Darien Public Schools Newsletter 2016-2017

Students at Ox Ridge School Show Creativity at Maker Faire Event

DHS Fuel Cell Car Qualifies for Energy-Efficient Car Marathon in Detroit, Then Stops Short

Tokeneke Teachers Become Superheroes for a Day of Appreciation

Middlesex Students Learn About Various Careers from Adults Already in Them

52 Darien Student Composers Perform Their Original Works at DHS Concert

Royle School Students Collect 2,000 Books for Darien Book Aid Plan

DHS Alumnus, Now Teaching in Argentina, Reaches Out to a DHS Language Classroom

Middle School Latin America Study Culminates with Food and Dance

Hindley Students Contribute Artwork for Student Art Show About Amusement Parks

Ox Ridge Students Collect Food for Those in Need

Middlesex Middle School Quiz Bowl Team Has Another Strong Season

Four DHS Students Learn Leadership Skills to Support Unified Sports

Education

By MARC MARIN | May 23, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | May 16, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | May 9, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | May 2, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | April 25, 2017

Books & Authors

By MARC MARIN | April 19, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | April 4, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | March 28, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | March 21, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | March 7, 2017

Education

By MARC MARIN | February 28, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | January 10, 2017

By MARC MARIN | May 31, 2017

By MARC MARIN | May 23, 2017

By MARC MARIN | May 16, 2017

By David Gurliacci | May 9, 2017

By MARC MARIN | May 2, 2017

By MARC MARIN | April 25, 2017

By MARC MARIN | April 19, 2017

By MARC MARIN | April 4, 2017

By MARC MARIN | March 28, 2017

By MARC MARIN | March 21, 2017

By MARC MARIN | March 7, 2017

By MARC MARIN | February 28, 2017

By David Gurliacci | February 9, 2017

By David Gurliacci | January 24, 2017

By David Gurliacci | January 10, 2017

Ox Ridge Elementary School students built rockets, wrote code, and constructed amazing structures last week as part of the second annual Maker Faire. The Maker Faire event at Ox Ridge is reflective of a larger movement happening across the nation. According to the MakerFaire.com website, a Maker Faire is an all-ages event that is “part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new.” Maker Faire participants come to show what they have made and share what they have learned. The Ox Ridge event was held in the Library Media Center and included a number of stations for computing and building. Speakers and experts in computer coding and robotics were invited to inspire and instruct students across all grades, according to Principal Luke Forshaw (pictured above with students).

The Darien High School Fuel Cell Team put in a valiant effort recently at the 2017 Shell Eco Marathon held in Detroit. Out of 100 teams, only half — including the DHS team — passed the rigorous technical and safety inspection process to get on the track. The fuel cell car then was able to complete three laps, a distance of about three miles. However, due to technical issues, the team did not complete a valid run for placement. Overall, they ranked fourth in their division, beating out schools like Georgia Tech University and Queens University.

Joslyn Delancey teacher Tokeneke School 05-09-17

Tokeneke Elementary School students reached new heights last week to show their appreciation for all that their teachers do with a celebration themed: “I’m a Teacher, what’s your Super Power?” To kick off Teacher Appreciation Day festivities, teachers and staff were presented with homemade Tokeneke Super Hero capes, gift bags featuring gift certificates donated by Darien Dunkin’ Donuts and Splash Car Wash, and floral bouquets created by their students and room mothers. The school’s Great Hall was transformed into Gotham City with a cartoon metropolis skyline, making a backdrop for a Super Hero photo booth. Classes took turns posing throughout the morning.

The special day was filled with treats and surprises for the teachers and staff.

With 20 presenters representing fields from fashion to high finance, Middlesex Middle School (MMS) students had an opportunity last week to explore potential career interests — and get some free advice. Opening speaker Eric Stein, Head of Investment Banking–North America for J.P. Morgan shared his insight at the morning meeting in the Auditorium. He emphasized to the 8th grade audience the need to follow one’s passions and interests. The rest will fall into place, he said. Television Anchor Ashleigh Banfield, who hosts the HLN show Primetime Justice With Ashleigh Banfield closed out the event with her own insights.

The 17th annual Darien Young Composers Concert held at Darien High School this month featured the original musical compositions of 52 talented young composers from the Darien Public Schools. The young composers, ranging in age from first grade through Grade 12, had an opportunity to meet and ask questions of internationally recognized guest composer Tom Salta. Salta is an award winning composer of music for video games. The students also received comments from Salta on each of their compositions. “This year’s group of talented Young Composers performed an amazing range of musical styles and expressed their thoughts and ideas through music,” said Director of Music Richard Sadlon.

