January 3, 2018
Darien High School Parent News
Published by the DHS Parents Association
  DHSPA
DHS
Important Dates

January
3
Classes Resume
9 Cocoa and Cram - Freshman Study Session, 6:00 pm, Rm A206
12 End 2nd Quarter
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO SCHOOL
16-22 Mid-term Exams
23 Begin 3rd Quarter
25
 Wellness Fair
30
 DHSPA Meeting: Electives Expo 9:00 am, Auditorium

Calendar Links
Upcoming Events

COCOA & CRAM
Tuesday, January 9 from 6 - 8pm, Advisory Leaders and the National Honor Society will co-host the annual Cocoa & Cram event. Cocoa & Cram is a great opportunity for ninth graders to get midterm study help from upperclassmen. There will be general organizational help as well as subject specific assistance.
We will provide the cocoa and snacks.  Ninth graders should bring their notes, study guides, questions, and books. Students should enter through the library entrance and check in in A206 (English/History Learning Connections). We encourage all ninth graders to attend. It's sure to be a productive evening!
 
PARENTS OF SENIORS - IMPORTANT YEARBOOK DEADLINES
Senior Ad Deadline: The deadline to submit a senior ad for your student is February 2 (at an increased price). This is your last opportunity to place and ad for your senior. Go To: www.simplyyearbookads.com (select Darien High School from the list of schools) 
 
Senior Section Photo Pages, Early Years: In the senior section of the 2018 yearbook, we would like to include a few pages for "Through the Years" - a section focusing on School age photos (Kindergarten through Junior Year). For these photos:
  • Group shots only please
     
  • If the group is 6 or less students, please include the names of the students in the photo
     
    •
  • If the group is more than 6 students, please state the time frame of the event/photo 
Current Senior Year Photos: We would like to have a few pages from the current Senior Year.
 
We would really like as many group photos as possible, and these can be from events at school, at homes or in the community.
  • If the group is 6 or less students, please include the names of the students in the photo
     
  • If the group is more than 6 students, please state the time frame of the event/photo
     
  • Please submit the photos as a .jpeg via email with the subject line: SENIOR SECTION PHOTOS and your name to:[email protected]
     
    •
  • DEADLINE: Friday, February 2nd
PARENTS OF FRESHMEN
If your child has had a physical exam since June 1, 2017, please send a copy of the form including his/her immunization record to the DHS Health Office.

If your child played a fall or winter sport and you have already provided us with one dated June 1, 2017 or after, there is no need to submit it again.
The physical exam is a State and Darien Public School requirement for entry into 10th grade. Providing this form to us as soon as it is available will avoid multiple reminders. Without an updated physical, your child may be delayed from entering 10th grade. Thank you from The DHS Health Office.

UPDATE ON THE DHS CAFETERIA EXPANSION
You probably heard last year that the Board of Education approved a plan to expand the DHS cafeteria and now you may be wondering what's happening with the project.   

Last May, the 2017/18 Darien Public School budget was approved by the RTM including approximately $1.7MM for the expansion of the cafeteria.  A town building committee has been formed to oversee the project.  You can follow their progress HERE.

The stated goals of the project are to increase seating capacity to 420 students, improve the acoustics and lighting of the space and allow for increased flexibility within the space.  

The building committee has selected KG&D as the architect. They have received detailed cost estimates and signed off on the design. Their next step will be to approve construction drawings with the intention of seeking construction bids in late January.

The intention is for the new cafeteria to be ready for the first day of school next year. Look for additional updates in the DPN as the project moves forward.

COUNCIL OF DARIEN SCHOOL PARENTS "DID YOU KNOW" SERIES
Did you know that Darien Administrators have Twitter accounts? For up-to-date district info, follow Superintendent Dr. Dan Brenner @supBrenner. 
In Last Week's Edition

DARIEN MUSIC FOR YOUTH CONTESTS
Darien Music for Youth is sponsoring Poster, Written Word, and Composition Contests! Make a poster, write 500 words, or compose a piece that shows something about Russian Music or is inspired by Russian Music! You could win $100!  At DHS, there will be a first and a second place winner ($100, $50, gift and certificate) in each category. Submissions are due to the Music Department Office  by January 24th, and winners will be announced on January 31st. Any kind of materials on one sheet of paper no larger than 18 x 24.  Writing contest and Composition contest descriptions are on the back of the entry form. 
 
Need inspiration?  Learn about some Russian composers  and listen to their music.  Listening suggestions are on the entry forms, which are available in the Music department office or HERE. 
 
Questions:  Please ask your music teacher or call the district music office at 203 655-3981 x2250.
Stay connected with the DHSPA!
Thriving Youth/Community Fund 
 
"Asking, "How come?" with genuine curiosity and without judgment has long been my most reliable ally in the effort to help teenagers open up."
-Lisa Damour
 
Parents mean well when they try to connect with their teen at the end of the day by asking, "How was school?" Psychologist Lisa Damour reminds us that what we really are trying to say is, "I love you and miss you and would like to touch base." To avoid getting a grunted "good" or "terrible" for an answer, try more specific questions, like "How is that group project going?" or "Did you guys do sprints again in practice?" with a tone that conveys you have no agenda or angle to pursue. Damour also recommends dropping a line of inquiry if your teenager puts a topic on the table. Should an adolescent say, "English was stupid today," a warm "How come?" can keep the conversation going. 

Talk early, talk often. The Community Fund/Thriving Youth
Submission Guidelines for Darien High School Parent News
  • Please send your submission in the text of your e-mail, single spaced and left adjusted (no formatting), with "DPN Submission" in the subject line to [email protected]. Download files, attachments or formatted text are not accepted.
  • Submissions must be event-driven, age-appropriate and relevant to Darien High School. We will not include advertisements or fundraisers for businesses.
  • Deadline for submissions is Friday at noon.
  • Please include a contact name and e-mail address in the text of your submission for questions we may have.
  • In order to keep the DPN short, we are not able to include any community news.
  • Texts may be edited and submission does not guarantee publication.
  • To repeat a submission, kindly resend the previously printed information to us again for consideration.
With many thanks from the  DPN editors, 
Cathy Barrett, Madhavi Desai, Julia Ford, Carmen Phipps, and Pamela Ha-Stevenson