Dear Duff Families,
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and were able to stay cool while spending quality time indoors with family and friends during the hot weather. This coming week, our Duff Dragons will continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with another special lunchtime pop-up activity! This Tuesday, Duff Counselor Ms. Herrera, Community School Specialist Ms. Thomas, and Library Aide Ms. Sandoval will introduce students to Lotería, a traditional and popular game enjoyed in Mexico and many Spanish-speaking communities. Students will have an opportunity to learn about the game and join in the fun during lunchtime. All students are welcome to participate!
We are also very excited to send off our 6th-grade Duff Dragons to their long-awaited Outdoor Science Camp tomorrow! This special experience will give our students opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through hands-on science activities, outdoor exploration, team building, and lots of fun. While our 6th graders are away at camp, I will share daily updates with families through ParentSquare so parents can get a glimpse of their students’ learning, activities, and experiences. We wish our 6th graders a safe, exciting, and memorable Outdoor Science Camp experience!
Drop off at the East Gate & Valet:
As a reminder, the drop off gate has been changed to the East Gate beginning Oct. 1. It is extremely important that all Duff parents follow our safety protocols every morning during drop-off, there are no exceptions! These procedures are in place to prevent accidents and keep everyone safe. We all share the responsibility of keeping our students, families, and staff safe.
Students should open their own car doors, unbuckle themselves, and exit the vehicle independently. Per district safety and liability protocols, school staff and PTO volunteers should not open car doors, reach inside vehicles to assist students, or open/reach into trunks to retrieve backpacks or other belongings. Staff and volunteers may assist with a backpack or other item when it is handed to them by the student.
If a younger student is unable to open the car door or unbuckle independently, we kindly ask parents to park their vehicle and walk their child to the entrance rather than using the valet/drop-off line.
October PBIS & Leader in Me Focus:
We are continuing the PBIS focus theme of Integrity. Please continue to review with students what it means to demonstrate integrity and how honesty, responsibility, fairness, and keeping promises are reflected in our daily choices.
We also continue to focus on Leader in Me Habit #2: Begin With the End in Mind. You may reference the Integrity flyer and Habit #2 flyer for additional information and activities(see handouts attached below). I encourage you to utilize these resources and continue discussing and practicing these skills at home with students. October Assembly will be on Friday 10/23/2026 for invited parents only.
