Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the end of the school year, I want to personally thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to your child's academic success. We are proud of the hard work our students have demonstrated this year, and we remain committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to fully demonstrate their learning on North Carolina End of Grade (EOG) and End of Course (EOC) assessments. 

Our EOG and EOC assessments will begin May 28, 2026, and end June 10, 2026. Students that do not initially demonstrate proficiency on their EOG or EOC assessments are expected to take advantage of the retest opportunity. Please complete the EOG / EOC Acknowledgment Form, to verify that you understand our school's testing plan.

We appreciate your partnership and continued support in helping your child succeed. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or our school testing coordinator, Mrs. Angelone Wells at nicole_angelone@dpsnc.net.

Sincerely,

Mr. Donald Jones

Principal

Attention 8th grade parents! The 8th grade dance is on June 5th from 6-9pm in the middle school gym. Tickets are $20 and can be paid here.  The 8th grade promotion ceremony is on Tuesday, June 9th, from 5:30-6:30pm in Weaver Auditorium.  Each student will receive three tickets for guests. More information is available here, including a link to sign up to donate snacks for the dance. Please reach out to an 8th grade teacher with any questions.

Beloved community,

We would love to extend a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to all of you for supporting this ye FFar’s Fall Art Festival and its planning committee this year! 

Because of your generosity we were able to provide 3 full ride scholarships and 2 ½ rides for under-resourced ambassadors and envoys to be able to travel to our Leadership Lab in NYC.

This hands-on leadership experience was centered around cultural awareness, storytelling, and community engagement. Students explored how institutions and public spaces serve diverse audiences and reflected on how to bring those insights back to strengthen the DSA Fall Art Festival.

Highlights from the Trip

Some of my favorite moments included:

Watching three students take their very first flights ✈️

Trusting students to navigate NYC’s public transit system with confidence and teamwork (Mr. Martinez only had to redirect them a few times 😝)

Experiencing Frida and Diego: The Last Dream at the Museum of Modern Art    

Meeting two professional artists who shared their journeys as first-generation migrants

Sharing a meal together in which many of us tried Korean hot pot for the first time

Wincing (lovingly!) at Mr. martinez’s dad jokes 😄

Cheering students on as they fought/screamed/flipped coins to select the next generation of ambassadors in the middle of Central Park              

Watching sentimental seniors shed tears on the Brooklyn bridge as they snapped pictures with their teammates at sunset               

Throughout the trip, I watched our students step fully into their roles as leaders, collaborators, and cultural storytellers. They supported one another, took ownership of their experience, and represented DSA with pride.

To  OUR CHERISHED SPONSORS  and everyone who donated, shared our campaign, or encouraged our students along the way—this experience was made possible because of YOU! 

The knowledge, confidence, and inspiration our ambassadors gained will directly shape the future of the Fall Art Festival and continue to ripple throughout our school and the surrounding area!

I’m deeply grateful to be part of a community that believes in investing in young artists.

Amber Carroll Santibañez, MAT, NBCT (she/her/ours)

Visual Art Teacher

Director of the Fall Art Festival: Día de los Muertos

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