Del Norte County Unified School District

08/31/2026

Update to the Community — 8/31/2026

Good afternoon. I’m Jeff Harris, Superintendent of Schools for Del Norte, and this is the update for the week of August 31, 2026.
I want to start today by thanking all of you for your support last week. From all accounts, the first days back were a huge success in terms of getting students into school and on track for a successful year.

Dates to Remember
Please remember that there will be no school next Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. School will resume, as normal, on Tuesday, September 8.

You can view our academic calendar by visiting dnusd.org/calendars.

Attendance Awareness Month
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and as we move into the second week of school, it is a good reminder of how important every school day is for our students.

Did you know that research shows that students missing three to four days of school within the first month are five times more likely to be chronically absent during the school year, and that students who missed four or more days were sixteen times more likely to be chronically absent? Being at school helps students access instruction that is crucial to learning grade-level skills, to building relationships with teachers and classmates, and to taking advantage of opportunities and supports available to them each day.

We do, though, understand that there are many reasons a student may have difficulty attending school regularly. When that happens, we encourage families to reach out to their school. Our first priority is to understand what may be getting in the way and to work together to help the student stay connected and successful.

Throughout September, we will be sharing reminders about the importance of being at school and the role that each school day plays in a student’s experience.

Transportation Update
As you are aware, we have struggled with providing consistent transportation services over the past year, due to a significant reduction in our transportation team. Today, though, I’m happy to let you know that we currently have thirteen drivers (five more than last year), five more drivers in training, and more prospective drivers signed up to take our next class. Our ultimate goal is eighteen full-time drivers and at least two substitutes.

We’re also continuing to invest in strengthening our transportation program in other ways. Transportation is implementing new technology to improve route planning and to improve communication with families about their child’s transportation. We are also almost done changing all bus communication equipment and radio repeaters for better communication between buses and dispatch.

I also want to thank all of our transportation staff for putting in extra effort throughout the summer to ensure our students get where they need to go.

I encourage you to visit dnusd.org/bus for bus rider registration and for additional transportation information, including updated bus routes, which should be published by the end of this week. For any other questions, please contact our Transportation Department at 707-464-0250.

Sports Update
In sports, it’s another full week of fall athletics for Del Norte High School. The week kicks off today with JV Boys’ Soccer traveling to Arcata for a 6:00 PM match. Tomorrow, Volleyball heads to Grants Pass, with Freshmen and JV playing at 4:45 PM and Varsity at 6:30 PM. Wednesday, Girls’ Golf competes at Beau Pre Golf Course at 11:00 AM, while Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Soccer host Ferndale, with the Boys taking the field at 3:30 PM and the Girls following at 5:30 PM.

On Friday, Warrior Football welcomes Ashland to Del Norte High School, with JV kicking off at 4:00 PM and Varsity at 7:00 PM. The week wraps up Saturday with Girls’ Tennis traveling to McKinleyville for a 10:00 AM match, while Varsity Volleyball heads to Napa for tournament competition. Best of luck to all of our Warrior student-athletes! You can find schedules for all Del Norte High School fall sports at dnhigh.org/sports.

That’s it for this week’s update. I hope that you have a great Labor Day weekend. Thank you.

08/29/2026

**Surplus District Vehicles and Equipment Available for Purchase - Monday, August 31**

Beginning at **7:00 AM on Monday, August 31**, members of the public will have an opportunity to purchase surplus vehicles and equipment from Del Norte Unified School District.

**Location:**
District Office
301 W. Washington Blvd.
Crescent City, CA

A total of **11 surplus vehicles and equipment items will be available for sale**.

Information about the available vehicles and equipment, including **year, make, model, and mileage**, can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Cze4GeohQfdgBtW57TzXFkMn4ZRoAe6TWI5PxkS2DtE/edit?usp=sharing

Interested buyers should arrive at the District Office and line up for the opportunity to review prices an purchase an item.

**Please note:**

* This is **not an auction**. Items are being offered for sale at fixed prices.
* All items are being sold **as-is, with no warranty**.
* Motor vehicles will be sold **with salvage titles**.
* The vehicles are **non-operable and will require significant work before they are road ready**.
* Purchasers are responsible for arranging removal or transportation of purchased vehicles or equipment.
* Payment must be made by **cash or cashier’s check by the end of the business day**.

