As the day of candy corn and goblins come to an end, everyone returns home past their bedtimes. Halloween, the holiday where everyone can dress up and enjoy a late night out trick-or-treating, only to be forced to prepare for a day of school and work.

Many are fighting to have Halloween officially moved to the weekend. However, rather than moving the holiday from it’s traditional date, it would be much better if everyone received the following day off.

Just like many other holidays, Halloween too, should deserve the following day off. Halloween is celebrated similarly to Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving, and therefore should be treated the same. Those aforementioned holidays are given the next day off, so why not Halloween? Students, teachers, and parents need a day off to recover from their long night of sugar high.

Sophomore Hannah Kwarteng felt that students deserve the day off “because they are typically extremely hyper due to excessive amounts of sugar intake…which always results in a sugar crash the following day… which renders children from performing to their full ability.” It is necessary to take this all into consideration and make sure the kids are ready and able to learn.

Senior Guilherme Gomes agrees that people should receive the day after Halloween off. “We love to have fun and go out and by having school it drains our mental energy to actually be able to learn and participate in school,” the Senior shared. Having school the next day, especially after a long night, drains students’ mental energy and affects their ability to learn and participate.

Senior Robert Ivansco also feels that school the next day is just another thing to stress about. “We are still young and shouldn’t have to worry about if [kids] can go out for Halloween, they should worry about if [kids] want to go out,” Ivansco explains.

Waking up at 5 am the next morning to sit in a classroom for hours isn’t ideal after a night of sugar-driven celebration. Just like Reena Wang and Jessica Feng said in their opinion piece, “Should we have school the day after Halloween?”for Tj Today, “On a normal school day, many students already find it hard to stay awake…Having school the day after Halloween is only worse and is a waste of time for both teachers and students.”

Halloween is the celebration of pumpkins, ghouls and princesses. The one night where all are trick-or-treating and binging horror movies in the spirit of the spooky season. It is the start of the holiday season; everyone should be able to enjoy the holidays with no worries of the early morning and long day to come.

Walking around the halls of DHS, students can be seen in blue scrubs. These students are  part of the Health and Bioscience Academy (HBSA) as well as the Future Health Professionals (HOSA). These programs give students hands on experience working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Danbury Hospital.

Recently, there has been a rise in applicants to the program. HBSA teacher Kathryn Tong points out multiple reasons as to why this increase is taking place, “We’re spreading the word more,” says Tong. “ More people are becoming aware that it’s an option. This past year, we sent out a ‘robo-call’ and that really helped.” 

Tong mentions that there is a “New national law that says former experience is needed in order to apply to places  like nursing schools, medical schools, etc, and the only way to do that is by having a nursing assistant certification.” 

The HBSA/HOSA program acts as a bridge for students to get to where they want to be in the future. Tong also brings up how “students think that being a part of the program makes them stand out on a resume, or a college application. People realize that it’ll really help them.” 

Getting acclimated to the program is no easy task. Traveling from the school to the hospital and being in the classroom for two block periods a day can be hard for busy students to adapt to.

Michelle Siancas, a second year senior in the program, said that her first year was “really stressful” because “there was a lot of responsibility to handle.” Despite her initial struggles, after graduating, she hopes to obtain her “bachelor’s degree in nursing and move on as a pediatric nurse.” 

First year junior Lucy Chen also described her initial experiences with the program as “hard to balance’’ due to her additional extracurriculars. Even though being in the HBSA program is a lot of work, members truly enjoy being a part of it. Chen added that “It’s easier to do because it’s something I like.”  “It doesn’t feel like a class even though we’re here 2 periods a day,” says 1st year Junior Maame Obeng.

With all the opportunities provided by the HBSA/HOSA program, it’s looking like the rise in applicants and enrollment won’t slow down anytime soon.

From inflatables, to blasting music and free food, Senior Fest is known to be one of the most looked-forward to senior events of the year. Senior Fest typically occurs twice a year which simply means, twice the amount of fun. 

Since “senior” is within the name of Senior Fest, this event is meant for the graduating class. 

History teacher and Class Advisor of the 2020 class Julian Shafer believes this year’s Senior Fest is going to be different.

Shafer, speaking on behalf of the class of 2020 officers, stated “We will gather all the seniors after school to have fun and all hang out”.

This year’s Senior Fest will be held on Friday, October 18th from 2pm to 4pm. The advisors would like any volunteers that could help clean up after the event finishes. 

Students who have already paid their student dues will attend the event for free. However, those who have not paid all dues are expected to pay $5. Everyone must bring their school ID. “There will be two inflatables which include bouncy boxing and bungee run” as well as a dj, Shafer adds.

There will be food provided at the event such as cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers, and of course, water. 

The 2020 class officers are aiming for a great turnout. Officers want all seniors to come out and have a good time. Many seniors are excited for the event and want to finish off their final year of high school with a bang. 

Nya Blackwood senior states, “I am so excited for the event. I just want to enjoy the last moments of senior year!”

Kelly Sari senior also says, “I am friends with students that graduated last spring and I feel like this year is going to be different than others due to 2020 being a special year.”

Class Advisors expect all seniors to come and have fun! Seniors should enjoy their last few moments as high school students. Make some memories!

15 years after winning the Class LL State Championship, the Hatters 2004 baseball team is set to be reunited. The 2004 DHS State Championship Team will be honored at the DHS Hall of Fame dinner on Friday, Oct. 25. 

