Derby High School News
September 27 - October 3, 2026
On September 23, the Desktop Publishing Class attended a Yearbook Workshop hosted by Walsworth Publishing at Southern Connecticut State University. The event gave students the opportunity to build foundational graphic design/layout skills while exploring different aspects of yearbook production.
Students selected workshops that introduced them to design, photography, writing, and they also had the unique chance to collaborate with a professional cover design artist to workshop ideas for Derby High School’s 2026–2027 yearbook cover. They also enjoyed lunch and worked side by side with students from schools across the state, building connections and sharing creative ideas. Special thanks to Ms. Socha and Mrs. Reilly for guiding students through this valuable learning experience!
A special highlight of the trip was bumping into two members of the DHS Class of 2026! Ms. Socha was excited to see Jayla Anderson and Horatio Glover at Southern Connecticut State University, where Jayla is studying Business Administration & Finance and Horatio is studying Athletic Training. They also got to connect with Gavin Lagliva, who is studying Veterinary Science at UConn, via FaceTime!
It was so great to see these standout students continuing their education and doing well. We are so proud of our DHS alumni!
Derby High School students are once again partnering with the Southford Falls Quilters on a meaningful community project. Last year, students worked with the Guild to create more than 60 blankets for children in foster care throughout Connecticut.
This year, the partnership continues with a special Quilts of Valor (QOV) project honoring our military. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, the Southford Falls Quilters are working to create and donate 13 Quilts of Valor, representing the original 13 colonies.
On September 17, DHS students learned sewing skills while creating individual quilt blocks that Guild members will assemble into the finished quilts. Since 2003, Quilts of Valor has donated more than 436,000 quilts to service members and veterans touched by war. Each quilt is presented in person as a meaningful expression of gratitude and support.
The 13 quilts will be presented to veterans at Derby High School on November 5, 2026. We are grateful to the Southford Falls Quilters for sharing their time and expertise with our students and providing them with an opportunity to learn, serve, and honor those who have served our country.
New UConn ECE Course Gives Students Hands-On Experience
Derby High School is excited to offer a new UConn Early College Experience (ECE) course, EPSY 1100: Introduction to Special Education, taught by Mrs. Shelley Sheridan. Through the course, students have the opportunity to earn three college credits from UConn while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field of education.
In this course, students explore the history and foundations of special education, different exceptionalities, and the roles of special educators and support teams. Through readings, discussions, reflection, and hands-on field experiences, students gain a better understanding of how schools support students with disabilities.
The course combines college-level learning with real-world experiences working in classrooms. As part of their field experience, students recently visited Little Raiders University preschool. They observed a literacy lesson, participated in shared reading, and explored the classroom centers while learning more about the day-to-day work of educators.
The UConn ECE "The Sea Around Us" course is a marine biology class taught by Mr. Walker that focuses on how human activity affects the oceans of the world, both in beneficial and detrimental ways. Students are wrapping up the first unit of study, in which they learned about the history of ocean exploration. The unit opened with students constructing maps of Derby High School in the style of the rebbelib used by Polynesian navigators to explore the Pacific Ocean as early as 3000 years ago. These maps were made of bamboo sticks (which represented currents), coconut husks (which represented wave patterns interrupting these currents), and cowrie shells (which represented the islands or island groups the navigators would travel between). They were highly individualized, with only the navigator who constructed them being able to interpret them with 100% accuracy.
Students constructed their own rebbelib that represented the locations in DHS that they explore more frequently. In these examples, popsicle sticks represent the hallways (which we decided was the school's version of a current), pipe cleaners represented stairways (instead of wave patterns), and beads represented the classrooms each student visits. Just as the Polynesian rebbelib were unique to each navigator, each student demonstrated their journeys in very different ways.
Can you find your favorite DHS location in the student rebbelibs below?
Derby High School has launched a new Transition Program designed to help students build important job and life skills while gaining hands-on work experience. Students are taking on a variety of roles throughout the school, including working in the cafeteria, assisting in the main office, greeting visitors, and making copies. Their responsibilities will continue to expand, with opportunities to work in the community planned for the future.
This week, the students put their skills to work in the cafeteria, helping the foodservice team shuck fresh, locally grown corn that was served with our taco lunches. And it was delicious! We are excited to watch our students grow in confidence, independence, and workplace skills as the program continues to expand with their teacher, Mrs. Merithew, job coach, Mrs. Bowers, and Ms. Colburn, paraeducator.
Our freshmen and Link Crew leaders have been spending time together building connections, getting to know one another, and learning more about life at Derby High School.
This week, our Link Crew leaders helped our 9th graders learn how to use the weekly PowerSchool Grades & Attendance Checkers. They also spent time getting to know each other and having some fun playing UNO!
These small moments are helping our freshmen feel more connected, supported, and comfortable as they begin their high school journey. We are excited to see these relationships continue to grow throughout the year!
Derby High School’s student-run, free thrift shop is back for Year 2! Created by Mrs. Sheridan and supported through DonorsChoose with generous matching donations from The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the shop gives students a chance to learn real-world skills while supporting their classmates.
Members of the Thrift Shop Club, led by Mrs. Sheridan and Mrs. McKitty, will manage the shop, taking on everything from organizing and displaying items to marketing and customer service. Students gain valuable experience while working together to create a welcoming space for their peers. Most importantly, the shop provides free clothing and accessories to DHS students who may need professional clothing for an interview, everyday or weekend clothes, or warm layers for the winter.
