Hey DSA! Do you love fun games and winning prizes? The yearbook staff invites you to join our schoolwide game of I spy! This week, if you can find the yearbook flyer hanging up around school that has a kid’s piano toy, snap a picture of it and send it to us on Instagram @dsahsyearbook_. At the end of each week, we will draw names for a special prize and announce the winners on our Instagram! All participants at the end of the game will be entered into a raffle for the mega prize. Check on our account throughout the week for more information and hints as to the location of this week’s flyer! Are you ready to play?

Attention all middle schoolers, do you want to be featured in this year's yearbook? We are looking for your best moments in and out of school with all your DSA friends. Look around the middle school building and 8th grade hall for a yearbook flyer with a phone on it and scan the QR CODE to upload the picture and answer any follow up questions. 

Hello DSA Families,

The production of the 2025-2026 DSA Yearbook is in full swing, and we want to offer a few reminders about ordering opportunities and deadlines. 

Yearbooks are on sale for $60 and families will be able to order until April 15th.

Senior families, if you are still interested in ordering a Senior Ad, you've got until March 27th order your ad.. Attached to the email accompanying this message are the links you'll need to place your orders. For questions, please reach out to Alphonso_Donaldson@dpsnc.net

The yearbook will be out in May. We are so excited to share it with you!

Yearbook Pre-Order Link

Senior Ad Flyer

Senior Ad Ordering Link

We are excited to share some wonderful news from our Durham School of the Arts Student Ambassador team…

Our flights to New York City have officially been booked! ✈️

This milestone would not have been possible without the generosity, encouragement, and sharing that so many of you have already offered. From the bottom of my heart — THANK YOU. Your support is helping an extraordinary group of young leaders see what is possible for their futures.

🏨 Our Next Goal: Securing Lodging by March 31st

Now that flights are booked, our FINAL step is securing lodging for the team. We are continuing our “Give Me 5” campaign, and every contribution helps move us closer to making this experience possible for ALL of our traveling ambassadors.

If you’ve been meaning to give, there is still time to help us reach the next milestone.

🔗 Donate or share here:
https://gofund.me/f54428203

If your business or your employer is interested in sponsoring a student or group attraction, please click the link below.

2026 Sponsorship Letter

Please click here to learn more about how you can nourish the next generation of leaders.

April 9th is Senior Celebration Day! 

2nd-5th Period - Field Trip to Wheels Durham

A & B Lunch - Cap and Gown Delivery

6th-7th Period - Senior Field Day

We can't wait to celebrate the Class of 2026!

Is your senior interested in giving a speech or performing at graduation?

Speech Applications are due Saturday, April 11th

Performance Audition Applications are due Monday, April 20th

An announcement was posted on the Class of 2026 canvas page with more details!

Graduation Speeches: Any senior eligible for participation in DSA’s 2026 graduation ceremony may audition to give one of the “DSA Voices” graduation speeches. This will be the process used to determine graduation speeches, so if you are interested in speaking at graduation, make sure to precisely follow this process and adhere to deadlines.

To apply and audition: 

Write an original speech that reflects upon graduating from DSA. All speeches must have a positive message, be inclusive of the class of 2026, and be under 4 minutes (approx. 500 words). If you need assistance, just ask a senior English teacher.

Submit the speech in the “DSA Voices graduation speech” assignment in the “Class of 2026” Canvas page by Saturday, April 11, 2026 @ 11:59. No late submissions will be accepted and the assignment will close, so be sure to submit early. Use the template we provided in the assignment and be sure to include all of the required information. Don't forget to click submit.

Auditions will take place during third period the week of April 13.

We will email students by Tuesday, April 14th with your audition date/time. Make sure to check your email!

Students will deliver the speech they submitted in front of the graduation committee during the scheduled audition time. Note: auditions may be recorded.  Students do not need to memorize the speech but should practice and be comfortable reading it, as they will be assessed on both content and delivery. 

