There is just one more week of school before spring break!

I hope everyone will find ways to enjoy break, rest and recharge for the final stretch of the school year. 

While spring break brings enjoyment and rest for students and staff, it will be a busy time on the elementary and high school construction projects.

The TK/K project will be particularly active working on parts of the project that can best be completed with staff and students off campus. It will include more than just the current fenced in areas of construction, so be aware more of the campus may be blocked off during spring break.

As for the stadium project at the high school, the visiting side bleachers are nearly complete and the footings for the home side were poured on Thursday. The materials for the home side grandstand are scheduled to arrive Monday of spring break and installation of the bleachers will commence when they arrive. 

The visiting side bleachers are nearly complete. See attached picture of new visiting bleachers.

DES (from Samantha Brown)
This week, our ASB Student Council Leadership hosted a coin drive for Coins for Cancer. We held our monthly safety drill on Tuesday afternoon. The PBIS Leadership Team provided a breakfast bar in the Staff Lounge on Wednesday morning as part of our staff March Madness. DES School Site Council met after school on Wednesday. Our Technology Committee met after school, and we held our last DELAC meeting of the school year with dinner provided by Ms. Dayna. Today was the final day to complete Summative ELPAC testing with our ELD students, a school spirit day where students dressed as what they want to be when they grow up, and our 4th grade classes took an all day field trip to the Shasta Caverns.

Next week at DES, our 3rd-5th grade teachers will have their annual CAASPP training during Monday's Early Release in preparation for state testing upon our return from Spring Break. Paraprofessional Appreciation Day on Wednesday, April 1st. Weather permitting, we will have a schoolwide picnic on Wednesday, or a different day next week when the weather is accomodating. We also have a Minimum Release Day on Friday, April 3rd, followed by Spring Break, April 6th-10th. 

DIS (From Josh Rowe)
Spring Break & Minimum Day Reminder
As we head into the final stretch before Spring Break, we know a little “spring fever” can start to set in! We appreciate your support in helping students stay focused and finish strong.

Next Friday is a minimum day, with students released at 12:10 PM, and Spring Break will officially begin at that time. Please be sure to arrange for prompt pick-up. We hope your family enjoys a safe, restful, and fun Spring Break!

8th Grade Promotion & Important Dates

 8th grade families—promotion will be here before we know it! 8th Grade Promotion is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with you and your student.

In the meantime, please mark your calendar for April 15th, when students will take their promotion pictures here at DIS. More details will be shared soon, but we wanted to make sure this important date is on your radar.

Why Attendance Matters
Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in a student’s success. Even missing just a few days each month can quickly add up, making it harder for students to stay engaged and keep up with learning. Research shows students should miss no more than nine days per year, and by middle school, attendance is a strong indicator of future success in high school and beyond.

Families play a key role in building strong attendance habits. Establishing routines, prioritizing school days, and maintaining open communication with your child all make a difference. If challenges arise—academic, social, or health-related—please reach out. We are here to partner with you to ensure every student feels supported, connected, and ready to learn each day.

Important Dates

• April 3: Minimum Day

• April 6–10: No School – Spring Break

• April 15: 8th Grade Promotion Pictures

DHS (From Marty Wilkes)
We continued with the Character Strong curriculum in Advisory this week. The 'To Be Challenge' is to be Appreciative. Students were encouraged to identify someone who has done something meaningful, impressive, or impactful, and share a second-hand compliment by telling a staff member at school about it, highlighting their positive actions and letting others know how they made a difference.

Urgent! The Durham Common Scholarship Application is due NEXT Friday, April 3rd. So far only TWO seniors have submitted an application. ALL seniors should be completing this important application, which awards multiple scholarships from across the Durham community. Local organizations are extremely generous when it comes to supporting our seniors. We do not want our kids to miss out on this opportunity. Please require your senior to apply!

This week six seniors who were selected by our high school Student Excellence Committee were invited to join Judge Mosbarger for lunch at Butte Creek Country Club. The students heard from several local leaders, including Judge Mosbarger, who shared their stories about how they got into their profession, their postsecondary educational experiences, community involvement and more. We appreciate these outstanding community members for taking time out of their busy schedules to speak with our students. See attached picture.

