heir largest event of the year, however, has been their recent breaking of the Guinness record. According to Ms. Brown, when the sophomore class representatives were pondering ways to raise money, sophomore Patrick Durkin came up with the idea of breaking a world record. “We tried to pick something that was entertaining and something that everyone could do,” Ms. Brown said. The group thus discovered the standing on one foot bid. A Captain Morgan Rum Company Group maintained the previous record of 339. To Ms. Brown and the sophomore class, it seemed like the right time to associate the record with a more appropriate and youthful group: students.
Overall, 362 participants arrived in their blue attire and contributed toward the effort of breaking a record. “I thought it was impressive that we had enough spirit to come together and do that,” Riley said. Each contributor at the event was required to pay $2. After the event was over, however, the sophomore class only collected roughly half the money. “What was most important was breaking the record,” Ms. Brown said. Yet, she explained that she has a list of names of participants and plans to track down those who have not paid. Ultimately, the money cannot be donated until all of it has been collected.
The class has photographic evidence, witness statements, and other records still to send in to Guinness for official approval. Hopefully the sophomore class will soon have official documentation of the moment that Darien High School made history. An amused Ms. Brown said that she heard rumors that the senior prank was going to be to break the record again. “I don’t think they’ll organize it as well as we did, though!” she said. Riley also heard rumors that Darien’s greatest rival—New Canaan High School—is planning on attempting to break the record. “If they break it, we’ll re-break it. I think it would be good to have some competition,” Riley said.
So set the erroneous rumors about the current sophomore class funds aside—the class advisers and representatives have been efficient and successful. It isn’t often that a group of students and teachers can gather enough students to break a world record and raise money at the same time. Although the recent event was an unsurpassed occurrence, the group certainly has plans just as brilliant for the future of community council.
Breaking a Guinness World Record
An inside look at the sophomore class fundraisers
Lily Boe - 11/06
More by Lily Boe
n Wednesday, April 27, the students and faculty of Darien High School made history when they broke the record for having the most people stand on one foot simultaneously for two minutes. This successful event was both a fundraiser and a community service activity coordinated by Darien High School’s very own sophomore class in community council.
DHS history teacher Ms. Lynn Brown is one of the two class advisors for the sophomore class and had a huge role in the planning of the legendary event. Year round, she helps the sophomore class representatives in community council devise ideas for new projects. “I try to help the students organize themselves, organize fundraiser projects, and help them advertize,” Ms. Brown said.
Various rumors have been circulating throughout DHS about the sophomore class in community council confronting a massive debt. Ms. Brown, however, cleared up this speculation. According to her, the rumors are entirely false. “We have thousands,” she explained. Current sophomore class officer and next year’s community council vice president, Riley Sousa, agreed. She explained that the rumor was used as slander during this year’s community council election campaign, and that her class actually has over $3000.
Ms. Brown noted that the fabricated rumors may have stemmed from an unfortunately “bad fundraiser” that the current sophomore class held in the spring of 2010. The class chose to buy t-shirts for the Darien Carnival and was unable to sell a majority of them. However, Ms. Brown says that the class hopes to have the Darien Carnival again next year, sell more t-shirts, and earn back the money that it spent.
Despite the rumors of debt, the sophomore class is thriving and heavily involved in community council fundraisers. Last year, according to Ms. Brown, the class focused more on the community in terms of fundraisers. This year, they are very much involved in the school environment. During Christmas time, they helped out with the junior class candy cane drive. Currently, they are working on a new project for which they are collecting new or gently used sports equipment for the Girls and Boys Club in Stamford.
