Good evening Githens families,
Calendar
Wednesday, October 8th is an Early Release Day for scholars. School will be dismissed at 1:20pm
Sunday, October 12th is the Bright Futures 5k
Wednesday, October 14th is our monthly PTA meeting via Zoom.
Friday, October 24th is the end of the 1st quarter.
Monday, October 27th is a Teacher Workday. There will be no school for scholars.
End of the Quarter
The first quarter of the school year will end on Friday, October 24th. All make-up work for excused absences/illnesses will be accepted up until Friday October 17th. All other make-up work will adhere to the GMS Late Work Policy.
Immunizations
Parents/Guardians of 7th grade scholars, please visit the immunization link listed HERE to ensure your scholar’s immunizations are up to date. There will be individual notifications sent home in the form of a letter for scholars that are impacted by this.
Lockdown Drill
All students and staff will participate in an additional Lockdown Drill on October 10th. The drill will begin at approximately 9:00am. No one is allowed to enter the building until after the drill is completed.
Raider Store
Githens will continue its Raider Store for the 25-26 school year!! Raider bucks are earned through exhibiting behaviors aligned with the Raider Way and our scholars are off to a GREAT start this year. The Raider Store is made possible in partnership with our PTA, school funds, and parent donations. We encourage families to send in donations as you are truly the backbone of this student incentive plan. Please visit our Amazon Wishlist to purchase items for the store. Please drop off any donations at the front office. Thank you for your support!
Acceler8
Acceler8 is a career exposition for ALL 8th grade students to learn about careers in the Durham community and the educational pathways to obtain those careers. The event will feature vendors representing local employers, colleges, non-profit organizations, and more! DPS’ 3rd annual Acceler8 Career Expo is Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
Transportation (Carpool and Buses)
Carpool: 6th grade car riders are dismissed at 3:20pm followed by 7th grade car riders being dismissed at 3:30pm. No students will be dismissed between 3:00pm - 3:20pm and ALL carpool scholars must be picked up no later than 4:15pm daily.
Buses: To help you stay informed, we encourage you to use the Edulog app to track your scholar’s bus and receive real-time updates about delays or changes. Transportation information and guidelines can be found HERE. If you have any questions regarding buses, please contact Mr. Carter, james_carter@dpsnc.net. Thank you for your patience and support as we work to ensure safe and efficient transportation for all students
Athletics
Fall sports pictures will be taken on Thursday, October 9, after school. Athletes will take pictures with their respective teams.
Winter Sports Ticket to Play dates, Tryouts dates, and Sports Schedule will be shared in the near future. Please be on the lookout for that information.
Soccer/Volleyball
The Raiders will have an away game tomorrow on Monday, 10/6/25 at 4:45 pm at the School of Creative Studies.
Cross Country:
The Cross Country team will take on the Dragons of Brogden and the Bulldogs of DSA at Brogden on Friday, 10/10 at 4:45pm
Football:
The Raiders will take on the Dragons of Brogden at Githens on Tuesday, 10/7/25 at 4:45pm
Please see review the Guidelines for DPS Sporting Events Attendance
1. Clear One Bag Limit: Guests (spectators and students) will be limited to one bag that is clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and less than 12" x 12"x 6” exceptions will be made for medical and baby needs. Guests must adhere to the Department of Athletics' clear bag policy.
2. No Reentry: Spectators that voluntarily leave an athletic contest may not be allowed reentry into that contest.
3. Elementary & Middle School Students: All elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when attending athletic competitions.
Tickets for Sporting Events can be purchased at GoFan. https://gofan.co/app/school/NC13663
If you have any questions regarding athletics, please contact Mr. Carter, james_carter@dpsnc.net or Mr. Goble, gregory_goble@dpsnc.net
Infinite Campus & Rooms Information
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Durham Public Schools is transitioning to a new student information system, NCSIS powered by Infinite Campus . This system will replace PowerSchool as your one-stop-shop for grades, attendance, and other important school information. Watch this video to preview the new system. You can stay connected via the Campus Parent app, which can be downloaded through the links below or by visiting the App Store or Google Play on your smartphone.
Download from the Google Play Store
This year, Durham Public Schools will launch a districtwide two-way messaging tool that will make communicating with families easier and more efficient. The new tool, called Rooms , is part of the same platform that runs the district website and app, which will integrate and streamline the process for teachers and district leaders to communicate with families. From now on, communication from our schools will all exist in one place: The DPS district app. Parents and guardians can also receive messages from their teachers via text and email or can check notifications via a web browser.
Download from the Google Play Store
Community Events:
DPS 5K
You’re invited to join us for the Bright Futures 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk on Sunday, October 12 at 8:00 a.m. at the Miracle League of the Triangle’s Durham field. This is a fun, block-party-style event supporting our Southwest region schools, with part of your registration going back to the school you choose. Register today and show your school spirit! You can find the link on the Durham Public Schools website or in your school’s newsletter. This is a rain-or-shine event with no make-up date, so register early and join the fun! Register Here!
Our goal at Githens is to keep a strong connection between home and school. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
For 6th grade inquires - Mr. Carter
For 7th grade inquires - Mr. Goble
For 8th grade inquires - Mrs. Major
Raiders, let’s make it a wonderful week!