answer session with two sets of judges.
Eighty five students from Darien High School were inducted as new members of the National Honor Society in a ceremony held Tuesday Jan. 29 in the DHS Auditorium. Members were selected by the chapter’s Faculty Council for meeting high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. — an announcement from Darien High School
The newest members are:
Jack Armstrong, Alexa Barrett, Jackson Bell, Skyler Bennett, Emma Blenke, Nicholas Branca, Margaret Brooks, Thomas Brown, Charles Callery, Charlotte Campbell, Caitlin Chan, Emma Chase, Christopher Conte, Samuel Cragin, Eva Criscuolo,
Matthew Daileader, Kieran Daly, Austin Dehmel, Shriya Desai, Eilanna Dolan, Erin Edgar, Kimberley Ekern, Shannon Flaherty, Skylar Ford, Jacob Grimm, Alexander Gu,
Ethan Haas, Katherine Hackett, Grace Hand, Will Harmon, Cailin Henry, Jack Holly, Sean Huffert, Benjamin Huffman, Sarah Jaques, Lila Karl, Juliette Kiernan, Riya Krishnan,
Katherine Lane, Peter Lattimer, Hudson Lazzara, Jackson Leone, Amanda Loura, Thomas MacLehose, Kerry McDermott, Payton Miller, Maggie Moffatt, Ryan Mulliken,
Maya Nalawade, Nisha Nalawade, Caeleigh O’Connor, Catherine O’Connor, Taryn Pardo, Ashwini Patel, Samantha Pensiero, Julia Pfrommer, Kaitlyn Popson,
Nadejda Radoulov, Aleevelu Raparti, Jackson Roberson, Tyler Roland, Arushi Samal, Anika Satish, Isabelle Seeman, Maxwell Sharp, Meghan Shaughnessy, John Slonieski, Calvin Smith, Isabelle Smith, Halle Spataro, Lillian Spengler, Henry Steinthal, Katherine Stevens, Megan Streeter, Lauren Sulger,
Sophia Talwalkar, Evan Tong, Perrin Trask, Emma Williams, Samuel Wilson, Cecilia Winegar, Nicholas Witkowski, Meghan Wood, Kai Zhou and Alexis Zitzmann. Each year, the Darien High School chapter sponsors several service projects for the school and community, which in the last few years have included tutoring students, assisting during Open House and volunteering in the community.
Four Darien High School seniors — Ria Dhull, Madison Pomeroy, Taylor Richards and Olivia Yoo — have been selected as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. — an announcement from Darien High School
These students have been identified based on broad academic achievement and having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or ACT. The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our Nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year up to 161 students are named as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the Nation’s highest honors for high school students.