Led by Head Coach Shaun Ratchford, the team went 24-2 on their way to winning the State Championship. Danbury powered through Newington (#31), Norwalk (#18), Branford (#10), Greenwich (#14) and Norwich Free Academy (#1) for the State Championship. 

The latter was led by two future MLB players, but Ratchford and the Hatters were unfazed.

“In comparison to the teams that you coach that get nervous when they are playing in a big game, this [DHS baseball] team was excited for the challenge.” Ratchford said.

Ratchford further commended the team’s motivation, saying, “The team had great leaders throughout. They didn’t really need a captain, they actually probably would’ve won the state championship without a coach because that’s how driven they were and that’s how focused they were on what they wanted to achieve.” However, Ratchford admitted that if he were to name captains, Brad Pippa, Bobby DeNardo, and Shaun Muran fit the bill.

For Athletic Director Chip Salvestrini, the championship win “was a great event that continues to be thought of today.” His words reflect the thoughts of “most of the Danbury community.”

With an amazing season coming to an end, 2004 State champions they were named. It all started by Danbury finishing 18-1 in the regular season. In the first round, #2 Danbury beat #31 ranked Newington 6-5. Then Danbury beat #18 ranked Norwalk 3-1 in the second round. After that, the Hatters beat #10 ranked Branford 4-3. They also defeated #14 ranked Greenwich 3-1 in the semi-finals. Danbury Hatters beat #1 ranked Norwich Free Academy 2-1 to win the State championship.

Ratchford remembers that season with fond memories, “You had kids out here, with snow on the ground, throwing baseballs to get better. The day after they lost in 2003 they played, that Sunday night, they played two players that went on to be pro baseball players and threw over 90 mph because they wanted to get better. They didn’t do that because of us, they did that because they wanted to compete against the best and get better.”

The DHS Marching Band came in first place at their Class 1 Competition in Newtown on Saturday, Oct. 7, beating New Fairfield High School. The victory is the second this season and marks a remarkable pleasure in the wake of the recent change in director.

Ted Adams, the previous band teacher and marching band director, left last school year for a job at Pembroke Elementary School. He has since been supplanted by Elizabeth Dandeneau, who previously taught orchestra and band at Westside Middle School Academy. Dandeneau has taken over Adams’s courses – including Symphonic Band Honors and Concert Band Honors – and most notably his marching band programs.

Dandeneau’s new direction has increased her students’ confidence. “We were all really worried when all of the talented seniors left from last year,” said Senior Drum Major Luke Lefflbine. “Yet, her positive teachings have allowed us to rise to the occasion with more than just talent, but confidence.”

“I love the new energy she brings. She’s really setting us up for success,” explained Junior marching band member Morgan Albano. Dandeneau focuses on “quality over quantity” when setting up rehearsals, and rather than scheduling rehearsals five days a week,  opts to create more in-depth rehearsals on a less consistent rate, as Albano claims.

Dandeneau believes that “with every new teacher comes a new style of teaching.” During the second week of band camp this summer, she consulted the students on what their goals were for this season, which was to feel successful. Dandeneau actively seeks to have open-communication in her classroom. She wants all of her students to “like coming into her classroom and actively engaging.”

“She’s still the teacher I know and love. She’s a music kid at heart, just like all of us. She makes us all feel respected,” Junior Gregory Fanning said. Fanning had Dandeneau for Orchestra from sixth to eighth grade at Westside Middle School Academy. He now currently has her as his marching band director.

A short term goal rapidly approaching for the band is the annual Marching Band Jamboree on Nov. 2nd, organized for the first time by Dandeneau this year. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Dandenau claimed. The jamboree hosts both the home showcase of the DHS Marching Band and other local band performances. DHS students and staff are encouraged to participate.

The overall goal for the marching band this year is to advance further in the statewide marching band competition than they have in years past. “I think we now have the tools, ability, and attitude to succeed,” Albano said.

With the DHS Marching Band on a fast track to a successful season, marching band member Jason Alfidi (senior) said it best: “Rebuilding a band with a whole new teacher is hard and the fact that we’ve rebuilt is a significant feat.”

The Halloween Festivities have begun and are in full swing around Danbury High School. The Gay-Straight Alliance Club will be holding a Halloween “Night of the Living Dead” event this Friday. 

Friday’s event will be GSA’s “first movie night; featuring the ghoulish zombies in the original ‘Night of the Living Dead’,” says Kimberly D’Auria Family and Consumer Science teacher and director of the Diversity Council – GSA. 

The movie night will begin at approximately 6:30 pm and will end at 8:30 pm. Students will also be provided with “bake sale [items], apple cider” and many other snacks, shares D’Auria. Allergy information and vegan options will also be provided.

Friday’s ghoulish night of horrors will take place in the DHS auditorium and is open to all students with a $5 ticket fee.

This $5 ticket fee will be in support of GSA’s “annual conference in March to True Colors at UCONN,” informs D’Auria. The GSA club is in need of funding for their annual UCONN trip this year due to the fact that “[they] are on the opposite side of the state,” therefore, “the school bus travel is costly.”

Posters are being spread throughout the school about this Friday’s event on bright orange flyers. All students are encouraged to attend this year’s “Night of the Living Dead” movie night. Feel free to bring family as well. 

Tickets are available in front of the auditorium as well as in Ms. D’Auria’s room located in D278.

