DURHAM

Durham Public Schools mourns the loss of statesman Dr. John Harding Lucas, Sr., who served this district, county, state, and nation with excellence as an educator and servant leader. As a long-serving principal of Hillside High School, one of the first members of the merged Durham Public Schools Board of Education, and a fierce advocate for educators near and far, he set the bar high for advocacy and scholarship. His influence is far-reaching, and we will remain ever grateful for his thoughtful and calm approach to teaching and learning and resolving the issues that persistently face public education.

🌱🍕🍪 Food, Fun, and Learning in 3rd Grade! 🍪🍕🌱 The E.K. Powe Elementary 3rd grade team has done an incredible job bringing their IB unit – Sharing the Planet to life! Using HMH Farm to Table, students explored where food comes from, how our choices impact daily life, and how to prepare healthy meals. ✨ Highlights from this amazing unit: ✅ D.I.N.E. (Durham nonprofit) visited to teach about healthy choices, and students made veggie pizzas—some were shocked that people put veggies on pizza! 😆🍕 ✅ A field trip to Northern's Culinary Arts kitchen, where students made spaghetti and baked cookies—they couldn’t stop talking about it! 🍝🍪 ✅ Now, students are designing food trucks, using math to set menu prices, budget costs, and calculate profits. 🚚💰 ✅ After break, they’ll plant and grow vegetables to observe, measure, and eventually eat! 🌱🥕 This hands-on learning experience has been truly inspiring! 🎉👏 #WeAreDPS #EKPowe #NutritionEd

📢 State Superintendent Mo Green Wants to Hear From You! 📢 Join the "Mo Wants to Know" tour on April 7 at 6 PM at Northern High School (Durham, NC) for a public listening session on the future of NC public schools. Parents, students, educators & community members—your voice matters! Register here: go.ncdpi.gov/NorthCentralMWTK #MoWantsToKnow #NCed #PublicEducation

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education has approved Anthony White as the new Executive Director of Auxiliary Services. White, currently principal at Brogden Middle School, will begin his new role at the end of the school year. #WeAreDPS

🎉🏆 Big win for Northern High School! 🏆🎉 The Polaris yearbook staff has been named grand prize winners in Treering’s nationwide graphic design competition! Their "All 'N' the Details" homecoming spread stood out among hundreds of entries across the country. Yearbook adviser Lauren Casteen shared her pride in the students' hard work, and senior Destany Cato-Umstead called it the perfect way to cap off her final year. 💙📖 As part of their prize, the team will enjoy a pizza party, free yearbooks for students in need, and a $500 Amazon gift card for supplies! Check out their winning design here: https://blog.treering.com/2025-winners-spread-design-contest/ #DPSProud #NorthernKnight

🏆🚀 Forest View’s Odyssey of the Mind Team Wins State Championship! 🚀🏆 Congrats to Team AstronOMical Odyssey! for placing 1st at the NC Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament! Their stellar performance earned top scores, and now they’re headed to the World Finals at Michigan State University in May! 🌍✨ Way to go, Elijah, Mimi, June, Zella, Zoe, and Madelyn! 👏🎉 Let’s cheer them on as they take on teams from around the globe! 🌟 #OdysseyOfTheMind #StateChamps #DPSProud

🎨🎶 March is Arts in Our Schools Month at Durham Public Schools! Today, we’re spotlighting Les Turner, Director of K-12 Arts Education, and sharing the music that inspires him. "Arts education provides a vital outlet for self-expression, stress management, and building self-awareness. For many students, the arts are what keep them engaged and on the path to graduation." – Les Turner 🎧 Listen to his curated playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5E3goS1oyHLQCLCK97aBRX #DPSArtsMonth #DPSProud #ArtsEducation #MusicInspires

🎶✨ March is Arts in Our Schools Month at Durham Public Schools! Today, we’re spotlighting Kristin Duncan, Dance Teacher at Riverside High, and sharing the music that moves and inspires her. 💃🎵 "Music provides the soundtrack of our lives. Whether through dance or learning an instrument, music education connects students, exposing them to the many treasures of the world." – Kristin Duncan 🎧 Experience her curated playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70T4Ppxz17JMsYwqrh8XiR #DPSArtsMonth #DPSProud #MusicAndDance #ArtsInOurSchools