Lily Johnston Anne Johnston Book Aid Plan Royle School 04-19-17

Darien High School freshman Lily Johnston and her sister, Anne, have thousands of reasons to be proud. As volunteers for Darien Book Aid Plan, the Johnstons worked recently with Royle Elementary School Library Media Specialist Sherrie Lanier to carry out a successful book drive. The Johnstons, who are alumnae of the elementary school, started the drive because of the low supply of children’s books available to meet demand. Anne is a 2015 DHS graduate. Since 1949, Darien Book Aid Plan has fostered literacy around the world through the free distribution of books.

Darien High School world language teacher Jonathan Smith recently got a request he could not refuse. A DHS alumnus, Kyle Byrne (pictured above right corner), had accessed archived editions of the DHS Blue Wave News and saw Smith’s efforts to video-conference with students in other parts of the world. Smith had conducted similar work when he was at Middlesex Middle School — forming a robust collaborative to Darien, Panama. Smith even made a journey into the jungles of Panama to visit the town’s namesake. So when Byrne, who teaches English and Media at the Colegio Lincoln in La Plata, Argentina, wanted to have his students video-conference with Smith’s Spanish 5 class, Smith had no hesitation.

The 7th grade teams at Middlesex Middle School (MMS) had a lot to dance about recently. MMS students on the Aqua, Blue, Gold, and Purple teams culminated their research and two-month study of Latin America in their Social Studies classes with an all-out grade-level event. The MMS Latin American Festival focused on the culture, geography and history of the region. For the event, students created a booth (pictured above) with a partner sharing various aspects of Latin America, along with demonstrations that brought the richness of the culture to life, according to MMS Social Studies teacher Heather Maher. Students enjoyed a catered authentic Latin American lunch from Mi Casita in Norwalk.

Hindley Amusements art show thumbnail 03-21-17

Using markers, Popsicle sticks and LEGOs, students at Hindley Elementary School created fantastical amusement rides as part of a recent art show. There were roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and even entire carnivals on display for this year’s Hindley Creations Art Show. More than 30 students participated in the event, which was co-ordinated by Hindley PTO members Selena Chen and Christine Harris. “The Creations Art Show has great value for students. It provides an opportunity for students to show off their creative abilities around choosing a design, and a medium with which to work.

Ox Ridge School Bridgeport Rescue Mission 03-07-17

As part of a school-wide service project, Ox Ridge Elementary School students collected food items to support those in need. Teacher Jenny Trifiatis led the kindergarten team in organizing the annual food drive event aimed at supporting the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. The mission’s focus is to provide food, clothing, shelter, education, support, and job training for the urban poor and addicted in coastal Fairfield County. Each grade level was challenged to collect 100 items of food to donate to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Students helped load the items recently for use in the mission’s pantry and mobile kitchens.

MMS Quiz Bowl Middlesex Middle School 2016-2017 2-28-17

The Middlesex Middle School (MMS) Quiz Bowl team is racking up the wins this season. In their three middle school-level quiz bowl showings, MMS teams captured first and second place at all three. The most recent was at the Bergen Winter Classic Tournament in River Edge, N.J.

That win led to the school’s Quiz Bowl A, B, and C teams being selected as the National Academic Quiz Tournaments “Middle School Team of the Week.” They have also qualified for nationals in Dallas this May.

MMS Advisers Barbara Ivey and Ken Romeo, who led the school’s Quiz Bowl team to a national championship in 2016, continue to coordinate, coach, and prepare students.

Four Darien High School (DHS) students had a chance to hone their leadership skills by attending an annual conference hosted by Special Olympics Connecticut. The Unified Youth Leadership Summit held last month in Hartford featured motivational speaker Scott Backovich and actor, author, and advocate John Franklin Stephens. The students also had a break-out work session led by students from Newtown High School. ____________

— This article is reprinted from the Darien Public Schools Newsletter

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DHS students Juan Pablo Perfumo, Nick Cardone, Lucas Thompson, and Liam Sweeney represented Darien. Paul Brager, a district behavioral analyst, who has coordinated the Unified Sports program, selected the four to attend. They either showed outstanding leadership in at least two seasons of Unified Sports or volunteered time across seasons.

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