 A committee consisting of DSA faculty, staff, and administration will select speeches based on the following: 

*Content of speech: positive message, inclusive of class of 2026, tone, originality, time limit- under 4 minutes 

Delivery of speech: volume, pace, and cadence and clarity of reading

School citizenship: student’s positive involvement in and contribution to the school community

PROM TICKETS ARE ON SALE!!
Get excited, prom season is officially here, and it’s time to get your ticket for the day! Ticket Prices are

April 4th – May 9th: $95

https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/BG108-369

Prom Committee members will be in the cafeteria every Tuesday and Thursday during A and B lunch selling tickets until the last week of Prom.

All rising 9th-12th grade students have met with their school counselor to discuss classes for the 2026-2027 school year.  Each student was given a paper with the courses listed for their parent to sign and return.  Those forms are due Friday, April 10th! If the form is not returned, then course selections will remain as is on the sheet. 

My name is Kate, and I am the Education Director at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge in Pittsboro, NC. We are a nonprofit animal sanctuary that is home to around 100 rescued animals, including sheep, cows, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, goats, and guinea fowl.  I am reaching out today to let you know about our new, free summer camp in collaboration with Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet (LEAP), specifically designed for incoming 9th-12th-graders who are interested in becoming leaders in the areas of animal care and climate solutions.  The camp will run at the Refuge July 20-24, from 8 AM-4 PM every day, and it is the first LEAP camp offered in North Carolina! 

LEAP offers community building, leadership training, and hands-on learning that focuses on animal rescue and care, introductory veterinary medicine, ethics, the impacts of the current food system on the environment and human rights, climate solutions, and the future of animal welfare. As part of the LEAP program, participants will have opportunities to learn from professionals in fields such as animal law, food science, veterinary medicine, sanctuary management, and more. 

Through daily interactive lessons and hands-on workshops at the sanctuary, students can get training in sanctuary responsibilities, animal care, cooking, gardening, and more. They will also learn basic entrepreneurial skills and will practice public speaking and leadership by learning to effectively educate their communities. With former teachers among the LEAP founding members and Refuge staff, we understand the importance of giving young people the chance to build community with like-minded peers as well as providing opportunities for interactions with role models in their areas of interest.  

We are looking for your help in getting this information into the hands of interested students and encouraging them to apply. Applications are now open at www.leapforanimals.org and the submission deadline is Friday, May 29.  

I am happy to answer any questions, either via email or phone (812.340.5173). Counselors, parents, and students can also learn more about the program and the Refuge at our website. We are truly grateful for your time and consideration.

All my best,

Kate

Hello,

This is Mica Lloyd from Note in the Pocket Durham. I am reaching out today to share a volunteer opportunity we have available to students, our Teen Board. 

Teen Board is a program where local high school students from the Triangle volunteer their time to support Note in the Pocket’s mission. Our Teen Board leaders complete a variety of projects to gain hands-on leadership development experience. Mentors will provide them with insight into the functions and demands of running a nonprofit organization, help them to develop and hone their leadership skills, and provide guidance and support in their efforts to implement projects that will improve the lives of children throughout our community. Teen Board is an excellent place for students to learn the functions and demands of non profit organizations, hone their leadership skills, and develop community awareness. 

Teen Board members are expected to attend meetings on the third Sunday of each month (September - May), volunteer 10 hours at Note between June and August, and host a summer clothing drive. In addition members will be expected to complete 6 volunteer hours in the fall and 6 in the spring, and will be able to volunteer and participate during on and off site fundraising projects leading up to our Socks and Undie 5k Rundie.

The application window will be March 2nd - April 3rd. Below I have a flyer attached that can be sent to students and parents which contains a QR for Teen Board applications . If you have any further questions please contact Kristina Isaac (kristina@noteinthepocket.org), or Mica Lloyd (mica@noteinthepocket.org).