- DHS
Darien High School
80 High School Lane Darien, CT 06820
Phone: 203-655-3981 Fax: 203-655-3864
Principal: Dan HaronThe Darien Public Schools
- General
- Faculty
- Students
DHS Student Media
- Blue Wave News - Video
- Current - Literary Magazine
- NEIRAD: Blue Wave Sports Blog
- NEIRAD: Enilno - School Newspaper
- Photo Galleries
DHS Computer Network
- ASPEN - Grades & Attendance
- Destiny - Find Books & Check Fines
- DHS Email
- DHS P Drive
- NAVIANCE
Groups and Programs
Buses and Parking
Standardized Testing
Courses and Registration
Student Handbook
The student handbook represents the school's efforts to help develop a mutual understanding and working partnership with DHS students and their parents. In it you will find general information, rules and procedures that have been developed to assist in the daily routines that are a part of our school.
- Library
Research Links
Material Links
DHS Library Hours
Monday to Friday from 7 AM - 3 PM
- Guidance
- Parents
- 2011 DHSPA Parent Survival Guide (PDF)
- ASPEN Parent Portal - Attendance & Grades
- Blue Wave Booster Club (PDF)
- Darien PayDeck - Pay Student Fees Online
- DHS Jobs Office - Post a Job
- DHSPA Student Wear - Shop & Order Form
- Summer Mailing - Required Forms
- Yearbooks - Online Order Form
- Welcome Center
DHS Clubs and Student Groups Sorted By: Name.
Art Club
- Advisor: Katie Stuart
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students interested in art. Students work on individual and/or group projects in an open studio setting.
Art for Action Club
- Advisor: Robert Sorensen
- Webpage: http://www.darienartforaction.org
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: The Art for Action Club helps promote the social causes of other clubs and organizations in Darien High School Community. We "help others help others" by contributing creative promotional and marketing ideas and artistic design services to the charitable efforts of these organizations with the goal of raising awareness, participation and donations.
Best Buddies
- Advisor: Kate Curcio, Ann Sather
- Webpage: http://www.bestbuddiesct.org
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). All students are welcome to join
Blue Wave News/Video Production Club
- Advisor: Ivan Crowther, Sean Otterspoor
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
buildOn (Building with Books)
- Advisor: Keith Keeler
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: (previously called Building With Books) open to all students. Activities include community service projects, interschool visitations and fund-raisers designed to help people in developing countries build schools.
Chess Club (Darien's Advancement in Non-Competitive Chess, or D.A.N.C.)
- Advisor: Tom Zawacki
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Composers Club
- Advisor: Christopher Andrade, Carolyn Whinnem
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Computer Club
- Advisor: Patty Brooks
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Current (Literary Magazine)
- Advisor: Jessica Ginsburg
- Webpage: http://dhscurrent.wordpress.com/
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students who are interested in working on the staff and /or submitting poetry, art work, short stories or essays.
Dance Team
- Advisor: Jenna D'Agostino, Lynn Brown
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Darianus (yearbook)
- Advisor: Steve Leete, Patty Brooks
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: seniors hold the major staff positions, but all students are encouraged to join the staff. Underclassmen work on sections for their respective grades and work up to being section editors. Photographers from all grades are always welcome.
Darien Animal Welfare Group (D.A.W.G.)
- Advisor: Kristen Backus
- Webpage: http://www.darienanimalwelfaregroup.webs.com/
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: Founded in 2007, the Darien Animal Welfare Group (D.A.W.G.) is committed to helping animals in need in the Darien community and beyond, and spreading awareness regarding animal health and care.
Debate Team
- Advisor: Ann Sather
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students. Prepares and competes in interscholastic and regional contests.
Dodgeball Club
- Advisor: Eric Woelker
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Drama (Theatre 308)
- Advisor: Nancy Herman, Alex Speiser
- Webpage: http://dhstheatre308.wordpress.com
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Ecocitizens(Environmental Awareness)
- Advisor: Juan Carlos Arango, Elissa Scudder
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Film Club
- Advisor: Matt Pavia
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students. Watch and critique films.
Foreign Language Club
- Advisor: Juan Carlos Arango, Barbara Schmidt, Robbi Riordan
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: Open to all students who wish to join a club dedicated to providing enrichment of laguages.
Free Thinkers Club
- Advisor: Alex Speiser
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Future Problem Solvers
- Advisor: -
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to students in grades 9-12. Students will work through a series of problem solving tasks in preparation for competition with other teams from Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as national competition.
Garden Club
- Advisor: Susan Ruegger
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Gay/Straight Alliance
- Advisor: Doug Paulsen, Susan Mason
- Webpage: http://dariengsa.wordpress.com
- Meets: Thursday after school in room B313
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: to provide a student forum for enacting the expectations of the DHS mission statement, to create a safe, welcoming and accepting school environment for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation, and to work against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Guitar Club
- Advisor: Matt Pavia
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Invisible Children & Y.O.U.
- Advisor: Eric Woelker
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
JETS
- Advisor: Dan Record
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: promotes interest in engineering, science, mathematics and technology, and is dedicated to providing real-world engineering and problem-solving experience to high school students.