Freshman Forum save the date 2018-2019

This year’s Freshman Forum will be held on October 28th in the Danbury High School auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the forum will officially begin 30 minutes later. Interpreters will be available at the event. Freshmen and their families are strongly encouraged to attend. 

Before the event begins, community organizations like the Family and Children’s Aid Center and Stand Together Make A Difference, will have representatives present to distribute information to families that are interested.

This year’s Freshman Forum is now the sixth annual event, under the direction of DHS Crisis Counselor Caitlin Lewis. “We try to have a wide variety of speakers who cover different aspects of substance abuse,” says Lewis.

“It’s really important for parents to know what’s going on with their teens. Things are constantly changing with different drugs and different ways to use drugs. Maybe a parent doesn’t know what a Juul looks like because it looks exactly like a USB. We want to get this information out there.”

As an incentive, freshmen who attend the event will be rewarded with a homework pass, and the freshman team with the highest attendance will be rewarded.

For the first time since 2017, the Danbury Hatters Football team defeated the Trumbull Eagles. Even though the game was played at Brookfield High School, Danbury students came to support their Hatters Football team as they moved to 4-1 against the Eagles by a 34-13 score. The Hatters were led by Artez Taft who caught two touchdowns from Patrick Rosetting and Jackson Ciccone. 

Fumbles derailed the Hatters offense in the first half, but they were able to rebound in the closing half to take charge of the game. Coach Augie Tieri said, “we talk a lot about fighting through adversity and after a few penalty calls we really came back and had a successful rest of the game.” 

Malachi Hopkins led all Danbury rushers with 24 carries for 133 yards, while Ciccone had 11 carries for 69 yards to go along with his 2 touchdown passes. DJ Donovan also ran for a touchdown to open the scoring up in the 4th. 

For the Hatters, it was not weird to play a home game outside of Danbury. “It’s really our second home, we worked here almost everyday in the off-season so it really didn’t feel that different.” said senior captain Kile Jackson. 

The Hatters will now face their biggest task thus far, the 5-0 Newtown Nighthawks at Blue and Gold Stadium. Tieri believes being competitive will make Danbury successful.

 “We want to be competitive and to be able to make a statement around the state.” 

The Hatters and Nighthawks haven’t met in a long time as they will play as part of the scheduling alliance with the FCIAC, SWC, SCC, CCC and ECC. Newtown currently is 5th in the Class LL standings and the GametimeCT football poll, while Danbury sits 9th in the LL standings, just one spot out of the playoffs. 

This will be a major test for the Hatters as they play Newtown, then return home to face off against the Darien Blue Wave the following week. Senior Captain Jordan Agosto says that the Hatters need to have a strong start, “We need to have a strong start and a better start than what we had against Trumbull” 

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Newtown. 

Leaving me at the edge of my seat, Insidious has been one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. Every scene of the movie made me suspect that something was about to pop out. 

Insidious, a PG-13 horror film, focuses on parents whose son goes under a comatose state and becomes a channel for ghosts in an astral spirit dimension who wants to use his body.  The movie originally came out in April 2011. There is also a sequel and two prequels in addition to the first film. 

Krupa Soni senior, Nya Blackwood senior, and Lauren Curry senior and I planned a scary movie night last weekend. At first we were not sure what to film watch. However, the minute we opened Netflix, Insidious was the first movie to appear so we took a few minutes to watch the trailer. Despite our fears of the movie and the scary creatures that it may have held, we continued watching. We proceeded to turn off every light and  raise the volume. 

The frightening and loud soundtrack in the beginning made all of us jump in our seats. Throughout the movie, whenever an intense scene occurred, the music would strike, causing us to jump all over again and cover our faces in fright.

Watching Insidious at night was one of the worst decisions we made due to never knowing if a demon creature would pop up in front of us. There was no sleeping for us any of us that night.

The one thing all of us hated about the movie, was that there wasn’t an exact ending. The happy ending that we had all been anticipating, never happened. It left us at the edge of our seats, desperate for more. 

After all the screaming and hiding, Curry was afraid to drive home or walk alone in the dark and Soni slept with all her lights that night. 

Soni believes that “it’s better to watch with friends or family”. “The movie was really scary and suspenseful, but it was a fun experience,” the senior states.

Each girl left the house that night with a positive opinion on the movie. “It was so easy to follow which was really nice because a lot of horror movies are either confusing or too complicated to comprehend,” expressed Curry. After watching the movie together, she “would definitely recommend it but make sure not to watch it alone” she added.

Blackwood left with an adequate opinion on the movie. “The movie was interesting it wasn’t that scary but there were parts that were” she stated. After watching it with friends, she “would recommend it if you like suspense” she added. 

All of us liked the movie due to being suspenseful like the music was always there at an intense scene. We were always thinking of what could possibly happen next. We never realized that there were three more films within the series. 

Insidious was the type of movie to keep our hearts beating fast. All of us would recommend this franchise towards people who have a liking of terrifying horror movies. 

Finishing the franchise in the future will definitely take a toll on us. Will you be next to try the Insidious franchise?

Going into their first meeting with Newtown, the Danbury Hatters were excited to face off with one of the top teams in the state and looked to play spoiler to Newtown’s perfect season. However, it didn’t work out that way as Newtown won 35-13. Danbury forced four turnovers, including an interception by Nose guard Jordan Agosto, but were unable to turn them into points.

