Superintendent's Weekly Update
Artwork is meant to be shared, and some artists from Durham High School recently had their work showcased in galleries in Chico.
Autumn Stutz, Leah Sear, Kiera Koester, Enosu Anibal Danilson Gabriel and Octavian Schaeffer’s work was exhibited at the Chico State University Art Gallery for the annual BCOE Superintendent’s Art Show from Feb. 20 to March 12. Five student pieces were selected, showcasing skills in colored pencil, collage/mixed media, drawing and ceramic sculpture.
A special congratulations to Octavian, whose work placed third in the Innovation category.
In addition, works by Juliana Kaylor, Christian Collins and Enosu Anibal Danilson Gabriel were in an exhibit at the 1078 Gallery in Chico. The exhibition is titled “Future Worlds.”
Construction project Updates
Work continues on the project at the Durham High School Football stadium. Keep an eye out for the exciting changes each week.
The elementary project will get underway over the next week plus. This weekend the construction office will be placed on campus, and demolition work will begin next
Construction Projects
The grandstand project for the DHS football stadium continues to move forward and be on schedule. The goal is to have the stadium ready for the intermediate school promotion ceremony on May 27 and high school graduation on May 28.
The TK/K project is about to get very busy at the elementary school. Attached to this report is a one page snapshot of what is included in the project.
School board approves student calendar
At the March 10 board meeting, the board approved the minimum days for the 2026-2027 school year. The board also approved a student calendar for the 2027-2028 school year complete with start and end days and all days with no school.
The calendars can be found on the district web site: https://www.durhamunified.org/page/calendars-and-bell-schedules
Updates from Principals
DES (from Samantha Brown)
This week at DES, the Chess Club met in the Library after school on Monday. DES PTS held their March monthly meeting at the Durham Memorial at 8:30 AM on Tuesday to discuss upcoming PTS events throughout the remainder of the year. On Friday, Mr. Martin's 4th grade class will take a field trip to the Butte Ecological Preserve (rescheduled from November), and we will hold our monthly safety drill on Friday afternoon. Our 5th grade classes will continue to practice for their upcoming evening VAPA Performances next week.
Next week at DES, students will have an opportunity in grades 1-5 to spend their Tiger Bucks when they visit the Tiger Store, and the 5th grade classes will hold their evening VAPA Performances of "Dancing Through The Decades" in the DES MPR with Ms.Harvey/Ms. Luce's class performing on Monday, March 16th; Mrs. Corrales's/Mrs. Gomes's class performing on Wednesday, March 18th; and, Mrs. Haus's class performing on Thursday, March 19th. Our Kindergarten classes will be taking walking field trips to the Durham Volunteer Fire Station, one class per day, Tuesday-Thursday. Our probationary teachers will meet after school on Tuesday to discuss what is going well and share challenges they may be experiencing paired with solutions. We will wrap up the week welcoming Spring and celebrating February students of the month with Popsicles with the Principal.
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Mrs. Maggie Mendoza, DUSD Migrant Services and DES Bilingual Instructional Paraprofessional
DIS (From Josh Rowe)
PEG Presentations Wrap Up Another Great Year
Our Project Eighth Grade (PEG) presentations have officially wrapped up for the year. This project continues to be one of the great traditions at Durham Intermediate School, giving students the opportunity to research a topic of interest, develop their ideas, and present their learning to an audience.
A big thank you goes out to Mrs. Withrow and Ms. Schnitzius for laying the foundation that allows this project to happen each year. Their organization and leadership help guide our students through the process from start to finish.
We would also like to thank the teachers and PEG coaches who supported our students throughout the journey. Mrs. Peasha and Ms. Featherston (Math), Mr. Richards (Science), and Mr. Ramsden (History) all played important roles in helping students refine their projects and prepare for their presentations. The time, guidance, and encouragement from our staff make this experience possible.
We are incredibly proud of our 8th graders and the hard work they put into their projects. Their presentations truly highlight the quality of learning taking place at DIS.
6th Grade Volcano Blast Off
Our 6th grade students have been diving into the exciting world of volcanoes during their science unit. This hands-on learning experience will culminate with the annual Volcano Blast Off this Monday at 12:15 PM.
If you would like to come watch the volcanoes erupt! If you would like to attend, please check in at the DIS office first before heading out to enjoy the show.
We look forward to seeing these explosive science projects in action!
Important Dates
March 16: 6th Grade Volcano Blast
April 3: minimum Day
April 6-10: No School - Spring Break
DHS (From Marty Wilkes)
Between the start of state testing and the time change everyone seems to be dragging. Did we not vote to change that a few years back??
Athletics:
Baseball got their first win of the season on Friday. They played at home Wednesday against Central Valley and play a tournament this weekend at Colusa.
Softball played their first game Wednesday at Hamilton before heading to Weaverville for a tournament.
Track competed at Oroville on Wednesday.
The Block D dance was last Saturday night. If you missed it you missed out. The 54 Block D kids did a great job taking us through the years. But I must say we need to talk to our kids about 80’s rock-n-roll. I think there is a gap in their knowledge. But the special appearance by team Eminem was pretty fun…
AG:
We will be leaving next week for the California FFA State Conference in Ontario. Our very own Jack Johansson will be starting the in person interviews next week while we are there on his campaign for serving as a FFA State Officer, wish him the best of luck!
This Friday students will be competing in the Superior Region LDE contest for a chance to move on to state finals. James Osbon is competing in impromptu public speaking. Jack Johansson is competing in extemporaneous public speaking, as well as our Parliamentary Procedure team.
Last week, the Ag fabrication team competed in the Nevada Union High School Fabrication Contest. They were tasked with creating a project that was primarily made from a barrel. They placed 8th overall in the fabrication and FIRST in the interview!
Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)
STOPit is a simple, anonymous way for students to share information so DUSD can respond quickly. They can use the mobile app or the website to report things like bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, violence, threats, weapons, or issues with alcohol, drugs, or discrimination at school.
