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Superintendent's Weekly Update
It’s here – the long stretch for schools known as October. At this point in the school year we are long past the honeymoon phase that is the beginning of the school year, and any school break still feels like it is far off in the horizon.
If this is a challenging time for you and your students, you're definitely not alone.
The link below takes you a story in Education Week about the “October Blues”
I hope knowing that you are not alone if this is a challenging month for you is helpful. Additionally, I hope you take time to do something you enjoy and take care of yourself this weekend!
Only in Durham
Once again, band students from Durham High School entertained our schools in what I am sure is a one for kind trailer tour around campus. Thank you to Mr. Plummer and his talented students for entertaining all of us today
Architects selection process started
We don’t know yet if the district's Facilities Bond Measure B will pass on Nov. 5, but the DUSD Board of Trustees wants to make sure the district is ready to move forward with the projects included in the Facilities Master Plan (https://www.durhamunified.org/o/dus/page/facilities-bond-measure-b).
In order to be ready, the Trustees approved a selection process to select a group of architects at the October board meeting.
The district will move forward with the selection process to be ready to begin construction projects as soon as funding is available if Measure B passes.
Updates from Principals
DES (from Samantha Brown)
This week has been crazy busy at DES, but lots of good things are happening! On Monday during early release collaboration, teachers had Learning Without Tears training for handwriting and keyboarding. On Tuesday, students from the BCOE DHH program had a fall outing at TJ Farms. Our second grade classes held their evening VAPA performances of "Life Cycles the Musical" this week. On Wednesday, our Kindergarten classes took a field trip to Book's Pumpkin Patch. We also held our monthly School Site Council meeting and discussed curriculum and assessments. On Thursday, all of our 3rd grade classes took a field trip to the movie theater to watch "The Wild Robot." We also held an earthquake "shelter" safety drill, followed by a fire drill "evacuation." After school probationary teacher's met to get more information about the upcoming end of the trimester, assessments, report cards, and parent-teacher conferences, and discuss any other issues of concern. Today, our first grade classes took a field trip to Book's Pumpkin Patch, and our 4th and 5th grade classroom finalists competed in a school Agribee to see who would move on to the Butte County Farm Bureau in November to represent Durham Elementary School. Our Agribee Winners are: 1st place: Nathaniel Melanchuk (Martin 5th Grade), 2nd place: Mican Shorter (Corrales 5th Grade), and Alternate: Reese Dalrymple (Haus 5th Grade).
Next week we will begin first trimester assessments, celebrate Red Ribbon Week with school spirit dress-up days, we will have a magic assembly, and our ASB will be selling Spooky Grams before and after school.
Tiger Spotlight of the Week: Hannah Haus, 5th Grade Teacher
1) Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher because I struggled with academics and wanted to make sure I could make kids feel welcomed and supported in school.
2) What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
My hobbies outside of work involve traveling to the National Parks, trying new coffee shops, and baking for my fiancee and stepdaughter!
3) A fun fact about yourself or unique talent you possess, if any?.
A fun fact about myself is I love the TV series The Sopranos and have watched the series in order 4 times.
4) Favorite book, movie, or music (pick only one to share) and why it is your favorite?
My favorite music is 90's country because my Mom and I would blast it in our old suburban on her cassette player when I was growing up.
5) Favorite part, so far, about working at Durham Elementary School?
So far, my favorite part about working at Durham Elementary is the support from my colleagues. I am appreciative of everyone's support so far. I truly have never been part of such a supportive community.
DIS (From Joanne Parsley)
After their first few days of Rugby, PE is taking advantage of the cooler weather and slowing it down for an active recovery workout. Students are learning the importance of varying intensity of workouts and the importance of recovery and rest. The big screen is coming in handy yet again! (see attached picture)
Students in eighth grade are reading The Outsiders, studying character analysis and narrative perspective which will develop into complex essay writing in late November. This is in anticipation for the Eighth Grade Project and is considered practice for following a set of parameters including citation, quotation, reviewing the concept of the "unreliable narrator" and fostering collaborative cohesion drawing from shared source material. 8th Grade Science is finishing up their unit on matter. We have two 8th-grade teams for our section FFA Speaking contest who will be competing in the opening & closing ceremonies on November 13. They have been practicing their scripts and performance in class.
7th graders will be writing spooky stories next week! They are also working hard on their manor projects and will complete their manor banners this week (see attached pictures). The feast is scheduled for Nov. 7th. In science, they are starting their Cell Projects and learning about Plant and Animal Cells.
6th Grade is starting their cross-curricular unit about Egypt: The book in common is The Egypt Game. The students are beginning their earthquake engineering problem--building an earthquake safe high rise with straws and toothpicks. Chico State engineers will be coming to visit and teach the students about science and career opportunities
The 28th Annual Durham Panther Classic (Girls Basketball) is Next week. (We still need volunteers and snack shack donations) Dates: Oct 24-26.
DHS (From Marty Wilkes)
Counseling
Oct. 18 - Counseling is taking students to Chico State for a Concrete Management Fair Oct. 23 - 12 students are signed up to go to Northwest Lineman College
Academics
Integrated Math I and III are starting a chapter on statistics which is goal of integrated math to combine algebra, geometry and statistics. Integrated Math II is starting a chapter on probability. They have covered probability models, unions, intersections, and complements and are now looking at how to calculate expected value.
The AG Department
15 students will be leaving on Sunday (Oct. 20) for the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
Athletics
Football The varsity team beat Colusa 36-7 last Friday, moving their overall record to 5-2 and 2-1 in the Sacramento Valley League (SVL). Coby Gausemel returned a fumble 40 plus yards for a touchdown to close out the game. Perry Phillips had a strong game on offense and Edgar Flores played well on both sides of the ball.
The Homecoming game was scheduled for this Friday night (Oct. 18, tonight), but Willows will be forfeiting that game. So the Trojans find themselves with a 6-2 record going into the final two weeks of the regular season. The JV team will be hosting Willows at 6:30. The homecoming ceremony will take place before tonight’s JV game.
Volleyball Volleyball goes into their final week of the season with an 18-12 record.
Next week
Oct. 21 - Sports Boosters 6:30 at Durham High School
Oct. 22 - Volleyball at Colusa
Oct. 23 - Swim BVL Champion at Durham
Oct. 24 - Volleyball at home vs East Nic
Oct. 25 - Football at East Ni
Update from Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month is not only a time to advocate for people with dyslexia, but it’s also a time to applaud dyslexic excellence. Many students—and parents, caregivers, and teachers—struggle with dyslexia, but the more we discover about this learning disorder, the better we can destigmatize it and help those affected by dyslexia thrive and enjoy learning.
Dyslexia is a neurodivergent condition and there are quite a few myths surrounding it. Some think that dyslexia is connected to vision, where letters are reversed or transposed, or the writing is completely backwards. While that may be true not every person diagnosed with dyslexia experiences the same symptoms.
A common myth about dyslexia is that it will go away if kids “just try harder”, or that it will go away when they learn to read. Neither of these things is true. Studies have shown that the brains of people with dyslexia function differently than those without.