Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Stacey Blake, Librarian
1) Why did you become a teacher? It's been a long and crazy journey to get to this position at DES, but being the school librarian is where I fit best. Reading to students and interacting with them daily truly fills my bucket. The joy and excitement they bring to each reading session is incredibly fulfilling. It's rewarding to see their curiosity spark and to be part of their learning journey. I truly love my job.
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Outside of DES, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and friends, playing games, and taking weekend trips with my wonderful husband of 33 years. These moments of relaxation and connection are incredibly important to me, and I cherish the time I get to spend with loved ones, creating lasting memories. Whether it's exploring new places or simply enjoying a game night, these experiences bring joy and balance to my life.
3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? My children share a birthday. My son, Nicholas, was born on June 14, 1994, and my daughter, Madeleine, was born on June 14, 1996. It's always a special day for our family, celebrating both of them together!
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share), and why is it your favorite? I've watched many movies that I've loved, but my favorites will always be Disney movies. Many Thanksgivings have been spent watching a Disney movie with my whole family, laughing and crying together. These movies hold a special place in my heart, as they've created lasting memories and brought my family closer through shared moments of joy and emotion.
5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? Over the last 16 years, I've seen many changes in the Durham district. I've gained new friends, met many people, and watched students grow into wonderful human beings. The one thing that has remained constant, however, is the sense of community. The staff and students truly become a family here. It's a great place to live and work, and I'm grateful for the connections and experiences I've had along the way.
Just a reminder that tomorrow is a minimum day for all schools as we kick off winter break. We wish all our students and families a joyful holiday season filled with fun and relaxation. We'll be back to school on January 6, 2025.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT!
Jake Ilukowicz is a member of the 2023 graduation class and a Durham student from K-12. Not only did Jake excel in academics at Durham, but he was also a section champion in baseball and basketball.
Jake is attending Texas A&M, pursuing a Sports Management degree with a Marketing minor. Jake is on the path to achieving his dream of working for a professional sports team.
Congratulations, Jake. We're all so proud of you.
🍕🥤🥗It’s time for some MOD Pizza!!! Durham High School PTS is holding a TROJAN TAKEOVER at MOD PIZZA TODAY (all day long). DHS PTS will receive 25% of sales* during this fundraiser. Participate by ordering online using the code MODGIVES25 or by visiting MOD located at 851 East Avenue, Suite 150 in Chico, and show this fundraiser flyer or mention the fundraiser at checkout. 🥗🥤🍕PLEASE SHARE with your family, friends, and neighbors!!!
* Tax, gift cards, and retail sales are excluded from the donation.
We have a girls basketball tournament happening this Thursday! Come out to support our talented players as they compete and show their skills. Go Trojans!
Our pre-enrollment for new students is officially LIVE on our website. https://durhamunified.aeries.net/enrollment/Eligibility.aspx?step=year This is specifically for NEW TK or Kindergarten students, as well as any NEW students entering other grades. If you're new to the district or know someone who is, now is the perfect time to get started! Spread the word and visit our website for more information. https://www.durhamunified.org/
DHS
Student of the Month
December’s Student of the Month is Ty Webb. Ty has a 4.15 GPA and is on Durham’s Ski and Golf team. Ty has applied to several colleges this year, including Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, University of Utah, University of Nevada, Reno, and Chico State. Ty would like to major in Civil Engineering or Construction Management. He is currently taking Physics, SOU English, AP government, and Calculus at Butte College.
Ty has been attending Durham School since kindergarten.
Noche de padres de estudiantes de 12º grado para Hispanohablante Familias
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025-2026 school year is now available at fafsa.gov. Completing the FAFSA is essential for every student, as it determines eligibility for federal, state, and college-specific financial aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. It is also required for the California Community College Promise Grant which makes California Community Colleges free, regardless of income.
We are offering help with setting up your StudentAid.gov accounts. Please see flyer for details.
The weekly District updates are now live! Check out the news here:
https://www.durhamunified.org/o/dus/page/superintendents-weekly-update
Redeem your Trojan Tickets today during lunch in the career center and get entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.
Help Us Showcase Our Alumni!
Seniors! Get college application help TODAY right after school in the Library! Wednesday November 13th!
Durham USD is thrilled to announce our new app for mobile phones! Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news, and announcements.
You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3tSYC7n
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3wLOJu8
A few quick notes and helpful hints
1. SCHOOLS BUTTON: Located on the bottom right corner of the screen you can toggle between schools
2. MENU BUTTON: Located on the bottom left corner of the screen you can search through the menu options
a. The menu area holds many things including the breakfast and lunch menus, staff list, calendars for all schools, sports and FFA, notifications that are sent out via the website.
3. SETTINGS BUTTON: In the bottom left corner of the screen tap the MENU button. When the menu appears tap the SETTINGS button located on the bottom left corner of the screen.
a. LANGUAGE PREFERENCE: you can change your language preferences
b. DEFAULT ORGANIZATION: Choose your default school (Durham Unified, Durham Elementary, Durham Intermediate, or Durham High School)
c. SCHOOLS: You can choose which schools you want to view information from. (Please make sure that you mark DURHAM UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT as well as any other schools you wish to see information from.
d. PUSH NOTIFICATIONS: You can choose which schools you want to receive push notifications from. (Please make sure that you mark DURHAM UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT as well as any other schools you wish to receive push notifications from.
i. Push notifications will alert you instantly when items are posted to the website live feed.
4. CALENDARS: To view calendar events please use the calendars in the menu on any of the school sites. At this time clicking on “see more events” will not take you to all the events. It only takes you to that schools’ calendar of events.
Check out the video link below to learn about our new app!
https://drive.google.com/file/...
November’s Student of the Month is Alyssa Messina. Ms. Messina has a 4.14 GPA and is one of the top swimmers in the Northstate. She has won several section titles and will be competing for several more on Saturday. Alyssa has applied to several colleges this year, including University of Arizona, Cal Poly, Colorado State, Boise State and several others. Alyssa would like to major in nursing. She is currently taking Physics, SOU English and Statistics, AP government, Butte Public Speaking and College and Life Success. Alyssa has been attending Durham School since kindergarten.
Next Tuesday, October 22nd, military recruiters will be on campus during lunch. They will be set up outside the cafeteria, ready to answer any questions you may have about career opportunities in the military. If you're interested in learning more about what the military has to offer, feel free to stop by and chat with them!
Exciting opportunity available at Durham Unified School District for a Bus Driver (Part-Time). Apply now and be part of our committed team at Durham Unified!
Email: cbartel@durhamunified.org
530-895-4675 ext5001
The weekly District updates are now live! Check out the news here:
https://www.durhamunified.org/o/dus/page/superintendents-weekly-update
Perents- The slideshow for the Senior Parent Night is NOW posted under the department tab for College and Career Advising now. Take a look!
This Saturday is the Wild Cat Preview at Chico State. They will have an Admissions presentation, an academic exploration session, a financial aid and scholarship presentation, and more. All students and parents are welcome to attend, but you must sign up on their website.
If you have any questions, you can contact:
Mrs. Spade (cspade@durhamunified.org)
Mrs. Ladd (sladd@durhamunified.org)
