Fencing installation for the east side of the intermediate school campus began today. By the end of next week, the entire east side of the school should be fenced (see attached photos). This will limit entrance to the intermediate school to a few gate locations, and, once the school day starts, access will only be through the main office.

As the district continues facilities projects with Measure X and Measure B funds, fencing will be added at both the elementary school and high school to limit access to campus to create better school security.

50th Block D Dance!

The stage is set for a great show at the 2025 Block D Dance and performance on Feb. 8th. Doors open at 7 and the show will start at 7:30. Our students have been rehearing what is sure to be a lineup of star performances. We are looking for alumni to work the door and bar. If you'd like to volunteer please reach out to Kinsey Coughenour at kcoughenour@durhamunified.org. 

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door, cash or check only please. Community members, alumni, and DHS students are welcome and encouraged to attend. Block D is Durham’s Athletic Club, the dance consists of student performances, contests, and group dances. Bill Wells started the club in 1975, this will be our 50th anniversary with more performances than ever before. We look forward to seeing you there!

Board meeting on different day

The January board meeting will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6 pm. The board meetings are moving back to the board room at the district office.

Updates from Principals

DES (from Samantha Brown)This week at DES we have enjoyed the beautiful weather! The DES Chess Club held their first bi-weekly meeting of 2025 in the DES Library. TK (for all 4 year olds) and Kindergarten (for all 5 year olds) Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is underway. Our 2nd-5th grade classes began their winter NWEA MAP assessments this week and will continue through next week. Our first grade classes held their evening VAPA performances of "Nuts! The Musical." The District English Language Advisory Committee (DELAC) meets tonight to review the DUSD Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The DES PTS Grandparent's Day Committee will hold a planning meeting tomorrow in the DES Staff Lounge at 1:30PM, and they will be holding the Mother and Son Dance at the Durham Memorial Hall tomorrow night at 6:00 PM. DES students continue to collect pledges through next Friday, January 24th for our 100th Day of School Math-A-Thon to be held on Monday, January 27th. DES Staff is making preparations for a fun family S.T.E.A.M. Night next Wednesday, January 22nd from 5:30-7:00 PM in the DES MPR, along with Music Boosters taking pre orders for a hamburger or cheeseburger dinner fundraiser.

Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Katlin Redding, TK Teacher

1) Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because I believe in the power of making a difference in students' lives. I want every student to feel welcome, heard, and valued, creating a safe environment where they can thrive. My passion lies in inspiring students to fall in love with learning, helping them discover their potential and develop a lifelong curiosity. By fostering a positive and supportive classroom, I hope to make an impact that extends beyond academics, shaping confident and curious individuals for the future.

2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, going camping or just watching a movie on the couch. I’m also passionate about turkey hunting, which allows me to connect with nature and challenge myself. Additionally, I love attending my sons sporting events, and doing crafty things with my sweet daughter.

3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any? A fun fact about me is that I really enjoy the outdoors and I love shooting my bow with my dad and brother on the weekend when I have free time. 

4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why is it your favorite? I love the old school Matilda movie. Growing up it was one of my favorites and when my kids were small they loved it too. So we've watched it many times in my house and it's definitely an all time fav.

5) Favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School? This question is so easy to answer!! My favorite part about working at Durham Elementary School is the incredible sense of community and support. Being new to Durham this year, I felt so welcomed and included by everyone. The amazing students and families have made my transition smooth and so enjoyable. Every day, I look forward to coming to work and doing what I love most- teaching! The supportive environment here truly makes a difference and inspires me to give my best each day! I'm so beyond lucky to be a part of this wonderful community!

DIS (From Joanne Parsley)

Durham Intermediate Students are in for a big surprise on Friday.  Our students who earned a Panther Buck for displaying our PBIS Panther Pride: respect, empathy, and purpose, will be having an ice cream treat on Friday from our Panther Shack.

The 8th Grade project is well underway. Our 8th graders turned in their 50 Fast Facts on Thursday, which was their second assignment.  Next week, they will need to identify 3 persons to interview and have 10 interview questions prepared.  

Our 6th graders have begun to build their volcanoes. They are working in groups to build 1 of 6 different volcanoes.  This is one of our 6th grader's favorite projects. When we have the date that the students have planned for the eruption, we will let you all know as many love to come watch. 

8th Grade Social Studies just completed their unit on the Constitution.  

7th Grade CC2-3 math used their knowledge of surface area and volume to help Mrs. Peasha open an ice cream shop. They found what the best cup size would be to hold a sphere ice cream scoop and what she would need to price it to gain a 20% profit on her sales. They were rewarded with their own ice cream after they solved the problem correctly!

Our 7th and 8th Grade Boys participated in the Willows basketball tournament last weekend.  The 7th grade boys brought home a 2nd Place Banner and our 8th-graders brought home a consolation banner.  They also played Notre Dame on Wednesday and both were able to put a W in the win/loss column.  Keep it up boys. 

Mrs McLean is teaching her Art students how to print an animal reference image. From that image, the students will create a foam plate which is then used to make a monoprint of that image in a mixture of colors. 

