DMS Drama Production a Huge Success

  

Congratulations to the cast and crew of the DMS Drama Club on a stellar performance of Katastrophe Kate! The club performed two evening shows over the weekend. Under the direction of Ryann Riefler, students told the tale of a chef named Katherine who created a chili worthy of taking on the road to Texas. Katherine had to mix in with the outlaws as she took on the persona of Katastrophe Kate. The chili cook off between her recioe and that of Jose Habenero proved to create an even better chili when the two wre combined. All this happened while Sherrif Sam got up the nerve to ask Miss Lucille to marry him! It was a fun performance full of son, dance and humor. Way to go DMS and Mrs. Riefler!

A Charitable Project from Driver Middle School Art Students

The grace, peace, and softness of a butterfly that people feel when they see one, helps us realize why the "butterfly" is the symbol for the not for profit organization "The Hope for the Bereaved" of CNY. This year, as in the past years, DMS art students were involved in helping to raise money for the charity. Students created beautiful butterfly watercolor paintings and ornaments. The paintings were reproduced and made into cards, and the ornaments adorned a Christmas tree that were sold at a fund raising dinner and auction event at the Oncenter on November 18th. Students involved in this endeavor were Mrs. Femano's 7th grade art classes and the following students from Mrs. Ferrara's 6th grade classes: 

Abigail Delaney, Emma Alexander, Mackenzie Libera, Rachel Randall, Alessa Dixe, Briyana VanHelsdingen, Samantha DiMarco, Kayla Fogg, Caleb Wetherall, Nicholas Femano, Dan Posecznick, Steven Baunee, Lauren Lundrigan

DMS 7/8 Choir and Select Choir Perform

The DMS 7/8 Choirs put on a beautiful winter concert last week.  Under the direction of Kristin Peenstra, students performed Do You Hear What I Hear? 100 Years (with accompanist Brian Ackles, Sean King and Neil Minet), Walking in the Air, Winter Medley, Lift Them Up! A Festive Fa La La, Come Celebrate this Festive Day and How Fair A Rose?  As a special treat, they also sang What A Wonderful World while a slide show of student quotes and selected pictures scrolled.  Great job to all our choir students!

A Successful Career Day!

One of the major themes stressed by Principal Michael Dardaris at Driver Middle School (DMS) is to “Try something new.” DMS seventh and eighth grade students had just that opportunity as the Driver Middle School Guidance Department staged it “Career Day at DMS” on Friday, December 9^th. More than twenty-five guest speakers spoke on career choices that ranged from veterinarian to engineer, photographer, firefighter to chef. Martha Walsh-Hood explained the importance of the legal profession as “our nation deals with issues such as health care, human rights and immigration.” Each guest speaker reviewed the responsibilities of their chosen profession while at the same time touching upon the skills, required education, and experience needed to be successful at each of their respective careers. Each 7^th-8^th grader were able to attend 3 different session with 3 different guest speakers of which they chose. Each workshop/session lasted 40 minutes. Teaching and learning is all about connections and the career day event was a wonderful example of the learning connection between school and the community resources. A special thanks goes to Alan Wing and Kim LaRose in the Guidance office for organizing the Career Day and a extra special thanks goes to all the presenters who attended the event.

Winter Band Concert

Congratulations to all our band members who put on a fabulous concert this week.  Our Elementary Band and the 7/8 band performed to a full house on Wednesday the 7th.  They did an awesome job.  We are all very proud of them and of our conductors, Mrs. Turner and Mr. Costa. 

DMS Annual Spelling Bee

Congratulations to Jeffrey Shi who has won the DMS Annual Spelling Bee and has become the School Champion for the 2011-2012 School Year!  Jeffrey was the last of 18 students standing after 14 rounds of words in our oral spelldown.  He did an awesome job.  Jeffrey and Audrey Frajda have qualified to continue in the Regional Spelling Bee which will be held in January at Onondaga Community College.

We had over 200 students participate in the Bee beginning with a written exam earlier in December.  Congratulations to all students who took the risk to get involved in the Spelling Bee.  We had many awesome spellers!