Official newsletter of Durham School of the Arts

Tuesday, Nov 4: Teacher Workday

Monday, Nov 24: Teacher Workday

Tues -Fri, Nov 25-28: Holiday Break

Please view the2025-26 Calendarfor future teacher workdays, holidays, and other important dates.

To reach the main office: Please email dist.frontoffice.323-DSA@dpsnc.net Your message will reach most of the front office staff.

Please send ALL attendance matters to: attendance@DSALMC.net

DSA Theatre Troupe 89583 proudly presents The Romeo and Juliet Project—an original devised work inspired by Shakespeare's timeless classic. Join us Wednesday, October 29th at 7:00 PM in Weaver Auditorium. Tickets are $10.

Hey DSA, are you ready to see how the world could be? Then come to DSA theatre troupe 5765’s production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, written by Anaïs Mitchell. Join us November 12th-15th in the Black Box Theatre as we go way down under the ground into the tobacco factories of 1850s Durham. Tickets are $20 a person and go on sale on November 3rd at 9am. Tickets will sell VERY fast, so go to cur8.com to get yours right when the link goes live. Can't wait to see you there!

It’s that time of year! Portraits In Ink submissions are now open! We welcome you to submit your art and writing to the DSA literary magazine by scanning the posters around school. Submissions are open to both middle and high school. The last chance to submit is December 19th!”

Please take a few minutes to share your feedback about the PTSA. You can take the survey in English athttps://forms.gle/jHLwGKoHDsg5UZ8n7or in Spanish athttps://forms.gle/Harviu9nEZpAnFtX8

Learn more at the Durham School of the Arts PTSA website:https://dsaptsa.givebacks.com/

Please join us at an upcoming PTSA general body meeting:

• Nov. 13

• Jan. 22

• March 19

All are welcome! Stay tuned for zoom links for virtual attendance. The September and March meetings will also be held in person.

Welcome back to school! It's time to join or re-join the PTSA for the 2025-26 school year. Please visit our giveback page for membershipsbit.ly/joindsaptsa. We would love your support.

Our 2025-26 board members are:

President: Stephanie Hawver
Vice President 1: Brittney McGraw
Vice President 2: Ashanti Smith-Watson
Treasurer: Maryann Ruiz-Heard
Secretary: Dr. Danielle Sutton

We look forward to continuing to support DSA this year!

Rather than host multiple fundraisers throughout the year, we do one annual campaign. This year, our campaign goal is to raise $20,000. If each family made a gift of $25, we could easily exceed our goal! (You, of course, can give more.)

NO amount is too small, as anything we raise directly benefits the students of DSA. Please consider making a donation to help to ensure that current and future students have a great experience at DSA. There are two ways to make your tax-deductible donation:

• Make a donation online at: https://www.givebacks.com/donate/dsaptsa

• Send a check payable to DSA PTSA and mail it to the school:

400 N. Duke St.
Durham, NC 27701

Learn about upcoming games, tryouts, and more at the official DSA Athletics website https://dsaathleticzone.com/. You can show your team spirit and get your team swag at theNew DSA Athletic Store.

• The High School Wrestling Team is recruiting boys and girls for the winter season. No experience? No problem! Everyone’s welcome, no matter size or skill level — find a flyer around school and come join the team!

• Save money by buying your High School All Sports Season Pass today for just $60 on GoFan. This pass gets you unlimited access to all high school athletic regular season home contests for the year. Come out and support your fellow Bulldogs!

Note in the Pocketis a non-profit based in Durham and Raleigh. They have provided high-quality wardrobes to children and their families in need in the area for over 10 years. Note in the Pocket offers a relaxed, air-conditioned environment year-round for volunteers. There are several ways for students to get involved for those who need service hours or who are looking to give back. Students can come in for avolunteer shiftwhere they will assist in sorting through donations, fold and label wardrobe items, or many other tasks around the facility. Students need to be age 16 and up to volunteer without a chaperone. Students can alsorun clothing drivesto generate donations for Note in the Pocket.

If students are passionate about Note in the Pocket’s mission and want to commit more time to participating, they can apply forTeen Board. In this program, students will work with Note in the Pocket’s leadership on various projects to gain hands-on leadership development experience, guided by mentors that provide insight into the functions and demands of running a nonprofit organization.

Volunteer shifts run from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays. Clothing drives can be done on students' own time. Teen Board accepts applications each summer for a year-round program. 

For volunteering, sign up for a shifthere, or contact Stephanie Schaben atStephanie@noteinthepocket.org. For clothing drives, contact Karol Turner atkarol@noteinthepocket.org, and for the Teen Board, contact Kristina Isaac atkristina@noteinthepocket.org.

If you or your family need help in locating community resources (such as food/clothing.), please reach out to the school social worker, Angela Carbone. Angela_carbone@dpsnc.net 919 -560-3926 ext. 23266

Student Support Services is continuing with our Kindness initiative. If you see a “Be Kind” QR code around the school, please let us know about who you caught being kind! This will be announced on the loudspeaker whenever you have caught someone being kind.

To learn more about Student Support Services and current programming, please visithttps://sites.google.com/dpsnc.net/dsastudentservices?pli=1.

• Our next prom committee meeting will be held Wednesday October 29th in room D115 from 3:30 to 4:15. If you are unable to attend please email Ms. Thibodeaux.

Any DSA student who is requesting an N.C. Driving Eligibility Certificate must pass 5 of their 7 classes and submit their Drivers Ed certificate to the main office before school, during lunch or after school before 4 p.m. Once the office receives the Drivers Ed certificate, the student will receive the N.C. Eligibility form within 48 hours. Please note that the certificate is only valid for 30 days. Please ensure that you have scheduled your appointment with the DMV.