🎒 Yesterday was an exciting day at Leathers Meachem Head Start! 📚 We, along with the DPS Foundation, Mayor Leonardo Williams, and Book Harvest, the pleasure of visiting to gift bookbags filled with goodies to our future kindergarten stars. Each bag includes our award-winning Countdown to Kindergarten coloring book and much more! 🌟 Ready to inspire and equip the next generation for success! #WeAreDPS

🎭✨ March is Arts in Our Schools Month at Durham Public Schools! Today, we’re spotlighting Emily Gilreath, Theater Arts teacher at Sandy Ridge Elementary, and sharing the music that inspires her. 🎶🎬 "Arts education is essential to our well-being. It gives students a meaningful way to express themselves, fosters community, and deepens our humanity." – Emily Gilreath 🎧 Experience her curated playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JJBIBbCjqpD1nslcDUxye #DPSArtsMonth #DPSProud #ArtsEducation #TheaterArts

🎉 Congratulations to Crystal Laws, NCSCA Emerging Leader! 🎉 The NC School Counselor Association (NCSCA) has named Crystal Laws, Student Services Department Chair at Sandy Ridge Elementary, as a 2025-2026 Emerging Leader! Ms. Laws, the DPS Elementary School Counselor of the Year, is a trailblazer in student support, leading innovations like a virtual calming room and the DPS School Counselor Digital Academy. Her leadership in advancing school counseling has earned her a spot among just four counselors selected statewide. As an Emerging Leader, she’ll contribute to statewide initiatives, present at conferences, and help shape the future of school counseling in NC. 💬 In her own words: "Leadership is not about titles or accolades; it’s about inspiring growth, championing equity, and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive." Join us in celebrating Ms. Laws’ well-deserved recognition! 👏🎖️ 📖 Learn more: www.ncschoolcounselor.org #DPSProud #WeAreDPS

🎶✨ March is Arts in Our Schools Month at Durham Public Schools! Today, we’re spotlighting Dena Byers, Music Teacher at Hillandale Elementary, and sharing the music that inspires her. 🎼💜 "Music education is critical because it provides an emotional outlet for students, boosts confidence, and fosters creativity and collaboration." – Dena Byers 🎧 Listen to her favorite songs on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2f8x1vpylIa0117gpfAgaU #DPSArtsMonth #DPSProud #MusicEducation #ArtsInOurSchools

🚀 Exciting News: A New Durham Public Schools Website Is Coming Soon! 🚀 We’re launching a brand-new DPS website designed to better serve our families and community! The new site will provide more accurate and up-to-date information right at your fingertips, making it easier than ever to stay informed. It will also provide a better user experience, making it easier than ever to access the information you need. But that’s not all! We’re also introducing a new DPS app—built for a more interactive and seamless experience that better integrates into the daily lives of our families and staff. Stay tuned for the official launch, and get ready for a better, faster, and more user-friendly way to connect with DPS! #WeAreDPS

🏀 Did You Know? 🏀 For the first time since 1959, the Southern Durham Spartans are heading to the boys' basketball state championship! With a 78-65 victory over Swansboro in the 3A East Regional Final, the Spartans secured their spot in the title game. Jackson Keith led the charge with 30 points, while A.J. Morman Jr. and Dwight Vincent added 19 and 14 points, respectively. Southern Durham remains undefeated this season against North Carolina teams and now faces Ben L. Smith for the state title this Friday. Let’s pack the stands and support our Spartans! 🎟 Get your tickets here: https://www.ljvm.com/event/nchsaa-1a-%26-3a-state-basketball-championship/tm_g5evzbj2ev4fo/ 📸 Photo credit: HighSchoolOT

