09/14/2026
Update to the Community — 9/14/2026
Good afternoon. I’m Jeff Harris, Superintendent of Schools for Del Norte, and this is the update for the week of September 14, 2026.
As we move into the fourth week of school, students are engaging with classroom routines, new learning, friendships, and successes.
This is a great time to ask your child how school is going: Do they feel comfortable? Do they know whom to ask for help? Is anything making it difficult to get to school, to learn, or to participate?
The more you know about what your child is experiencing, the better communication can be between school and home.
Roots of Wellness: The Way Back
As part of our ongoing prevention efforts, the Del Norte County Office of Education, Del Norte Unified School District, and community partners are bringing together experts and practitioners for our second annual Roots of Wellness Summit on October 1st and 2nd.
The theme of the summit is “The Way Back,” and the focus is on community-based approaches to youth substance-use prevention, early intervention, and connection. Featuring Judge Abby Abinanti and Dr. Virgil Moorehead Jr., along with other local, regional, and state presenters, the summit offers educators, families, youth-serving professionals, and community partners an opportunity to learn from collective expertise and to explore practical ways to support youth in our community.
Tickets are limited, so we encourage you to register early. Learn more and reserve your spot at dncoe.org/wellness.
September Awareness
September is Attendance Awareness Month. With the busy schedules that many of our families have, it can be easy to dismiss the importance of a day or two of school, but missing just two days a month adds up to almost a month of missed learning by the end of the year.
A California study found that only 17 percent of students who missed at least 10 percent of school in both kindergarten and first grade scored proficient on their third-grade English language arts test, compared with 64 percent of students with good attendance. Being at school regularly helps build the foundation students depend on to succeed academically.
We understand that illness and other challenges happen. So, when your child misses school, please notify the school and connect with their teacher about catching up. If attending regularly is becoming difficult, reach out early so that we can work together to help.
September is also Su***de Awareness and Prevention Month, a reminder of the importance of connection and support for young people. Su***de and self harm are increasing trends locally and regionally, and su***de is the 2nd leading cause of death for 15-34 year olds nationally. If someone you know is in crisis and they are a student in our schools, our staff can help. They can also call or text the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline. Just dial 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
School Safety: Continuing the Conversation
Last week, we shared information about the safety training and preparedness activities taking place across our schools this year. As this work continues, we encourage families to ask their children about the safety procedures they are learning and to answer any questions they may have. These conversations can help reinforce with your child the importance of being prepared.
You may also occasionally see local law enforcement on campus for scheduled drills or training. If officers are responding to an emergency, the school or district will communicate directly with families as soon as accurate information is available.
To learn more about the Standard Response Protocol, or SRP, and the actions schools use, please visit dncoe.org/srp. The highly in-demand SRP refrigerator magnets also summarize the emergency response language we use, giving you a quick reference to keep handy at home. If you would like a magnet or have questions, please email [email protected] or pick one up at the District Office.
Sports Update
We have another full week of Warrior athletics ahead of us, starting today with Girls' Golf competing at Baywood Golf Course at 11:00 AM and JV Boys' Soccer hosting Eureka at 4:00 PM. On Tuesday, Girls' Tennis hosts North Coast Prep at 3:30 PM, while Volleyball travels to St. Bernard’s, with JV at 5:30 PM and Varsity at 6:30 PM. Volleyball returns home on Thursday to take on Eureka, with JV at 5:30 PM and Varsity at 6:30 PM.
Saturday brings a busy day of competition, with Boys' and Girls' Varsity Soccer both hosting McKinleyville, the Boys at 1:00 PM and the Girls at 3:00 PM. Girls' Tennis also hosts Fortuna at 10:00 AM, while JV Volleyball travels to the Arcata Tournament and Varsity Volleyball heads to the Brookings Tournament. Best of luck this week, Warriors. You can find schedules for all Del Norte High School fall sports at dnhigh.org/sports.
That’s all for this week’s update. Thank you.