Prospective buyers should review the available vehicle information and carefully consider the condition of the vehicles and equipment before making a purchase.

08/27/2026

Great job, Sunset High!

Despite sharing similar foundations, only 2 continuation schools in CA have chapters. Robyn Payne shares the challenges and opportunities with advising one.

08/26/2026

DNUSD Board Meeting 8/27/2026

The board meetings may be attended virtually on Zoom by = accessing the following link: https://dncoe.zoom.us/j/94996223421

In-person Attendance:
The public may attend the meetings in person at the District Office, located at 301 W. Washington Blvd, Crescent City, CA 95531.

Meeting Schedule:
DNUSD Board Meeting Call to Order:
3:30 PM

Remote Public Comment:
To participate in public comment remotely, please refer to the instructions provided in this document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Hdaa_dV_4GSewjjkeIUO0vlHvLU5-PKHJ5kHUCheXE/edit?usp=sharing

Agenda:
For the board meeting agenda, visit dnusd.org/agenda
Thank you!

Public Access and Comment Instructions Join the Zoom Webinar at https://dncoe.zoom.us/j/193445536 As a Webinar Attendee you will be able to “raise your hand” during Public Comment and the Webinar Host will then unmute you in order to allow for Public Comment. The process is slightly different i....

08/24/2026

Update to the Community — 8/24/2026

Good afternoon. I’m Jeff Harris, Superintendent of Schools for Del Norte, and this is the update for the week of August 24, 2026.

First Day of School
Welcome back! It’s great to see students back on our campuses, reconnecting with friends and teachers, meeting new people, and settling into their classrooms.

There is something fulfilling about the first day of school. A tremendous amount of work goes into getting ready for it all summer. Today is when all of that preparation comes together, and our schools are once again filled with students learning and growing.

I want to thank our staff for all of the hard work that went into preparing for today and our families and community for helping us get the new school year off to a strong start. We’re excited to have everyone back and to see what the year ahead brings.

Dates to Remember
As far as dates to remember, I want to remind you to mark your calendars for our first holiday. There will be no school on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. School will resume, as normal, on Tuesday, September 8.

If you are looking for one of the District calendar refrigerator magnets, they are once again available. If your child doesn’t receive one of the magnets this week, feel free to stop by their school and pick one up.

Every Day Matters
Today was the first of many important school days this year. Simply being at school each day gives students the best opportunity to keep up with their learning, to stay connected with their teachers and classmates, and to make the most of the school year. I was reminded lately of the phrase, “2 Is Too Many.” If a student misses only two days of school per month, they will meet the state criteria for being chronically absent and will have missed over a month of school by June.

We do know, however, that there will be times when students need to miss school. If your child is going to be absent, please let your school office know as soon as possible. And if there is something making it difficult for your child to attend regularly, please reach out to us. Whether it is transportation, a family circumstance, or another challenge, the sooner we know about it, the sooner we can work with you to see how we can help.

Stay Connected - Communication
Now that the school year is underway, families should begin receiving regular communication from their child’s school and from the district through phone calls, text messages, emails, school websites, and other school communication channels.

If you are not receiving those messages, please check with your school office to make sure the phone numbers and email addresses we have for your family are current. This is also a good time to make sure your emergency contacts and contacts for anyone authorized to pick your child up from school are up to date.

Good communication starts with being able to reach one another, and we want to make sure families are getting the information they need throughout the school year.

Still Getting Settled? We Can Help
Today is the first day of school, but it is not too late to reach out if your family is still working out plans for the new school year. Help is available with transportation, enrollment, after-school programming through ELOP, school supplies and other necessities through our Care Closets, free school meals, and other student and family needs.

If you aren’t sure where to start, contact your child’s school office. Our staff can help you or connect you with the right person. You can also find school and district resources at dnusd.org.

Sports Update
If you are looking forward to cheering on our Warriors this year, DNHS is once again offering annual athletic passes for the 2026–27 school year.