🎶✨ March is Arts in Our Schools Month at Durham Public Schools! Today, we’re spotlighting Carrie Andrews, Orchestra Director at Jordan High School, and sharing the music that inspires her. 🎻🎼 "Music brings people together from all walks of life to create something amazing. It teaches discipline, teamwork, and creativity—skills that last a lifetime. For many students, the music classroom is where they truly thrive." – Carrie Andrews 🎧 Experience her curated playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6de5SUSWKzGDfuomBCEv8h #DPSArtsMonth #DPSProud #MusicEducation #ArtsInOurSchools

The lottery is now open for the 2025-26 school year elementary after-school programs. Durham Public Schools uses a lottery system to ensure equitable access to after-school care. The after-school lottery is similar to the annual school lottery but separate from that process. Lottery participation is not required for before-school or middle school programs. The after-school lottery application will close on April 11 at 5 p.m. DPS elementary after-school programs are licensed by the N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education under the leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services. To maintain licensing, these programs adhere to the regulatory guidance highlighted below: · Maintain a 4- or 5-star rating · Student-to-staff ratio of 1:14 for kindergartners and 1:18 for 1st- 5th graders · Qualified staff Learn more about DPS programs and register at https://www.dpsnc.net/afterschool

🎶✨ March is Arts in Our Schools Month at Durham Public Schools, and we’re celebrating by spotlighting our amazing arts educators — and sharing the music that inspires them! Today, we’re featuring Allen Amos, Band and AP Music Theory Teacher at Durham School of the Arts. 🎺🎵 Mr. Amos believes music education teaches life skills like self-discipline, teamwork, cultural awareness, and self-expression — lessons that last a lifetime. 🎧 Check out his curated playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73BFYl20L1sNt0CzvPbMO5 #DPSArtsMonth #DPSProud #ArtsInOurSchools #WeAreDPS

Pearsontown Elementary School has been nominated for the Dr. Christine Darden STEM Community Partnerships Award for its contributions to enhancing STEM education and advancing family engagement in the field. The work will be recognized at a special Family Engagement Gala during the 2025 Innovations in Family Engagement Symposium in Raleigh, NC on April 17, where there will be an opportunity to meet NASA's Hidden Figure, aeronautical engineer Dr. Christine Darden.  #WeAreDPS

Durham Public Schools is extremely grateful to parents and our school administrators and staff for your patience and cooperation as we have continued to work through the challenges of transporting our scholars to and from school. Starting Tuesday, January 21, 2025, DPS will return to five-day-a-week bus service. Additionally, we will activate Family Responsibility Zones for 21 elementary schools. This was approved by the Board of Education and was made possible thanks to our current bus drivers and additional DPS employees who hold professional Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs) and are willing to temporarily commit to helping us fortify our transportation services. You may view the latest transportation update here. Here are the details: Rotational Service Continues Until Friday, January 17 Bus service will continue on a rotational schedule through this date. Five-Day Service Resumes on January 21 Starting Tuesday, January 21, daily bus service will resume. However, there will be no bus stops within Family Responsibility Zones. Family Responsibility Zones (FRZs) What Are They? FRZs are areas where families are responsible for transporting their children to and from school. Who is Affected? Families whose homes are within an FRZ have been notified. Families may choose how to travel, including walking, biking, or driving. Additional information about Family Responsibility Zones, including a list of FRZ schools, may be found here. Express Bus Stops for Secondary Application Schools Express bus stops will not be implemented this school year. DPS will continue planning for express stops for the 2025-2026 school year for Durham School of the Arts, Rogers-Herr Middle School, and The School for Creative Studies. We are committed to continue working towards excellence in DPS Transportation Services.

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 17-23, is an essential time for educating the community and shining a light on the widespread impacts of poverty, especially on young people. DPS is committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of housing stability, has access to a public education. Through the McKinney-Vento Program, we actively support students experiencing homelessness, recognizing that stability and access to resources are critical for student success. If you know of a family or student experiencing homelessness, please reach out to the McKinney-Vento office at (919) 560-3927. This collaboration and support can make all the difference, giving our students the stability they need to thrive in school. #WeAreDPS