Kids Giving Back (KGB)
- Advisor: Sean Otterspoor
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: encourages and promotes volunteerism in the school community. Members of the KGB participate in a variety of community service activities both in school and in the surrounding towns. Activities include Saturday Habitat for Humanity Workdays.
Math Team
- Advisor: Bonita Messman, Jackie Seaman
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students in grades 9-12. The team meets weekly. It participates in Fairfield County competitions on a monthly basis. Additional competitions are a possibility.
Model UN
- Advisor: Dennis Cabrera
- Webpage: http://dariehighschoolmodelun.weebly.com
- Meets: 2:30 on Thursdays in G203
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: Open to all students, the club focuses on discussing international affairs. Each year the club attends a conference at the United Nations in NYC.
Muggle Quidditch Leauge (Member of the IQA)
- Advisor: Sean Otterspoor
- Webpage: http://dhsquidditch.wordpress.com
- Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays in C104 - Play is in the Courtyard
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: The Darien High School Muggle Quidditch League looks to bring the sport of Quidditch (as based off of JK Rowling's Harry Potter) to DHS while providing the general student body with wholesome, athletic, magical fun. All muggles in grades 9-12 can participate. Enough teams will be created to accommodate demand. A team must consist of at least one (1) keeper, one (1) seeker, two (2) beaters, and three (3) chasers. Alternates are encouraged. No pure bloods, or death eaters are allowed. Practices will be called by team captains, and games will be organized by the commissioner.
"Names" Program (Human Rights)
- Advisor: Jennifer Ladd, Lynn Brown
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
NEIRAD (School Newspaper)
- Advisor: Mary Mammana, Sybil O'Hare, Sean Otterspoor
- Webpage: http://www.neirad.org/
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: Editorial and reporting staff are enrolled in Journalism, but any student may submit articles or viewpoints for consideration. Photographers and those interested in Web design are also needed.
Photography Club
- Advisor: TBA
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Sailing Club (Fall)
- Advisor: Britt Hall
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Saint Luke's Lifeworks
- Advisor: TBA
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Ski & Snowboarding Club
- Advisor: Chris Buckley, Jeromy Nelson
- Webpage: http://www.darienps.org/teachers/cbuckley/ski_snowboard/ssc_index.html
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Stage Crew
- Advisor: Lee Strecker
- Webpage: http://dhstheatre308.wordpress.com
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: Open to all students. Involved in building, rigging, lighting the stage for Theatre 308's two major productions a year.
Student Life
- Advisor: Donna Russo
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students interested in working on committees to support dances, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, DIVE Day and other student assisted events.
Student Political Action Committee (SPAC)
- Advisor: TBA
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Support Our Soldiers
- Advisor: Pam Zago
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Technology (Robotics) Club
- Advisor: Lee Strecker, Richard Reynolds
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students. Students will have experiences with robotics, electronics, aviation, and have the opportunity to participate in technology competitions. Meets informally 2 –3 times a week.
Teen PeaceWorks
- Advisor: Jennifer Ladd
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Theatre 308 (DHS chapter of National Thespians)
- Advisor: Nancy Herman
- Webpage: http://dhstheatre308.wordpress.com
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: open to all students. Involved in producing at least two major productions a year. First production is usually in November. Try-out schedule is announced.
Ultimate Frisbee
- Advisor: TBA
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: x
Weekend Alternatives
- Advisor: Anthony Sweeney
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: None
- Description: club dedicated to finding drug and alcohol free activities for students.
Band
- Advisor: Carolyn Whinnem
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: audition required
Community Council
- Advisor: Chris Buckley & Jeromy Nelson
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: open to all students and staff. Leadership and voting representatives are elected by the DHS students and faculty each spring. Meetings are held once a month. The executive committee meets weekly.
Connecticut Challenge
- Advisor: Dan Record
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: audition required
Men's A Cappella / Women's A Cappella
- Advisor: Christopher Andrade
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: audition required
National Honor Society
- Advisor: Sean Otterspoor
- Webpage: http://www.darienps.org/nhs
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: Junior (and Senior) students are selected on the basis of grade point average and faculty ratings, and reflect outstanding scholarship, leadership, character and service. Members of the NHS provide service as tutors, guides at school functions, and fund-raising for scholarships. (See special section of the handbook on National Honor Society selection process.)
Nutmeg Express
- Advisor: Christopher Andrade
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: audition required
Orchestra (Pop Strings)
- Advisor: Jane Minnis
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: audition required
Tri-M Advisory
- Advisor: TBA
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: Modern Music Masters (Tri-M) is a national honorary music society dedicated to improving solo and small group performance. Membership is by invitation.
Tudor Singers
- Advisor: Christopher Andrade
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Yes
- Description: audition required
Rugby
- Advisor: Russ Caruso
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Fee
- Description: held at another venue/ may have a fee
Squash (Fall & Spring Club) (Winter-Varsity Sport)
- Advisor: Margie Hauer
- Webpage: #
- Meets: x
- Prerequisite: Fee
- Description: held at another venue/ may have a fee
Darien High School . 80 High School Lane . Darien, CT 06820 Phone: 203.655.3981 . Fax: 203.656.3631