Danbury had trouble putting points on the board, which was due to lack of execution, according to Coach Augie Tieri. However, Coach was happy with the effort of his team.

“I like how we fought to the end and didn’t give up. We also recovered two or three fumbles and an interception by Jordan,” Tieri said.

Danbury saw a little bit of life on offense in the 4th quarter as Jackson Ciccone found Xavier Ross and Artez Taft for touchdowns. Although Taft is only a sophomore, Tieri sees him as one of the leaders of the team, “He’s a gamer, and his attitude is that he wants to win. He just wants to do whatever [he can] to help the team win.”

Taft returned to Danbury after attending Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains, New York to come back to play with the kids who he grew up with.

“Just to play with my family and [I] have been with them for a long time and I love every second of it playing with some of my closest friends,” said Taft.

The Hatters will go into next week playing against another undefeated conference foe in Darien.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Brookfield High School.

The quiet ambience of the DHS library was broken as it filled with the warm, familial sounds of Spanish, Portuguese, and English on Oct. 30th at 6:30 p.m. Students and their families gathered together in one room for the Undocumented Students’ Financial Aid Night, hosted by CT Students For a Dream, and were eager to get started.

The event had student presenters, Junior James Patino and Senior Erick Tamay, alongside CT Students For a Dream’s Danbury Lead Coordinator, Angelica Idrovo, at the forefront of the operation. With papers in hand and visuals uploaded, the trio discussed the cost of college, how to apply for institutional aid, and where to find scholarships for undocumented students. 

The Undocumented Student Financial Aid Night could not have been possible without its host, CT Students For a Dream. “CT Students For a Dream is all about protecting and advocating for the rights of undocumented students,” Idrovo explained.

 CT Students For a Dream began by fighting for DREAM Act legislation. After that failed to pass, the organization continued to fight to better undocumented-student lives within the state of Connecticut. Part of that drive extended towards fighting for financial aid for undocumented students. CT Students For a Dream passed legislation HB 6390 in May 2011 that allowed undocumented students to receive in-state tuition, allowing undocumented students to stop being alienated as a separate student population. This provided the foundation for what occurred on April 2019 – when CT Students For a Dream successfully pushed through legislation that allowed for all undocumented students in Connecticut to apply for financial aid nationally. 

Idrovo coordinated with the organization and DHS to allow for the Undocumented Students’ Financial Aid Night to even happen. 

“I was passionate to host this event because I’m young, I’m undocumented, and I was a DHS student. I took the opportunity I have from working at CT Students For a Dream to allow for this financial aid night to happen. I really wanted to educate the students on their rights and let them know that people support them because I used to be in their shoes.”

Nearing the end of Financial Aid Night, the students and advisor went over the rights of undocumented students. “We’re here protected under DACA and a safe school environment,” Tamay said. “So we have safety from ICE.” 

There was a sense of relief amongst the crowd as they realized the rights undocumented students have that many don’t know about. Undocumented students are protected under DACA from deportation, are now considered in-state students, and can apply for financial aid with a different form that doesn’t require a social security number they don’t have.

“We want to spread this message because it’s beneficial and helps undocumented immigrants reach the success they deserve. It’s a message to their future,” Patino said. CT Students For a Dream volunteer Zoe Mistriel (junior) agreed, saying “I think it’s very important that we reach our community and support one another. Knowledge is power, and the knowledge provided tonight can save lives.”

ESL advisor Leslie Hankin-Williams looked up at the student leaders with pride. “I’m just so proud that they’ve come out here today. They’re fighting for their friends and community, of which deserve financial aid. They apply to the system, and because they’re students like everyone else, they deserve to benefit from the system.”

Idrovo’s conclusion said it best: “We, as undocumented students, are no longer hiding in the shadows. We will fight for our college rights and education and we do have people supporting us. We deserve to have a future.”

After a disappointing 21 point loss against Newtown, the Danbury Hatters Football Team returned to action versus  #3 Darien in a home game at Brookfield High School, where they nearly pulled a huge upset. 

Darien came out of the gates flying with a 13-0 lead, but the Hatters were resilient in the 2nd quarter as Senior Malachi Hopkins caught a touchdown pass from Sophomore QB Jackson Ciccone, which made it 13-6 heading into the half. 

As the 2nd half began, Danbury stormed their way to the lead as a Diogo Rosa 27 Yard Field Goal was followed by a 75 Yard pass from Ciccone to Junior WR Xavier Ross to give the Hatters a 17-13 lead midway through the third. Darien countered to take a 20-16 lead at the end of the 3rd. 

To begin the 4th Quarter, Danbury had the ball from their own 15 as Ciccone found Sophomore WR Artez Taft who broke by a defender to get a long 85 yard touchdown. Danbury led 23-20 with 5 minutes remaing. Ciccone, only a sophomore, has been impressive this season, which is not lost on his teammates. 

“Jackson is just so driven… He works hard and he is probably the most competitive person I’ve ever played with,” said Sophomore WR Nick Smith.

Despite the play of Ciccone and Taft, Danbury’s lead was not meant to last.  Jackson Peters caught a 65 yard pass for Darien to give them a 26-23 lead with 4 minutes to go.. Ciccone would take the Hatters up field in their next two drives but threw two interceptions.

Head Coach Augie Tieri was proud of his team’s performance, “I hate using the term moral victory but it really was. After last week we saw what we had to work on and what we needed to do and we did that.” 

