March’s Student of the Month is Parker Thomas. Parker has a 4.1 GPA and is on Durham’s swim team. Parker will be going to Butte College in the fall. Ms. Thomas would like to major in child development. She is currently taking, Physics, SOU English and math, and AP government. Parker has been attending Durham schools since Kindergarten.
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Gianna Noonan, Third Grade Teacher
1) Why did you become a teacher? I find so much meaning in helping to educate future generations. Kids have ways of viewing life that are inspiring, passionate, hopeful, and hilarious!
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I have far too many hobbies for the amount of time there is in a day! I love riding my horses, running, playing guitar, cooking and baking (to offset the running..) and spending time with my wonderful friends and family.
3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I am very good at doing handstands!
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? Very unsurprisingly, I have to admit that I am a "Swifty" through and through!
5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? The staff at DES is unlike any that I have experienced. They are a supportive, helpful, encouraging and fun crew who I am so grateful to be able to rely on. The feeling of community is prevalent in every aspect of this school, and I am so lucky to be a part of it!
Durham Unified is excited to announce that we will be offering Summer School for students TK-11 this year.
Parents, look out for the sign-up links coming your way via email on Monday, March 24th.
Durham High celebrated two top 10 finishers in Giant Slalom (GS), with Marcus Montgomery securing 3rd place in the Men’s Snowboard category and Lily Larrabee finishing 9th in the Women’s Ski division. Durham takes pride in this accomplishment, particularly given the competition from a field of 400 State Championship-qualifying athletes.
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Holly Rowe, DES and DHS Office Clerk
1) What made you decide to work as a DES and DHS Office Clerk? I attended DUSD school from 1st-12th grade, and now all 3 of my boys are doing the same thing. I enjoy getting to know the staff and kids that my children spend most of the day with!
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? I love to read! I also enjoy movies, fishing, hiking, and all of the activities that my boys participate in.
3) A fun fact about yourself or a unique talent you possess, if any? I have always been able to memorize song lyrics very easily. If it's a song from the 80's or 90's I can probably sing it.
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I love the movie My Fair Lady! Everything from the costumes to the music just makes me happy!
5) Favorite part about working in Durham Elementary School and Durham High School? Truly my favorite part is all of the students. They are sweet, silly and funny everyday!
This is a reminder to all DES parents that tomorrow is Camo Day at DES. Let's show our school spirit. We can't wait to see all the creative outfits.
Durham community! Our Durham Boys Basketball team is gearing up for a home playoff game tonight at 6 PM. Let’s show our support! Tickets are available at the door with a debit or credit card or online at Gofan.com.
Go Trojans!
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Dayna Gibbs, aka "Ms. Dayna," DUSD Food Services Manager
1) What made you decide to work in Food Services? I have worked in food service for all of my adult life. The rewarding experiences came from elderly customers at a diner, until I came to DUSD. After leaving the private sector of food service, I found much appreciation for the love of food and food creation. Although the little people don't tip in money they sure do tip with smiles and love. I appreciate being able to try new food, and creative ways of making it for them. Bringing back nutritious options to our students was very important to me when I was granted this opportunity as a food service manager. In this exciting time in food service going back to scratch, quick scratch and fresh foods, I am proud of being able to provide a non pre packaged meal to our students daily.
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? If you know me, you know! I volunteer a bit, so my spare time is filled with helping concessions, exchange students (I have 2 this year) or anything else that needs help. I also love to golf a short course.
3) A fun fact about yourself or a unique talent you possess, if any? I LOVE LEGO!
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? My favorite book is The Giraffe and a Half. It is close and dear to my heart. I used to read it to my kids every night, and no matter how old they are or got, they would all end up in the room I was reading it in. That's what keeps it special to me. I was honored to be able to read it to Mr. Coffee's class last year on read around day.
5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School?
DUH!!! The amazing kids, Staff and Parents!! This exceptional group of people who all come together everyday in some way, to make our end goals about how much we can make it better for our kids, simply leaves me speechless.
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Mrs. Cassie Halley, TK Teacher
1) Why did you become a teacher? It wasn't until half way through college that I wanted to become a teacher. I started working at an After School Program and realized how working with children brought me joy. There's something empowering about reminding children that they were meant to do great things. Most children have families that believe in them, but there are many who don't. I became a teacher because all children deserve to have someone in their corner.
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Outside of school you can find me at a dance competition or a baseball field. Watching my own children pursue their passions is one of my favorite activities. Other than dance and baseball, you can find me reading, exercising or traveling :)
3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? A fun fact about me is that I have my motorcycle license. My dad is a big Harley Davidson fan so I got my license when I was in high school and have kept it renewed ever since.
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I have too many favorites! One of my favorite books is "The Secret Garden". I remember falling in love with the idea of a hidden garden, as if life has hidden secrets everywhere for us to discover. Plus the beauty behind friendships and how they can heal you.
5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? My favorite part about working at Durham is the community! When I say community, I mean EVERYONE; the staff, the students, the families. This is our home away from home, and I am so grateful to be part of such an amazing group of people.
This is a friendly reminder that school will be closed tomorrow and Monday, January 17, 2025. Enjoy the time off!
Durham Intermediate School is kicking off a scholarship donation fundraiser for this year's trip to Shady Creek Outdoor School.
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Lesleigh Brunelle, First Grade Teacher
1) Why did you become a teacher? Kids are so fun and I enjoy how inquisitive they are. I love being part of helping students learn and grow.
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Spending time with my family, crafting and taking photos.
3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? I enjoy reading and writing poetry.
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share), and why is it your favorite? A few of my favorite modern day poets are Beau Taplin and Tyler Knott Gregson.
5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? I appreciate the inspiring people I work with, the sweet students, and the loving community. My favorite part of working at DES is having the opportunity to teach students, and learning from them along the way.
Durham Community
Just a friendly reminder that our basketball tournament continues today and tomorrow! Come out and support our basketball team. Go Panters!
Caterina Flores is a graduate of Durham High School, class of 2019. After high school, Caterina pursued her education at Sonoma State University, earning her B.A. in Psychology a semester early in 2022.
Caterina decided to continue her education and recently obtained a Paralegal Certificate from the University of San Diego. We are so proud of you, Caterina.
February’s Student of the Month is Dylan Rabo. Dylan has a 4.14 GPA and is on Durham’s baseball team. Dylan has applied to several colleges this year, including UC Berkeley, Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, and Chico State. Mr. Rabo would like to major in Ag Science. He is currently taking Advanced Ag Science, SOU English and math, and AP government. Dylan has been attending Durham since his preschool years.
This week at DIS, 7th Grade History kicked off a fun tradition of creating African animal masks. On Thursday, the students got their hands dirty, making the plaster base for their masks. We can't wait to see how they decorate them next week.
We have two of the best wrestling programs going head-to-head as the Trojans host Chico High. The girls kick things off at 6:00 PM, followed by the boys at 7:00 PM. It's also Senior Night, and we want to send our Master Champions off in style with a loud, packed house. Best of luck to all our wrestlers tonight. Go Trojans!
A message from food service:
Today at DIS, DHS counselor Christy Spade visited 8th grade classes to review course request forms for next year's classes. The students gained important insights into what to expect in high school, explored the course catalog, and learned about various opportunities and activities available to them. The session was informative, and students asked many questions.
It’s a fantastic day for our Durham community. We have two amazing home sporting events happening today. Join us in celebrating our boys and girls senior soccer players during senior night, and don’t miss the excitement of our home basketball game, too. Let’s pack the stands and show our support for both teams! Good luck, and Go, Durham!
