The permanent facilities at the elementary school and high school were constructed in the 1960s through the mid 1970s. With 50 to 60 year old facilities, we are focused on strategies to improve facilities at both schools. 

We are grateful that the community approved facilities bond Measure X in 2018 and Measure B in 2019. We are working hard to find more funds to supplement the bond funds to meet the vast needs of our aging facilities.

One big need is updated facilities for the high school agriculture facilities. The district is currently working on the applications for the state’s Career Technical Education Facilities Program grants of which agriculture qualifies. We are working on two applications  - one for new construction that includes a state of the art facility for agriculture mechanics and an animal barn, and one for modernization of the current Ag building into a classroom, Floral lab and Ag science lab.

If the district is awarded both grants it would receive as much as $4.5 million, and the district would match that with Measure B funds to create a $9 million budget to improve the high school agriculture facilities.

In an effort to prepare for this possibility and to write the best grant application possible, I joined DHS Principal Marty Wilkes, Board members Ed McLaughlin and Buzz Landon and DHS Ag teachers Makenna Kann, Anyssa Trujillo and Brady Deaton to tour Agriculture facilities from Galt to Hamilton City. 

I, for one, learned a lot from these tours. It was very interesting to see how every facility is unique and to talk to our teachers and board members on how that translates to our needs.

Let’s hope the state funds our grant applications!

Updates from Principals

DES (from Samantha Brown)
This week and next are critical weeks for student assessment at Durham Elementary School! Our entire campus is focused on learning as we administer Trimester 1 Report Card Assessments. This process allows our teachers to measure growth and set informed goals for the next trimester. Please help your child by ensuring they get plenty of rest and have a healthy breakfast each morning! 

Monday during Early Release Collaboration, teachers collaborated on report card assessments, report cards, and Parent-Teacher Conferences. Tuesday we had a Probationary Teachers Meeting after school; Tuesday evening, our PTS met at the Memorial Hall; and, Wednesday our School Site Council met. 

Our courtyard is adorned with the cutest Kindergarten scarecrows (see photos attached). ASB sold Spooky Grams before and after school this week. We had an exciting week of educational outings: our Deaf and Hard of Hearing students enjoyed their annual Fall Outing to the TJ Farms Pumpkin Patch, and today, Kindergarten visits Book Family Farm and 1st Grade heads to Patrick Ranch for their pumpkin patch trips. Today, our 4th and 5th graders competed in our annual Agribee competition (see attached photos)! Students showcased their knowledge of agriculture as they vie for a spot to represent our school at the Butte County Farm Bureau competition next month. Congratulations to our representatives: Olivia Bertagna (1st), Melody Pierce (2nd), and River Eagan (Alternate)! We wrap up the week recognizing our Students of the Month for their hard work and excellent citizenship by having popsicles with the Principal! 

Next week at DES, we continue Trimester 1 Report Card Assessments. We will celebrate Red Ribbon Week:  Life is a Puzzle; Solve it! with school spirit days each day, culminating with a Halloween costume parade on Friday. PBIS Leadership will meet after school on Tuesday. Our Health Office will be doing TK and Kindergarten Hearing and Vision testing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Our 5th grade classes will be taking a field trip on Thursday to Laxon Auditorium at CSU, Chico to watch Doktor Kaboom! Under Pressure! Our TK students will trick-or-treat around the district on Friday, while our Kindergarten students will trick-or-treat local Durham businesses.

DIS (From Josh Rowe)
6th Grade Earthquake Project
Our sixth-grade students had a special visit from the Society of Physics Students at Chico State to kick off their Earthquake Project. The Chico State students gave an engaging demonstration that captured everyone’s attention and sparked excitement about seismic science and engineering. (see attached pictures)

Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest
Our classrooms have been busy preparing for the annual Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest! Red Ribbon Week begins next week, and this year’s national theme is “Life is a Puzzle – Solve It Drug Free.”

To help inspire students to make healthy choices and “solve the puzzle of life” without drugs, we’ll celebrate with a series of themed dress-up days. Details about each day’s theme can be found in the ParentSquare message sent earlier this week or in this Sunday’s edition of the Panther Press.

Manor Project
The annual Manor Project with our History and English Departments is well underway! Both Mr. Ramsden’s and Ms. Schnitzius’s students have been diving into medieval history as they prepare for the Medieval Feast in early November. This engaging cross-curricular project gives students an opportunity to bring history and literature to life in creative and meaningful ways.

Mark Your Calendars

• October 27–31: Red Ribbon Week

• October 31: 8th Grade Field Trip to Chico State for the Pumpkin Drop

• November 2: Don’t Forget to Turn Your Clocks Back — Daylight Saving Time Ends

• November 10: Non-Student Day — No School

• November 11: Veterans Day — No School

• November 24–28: Thanksgiving Break — No School
  

DHS (From Marty Wilkes)

DHS (From Marty Wilkes)

A Butte College auto class started at Durham on Thursday.  Yes, you read that correctly, after a few years of work Durham High school will be hosting an intro to Auto Class on campus.  The class has 17 seniors enrolled.

