Monday, Oct. 19, is a Conference Day. While there are no classes for students, all Durango School District (DSD) school buildings will be open to accommodate conferences. Schools will resume normal class schedules on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

While after-school programs at individual schools will be closed on Oct. 19, DSD has partnered with Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County (BGC) to offer a Day Camp from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at BGC's Main Club (2750 Main Ave., next to the Durango Community Recreation Center).

Animas Valley Elementary School students harvest potatoes at the school's Garden Harvest Day in September.

Students, families, and community members gathered at Animas Valley Elementary School (AVE) on Sept. 18 for the school's first-ever Garden Harvest Day. The whole-school event celebrated a year of student-led efforts to transform the garden into a more water-conscious, eco-friendly learning space.

"Since last year, our Green Team students and the whole school have been working to renovate our garden to be more sustainable," said Kathleen Smith, 3rd Grade Teacher at AVE and one of the school's Green Team leaders. "With all their hard work, our garden is not only thriving, but saving water and teaching students to love vegetables."

School Storytellers: Thank you to Ms. Smith, who shared this story tip and accompanying photos.

From pinch pots and slab rolling to throwing on the wheel, students in Kayleigh Weir’s Beginning Ceramics class at Durango High School are mastering fundamental art techniques.

This semester, students will complete three core hand-building projects — pinch pots, slab boxes, and coil vases — along with a two-week rotation learning how to throw on the wheel. Once they master these foundational methods, they get the opportunity to create custom, self-directed projects of their own choosing. 

Right now, students are busy applying intricate glazes to finish up their slab-built box creations.

Ms. Weir also teaches Beginning Jewelry, where students learn to work in metal, clay, and glass fusing, and Advanced 3D Art, where upper-level students can combine multiple artistic mediums — like clay work and metal or beading skills — into unique, multi-faceted creations.  

School Storytellers: Thank you to Ms. Weir for sharing this story idea.

DSD sent a test text and email to all district families and students in grades 9-12 at 4 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 16). This check helps us identify delivery problems before Snow Days and other emergencies. 

Received both? You’re all set. If either message is missing, please complete the DSD Communication Issue Report form so we can investigate. Please check your spam or junk folder for the email first. Families may also submit a report for their high school student. 

If you find the test email in your spam or junk folder, mark it as ‘Not spam’ or ‘Not junk’ and add the sender’s email address to your contacts or safe senders list. Please still complete the form so we can track the issue.

Thank you for helping us stay connected!

Purchase tickets or place bids online to support the Durango Education Foundation (DEF) through its annual Spirits With the Spectres fundraising event.

The main event takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, and features guided tours at 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. for guests ages 21 and older. Tickets are $150 each and include local drinks, historic venue access, haunted stories, food, and prizes.

Can't join, but still want to help? Tell your more adventurous friends about the event!

Prefer to haunt from home? Community members can also participate in an online silent auction running through Sunday, Oct. 18, without purchasing event tickets. Proceeds directly benefit DSD classrooms through grants, scholarships, and service programs.

Throughout each school year, DSD employees nominate their colleagues for Bravo Awards, an honor that recognizes faculty and staff who demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes as they go above and beyond for students and the district.

Caleb Stubbs, Student Aide at Durango High School, won this week's Bravo Award for being an Empathetic Collaborator. He is being honored for stepping up in thoughtful ways to support students in the Significant Support Needs programs, collaborating closely with Special Services Providers to support student goals, and taking on a positive leadership role in social skills groups while prioritizing student safety and experience.

Congratulations, Mr. Stubbs!

The DSD Board of Education will meet for a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the Impact Career Innovation Center (2390 Main Ave., on the Durango High School campus). The public is welcome. Public comment will be taken. This meeting will be livestreamed and recorded on the district's YouTube page beginning at 5:30 p.m.