Tieri believes the Hatters made a statement to the state and showed that they are for real.  “We’re heading in the right direction as a program and can compete with the best teams in the state. I think there was a little bit of us having to prove it to ourselves and to everyone else.” Tieri said.

The Hatters will return to Hatter Hill to take on Norwalk on Sat. Nov 9. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

The Class LL Championship for Boys and Girls Cross Country took place on Saturday at Wickham Park in Manchester, CT. Both squads finished fifth place in their respective divisions.

The girls, led by Daniella Grullon Pena, who took third place overall with a time of 19 minutes and 10 seconds, fell behind Hall, Trumbull, Ridgefield, and Glastonbury.

The fifth place finish was also contributed to by Sarah Johnson, who took home 16th place overall with a time of 20 minutes and 27 seconds, and Meilee Kry, who placed 23rd with a time of 20 minutes and 34 seconds.

The boys, led by Senior Jacob Hefele, who won seventh place overall with a finishing time of 16 minutes 23 seconds, placed fifth behind Glastonbury, Ridgefield, Staples, and Conard.

The fifth place finish was also contributed by Jack Watson, who placed 21st with a time of 16 minutes and 28 seconds, Dylan Rosemark, who placed 56th with a time of a 17 minutes and 31 seconds, and Aidan Byrne, who placed 66th with a time of 17 minutes and 42 seconds.

Both the Boys and Girls will be competing in the State Open, today at Wickham Park once again.

Looking for a trip to learn about new cultures and places? Well, your time has come! A trip to Ecuador is now available for all DHS students.

“It is an opportunity for students to receive the most authentic experience they can as a tourist,” said Dilenia Gonzalez, a World Language teacher who is hosting the trip. “Students will be able to visit famous museums, landmarks, local stores and enjoy local foods significant to the culture.”

The trip will bring students to the capital of Ecuador, Quito, and three of the Galapagos Islands. The trip will follow this schedule:

Day 1: Fly to Ecuador

Meet your Tour Director at the airport

Day 2: Quito

-Take a tour of Quito
-With the Tour Director you will see:
-Independence Plaza
-Government Palace
-Visit Santo Domingo Monastery
-Take an excursion to the equatorial line

-Visit the Intiñan Museum

Day 3: Quito • Baltra Island • Santa Cruz Island

-Fly to Baltra Island-Visit the Twin Craters and the Lava Tunnels
-Visit the Santa Cruz highlands to see wild tortoises
-Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island • Isabela Island

-Travel by boat to Isabela Island
-Visit a pink flamingo habitat
-Visit a tortoise breeding center
-Take a boat excursion to the Tintoreras Lava Islet
-Go snorkeling

Day 5: Isabela Island • Santa Cruz Island

-Travel by boat to Santa Cruz Island
-Go swimming at Las Grietas canyon
-Visit the Playa de los Alemanes Beach

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island • San Cristóbal Island

-Travel by boat to San Cristóbal Island
-Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center
-Hike Tijeretas Hill
-Go snorkeling at La Loberia Beach

Day 7: San Cristóbal Island • Quito

-Enjoy free time in the morning on San Cristóbal Island
-Fly to Quito

Day 8: Quito • Otavalo • Depart for home

-Take a day trip to Otavalo
-Explore the local market
-Visit a waterfall in Cotacachi

Day 9: Arrive home

Gonzalez couldn’t help but express her adoration of the upcoming trip. “I love these trips because I’ve seen students practice their Spanish, make new friends, open themselves up to another way of living, take chances, and learn a little more about themselves.”

Although students do practice their Spanish, it is open to all DHS students, regardless of the World Language course they take. Attending this trip will give you many opportunities to see different cultures. “These are important lessons that are not taught in classrooms,” as Gonzelaz describes it.

Mrs. Gonazelaz has hosted many of these trips through Education First. The Ecuador trip will be her third trip with EF. Education First is an international company that sponsors language training, academic degree programs, cultural exchange, and educational travel. Ef was founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult in the Swedish university town of Lund and is now privately held by the Hult family.

This year, Gonzalez took her time and thoughtfully picked this destination, “I look for trips that will be educational and engaging. I want my students to wake up excited to go on the next adventure.” Ecuador had the adventure she desired for her students. Students will be “in local areas, on the beach, snorkeling, and observing wildlife,” according to Gonzalez, “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

A whole new experience awaits! If you are interested in this trip you can see Mrs. Gonazlez in room D276. EF has provided a student discount that ends Friday Nov. 15, please contact Mrs. Gonazlez with any concerns.

The Danbury Hatters football team came home to Hatter Hill on Saturday to take on the Norwalk Bears. Both teams were 4-3 coming into this game, and the Hatters were coming off of an impressive performance, where they nearly upset Darien. 

For the Bears, they came into the game without their starting quarterback, Kyle Gordon.  Backup Quarterback Thomas Brown helped the Bears jump out in front 14-0. Danbury Quarterback, Sophomore Jackson Ciccone, who took more of a starting role after the Darien game, went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter. Enter Junior Patrick Rosetti. Rosetti shared time with Ciccone up until the Darien game. 

“They are two really proven quarterbacks. They are by far one of the best quarterback duos in the state,” said Senior captain and offensive linemen Jordan Agosto.

