THROWBACK THURSDAY #TBT

SPECIAL EDITION, 3:45 PM TODAY!
(Catch this feature every week at 2:00 pm EST)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEANDRE WARD.

Daedream performer, dancer, creator and now director, 

2007 to ?

Always making someone laugh or smile

Yes, that's De on the right (with Kevin)

Deandre is in the front at start of video, at right, one of the three freestylers, 

and yes, that's Torey in the middle, also former member, Carlos Gonzales, from 2010.

Deandre, in Future Dance, 2012

with Evelyn getting ready for Maine trip, 2016 Summer

with Kevin and former mentor, Tyrese

with the team, former mentor Luis, current director Kevin, Administrative Assistant Evelyn,
current director Torey, director De in his Puff look, and Student Safety Director Marlon.

Deandre, cold interpretation, Surprise Dance, 2017

Parent Power - Disney Day at Daedream!

Thanks to parents Stacey Wilkin, Jim Wilkin (both seen in Mickey/Minnie ears), Wilhemena Christon, Maribel Espada, Crystal Lopes, Loyda Soto-Lopez, Tracey Foskey, and Qahteesha Brown for donating time and funds to our first major fundraiser!  Thank you!

also pictured:  Mentors Maria, Gillian and Cheyenne who assisted.

Also, thanks to Nancy Todd-Aronsen for setting up our Go Fund Me page.

2016 MENTOR CHRISTMAS PARTY

Merry Christmas!

Marlon and Ronald

Delta and Julian

JeVaughn, Julian, and Maria

The start to the day. . .

Cheesecake #1 on the way . . .

Marlon, Gillian

CASTMEMBERS of the WEEK

Jayden Aidoo and Ava Oquendo

Tamia Reese

Gillian D'Costa

MVP:  Kevin Kelly

Watch our first Mannequin Challenge!

Congratulations to our CAST MEMBERS of the WEEK for Dec. 5, 2016

Congratulations to (top left, clockwise) Troy, Tiyana, Mariah and MVP Ronald.

Congratulations, New Junior Mentor.....

Coree B.

Welcome to the mentor group!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVELYN!!!!

EVELYN!!!

Great Work Member and Mentor of the Week!

Jada P and Shayna!

Rehearsal Moments: March comes to a close!

Mentor Deandre and Junior Mentor Dessy rehearse a duet

 

Kevin starts off the breakdance section

Followed by Marlon

Torey

Deandre

Cheyenne and Deandre mystify!

Rehearsing a number

Savanna, Autumn and Jay C take the lead

Luis leads the brigade!

Dessy

Torey, Deandre and cast

Little ones!

Aaliyah, Sophie, Chyna, Snigtha

Daedream makes us smile!

Working hard

TRIPLE THREAT!  KDT

Ronald running lines with a group of young actors

Kevin instructing a group of dancers

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.

MEMBERS OF THE WEEK, MENTOR OF THE WEEK and SATURDAY MVP

MEMBER of the WEEK:  Khiana E.

MENTOR of the WEEK: Kevin Kelly

SATURDAY MVP:  (tie)

Tytianie Brown

Coree Bellamy

Great job to all!

Daedream Mentor takes COMMUNITY ACTION! Tyrese Coardes helps kids "Go Red" for health!

Reposted from New Haven Register

Photo Credit:  Arnold Gold, NHR

Tyrese Coardes, 5-year veteran Daedream Mentor, pictured here in recent New Haven Register article about New Haven Public Schools Healthy Heart efforts!

Congratulations to Tyrese for his involvement.

You can read the entire article here:  http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20160226/2-new-haven-schools-go-red-for-the-day-to-share-lessons-about-good-health

REACH for the STARS: MEMBER, MENTOR and JUNIOR MENTOR of the WEEK!!!

Member of the Week:  Snigtha M.
Mentor of the Week:  Torey Robinson
Junior Mentor of the Week:  Des'Tahnee M.H.

Congrats to all!

P.S. Costume info coming soon!

NEWS: First 8th Grade Promotion, 2016!

Congratulations to Des'Tahnee, who was promoted today to JUNIOR MENTOR status and presented with two staff shirts!

We are proud of you!