 Counseling:

This has been a busy week in Counseling!
PSAT, SAT and Cash For College oh my…

It’s been another busy week for Counseling..October usually seems to go that way!
On Monday we took a handful of seniors interested in pursuing agriculture to the Chico State Farm for a tour. We learned about all the hands-on opportunities students have working out there and got to enjoy dozens of baby lambs…some of which might become our students’ FFA & 4-H projects in the coming months. (See attached picture).

Tuesday we hosted another lunchtime College Application Workshop, focusing on the academic section of the CSU application. Additionally, a representative from the Chico State Upward Bound Program spoke to all of our 9th & 10th graders about what their program has to offer. If your student is interested in applying or would like more information, please have them see Ms. Spade.

Wednesday, 23 students took the SAT. 

Wednesday evening, thanks to the outstanding efforts of Mrs. Ladd, we hosted our most successful Cash4College Workshop in years! We had over 50 seniors and parents attend, most of whom were able to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) that evening. What a huge next step for these families! And a big thank you to Mrs. Ladd for all the effort she puts into communicating with our families and organizing these types of events. 

Thursday, 43 students took the PSAT.
Next week we will be hosting a Junior Parent Night for students and their parents. The meeting will be Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the DHS Library. Don’t miss this important event!

Athletics:
Volleyball: The 4th ranked Trojans had a week of the tail of two teams, on Wednesday they took  down the 12th ranked Colusa team in three sets and looked like the SVL champs that they are, but on Thursday they traveled down to the No. 2 ranked team and lets just say they didn’t play up to their potential…. Durham has been awarded the 3rd seed and will play Trinity at home Tuesday night.

Football: 
The Boys went to Willows Friday with a freshman quarterback taking his first snaps as a high school quarterback and he responded by leading the Trojans to a 44-12 win against the Honkers.  Lane Young threw for 3 touchdowns while setting a school record and tying a national record with a 99 yard touchdown pass to Nolan Meinberg.  Jake Reimer had over 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns, and Josh Harding had over 100 yards rushing with a touchdown. He also had an interception on Willows’ first drive to set the tone for the rest of the game.  Durham has senior night tonight vs East Nicolaus. The varsity game kicks off at 7:30.

Swim:
The Durham Swim boys and girls both won their league championships on Wednesday. 
Oct. 24 - Football vs East Nic

Oct. 28 - Playoff Volleyball home vs Trinity 7:00
Oct. 31 - Football at Pierce 

FFA:
This week we had 110 students attend our chapter meeting and 30+ Freshmen were awarded their Greenhand degree. 
Nov. 5 - Livestock Student/Parent meeting in the DHS Cafeteria at 6:30pm.
Nov. 6 - Chili Cook-Off which is open to the section.

Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)

Homework can be a stressful time for the whole family. It is important for parents to establish a positive homework environment as it directly impacts your student's attitude, focus, and long term academic success. Creating a positive environment minimizes stress for everyone involved. 

1. Create a Dedicated Workspace: Set up a quiet, well-lit, and distraction-free area for homework. This space should ideally be consistent and separate from high-traffic or entertainment zones. Ensure necessary supplies are readily available so your student doesn't waste time searching.

2. Establish a Consistent Schedule: Determine a regular time for homework each day. Consistency helps build a routine and signals to the student's brain that it's "work time." 

3. Minimize Digital Distractions: During homework time, limit access to phones, tablets, and video games unless the assignment explicitly requires a computer or specific app. Even background music can sometimes be a distraction. 

Parents: You Are Not The Problem Solver

A parent's goal is to guide your student to find the answer themselves, promoting independent problem-solving.

1. Understand the Assignment: Before starting, have your student explain the assignment to you. This confirms they understood the teacher's instructions. Ask questions like, "What is the goal of this assignment?" or "What steps do you think you need to take?"

2. Encourage Planning and Organization: For larger assignments, help your student break it down into smaller, manageable steps. For example, for a book report, the steps might be: Read Chapter 1-3, take notes, create an outline, write the draft.

3. Guide, Don't Give Answers: When your child gets stuck, resist the urge to give the answer. It is ok for your student to struggle a little.  Instead, use guiding questions:

• "What does your textbook or notes say about this topic?" 

• "Can you try showing me the first step you took?"

• "Where have you seen a problem like this before?"

4. Model Good Study Habits: Let your student see you reading, organizing bills, or working on your own tasks. This shows that learning and organization are lifelong skills.

Want to know more ?
Scholastic: Homework Help for Parents: Offers advice on how parents can help their students with homework 
Reading Rockets: Provides homework tips for parents with an emphasis on literacy development and effective study strategies without taking over, focusing on building independence and time-management skills.
Nationwide Children's Hospital: Homework Help: Offers comprehensive tips for families on creating a successful homework environment, including advice on managing developmental and behavioral challenges.
Notes From The Backpack "How to Handle Homework"podcast

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