We’re Back!

Despite the deluge of rain on our first day back from break, it has been exhilarating to have the energy of our staff and students back on campus this week.

Many people may have expected to see construction starting at Durham Elementary or Durham High School upon our return.

The elementary school is gearing up for construction to begin on its new Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten facility. The district is still awaiting final approval of the construction plans from the California Division of State Architects. However, we aren’t sitting idly by while we wait for the state. Over Christmas break, the TK teachers, speech therapist and DHS program moved out of the area that will become the construction area. 

The district’s Maintenance and Operations team also worked on the south side of the elementary campus to prepare it to host TK and Kindergarten recess during construction. A new gate was added to the Southeast side near the cafeteria and a new sand box was added to the playground.

Currently, the district's Maintenance and Operations team and instructional technology team are removing all items to be saved from the buildings in area that will be under construction. 

The plan is for United Builders Construction (UBC), which is the general contractor for the TK/K project, to put construction fencing around the construction area beginning on Jan. 23. 

Stay tuned for more updates on the TK/K project.

The plans for the high school stadium project was approved by the California Department of State Architects on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Currently, the project has been advertised for prospective General Contractor bids. The board is expected to vote on the general contractor at its meeting scheduled for Jan. 28. As we move through February and March, we should begin to see a lot of things happening at both construction sites. 

DES (from Samantha Brown)
Our first week back from winter break focused on "re-tuning" our school engine by prioritizing PBIS Tiger Traits reviews across all grade levels. Our January Staff Meeting on Tuesday was productive and centered on our 2026 goals. We concluded the week by generating excitement for our ASB Math-A-Thon Kick-Off assembly.

Next week we will highlight student creativity through three nights of 4th Grade VAPA performances and welcome new families during TK/K In-Person Registration on Thursday. We’ll wrap up the week by celebrating our students of the month with Popsicles with the Principal and the PTS Mother-Son Dance on Friday evening.

DIS (From Josh Rowe)
Welcome Back

We have had a great first week back and are looking forward to a strong Spring Term! As the Spring Term continues, things will begin to ramp up and our campus will be busier than ever. Be sure to check our weekly updates here and in the Panther Press so you don’t miss important information and upcoming events.

Boys Basketball

Our 7th and 8th grade boys basketball teams kicked off their season this week with a game against Palermo and participation in the Willows Tournament. The boys fought hard against Palermo but came up just short. They are hungry to compete in Willows and throughout the rest of the season—be sure to come out and support our Panthers!

Shady Creek

Shady Creek Outdoor Science Camp is coming up quickly, and we want to remind families of several important upcoming deadlines:

• January 16: All health forms and medications are due

• January 26: Shady Creek apparel orders and tuition are due

It is very important that all required forms, medications, and payments are submitted on time. We can’t wait for our 6th grade students to head to Shady Creek to learn, explore, and have fun!

Upcoming Dates

• January 19: No School — Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• January 22: A–G Presentation for 8th Grade Students and Parents

• January 26: Last day to turn in Shady Creek tuition

• February 9–12: 6th Grade attends Shady Creek

• February 13 & 16: No School — Presidents Weekend

DHS (From Marty Wilkes)
Hard to believe the second semester is well underway already. The end of the year will be here before we know it!

In Advisory this week, students enjoyed games to get reacquainted and ease back into things. Next week we will get back into the Character Strong curriculum and the winners of the door decorating contest, Mr. Bear and Mrs. Coughenour, will be having their popcorn party.

In Counseling we have several field trips planned for the coming weeks to expose students to different postsecondary options. We will be visiting Job Corps, the Fire and Police Academies and the Heavy Equipment and HVAC programs over the next few weeks. Students should sign up on the counter in the Library if interested.

It’s springtime which means lots of local scholarships are becoming available for seniors. Please make sure your student is checking the Advisory 12 Google classroom regularly.

Athletics:
Basketball:
The girls basketball team picked up their first league win on Tuesday with a 51-47 win over Colusa.  The win moved their overall record to 13-3 on the season with a big week coming up with games against East Nicolaus, at Winters and at Paradise.

The boys basketball team dropped their first league game on Tuesday, but the team bounced back to  win on Thursday.  The boys play tonight and Saturday in the Oroville Tournament.

Wrestling:
Wrestling season is still going strong, and both the girls and boys team won their dual meet on Wednesday.  They also had strong showings this weekend with Landon Salidong and Jose Garcia taking the top spot at the Joe Rios Tournament and Chloe Cox winning the Crown at the Queen of the Mat in Pittsburgh.

Soccer:
The soccer teams will  be playing today at home against Paradise.

Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)

Happy New Year!

The State of California is expanding access to health and mental wellness services for students by requiring health plans and insurers to reimburse public schools for certain services—at no cost to families. Under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Fee Schedule program, schools can now receive payment for eligible health and mental wellness services provided on campus.

This means that there are no copays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses for families. State law ensures that health plans and insurers cannot shift any portion of the cost to students or their families.

To participate in this program, the District will request health insurance information from families. 

All information provided will be kept strictly confidential and used solely to allow the District to seek reimbursement for services. Insurance data will not be shared outside of what is necessary to process reimbursements or as otherwise required by law (e.g., with the California Department of Health Care Services).

While this reimbursement model is new for general education services, it is not new to education overall. DUSD and other districts have been using a similar process, known as "Medi-Cal Billing," to fund some special education services for many years. With this expansion, DUSD can now seek reimbursement for support provided by school counselors, psychologists, nurses, health staff, and a new category of wellness coaches.

The funding we receive through this program can be reinvested into expanding services, hiring additional staff, and providing professional development to support student wellness now and in the future. Please help us help students but choose to participate when asked. The funds will go directly back to student support. 

More information will come soon! 

Weekly Update Archive