Leave a message for Des'Tahnee here in the comments or click this link to leave her well-wishes.
http://daedreamnh.blogspot.com/2016/02/news-first-8th-grade-promotion-2016.html#comment-form

Great work and welcome to the team!

News: Guests at the Mauro-Sheridan Showcase

Torey Robinson and Deandre Ward repaid the favor when appearing in the showcase of Des'Tahnee (and other 8th grade Daedream members) today at Mauro-Sheridan.

Des'Tahnee was the captain and co-director of the Showcase for the second marking period.  She worked very hard to make a smooth and entertaining program, featuring parodies of songs tailored to fit the subject areas of study for the current 8th graders.

Des'Tahnee was hopeful but uncertain that the mentors would be able to participate, but it all worked out.  Torey is currently employed at Mauro-Sheridan as a pre-k paraprofessional, and was granted the time to appear.  Deandre was fortunate enough to take just enough time off to be there for her project.  Serenity, another of the Daedream Mentor hopefuls, was the star of the "Mashies," playing "Stevana Garvey" who was the host.  Her comments about the mentors' attendance:  "I loved having them come to the showcase.  They really hyped up the show and it made it even better than it was.  It makes me happy that they care so much about us and making us happy."

Many of the other 8th grade Daedream Members participated, including:  Umarr, JeVaughn, Julian, Tiyana, Autumn, Serenity, Terry, Tytianie, Ericka, Coree, Dandre, Shaun, and Des'Tahnee herself, who performed, wrote, and choreographed much of the presentation.

Both Torey and Deandre were happy to help after last week when Des'Tahnee took time out of her schedule to participate in the Capstone Performance at Co-op.  Des'Tahnee helped fellow castmate Neidelyn Torres restructure her piece after the senior dislocated her shoulder.

As for the showcase, Des'Tahnee comments on a job well-done?  "Taking on being the director for most parts of the showcase this marking period had its time to shine and its shady times.  All your hard work shows in the end.  It's not the game you play, it's how you play it.  The stressfulness of everybody counting on your and the thought of all the bad things that can happen can weigh you down.  You have to look at it in a different light, keep everything positive.  But a job like this is easy, working with people you've come to love as a family; the people that can help you knock out problems with no trouble.  Taking on the director spot was a challenge, but at the end, I can look back and say, 'Wow, I did that.'  I'm enlightened to see that I am able to do whatever I put my mind to."

Of course, we're sure Ms. Francis is reading this saying, "Welcome to my world!!"

In the Spotlight: Evelyn Vargas

As the first of many college announcements that will be posted here this year, Evelyn Vargas has gone "early decision" with Southern Connecticut State University for the 2016-2017 year, Class of 2020.  The Daedream Family congratulates Evelyn on this recent achievement.

Evelyn is currently a senior at Career Regional High School in New Haven.  She is also part of New Haven Promise, and will be attending SCSU to being a program in Social Work, or some other youth-related career path.

She credits Daedream for showing her "my passion for helping other and working with younger kids."



But does college entrance always equal good-bye for the Daedream mentors?  Now an amazingly cohesive group of hard-working young adults dedicated to the arts and the benefit of the students they mentor, it's hard to imagine that cadre being separated.  According to Evelyn,that won't fully happen, as she plans, additional to college sophomore and eldest member, Torey Robinson, to continue working in the program as much as possible during college.  On this note, Ben Croll, the Technical Director, is also a college sophomore who returns to assist with the program.  The mentors are always welcome to continue working in the program for as long as they choose.

Evelyn has been with Daedream since she was in second grade, taking a one-year hiatus.  Since then, she has spent tireless hours working as a participant, performer, and later, Student Administrative Director of the program.  This is a ten-year span of time, and of that, she says, "Daedream has been a part of my life for 10 years now . Most people would say wow 10 years? Do you ever get annoyed? No, I haven't, because when you really like something, you put your all into it. It takes dedication and love. Daedream has shown me what a true family is. I love my peers that I work with. Each individual is amazing in their own way. I've also learned how to be responsible in life and how to make wiser decisions." 

She also added,"And thank you to Ms. Francis for being such a big support in my life through out the years.  I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!"

We will continue to post these notices as they occur!  Until then, put on your dancing shoes and stick with us until our next performance slated for June of 2016.