Rosetti tossed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Ross to get the Hatters on the board which was followed by a Diogo Rosa 24 yard field goal, but Norwalk would take a 21-10 lead into the half.  Agosto said that the Hatters knew that they would have to be resilient, “We just work hard and it is something that Coach Tieri preaches is to work hard and do what you can do.”

The Hatters opened the 3rd quarter strong as Artez Taft caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rosetti, followed by a 2-point conversion made by Jalen Morey. This made the game 21-18. During their next drive, Malachi Hopkins found the end zone on a 3-yard run. Danbury took a 24-21 lead, but on the ensuing kickoff, Norwalk ran the kick back 90 yards to regain the lead and take a 27-25 lead as the Hatters defense blocked the extra point.

In the 4th quarter, Norwalk scored on a short pass to take a 33-25 lead but missed their 2-point conversion. Danbury countered as DJ Donovan broke through for a 4-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead 33-31 as Danbury missed the 2-point conversion with only a few minutes to go.

Diogo Rosa pooched the ball for an onside kick that the Hatters recovered. “I wasn’t really surprised that we got it. I know the guys we have and I think we have one of the fastest kickoff groups in the state. That was really just a major point in the game.” Danbury Kicker Rosa said. 

Rosetti led the Hatters down the field and found Bernie De La Cruz in the end zone on a 15-yard pass to give the Hatters a 37-33 lead with 1:58 left. It was left to Jah Joyner and the Danbury defense to hold Norwalk in the final two minutes, “Coach decided to move me back so I can get open space and blitz up, that freed me up and got me space to get back.” Joyner and the Hatters held on for a 37-33 win over Norwalk to move to 5-3.

The Hatters will return for senior night on Friday, Nov. 15 to take on another tough FCIAC opponent in the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Danbury boys finished the regular season with a record of 10-3-3, which earned them the 10 seed in the Class LL State Tournament. At the end of the season, they finished third in the FCIAC but lost to staples in the first round of the tournament. After a spectacular 10-1-5 season last year Danbury hoped to meet that same goal if not improve. Danbury jumped out quick earning their playoff spot early, but injuries were plagued by injuries.

Danbury overcame 10 different injuries this year. The injuries that Danbury had to face included: Captain Tyler Warren, Aidan Coleman, Joe Mooney, Jorge Guerrero, Nawaf Rushaidat, Taylor Le, Matthew Aracena, Jackson Lyall, Reed Lyall, and Ben Tomas. Despite the injuries,  they battled adversity en route to earning a home playoff game. However, all of the boys returned in time for States, with the exception of Jorge Guerrero (ACL). 

Despite being the higher seed, Danbury lost in the first round to South Windsor 1-1(PK 3-2).  South Windsor opened up with a 1-0 lead at halftime, but Ben Tomas tied the game for Danbury in the second half. The game went to overtime and was ultimately decided by penalty kicks. South Windsor’s keepers was the deciding factor with 14 saves on the day. 

As the season closes Danbury is forced to say goodbye to some of their seniors that have devoted their high school career to this sport. 14 seniors are graduating this year, including captain Tyler Warren.

While the seniors say goodbye, the returners begin to think about next year.  Through hard work in the offseason, they will continue to pursue their goal of a state title.

The Danbury Girls Soccer team, led by Coach Jessica Halas, and captains Olivia DeMoura, Victoria Catarino, and Jessica Queiroz, finished their 2019 season with a record of 6-8-2. They beat teams such as Westhill, Fairfield Ludlowe, and Stamford, while losing to FCIAC powerhouses such as Ridgefield, Staples, and St. Joseph. 

They failed to qualify for the FCIACs, but they improved on their record from last year (5-11-0) and qualified as the 25th seed in the Class LL State Tournament. They faced the 8th seed  Cheshire Rams in the first round on Tuesday Nov. 12, where they put up a strong fight, but ultimately fell 2-1.

 Although they fell short of the main goal of winning the State Tournament, Juniors,  Avery Amalfitano, Lexie Silva, and Jenna Ferrandino reflected fondly on their 2019 journey.

Playing Soccer affected all three of the girls high school experiences. Amalfitano said, “It helped [her] create forever friendships with [her] teammates, and allow[ed] [her] to take a break from school and do something else with [her] life”. 

Silva agreed that soccer was beneficial to her enjoyment of high school. “Although [they] see each other in school, being friends is different from teammates. It’s a closer bond since [they] hang out after school for practices and games.” 

Ferrandino also thought that soccer affected her positively in high school, as “Being part of the program for three years now has helped [her] grow as an individual, by helping [her]build leadership skills, along with keeping [her] in shape by playing at such a high level.”

Amalfitano, Ferrandino, and Silva all plan to return to the pitch next year as they all have had great experiences in the past three years, and it is a great way to make friends and take a break from the rigorous school year. In addition, they look to use this season as a stepping stone towards a successful senior season.

In 2009, NEASC evaluated and reaccredited DHS. Ten years later, the aforementioned decennial event came upon DHS once more.

Formed in 1885, The New England Association for Schools and Colleges, or NEASC, is an educational accreditation association that provides schools with the accreditation they need to remain a valid educational institution. NEASC is made up of three committees: the Commission on Independent Schools (CIS), the Commission on International Education (CIE), and the Commission on Public Schools (CPS). These commissions serve to provide accreditation to over 2,000 schools across the New England area, and all adhere by the same rigorous standards NEASC sets forth to help schools improve.

