Consistent readers of the weekly update probably remember me listing many different attributes that make Durham special. 

Last Saturday, PTS orchestrated the highly successful Durham Gala. This event raised an amazing $102,000! This is quite the accomplishment for Gala chairs Amy Sohnrey and Rebecca Jones and the entire PTS team that worked so hard to make this event possible.

Thank you to everyone involved - including our generous community members!

I have no doubt that PTS will work with our schools to find creative strategies to utilize the funding to support our students.

Durham Unified is fortunate to have such a hard working and generous community supporting our schools!

Don’t forget that it is fall back time for our clocks this weekend. Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 a.m. is the official time to set our clocks back an hour.

This means we could all get an extra hour of sleep this weekend! The bad news is this means it will start getting dark an hour earlier next week.

The new fence on the south side of the elementary campus is nearing completion. Currently, we are waiting on one gate and one fence panel.

The attached photos illustrate what the new fencing looks like. Notice that the project includes a new gate on the far southwest corner of campus near the Marigold Market. 

This gate was added to allow for safely locking the gate during the school day while still having a panic gate to get off campus in an emergency.

The full plan is to have all of the walk through gates open before school in the morning, but locked once school starts. 

DES (from Samantha Brown)
This week at Durham Elementary was powered by Red Ribbon Week dress-up themes, student leadership, community spirit, and festive fall traditions!

We kicked off the week on Monday, October 26th by promoting healthy habits with our "Be Active" jersey day, hosting our DES Student Council Meeting, and wrapping up the afternoon with Early Out Collaboration and Grade Level Meetings focused on assessments, report cards, and parent-teacher conference prep. On Tuesday, we celebrated World Occupational Therapy Day, showed our kindness by wearing red, hosted another session of Reading Pals, and held our PBIS Leadership Meeting.

Mid-week on Wednesday, our campus lit up in bright neon for "Make Smart Choices" day as students focused on making positive decisions. On Thursday, students dressed like their friends and wore matching outfits to show how good friends lift each other up, enjoyed Spooky Grams delivered to classrooms, and participated in Reading Pals. We wrapped up the week on Friday with our "Say BOO to Bad Choices" costume celebration, highlighted by our TK classes trick-or-treating around DUSD and our Kindergarten classes trick-or-treating throughout Durham! 

Looking Ahead: November 2 – November 6, 2026

Week-Long Highlights:

• DIBELS & Trimester 1 Report Card Assessment Make-Ups

• Día de los Muertos Museum in DES Room 39 (by appointment)

• National School Psychology Week

• Monday, November 2

  • Early Out Collaboration: 1:40 PM Dismissal

  • Early Release Collaboration Grade Level Meetings: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Topics: Report cards, assessments, parent-teacher conferences, upcoming events, and DES Weekly Pulse)

• Tuesday, November 3

  • Election Day

  • Reading Pals: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

• Wednesday, November 4

  • Staff Meeting: DES MPR (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

  • Durham 4-H: MPR (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM)

• Thursday, November 5

  • End of Trimester 1

  • Reading Pals: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

  • DELAC Día de los Muertos Potluck Celebration & Meeting: DES Room 39 Quad Area (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM)

• Friday, November 6

  • K–5 Grade Level Data Meetings: DES Principal’s Office with SBIT Leadership Team (Classes covered by roving subs; 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM)

  • Lockdown Safety Drill: 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM

DIS (From Josh Rowe)
Girls Basketball
Girls basketball has opened the season with a bang! Our 7th- and 8th-grade teams recently competed in the Willows Tournament, where both teams put together outstanding performances and brought home first-place finishes!

The success continued this week as both teams earned wins against Palermo. It has been a great start to the season, and we are proud of the hard work, teamwork, and sportsmanship our student-athletes continue to demonstrate.

Great job, Ladies!

The Great ShakeOut
Our 6th-grade team partnered with Chico State to participate in the Great ShakeOut and explore the science behind earthquakes. Students learned about seismic events, including how and why earthquakes occur and the effects they can have on structures and communities.

As part of this hands-on learning experience, students designed and built towers using popsicle sticks. On October 30, they put their designs to the test to see how much weight their structures could hold while being shaken. The activity gave students an opportunity to combine science, engineering, creativity, and problem-solving in a fun and engaging way.

Our students had a great time, and we appreciate Chico State for being such a valuable partner in providing this learning experience for our 6th graders.

Red Ribbon Week
Our DIS Leadership students did a fantastic job promoting Red Ribbon Week and this year’s theme, “Make a Difference, Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free.”

Throughout the week, Leadership organized spirit days, a door-decorating contest, and other activities that encouraged students to get involved and show their school spirit. The week also included a Red Ribbon Week assembly presented by Butte County Behavioral Health, providing students with an important message about making healthy choices and remaining drug-free.

Thank you to our Leadership students and staff for making Red Ribbon Week a fun and meaningful experience for our Panthers!

Pumpkin Drop
Our 8th-grade students visited Chico State today to attend the Society of Physics Students’ annual Pumpkin Drop from Butte Hall. Students had the opportunity to see physics in action as pumpkins were dropped from the building as part of this annual Chico State tradition.

