Official newsletter of Durham School of the Arts
Save the Date
Saturday, Oct. 4: University Fair (NCCU)
Wednesday, Oct 8: Early Release (1pm)
Monday, Oct 27: Teacher Workday
Tuesday, Nov: Teacher Workday
Reminders
Please view the 2025-26 Calendar for 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
Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
Community Survey
Please take a few minutes to share your feedback about the PTSA. You can take the survey in English at https://forms.gle/jHLwGKoHDsg5UZ8n7 or in Spanish at https://forms.gle/Harviu9nEZpAnFtX8
Learn more at the Durham School of the Arts PTSA website: https://dsaptsa.givebacks.com/
Meeting Schedule
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.
Become a Member
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 memberships bit.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!
Support the PTSA
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 http://www.dsaptsa.com/
Send a check payable to DSA PTSA and mail it to the school:
400 N. Duke St.
Durham, NC 27701
Athletics
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 the New DSA Athletic Store.
If you're interested in high school Indoor Track, the interest meeting will be held this Friday 9/26/25 from 3:30pm-4:30pm. Contact Coach Snoh dwehdy_Snoh for further information.
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!
Clubs and Student Groups
Middle School Math Counts Club
Middle School Math Counts Club will meet on Mondays from 330-430 in Mrs. Feaster room Middle School Room 109. Our first meeting for 6-8 graders is scheduled for Monday September 29th. Join us!
Esports and STEM
We will hold the first Esports and STEM meeting of the year after school on Thursday Sept 25th in the new Esports LAB room T221 3:30-4:30. Any students in middle school and high school interested in playing on our teams will need to attend the meeting to learn more. See Ms Pendrak room T221 if you have questions.
Portraits In Ink
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!”
Tri-M Music Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society will be hosting its fall social on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 3:30 p.m. in the band room. See Yunah Park if you would like to help plan.
Tri-M will host their fall recital on Friday, Oct. 17. Please check the google classroom page to sign up to perform!
The next Tri-M meeting will be on Oct. 29 at 8 a.m.
Volunteering
Note in the Pocket is 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 a volunteer shift where 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 also run clothing drives to 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 for Teen 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 shift here, or contact Stephanie Schaben at Stephanie@noteinthepocket.org. For clothing drives, contact Karol Turner at karol@noteinthepocket.org, and for the Teen Board, contact Kristina Isaac at kristina@noteinthepocket.org.
Student Support Services
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 visit https://sites.google.com/dpsnc.net/dsastudentservices?pli=1.
Senior Updates
Seniors, our next Prom Committee Interest meeting will be:
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Time: 3:30-4:15 p.m.
Location: Room D115
If you are unable to attend please email Ms. Thibodeaux.
Driving Eligibility
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.