Every ten years, a NEASC committee, made up of a small group of educators across New England and set forth by the Commission on Public Schools, comes to evaluate DHS. Every ten years, DHS is expected to self-evaluate prior based on the NEASC standards to reflect on what they believe needs to be improved.

There are seven NEASC standards, each intensive and with their own set of indicators:

• Core Values, Beliefs, and Learning Expectations: Assessing whether the school identifies core values and beliefs about learning alongside learning expectations to the student and staff body.

• Curriculum: Evaluating whether or not there is a curriculum in every class that is purposefully designed for each subject. Evaluating whether or not the curriculum is updated in accordance with student performance and current research.

• Instruction: Assessing whether or not the instruction is responsive to student needs, has a good delivery, and is in accordance with the school’s core values about learning.

• Assessment of and for Student Learning: Determining whether or not there are assessments of how students progress and grow in their subjects.

• School Culture and Leadership: Looking to see if the school culture fostered is one that is equitable and inclusive and embodies the school’s core values on learning.

• School Resources for Learning: Determining whether or not the school provides student support services and staff, such as for special needs students.

• Community Resources for Learning: Evaluating whether or not the school provides dependable funding for technological, medical, material, and professional support.

Principal Dan Donovan believes that DHS’s performance varies between each NEASC category. “I know we have a supportive educational environment with good instruction, equity, and communicated learning expectations. That’s what we can control,” Donovan explained. “However, we can’t control how many students we get [DHS is the largest high school in Connecticut], which means counselors are overloaded with students and the hallways and classrooms are overcrowded. We can’t control how much funding we get [Danbury Public Schools is the least funded school district in Connecticut], which means we can’t provide the resources expected by the NEASC standards.” The resources that are lacking include insufficient nursing staff, limited printer and WiFi functionality, and heating problems throughout the building.

However, Donovan is still looking forward to the feedback DHS will receive. “If someone with a different lense comes in and looks at our school, they can provide advice that we need to improve and help affirm our needs.”

Opening Ceremonies and the Visit

With the student performances and the Hatter’s Cafe catering delectable appetizers, NEASC was welcomed to Danbury High School in a glamorous fashion on Sunday, Nov. 17. 

Taylor Leahy
The NEASC Committee of eighteen gathers after their concluding ceremonies on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The NEASC committee arrived at 9:45 a.m. and, after a working lunch to gather their thoughts, were launched into a panel presentation by  Danbury High School. There, notable figures like Donovan, Superintendent Dr. Sal Pascarelli, and Mayor Mark Boughton greeted the committee of eighteen people, leading the presentation with a discussion on the Board of Education’s goals, the school’s core values and beliefs, and DHS’ strengths and weaknesses.

DHS students also played a major role in the panel presentation and welcoming for the NEASC committee. The Pep Band and Orchestra performed in the background, the Latino Club danced, and the ROTC delivered the pledge. Most notably, the Board of Governors presented to advocate for student engagement and leadership at DHS. 

Board of Governors Secretary Rebecca D’Ostillio was the main student presenter at the panel presentation. “It was an incredible experience,” D’Ostillio described. “I loved getting the chance to show everyone in the room what DHS students are capable of.” D’Ostillio discussed the statuses of each club in DHS, alongside how the leadership councils like the Board of Governors benefited DHS. 

After the panel presentation, the NEASC committee concluded their first day with teacher interviews and a reception. NEASC Committee Chairperson, and Principal of RHAM High School, Scott Leslie found the opening day to be promising. “I think we’re off to a good start, and I’m really enjoying seeing what Danbury High School has to offer.” 

Leslie believes that the purpose of the NEASC evaluation is to accurately portray a school at large, and so he emphasizes focusing on the positives to the DHS community at large. “As a principal who’s been in the position of getting evaluated by NEASC, I know sometimes it seems like the evaluation wasn’t an accurate portrayal. I think if we, as a committee, continue focusing on the benefits of student-led environment like what I’ve seen today, we’ll be able to portray both the negatives and the positives to Danbury High School.”

Throughout the week, the NEASC members engaged with students to develop an accurate sense of DHS. A select group of students were nominated by their counselors to interact with the NEASC members through student shadowing, school tours, and small focus groups. The student-engagement aspect, facilitated by co-chairs of the DHS NEASC Committee Media Specialist Traci Cook and Art Department Head Dr. Michael Obre, allowed for students to communicate their feelings of DHS and show what environment they were learning in.

Senior Ana Dela Cruz participated in the small focus group with NEASC and found the experience to be “very enlightening. I really appreciated how the committee got student input because I was able to communicate the feelings I had on what needed to be improved and what was already great about DHS.” 

These positives and drawbacks of DHS were a theme in the NEASC evaluations. Many NEASC members agreed with Donovan’s observations: the guidance counselors and teachers have too many students in the face of a large high school population, and the lack of funding made it so that heating, technology, and resource problems are rampant throughout the school. 

However, DHS was also admired in the eyes of the NEASC committee, who were pleased to see a supportive student community with opportunities for students to develop an identity and knowledge. The most favorable observation of the NEASC committee is the good-natured relationship between teachers and students. Leslie said it best: “DHS is a diamond in the rough.”

After losing several of the school’s safety advocates within the last school year, there were many spots left needing to be filled. Luckily, the new 2019-2020 safety advocates have been found and hired to start a brand new school year, keeping the halls safe! Here are Danbury High School’s new safety advocates:

Andrew Keilty

Did you have a past profession and if so, what was it/what did you do?  