While on campus, students also toured different areas of the university and learned more about the programs and opportunities Chico State has to offer. Experiences like this provide our students with an early opportunity to explore a college campus and begin thinking about the many possibilities available to them after high school.

After-School Academic Support
With progress reports coming up soon, now is a great time for students to check their grades, make up missing work, and get extra help in classes where they may be struggling. A little extra time and support now can make a big difference before the end of the quarter.

We encourage students to take advantage of our after-school academic support:

• Tuesday: Mrs. Hering’s Room

• Wednesday: Mrs. Comer’s Room - Math Help

• Thursday: Mr. Richards’ Room

• Time: 3:10 - 3:40 PM

Whether students need help understanding an assignment, have missing work to complete, want to improve a grade, or simply need a quiet place to focus, these sessions are a great resource. Don’t wait until the end of the quarter—now is the time to get caught up and get back on track!

Upcoming Events
November 6 — Progress Reports
November 10 — Medieval Feast
November 11 — No School — Veterans Day
November 23–27 — Thanksgiving Break

DHS (From Marty Wilkes)
November Student of the month is Ashley Spence. Ashley has a 4.25 GPA and is taking three college classes this school year. Currently she has Advanced Ag Science and Physics.  Ashley also plays on the tennis team and plays centerfield on the softball team. Ms. Spence is the ASB president and the FFA president. Ashley is applying to UC San Diego, University of Nevada Reno, UCLA and would like to major in nursing.

Counseling:
This week in Advisory we encouraged students to have proper recycling habits with a student made video and gave students time to catch up on any school work.

Mrs. Ladd went into Civics classes this week to help the seniors get started with their financial aid applications FAFSA/CAADA.  Most of the students were able to create an account, finish the student portion, and invite their contributors.  Next week, on November 4th, we are hosting a Cash4College Workshop to help families finish the application process.  Please plan to attend Wednesday at 6pm in the library.  

We also hosted a Junior Parent Night for students and their families on Thursday evening. We had a presenter from Chico State who spoke about Academic Preparedness vs College Eligibility. It was a great conversation. Ms. Spade also gave recommendations to help students plan for their final years in high school. Copies of the presentation will be available on the DHS Counseling website. Thanks to those who attended!

This morning Gru and his Minions were hard at work welcoming students to school. At break there was a costume contest for the students. There were some pretty amazing costumes. Congratulations to Chris Collins for winning Best Costume and a $25 Dutch Bros gift card with his 3d printed and hand painted Dr. Doom costume.

Athletics:
Football: Senior night is tonight and we play Winters. JV kick off is at 5:30, Varsity to follow.

Volleyball: If you missed the game last night you missed a very memorable game.  In my 5 years of being at Durham I have not seen many teams dig in the way our girls did.  Down two sets to none and the girls battled back to win in 5 against East Nicolaus in the section semifinal match.  I have not seen our girls win a five set match and to watch them battle back after being down two sets was impressive.

Volleyball:
Nov. 7 Division V Northern Section Championship game vs Quincy at Foothill High School 7pm

Swimming: The girls and boys both won the division championship on Wednesday.  Some of the athletes will be swimming in the master championship tomorrow at Shasta College.

Football:
Oct. 30 vs Winters
Nov. 7 at Willows

AG:
Thirteen Durham FFA students traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to attend the 99th Annual National FFA Convention & Expo. This experience provided valuable opportunities for students to explore agricultural industries and careers, develop leadership skills, and connect with FFA members from across the country.

Throughout the trip, students participated in a variety of educational tours, including Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger, a chocolate factory, Tuttle Orchards, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Students also attended convention sessions and leadership workshops, where they exchanged ideas about agriculture in their respective states and heard inspiring retiring addresses from the National FFA Officers.

A highlight of the trip was celebrating Ryley Vanella as he earned his American FFA Degree. Fewer than one percent of FFA members achieve this prestigious honor, which is the highest degree awarded by the National FFA Organization.

Experiences like these allow students to see firsthand the many opportunities available in agriculture while building confidence, leadership, and connections that will benefit them well beyond the classroom. Thank you to everyone who supported our students and helped make this memorable and impactful experience possible.

Next week:
Nov. 5 FFA Livestock Meeting @ 6:30 in the Cafeteria (BOTH Students & Parents need to attend) 

Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)

October 30, 2026 Treat Street is Downtown Chico’s annual Halloween tradition, bringing families together for a safe and festive celebration. Kids can trick-or-treat at participating businesses, enjoy live music, and take part in fun activities. Highlights include a costume contest and special photo opportunities with Chico Police and Fire.

Tonight is also the last night for the Patrick Ranch Haunted House. Hours: 6-9 PM (Limited hourly entry slots - reserve early.

A spooktacular Halloween afternoon along Oroville’s Museum Mile! On Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 3-7 PM, families are invited to visit local museums for a free, safe, fun and history-filled trick-or-treat experience. 

A fun, family-friendly event this Halloween! Join in a vibrant Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) Celebration in historic downtown Oroville on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is 100% FREE.

Have a safe and spooky weekend!

Weekly Update Archive