DURHAM

🎶✨ 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

🚌 Be a driving force for change! Apply to become a bus driver for Durham Public Schools and help to support students, parents, and educators. With this job, you won’t just be driving a bus; you’ll be building community. Benefits include: Starting pay of $19.43/hour Bi-weekly pay On-site training to get your CDL Chance to drive electric school buses Apply now to become a bus driver for Durham Public Schools and help drive change in your community! https://www.applitrack.com/dpsnc/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Transportation&fbclid=IwY2xjawGptYJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZvmot5gKau3SfbrH6TRCal8DWre9zYKn8WxdfTflQuxatbZdh-HYsgiiw_aem_0o4HM5lrvzN7eH4nSLHaig

Congrats to Middle College High School, who will be competing in the ‘Smartest 30 Minutes on Television’! 🎉 They'll face off against Research Triangle High School in "WRAL Brain Game," airing on WRAL tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Good luck—let the brainpower shine! 🧠📺

DPS orchestra students from Jordan and Riverside High Schools engaged in a masterclass with musical duo SistaStrings. Musicians Chauntee and Monique Ross shared their musical expertise, inspiration, and passion with our students. It was an unforgettable experience, filled with creativity, collaboration, and a celebration of the arts! 🎻🎶 Special thanks to The Carolina Theatre for hosting this amazing opportunity.