“When I got hired to be a safety advocate here at the high school, I was just only out of college for a little over a year. After I graduated college, I worked in the security field, but something about working off hours in an empty building with one other person who I barely knew for sixteen hours was simply not for me.”

What made you decide/want to work here at DHS? 

“I graduated from Danbury High School in 2013. I can honestly say that I had a blast being a student athlete here. When the opportunity came that I had a chance to work at my old high school and do something similar to what I studied in college as well as do a similar job to what I was already doing workwise… I was all in.”

What is your favorite thing about DHS so far? 

“Definitely Mr. Golden! […] G [Golden] is a legend, no doubt about it! But besides Mr. Golden… Danbury High is the land of opportunity for students. The amount of clubs, sports, and activities DHS offers students is simply incredible.  When you are a student here, the sky is the limit because of the opportunities Danbury High School gives students.”

What is one thing about DHS that is different from any other school you have worked in or been to?  

“There isn’t a group of teachers or administrators in the State of Connecticut that want to see their students excel in the classroom and in life more than the teachers and administrators here at Danbury High School. “

What is one thing you are still struggling with/adapting to?

“Learning everyone’s name (including staff members).”

(Favorites list)

Artist(s): “Nipsey Hussle, Machine Gun Kelly, Post Malone, DaBaby, and Kevin Gates then I’ll do a 360 and start playing Luke Combs, Brantley Gilbert, FGL, and Kane Brown. The list goes on. Music is amazing.”

Movie: GoodFellas

Food: Italian

Robert Nelson

Did you have a past profession and if so, what was it/what did you do?

“Yes, Sergeant Judicial Marshal, State of Connecticut.”

What made you decide/want to work here at DHS?

“I retired from the Judicial Marshal Department in May and I wanted to continue my career of protecting the public.”

What is your favorite thing about DHS so far?

“My favorite thing about DHS are the students that want to excel at school and use their talents to the best of their abilities. The students that are dedicated and take school extremely seriously are why I love my job.”

What is one thing about DHS that is different from any other schools you have

worked in or been to?

 “This is my first position at a school.”

What is one thing you are still struggling with/adapting to?

“I am still adapting the large volume of students.”

(Favorites list)

Movie: The Godfather

Artist: UB40

Color: Blue

Animal: Dog

Food: Lasagna

Rob Daubert

Did you have a past profession and if so, what was it/what did you do?

“I just retired as Judicial Marshal. I worked at the Danbury Superior Court House. I worked as a Court Officer. I provided CourtHouse Security.”

What made you decide/want to work here at DHS?

“I thought it would be a fun and exciting career. Working with students is something I always wanted to do.”

What is your favorite thing about DHS so far?

“All the different kids. It’s a big school. Learning my way around.”

What is one thing about DHS that is different from any other schools you have worked in or been to?

“This is my very first school to work at. So far everything has been great.”

What is one thing you are still struggling with/adapting to?

“Learning all the students’ names and where all the classrooms are.”

(Favorites list)

Movie: Rocky 4

Music: Country and Rock

Food(s): Steak, pasta, BBQ, and cheesecake

John Pavia

Did you have a past profession and if so, what was it/what did you do?

“Sergeant Judicial Marshal”

What made you decide/want to work here at DHS?

“I retired after 20 years of service.”

What is your favorite thing about DHS so far?

“The staff members are very friendly and the cookies in the school store are delicious.”

What is one thing about DHS that is different from any other schools you have worked in or been to?

“The volume of students”

What is one thing you are still struggling with/adapting to?

“Finding my way around the school and remembering the names of staff members.”

(Favorites list)

Movie: Rocky

Food(s): Steak and lobster

Sport: Football

Jim Potenziani

Did you have a past profession and if so, what was it/what did you do?

“Personal trainer and Martial arts instructor.”

What made you decide/want to work here at DHS?

“I worked at an elementary school and I wanted to do something a little more fast paced.”

What is your favorite thing about DHS so far?

“The staff and the students.”

What is one thing about DHS that is different from any other schools you have worked in or been to?

“DHS is a lot larger and diverse.”

What is one thing you are still struggling with/adapting to?

“Remembering all the names.”

(Favorites list)

Movie: Best of the Best

Artist: Armin Van Buuren/Motley Crue

Color: Blue

Animal: Dog

Food: Italian

Jennifer M. Medina

Did you have a past profession and if so, what was it/what did you do?

“I graduated as a medical admin, but started working as a CNA which I still am. I am passionate and enjoy helping people.”

What made you decide/want to work here at DHS?

“I grew up here in Danbury, but didn’t get the chance to go to DHS. DHS is a big diverse school, I knew working here would be a great working experience.”

What is your favorite thing about DHS so far?

“Everyone is so nice and respectful here! And how the staff pushes me to do better.”

What is one thing about DHS that is different from any other schools you have worked in or been to?

“The big diversity. The age groups are a bit older than the last schools.”

What is one thing you are still struggling with/adapting to?

“I’m still trying to understand the psychology of the students.”

(Favorites list)

Movie: Forrest Gump

Artist(s): Mac Miller, Post Malone, and Red Hot Chili Peppers

Color(s): Red Wine and Black

Animal(s): Pugs and fish

Food(s): Greek, Italian pastas, and Mexican tacos.”

Extra fun fact: “I also love long road trips and traveling.”