Derby High School
75 Chatfield Street
Derby, Connecticut 06418
(203) 736-5032 ▪ www.derbyps.org
Principal, Jennifer Olson
Update to Board of Education -October 2025 Presented November 2025
Academics:
- Held PSAT School Day for students in Grades 9-11; Grade 12 students worked with school counselors for post-secondary planning activities
- Journalism students attended High School Journalism Day held at the Southern Connecticut State Univ. Students participated in breakout sessions and had a keynote address from Kent Pierce from WTNH news. Journalism & Yearbook students were issued a journalist notebook and a “press pass” which grants them free access to school-sponsored events like sports games, shows, and events so they can write articles about these events for the Raider Press and the Lookout
- Student Council elections for 8 class reps were held. Students campaigned and created posters, signboards, and videos about why students should vote for them.
- Held Voter Registration with Town/City Clerk & Registrar to educate students about their right to vote and registered/pre-registered nearly 40 new voters
- Held planning meeting for the 25-26 American Legion Oratorical Contest and invited via Zoom DHS alumni Vincent Trinh (‘25) and Kevin McGuire (‘25) from their college campuses to speak to interested students about their successful experience in the competition.
- Held attendance and credit review meetings with students. Introduced the 25-26 student trackers to self-monitor grades/attendance to remain academically eligible and on-track to graduation.
- Teachers have begun to utilize a new engagement protocol, “Harkness Discussions,” a student-led, roundtable discussion method where students sit in a circle to analyze an article/text with the teacher acting as a facilitator. The goal is for students to take ownership of the conversation by listening, analyzing, and verbalizing their own ideas and questions, rather than being passive recipients of information from the teacher.
- American Legal students began working with Attorney Susman in preparation for the upcoming Mock Trial in Dec. This year’s case involves an apparent accidental overdose involving an opioid. Our students will compete and take roles as attorneys and witnesses for the state and the defense.
Human Capital
- Held professional development for teachers and certified staff on Teacher Goal Setting, and the SAT exam
- School administrators & teachers participated in district safety & PDEC meetings
Operations
- Hosted a welcome event for the future Class of 2030 and the 8th grade teachers- pep band and cheer performed, student leaders and staff spoke to students
- Hosted Parent Night for the future Class of 2030. Goal of our early outreach to students and parents is to provide information about the opportunities that exist at Derby High School and to generate interest/excitement and create a sense of belonging.
- Hosted the “Speak Sobriety” Program with Stephen Hill to share about risky behaviors, drug and alcohol addiction, and sobreity. Program was sponsored by Youth Bureau and facilitated with John Saccu.
- Held fall College Fair to engage students in exploring post-secondary options with 2 year, 4 year colleges, trade schools, and military. Received program support from John Saccu, Youth Bureau
- Conducted planned emergency drill (lockdown) to promote safety and security
- New student-run thrift shop launched. Funds to start the program were through a Donor’s Choose project by Mrs. Sheridan.
- Fee FAFSA financial aid application assistance promoted with parents (Jessica Odlum, The College Place)
- Counselors met with all seniors to introduce the Common App as a tool to apply for college admission
- New bike rack installed at DHS to support students riding bicycles, scooters and ebikes to school
- Held Senior portrait sittings and school picture retake day
Climate/Culture:
- Launched our new in-school clubs that meet 1x p/week on Thursday’s during school (Advisory time) including: Art, Basketball, Best Buddies, Crating/Painting, Book Club, Calculus, Chess, Embroidery, Event Planning, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Gaming I/II, Just Dance!, Movie Club, Podcasting, Rotary Interact, Spanish Club, Sports Card Collecting, Student Council, Thrift Shop Retail, Weightlifting, Writing Club, Yearbook Club, Yoga, and more!
- Recognized Unity Day (Orange Out); Domestic Violence Awareness (Purple Out) and Breast Cancer Awareness (Pink Out) to promote support of these causes and build a sense of community and care. STUCO Made a donation to agencies that support individuals and these causes using funds raised in school-wide Coin Wars.
- The Student Council hosted our planned the Homecoming Dance with “A Night in Paris” theme
- Hosted the NVL Unified Spooky Soccer tournament
- Began the annual NHS Thanksgiving Food Drive
- Participated in the Derby-Shelton Rotary luncheon recognizing senior football players and cheerleaders
- Held fall sport Senior Night recognizing senior athletes with their families and coaches
- Empanada & Churro sale during Hispanic Heritage month to raise money for Spanish Club/Spanish Honor Society. New mural inspired by Hispanic artist Joan Miro painted by students.
- Students partnered with the Blanket Fairy and Southford Falls quilters to create 61 fleece blankets for students for children in CT’s foster care
- 10 student-athletes attended the annual CIAC Sportsmanship Conference focused on leadership
- DHS named national banner Unified Champion school by Special Olympics
- Successful Bocce fundraiser held at the Sons and Daughters of Italy Club to support the Class of 2027
- Celebrated Custodian Appreciation Day recognizing their contribution to DHS
October Newsletters
Oct 26 - Nov 1 https://secure.smore.com/n/c59nw
Oct 5 - 11 https://secure.smore.com/n/15qd3-derby-high-school-news
Oct 12 - Oct 18 https://secure.smore.com/n/8ytsk
Sept 28 - Oct 4 https://secure.smore.com/n/kdhjs