JANUARY 17, 2022
Darien High School Parent News
Published by the DHS Parents' Association
DHS
IMPORTANT DATES
JANUARY
17 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
18 - Full Instructional Day (F-Day)
19 - Midterm Exams 1 & 3
20 - Midterm Exams 5 & 7
21 - Full Instructional Day (G-Day)
24 - Midterm Exams 2 & 4
25 - Midterm Exams 6 & 8
26 - Exam Makeup Day
26 - 11/12 Extracurricular Commitment Forum - 7pm
27 - Begin Quarter 3, Semester 2 (B-Day)
27 - Electives Expo, 9am, Auditorium
MIDTERM EXAM SCHEDULE & INFORMATION  
Tue, Jan. 18: F-Day, Review Day/Full Day of classes 
Wed, Jan. 19: Exam Period 1 (8:00am) & Exam Period 3 (10:30am)
Thurs, Jan. 20: Exam Period 5 (8:00am) & Exam Period 7 (10:30am) 
Fri, Jan. 21: G-Day, Review Day/Full Day of classes 
Mon, Jan. 24: Exam Period 2 (8:00am) & Exam Period 4 (10:30am)
Tue, Jan. 25: Exam Period 6 (8:00am) & Exam Period 8 (10:30am)
Wed, Jan. 26: Exam Make-up Day 
Thurs, Jan. 27: B-Day, Quarter 3/Semester 2 Begins

Attendance/Dismissal Times
Students are expected to be in attendance for each exam. Individual arrival and dismissal times depend on each student’s schedule. Students may leave school when they are dismissed from their last exam for the day. There is no school on make-up day (unless a student has a scheduled make-up exam). Make-up day is for excused absences only. Students who miss an exam for illness or other excused reason must arrange to take the make-up exam directly with their teacher. 

Buses and Parking
AM buses will operate over the usual routes at the regular time (including make-up day). Afternoon buses leave DHS at 12:35pm. Student parking regulations remain in effect. Parking is for seniors with permits only. 

Cafeteria
Breakfast items and beverages will be available in the cafeteria from 7am to 12:30pm. The cafeteria will be closed on make-up day.  

DHS Library
Library open for quiet study only 7am-3pm.  

Weather Delays or School Cancellation
In the event of a weather-related 2-hour delay, the exam schedule will be as follows:
1st exam: 9:40am - 11:40am
2nd exam: 12:10pm - 2:10pm
AM buses will run routes two hours later; afternoon buses will be at 2:25pm.  
If school is closed for inclement weather, power outages, or other emergency, the exam schedule will be adjusted so that the next school day will have the exams that were missed and the schedule will move along in order.
2022-2023 Darien School District Budget Process Update

On Tuesday, January 11th, the Board of Education held a meeting; the full recording can be found here. Discussion regarding the proposed Darien Public School District budget for 2022-2023 begins at 1:45. Public comment takes place at the very beginning and the very end of the meeting.  

In order to ensure that ALL voices are heard, we want to hear input from parents in the DHS community. Thanks to those who have given feedback so far. Below are some key topics we have identified:
  • 1:1 Technology for DHS - discussion begins at 1:51*
  • Additional part-time Health/PE teacher at DHS
  • Open Choice - discussion begins at 2:08*

We’ve also heard feedback from our DHS community that the following topics are important:
  • SSD Coordinator to support standardized and AP testing
  • Return of the China Exchange program
  • Additional Bursar position at DHS to support student related activities
  • Transportation
  • Psychologist position at DHS
  • Textbooks for AP Spanish
  • Additional coaches for Freshman Field Hockey and Girls’ Rugby

Please email Co-Chairs, Leila Buckjune and Antoinette Cowles and Budget Chairs, Robin Nelson and Tiffany O’Connor with your questions and opinions!

All 2022-2023 Budget materials can be found here. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on January 18th at 7pm. Agenda and Zoom / YouTube links can be found here. This meeting is open to the public.

* There will be a special meeting on January 24th at 7pm for the Board of Education to discuss these two topics.  


ACT MATH REVIEW COURSE
DHS is offering an ACT math review course run by Mr. Brooks from the math department. This course is intended for students who will be taking the ACT on February 12 or April 2.

The course will run on four Wednesday nights from 7–8.30pm. This class will be in-person at DHS, but may move to virtual (Zoom) if the circumstances warrant. The dates are January 19, 26, February 2, and 9. The cost of the course is $199 and students should sign up on School Cash Online. Contact Steve Brooks (sbrooks@darienps.org) with any questions. Space is limited and there is a minimum enrollment in order to run the class. Students will receive a diagnostic test before the course begins.


2022 DHS YEARBOOK - ORDER NOW BEFORE PRICES GO UP IN JANUARY!
Order 2022 Darien HS yearbook HERE at the early bird pricing of $75. After January 21, the yearbook will be available for $95. Please remember to keep a copy of your order number. The Yearbook Club does not want anyone to go without a yearbook due to financial reasons. If you need assistance, please contact your school counselor.


SCHOOL PHOTO PACKAGES
Please remind your student to pick up their photo orders from Mrs. Farren in the main office.
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With many thanks from the DPN editors Beth Lane, Sarah Neumann, Denise Krueger, Marli Hayes, Hope Barton & Carolina McGoey.