Daedream Cast Member of the Week for 10/10/16

Blue = JAY C.

Red = AALIYAH P.

Freshmentor = D'ANDRE F.

MentorVP = Director KEVIN K.

Congratulations, all!!

Junior Mentor and 8th Grader Tiyana Griffiths nominated for I Rise Award!!

Daedream dancer, junior mentor and choreographer, Tiyana Griffiths, has been selected as the "I Rise" representative from Mauro-Sheridan!




Tiyana is an active member of the Mauro-Sheridan Interdistrict Magnet School Family.  A dedicated learner and student, she strives for perfection in all she does.  A child of immigrant parents from Jamaica, Tiyana was eight years old when she lost her mother to illness.  As difficult as this situation was, she did not let it deter her from making the most of her learning, serving the community and demonstrating a firm footing in both personal values and education.
     As a member of many community and school groups, Tiyana demonstrates leadership, persistence, determination and creativity.   Part of the Mauro-Sheridan Band, Tiyana is a clarinet player who demonstrates involvement and commitment.  As a leader in the National Junior Honor Society, she helped organize a “Pennies for Patients” program and create paper cranes to create mobiles for a local hospital.  In addition to these, she is a member of the Daedream, in which she recently was promoted from cast member to junior mentor  (this affords her the opportunity to return to the program as a high school student and continue her dream of helping others.)

“I want to use what I learn now and pass it on to others so they can grow up smart and continue to develop as role models and be successful in whatever they choose to do.”  A future teacher, Tiyana currently has high honors as well, and has been part of the Talented and Gifted Program in New Haven. 

When asked, her main goal is to teach and change lives.  With her polite but steadfast personality, winning smile and outspoken, positive demeanor, it won’t be a difficult task.  Teachers consider her a top student who excels in her studies but also in social skills.  Ms. Griffiths continues to show community awareness, talents in dance, writing and art, and maturity beyond her years.  Her ability to be resilient is paramount in her success; she deals with adversity and “failure” in a constructive and motivated way.  At the same time, she assists others in achieving their own person goals.  Through her efforts, she has had and will continue to have, a positive effect on those around her and enhance the New Haven Public Schools environment by example.  

Tiyana says she joined Daedream because she loves dancing and also because co-member and junior mentor, Des'Tahnee encouraged her to be part of it.  "She said it was fun, and I love dance and so I decided to join in."

We asked her who her role model is, and her response was, "My Aunt.  She had a rough childhood and still turned it around to become a doctor and she's one of the top doctors in New Jersey," she said, proudly.  

As for Daedream, Tiyana starts her 8th month in the program next week.  She says, "So far the program has taught me not to be shy around people.  At first, I never talked to the mentors or anyone, and now we are all getting closer and starting to work together."  

Tiyana and her castmates will be featured in Daedream's 28th June musical production, "The Reel Stuff," slated for the 3rd and 4th at Hill Regional Career High School in New Haven.