Mrs. Ladd and Mrs. Bordin took a group of students to the Prom Project in Oroville this week. Students were able to get free prom and graduation attire.

Athletics:
Baseball: The boys were 3-0  at the Fort Bragg Tournament last weekend.  The boys are currently 10-0 after beating Colusa 14-0 to open up league play Wednesday.  They play Colusa again today at home.  Next week they play Redding Christian on Monday and Quincy on Tuesday, both games will be played at home.

Softball: The ladies are 6-3 after dropping an extra inning game to Colusa on Wednesday. They play Colusa at home today.  The Girls will also play at Chico on Monday and at River Valley on Wednesday next week.

Track is hosting the Durham Invite today at Butte College today.  Our track is in the middle of a construction zone with the stadium being built.

Speaking of the stadium, it looks like the footings are being poured for the home side and the visiting stands are going up.  Durham is going to have a really nice facility when it is complete so mark your calendar for our first Home Football game will be August 21 versus Modoc!  Not that I am looking forward to football season or anything…

Golf had their first SVL match this week.

AG:
From last Friday (3/20) until Wednesday (3/25) 23 students went to Ontario, CA for the California FFA State Conference. There they attended workshops, got to meet with various colleges and businesses, and heard from Keynote Speakers including Dr. Temple Grandin. They then rounded out the trip with an afternoon at Knott's Berry Farm!

Our Parli-Pro Team is headed to State Finals! On April 17th and 18th they will be competing in Fresno for a Silver Bowl and a State Title.  

Applications are now out for the 2026-2027 FFA Officer Team. They are due on April 3rd to Mr. Deaton. Please have your student reach out if they would like more information.

If your student is showing an animal at fair with FFA please make sure they schedule a project check with their advisor. They need to have a total of 4.

-Mr. Deaton: Sheep, Goats, and Steers

-Mrs. Kann: 1/2 of the Pigs and Turkeys

-Ms. Trujillo: 1/2 of the Pigs and Rabbits

Student Services and Supports (from Marilyn Bertolucci)
A $375 million verdict against Meta in New Mexico was delivered on March 24, 2026, and it was on a foundation of undercover stings and consumer law violations. The state proved that Meta’s "Suggested Friends" and "People You May Know" features were actively recommending adult predators to these child accounts, essentially creating a "digital marketplace" for exploitation.

New Mexico proved that Meta violated the state's Unfair Practices Act. The state presented internal documents showing that while Meta publicly marketed its platforms as safe for families, executives were privately aware of the high volume of "sextortion" and predatory behavior occurring daily. By finding that Meta made false or misleading statements to parents, the jury was able to hold the company liable for 75,000 individual violations, assessing the maximum legal penalty of $5,000 for each one.

Social Media Harmful to Children’s Mental Health Case
"If we want to win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens." quote from an internal Meta document.  

On 3/25/2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in designing addictive platforms, awarding plaintiff Kaley G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages. The trial began  January 2026, in Los Angeles Superior Court, examining claims that "infinite scroll" and autoplay were intentionally designed to “hook” young users. 

Kaley’s Story 
Kaley G.M., a 20-year-old from Chico, California, who is the face of the first trial against social media, filed her lawsuit as a minor in 2022. Kaley shared during the trial that she began her digital life at six on YouTube, getting on Instagram by nine and was eventually spending up to 16 hours a day on the platforms. She also described how using beauty filters and endless scrolling activated her struggles with body dysmorphia, anxiety, and depression.  The defense blamed her "turbulent childhood”; her parents' divorce and a strained relationship with her mother. 

The Ruling
The jury ruled that the platforms' addictive designs were a "substantial factor" in Kaley’s mental health decline. Meta was held responsible for 70% of the sum, with YouTube covering the remaining 30%. The jury further concluded that both companies acted with malice. 

Next Steps
A separate proceeding will determine punitive damages following the jury’s finding of egregious conduct. This case is being called a "Big Tobacco moment," because the verdict could influence thousands of pending suits from school districts and families. This case's outcome signals that tech firms may increasingly face liability for platform design. 

Want to know more? 
Courthouse News Services   Meta told to pay $375m   What's next in social media legal battles 

Weekly Update Archive