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Darien students showcase electives from robotics to anatomy at board meeting
Summary
Students and teachers presented a student-centered review of Darien High School electives — including visual arts, music composition, anatomy and physiology, engineering/robotics, AP psychology, statistics and American Sign Language — highlighting hands-on projects, college pathways, and about 70 active student clubs.
Darien High School students and staff gave the Darien Board of Education a walkthrough of the district's elective offerings on May 26, showcasing how classroom choices connect to college and career pathways.
The presentation, billed as a "voices and choices" program, featured department leaders and more than a dozen students who described classroom projects and partnerships. "I plan to study art and design at the University of Michigan next year," student Tatum Dunn said, describing a mixed-media piece that took nearly 20 hours of work and won a Scholastics award. "These electives give students opportunities to follow their passions." Dr. Burn opened the meeting by congratulating students on recent year-end performances and academic achievements.
Why it matters: Board members said the live student presentations made course syllabi come to life and showed how electives support career readiness. Presenters noted measurable growth in arts participation (the senior arts commitment ceremony recognized 12 students this year, up from five last year) and cited roughly 70 active clubs at DHS as part of students' co-curricular development.
Student speakers described hands-on learning across subjects. Jake Gowbert, a senior in the independent engineering projects course, introduced "Melvin," a robot he has iterated through multiple versions and used as a learning vehicle for CAD, CNC fabrication, motors and coding. "The beauty of this class is that I had to keep a journal and check in with Mr. Darren," Jake said, describing how failure and iteration improved his design and workplace habits. Staff noted that student internships have followed from the course; one student is doing remote CAD work for a Kansas restoration business.
The anatomy and physiology elective, described by students and staff as an immersive health-science course, uses Blue Wave Medical Center simulations and exposes students to more than 30 health careers. Students said the course enabled applied learning (suturing practice, dissection labs) that has helped some decide on nursing or other medical programs. "We're always thinking from multiple perspectives," an instructor said, emphasizing patient-centered case studies.
The school also highlighted AP psychology, probability and statistics courses that students said helped them apply data analysis in real-world projects, and a growing ASL (American Sign Language) program led by Teresa Rizzo. "ASL builds empathy, confidence and engagement," Rizzo said, noting that colleges accept ASL for credit and that the program reaches students who 'may not thrive' in traditional language tracks.
Board members responded with positive feedback and asked about expanding capstone-style independent projects into humanities and the arts. Presenters said the idea has been discussed and pointed to the existing ASR capstone model as a template, while noting practical barriers such as staffing and cross-department coordination.
The presentation closed with board members thanking students and staff. The district next takes questions and, when applicable, course proposals return in the fall for formal curriculum review.