DHS (From Marty Wilkes)

Special Event:   Golden One Center Games: The varsity basketball teams will be taking on the Hamilton Braves this Saturday (Jan. 18) at the Golden One Center in Sacramento.  Varsity Girls tip off at 5:30 Varsity Boys tip off at 7:00.  Tickets can be purchased at the school until Friday. 

Counseling: This week’s “To Be” Challenge is to be Thoughtful. Encourage someone you know by leaving a specific note about how their kindness impacts others. Remember the most thoughtful notes speak directly to someone’s unique qualities or experiences. 

Seniors Should be checking their Advisory Google Classroom every couple of days.  It’s scholarship season and we are posting new scholarship opportunities as we receive them. Additionally, seniors who applied to four-year universities should be checking their portals regularly since that is how the campuses communicate with students.

We are currently taking sign-ups for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which will be on Feb 4th.  Last day to sign up is Friday 1-17, and the SAT, which will be March 26th. Stop by the library or email Mrs. Ladd for more information.

Jan. 22- Cash4College- Butte College Financial Aid reps will be here to help seniors with the student portion of FAFSA during Economics classes

Jan. 22- Lyon’s Club of Forest Ranch-Spoken Word Contest- in the Library

Feb. 1- The Butte College Scholarship opens (Due March 9th)

Feb. 1- CSEA Scholarship Due

Feb. 4- ASVAB Test

Feb. 12- Cash4College - Representatives from Chico State Financial Aid Office will be here in the evening to help students and parents with the FAFSA  

Feb. 21- Butte County Career Technical Education Tour - (Make-up date)

Feb. 26-27- Girls State Interviews in the library

Other upcoming events:

25-26 Course Registration

Winter SOU Registration (SOU Eng 11, Pre-Calc and Statistics)

The AG Department:

Jan. 27    Ag advisory meeting 5:30

Feb. 1      Field Day- AET team at Arbuckle

Athletics: 

Girls basketball suffered through their first league loss on Tuesday night, dropping a home game to Winters, which dropped the overall record to 10-5 and 2-1 in the SVL.

Boys basketball defeated Winters Tuesday night 71-36 to move their record to 12-4 overall and 3-0 in league.  This win sets up a big game for us Friday night against Paradise.  Paradise is 11-4 and 4-0 in league.  The winner will have the inside track to winning the Sacramento Valley League title. 

Soccer:  Boys soccer team lost a close game 5-4 on Monday vs Los Molinos.

Wrestling teams keep doing well in their tournaments.   Durham also defeated Willows at the dual meet on Wednesday by a score of 84-0.  Durham will be hosting a dual meet against Chico High at the end of the month.

Jan. 21 - Girls Basketball vs Pierce 5:30 and 7:00

Jan. 24 - Girls Basketball vs Willows

Jan. 29 - Boys Basketball vs Colusa

Jan. 29 - Soccer vs Paradise

Feb. 1 - Basketball vs Mt Shasta

Feb. 4 - Soccer vs Paradise

Feb. 4 - Boys Basketball vs Winters

Feb. 8 - Block D Dance 7:00

Feb. 11 - Boys Basketball vs Pierce

Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 1/20/2025, is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year. King was chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law and civil society. Want to know more? Click here! And watch this!

No Name-Calling Week – January 20-24, 2025

No Name-Calling Week is observed during the third week of January to educate students, teachers, and the public on the harms of name-calling. This year, it takes place from January 20 to 24. People have been called unpleasant names for their weight, height, intelligence, sexual orientation, and other things they have little or no control over. While some consider name-calling harmless fun, victims of such names generally feel insecure, ashamed, and bullied, to extents that cause them to lose their self-esteem, feel unwanted in their immediate environments, and suffer emotional distress. Name-calling inflicts psychological injuries on victims and forces some of them into seclusion or to consider suicide.

Why No Name-Calling Week is Important?

• It reduces name-calling occurrences
  With No Name-Calling Week, there is an increased awareness of how harmful name-calling can be, thereby mitigating its occurrence. It is a very important cause.

• It gives hope to victims of bullying
  The week's celebration reassures victims of name-calling and gives them hope to see the end of their painful ordeal. We all need hope.

• It generally reduces bullying
  Since name-calling is a form of bullying, programs organized during the weekly celebration are also directed at stopping other common types of bullying, thereby bringing a general decrement to them all. 

California Education Code 48900(r) defines bullying as any severe or pervasive act of physical or verbal abuse that is directed at a student or group of students. This includes acts that are committed in writing or electronically. 

STOPit , a reporting tool that Durham USD provides to students, allows students, guardians, and others to anonymously report inappropriate behaviors. It's available online and as an app. 

What STOPit can be used for 

• Reporting bullying, cyber abuse, and other inappropriate behaviors

• Reporting threats, violence, self-harm, and suicidal ideation

• Reporting alcohol or drug use, depression, and campus violence

• Helping friends in need

How STOPit works

• Users can submit anonymous reports containing text, photos, and video 

• Reports go directly to school administrators or counselors 

Weekly Update Archive