An Individual Athletic Pass is $125, and a Family Pass for four people is $275. One pass provides admission to all regular-season DNHS home athletic events in every sport for the entire school year, with the exception of NCS/CIF playoff games.

Regular league admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors, so the annual pass can be a great value for families and community members who regularly attend Warrior athletics. Most importantly, proceeds from the passes go directly toward supporting DNHS athletic programs and our student-athletes.

Athletic passes can be purchased at dnhigh.org/seasonpass and there is also an FAQ detailing more information. For questions, contact DNHS Athletic Director Taylor Duncan at [email protected].

Finally, Del Norte High School athletics are picking up momentum as we move into the new school year. Today, both Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer travel to McKinleyville, with the Boys Varsity team playing at 4:00 PM and the Girls Varsity team following at 6:00 PM. On Tuesday, both teams return home to take on Fortuna at Del Norte High School, with Boys Soccer at 2:00 PM and Girls Soccer at 4:00 PM.

Friday brings a full weekend of competition, with JV and Varsity Football traveling to Oakland High School for games at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Boys and Girls Soccer will also compete Friday and Saturday at the Upper Lake Tournament, with times to be determined. On Saturday, JV and Varsity Volleyball head to the Yreka Tournament for their first tournament action of the season. Best of luck to all of our Warrior student-athletes as fall sports get into full swing. You can find schedules for all Del Norte High School fall sports at dnhigh.org/sports

That’s it for this week’s update. We are excited to welcome students back this coming Monday and look forward to a strong start to the new school year. Thank you.

08/19/2026

Participating in a Cultural Ceremony or Event?

Families are reminded that California law allows students to receive an excused absence when they are away from school for the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.

Under California Education Code Section 48205, “cultural” refers to the habits, practices, beliefs, and traditions of a group of people.

If your student will be participating in a cultural ceremony or event during the school year, please contact your school in advance so staff can help you plan for the absence and any schoolwork that may be missed.

DNUSD students may also have opportunities to complete an Independent Study Contract and receive additional academic support surrounding their absence.

For more information, contact your child’s school.

08/19/2026

Help Us Stay Connected With Your Family

Strong communication between families and schools helps us share important information quickly and keep families informed throughout the school year.

Please take a moment to make sure the contact information on file with your child’s school is current. This includes phone numbers and email addresses for parents and guardians, emergency contacts, and anyone authorized to pick up your child. Accurate information is especially important when schools need to reach families quickly or during an emergency.

Families are also encouraged to contact their school office as soon as possible when they know their child will be absent. The earlier we know, the better our staff can work with families around attendance and any available opportunities to recover missed days.

DNUSD schools communicate with families through phone calls, text messages, email, school websites, and pages.

If you are not receiving school or district communications, first verify your contact information with your school office. If your information is correct and you are still having trouble receiving messages, contact the DNUSD Communications Department at 707-464-6143.

Visit dnusd.org and select Schools to find your school’s website and contact information.

08/18/2026

Registration is open for the DNUSD ELO-P After School Program!

The After School Program provides students with a fun and supportive place to learn, create, stay active, and connect after the school day. Program activities include academic support, STEM, creative arts, sports and fitness, and social-emotional learning (SEL).

Families can learn more and access the registration form at dnusd.org/asp-register.

Questions? Contact the Expanded Learning Department at (707) 464-0753.

08/17/2026

Update to the Community — 8/17/2026

Welcome to a new school year! I’m Jeff Harris, Superintendent of Schools for Del Norte, and this is the update for the week of August 17, the first update for the 2026-2027 school year.

Family Summit
We had a wonderful turnout this past weekend for our 3rd Annual Building Bridges Family Summit. I want to start by thanking all of the families who joined us and to the staff and community partners who helped make this year’s Family Summit such a success. Hundreds of children and their family members joined us to get ready for the new school year. Students received school supplies, and family members had an opportunity to meet principals and school staff and to connect with programs and services from across the district, including transportation, nutrition services, Indian education, and many more.

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and, more importantly, to hear from families that having so many resources and people together in one place was genuinely helpful.