Donations are always welcome! We gladly accept gently used clothing, jewelry, and accessories to help keep the shop stocked and available to our students. The DHS Thrift Shop is a great program that combines student learning, sustainability, and a whole lot of Raider pride!
Derby High School is committed to ensuring that every senior completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a free application that helps students determine their eligibility for financial aid for college, career school, or graduate school. Completing it opens the door to grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.
Research shows how important FAFSA completion is. According to the National College Attainment Network, “seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to immediately enroll in postsecondary education.” At DHS, we recognize this as a critical step in helping our students access higher education opportunities.
Our School Counselors, Mr. Nutcher and Mrs. Ostrosky, have been working hard since the start of the school year. On September 22, 2026, they hosted a College Night and Financial Aid Night, featuring guest speaker Jessica Odlum, Director of the College Place. The event was a huge success with a strong parent and student turnout. Jessica is also available to meet one-on-one with families for free FAFSA completion support. She has 25 years of experience in education, most recently focused on college access. She is enthusiastic about guiding students and their families through the college application process and helping them find ways to make college more affordable beyond scholarships.
Parents interested in scheduling an appointment with her can use the link provided below or contact Jessica by phone or email at: 860-392-9838 or connecticuttcp@ecmc.org
Please click the link below to view the "Paying for College" slideshow presented by Jessica.
This week, Mrs. Ostrosky and Mr. Nutcher visited all Senior English classes to support students in their postsecondary planning. During these visits, students were provided with their current transcript and given an overview of how to access and complete the Common App.
The Common App is a standardized college application used by over 900 colleges and universities. It allows students to apply to multiple schools using a single application. Students will need to complete several components, including:
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Personal information (contact details, demographics, academic history)
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Activities and extracurriculars (clubs, sports, work, volunteering)
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Essays (personal statement and any school-specific prompts)
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Letters of recommendation (from teachers or counselors)
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College-specific questions (supplemental essays or short answer questions, if required)
In addition to these classroom visits, every senior will meet individually with their counselor during October to review graduation progress and discuss postsecondary plans. Parents are welcome to attend these meetings either in person or virtually. Students have received a Sign Up Genius link to schedule their appointment, so please check in with your senior to ensure they have scheduled a time.
We’re here to help every step of the way! For questions or support, please reach out to our counselors:
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Mrs. Ostrosky – jostrosky@derbyps.org
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Mr. Nutcher – bnutcher@derbyps.org
October 5 - 16th (Get Ready!)
It’s time to dig into those couch cushions and clean out the bottom of your backpacks—Coin Wars are here! Student Council is collecting loose change every day during Advisory, and every penny counts toward a great cause. Donations being made to the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund (education/scholarships), Umbrella Center (domestic violence), Shelton Pink (breast cancer), and Pacer Center (anti-bullying)
Here’s the deal:
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💵 The class that raises the most money will win a CLASS-WIDE dress down day (yes, the whole class!).
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🎉 Plus, one lucky participant will snag a $10 gift card—just for joining in on the fun!
So grab your nickels, dimes, and quarters (and hey, even those dollar bills if you’re feeling generous!) and let’s see which class comes out on top. The competition is heating up, so don’t wait—bring your change and make a change!
The Lookout is happy to announce that we are now offering Senior Shoutouts for the families of our Class of 2027! Senior Shoutouts are a great way to give a personalized message to your graduating senior, printed in their very own yearbook. Senior Shoutouts are text-only (maximum of 280 characters), typically consist of congratulatory messages/well-wishes, and cost $25. Payment options include cash (brought to Room 118) or Venmo (@thelookoutdhs). Please use the following form to submit your Senior Tribute order: https://forms.gle/Kgb1YqgzxEKMQAmA7
We are here for you if you need to help! The main office is open from 7:00 - 3:30 PM.
- Principal Mrs. Jennifer Olson jolson@derbyps.org
- Assistant Principal: Mr. Ray Coplin rcoplin@derbyps.org
- Special Education Supervisor: Mr. Mike Giordano, mgiordano@derbyps.org
- Freshman Academy Coordinator: Mrs. Carlin Ali cali@derbyps.org
- Admin Assistant: Mrs. Angela Lillemoe alillemoe@derbyps.org
- Guidance Administrative Asst: Mr. Victor Maldonado vmaldonado@derbyps.org
- School Counselor: Mr. Brian Nutcher bnutcher@derbyps.org
- School Counselor: Mrs. Jennifer Ostrosky jostrosky@derbyps.org
- College & Career Paraeducator: Ms. Jennylee Hoffman jehoffman@derbyps.org
- School Social Worker: Mrs. Nichole McKitty nmckitty@derbyps.org
- School Nurse: Mrs. Erin Gregoire, RN egregoire@derbyps.org
- Athletic Director: Ms. Jennifer Moffat jmoffat@derbyps.org
Contact Me
Principal
Derby High School
#GoBigRed!
Email: jolson@derbyps.org
Website: https://www.derbyps.org
Location: 75 Chatfield Street, Derby, CT, USA
Phone: 203-516-4073
Twitter: @DerbyRedRaider