Dates to Remember
As we begin the final week before students return to school, I want to share a few important reminders to help everyone get ready for the start of the school year. The first day of school is Monday, August 24, and it will be a Minimum Day. Start and dismissal times vary slightly by school, so families are encouraged to visit dnusd.org, select the Families page, and find their school’s bell schedule along with other back-to-school resources. In addition, we have our popular calendar fridge magnets available at each school office. If your child doesn’t receive one of the magnets next week, feel free to stop by their school and grab one.

School Registration
There is still time to enroll your child for the new school year, if you haven’t already. Registration information is available online. Families enrolling a child in preschool or kindergarten can visit dnusd.org/register for registration dates and information about what is needed to enroll your child in school for the first time. Enrollment information for students entering 1st through 12th grade is available at dnusd.org/enrollment.

Free Vaccination Clinics for Students
For students who still need to complete required vaccinations before school begins, Del Norte County Public Health is holding free vaccination clinics this week for eligible students. A 7th-grade vaccination clinic will be held at Crescent Elk on Thursday, August 20, from 5–7 p.m.; kindergarten vaccinations will be available at Joe Hamilton on Friday, August 21, from 1–4 p.m.; and Pine Grove will host both kindergarten and 7th-grade vaccinations on Saturday, August 22, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Please see the accompanying flyer for eligibility requirements and additional information.

Bus Service Signups
Families who would like their child to ride the bus but have not yet registered for transportation can complete the application at dnusd.org/bus. We ask that you do so as soon as possible so that we can solidify stops, routes, and other planning efforts.

Free Meals for ALL Kids
I’m also happy to share that breakfast and lunch continue to be free for all students at Del Norte schools. Our Nutrition Services team served an incredible 668,000 meals over the past year through our breakfast, lunch, supper, and summer programs. We also invested around $225,000 in local beef and produce and provided fresh salad bars every day at every school site.

Even though meals are free, we need every family to complete the Educational Benefit Form regardless of household size or income. The information collected through this application helps our schools qualify for state and federal funding and resources that provide additional support for students. Families can complete the application at dnusd.org/food.

Care Closets
As students prepare for the first week, a water bottle and basic school supplies are helpful if you have them, but we also want families to know that support is available. Our school Care Closets provide school supplies, basic clothing, hygiene products, and other necessities for families who may need them. Simply contact the front office at your child’s school for assistance.

After-School Program
Families looking for after-school opportunities for their children can also register for our Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, or ELOP. Information about the program and registration is available at dnusd.org/elop.

Communication is Key
This year every school and department will be working to improve communications. To ensure that we are to provide meaningful and timely communication, we are asking for your help.
First, please make sure the contact information on file with your child’s school is current, including phone numbers and email addresses for guardians, emergency contacts, and anyone who may be authorized to pick up their child. Accurate information is especially important so we can reach families quickly when needed or in the case of an emergency.

Staying connected is one of the most important ways we can work together throughout the school year. Our schools regularly communicate through phone calls, text messages, and email, and we also share information through school websites and pages.

Second, we also encourage families to let their school office know as soon as possible whenever they know their child will be absent. The earlier we know, the better our staff can work with families around attendance and any available opportunities to recover missed days.

If you are not receiving district or school communications, please first verify your contact information with your school office. If your information is correct and you are still having trouble receiving messages, our Communications Department can help at 707-464-6143. You can also visit dnusd.org and select Schools to find your school’s website and additional information.

Sports Update
Finally, Warrior sports are back. This Thursday, the Girls Soccer team opens its season with a 4:00 p.m. matchup against St. Bernard’s, here at Del Norte High.

The action continues on Saturday as Warriors football travels to McKinleyville for a preseason scrimmage, with Varsity taking the field at 10:00 a.m. and JV following at 12:30 p.m. We’re excited to kick off another year of Warrior athletics and look forward to cheering on all of our student-athletes throughout the season.

That’s it for this week’s update, we are excited to welcome students back this coming Monday and look forward to a strong start to the new school year. Thank you.

08/17/2026

School bus registration is now open for the 2026–27 school year!

Families who need DNUSD school bus transportation are encouraged to complete the registration process as soon as possible to help ensure transportation is arranged for their student.

Register online at dnusd.org/bus

Questions? Contact the DNUSD Transportation Department at (707) 464-0250.