Good afternoon.  I’m Jeff Harris, Superintendent of Schools for Del Norte, and this is the update for the week of March 9, 2026.

Dates to Remember

As we move into March, a reminder that Spring Break is quickly approaching and will go from March 30–April 3, followed by a staff development day on Monday, April 6, with students returning to class on Tuesday, April 7.

Jaycees Tournament Results

Local schools had a strong showing at the Jaycees Boys Basketball Tournament this past weekend, with several teams placing in their divisions. In the AA division, Crescent Elk Middle School took 1st place, while in the B1 division, Smith River School finished 7th. In the C1 division, Uncharted Shores Academy earned 2nd place, and Redwood School placed 3rd. Our schools also performed very well in the cheer competition. In the AAA/AA division, Redwood earned 1st place, while Crescent Elk Middle School finished 2nd. In the B1 division, Smith River finished 2nd place, and in the C1 division, Crescent Elk Middle School captured 1st place, with all teams showcasing their exceptional teamwork. Congratulations to all of the student-athletes who competed and represented their schools throughout the tournament weekend.

County Spelling Bee Winners

Last Wednesday, students from across Del Norte County gathered at Crescent Elk Middle School for the Annual County-Wide Spelling Bee, highlighting student achievement and a love of learning. Congratulations to this year’s division champions: 6th Grade Winner Jacob Neibert and 8th Grade Winner Jacob Woods. We are proud of all the students who participated and represented their schools with dedication and strong academic effort. The 6th- and 8th-grade county champions will have the opportunity to travel to the California State Spelling Bee in Manteca on April 25, 2026, where top student spellers from across the state will compete. Again, thank you to all of our local spellers!

2026 ELOP Spring Break Session

With Spring Break quickly approaching, Del Norte Unified is once again offering the ELO-P Spring Break Program for TK–8th grade students enrolled in the district. The program will take place March 30–April 3, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, providing students with a full day of enrichment including academic support, STEM activities, social-emotional learning, arts and crafts, outdoor exploration, and possible field trips. Meals provided each day include breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Families can learn more and complete the application by this Friday, March 13 at dnusd.org/ELOP. Participation may also allow students to recover up to five days of attendance.  Again, for to register or for more information, please visit dnusd.org/ELOP.

DNUSD & DNCOE Board Meetings

Our regularly scheduled board meetings will be held this Thursday, March 12. The County Office of Education meeting begins at 3:00 p.m. The District Board will enter closed session at 3:30 p.m. and reconvene in open session at 4:30 p.m. Both meetings will be available to watch online via Zoom. In-person participation is also available in the boardroom at the District Office, located at 301 W. Washington Blvd., Crescent City. Agendas and Zoom links are available at dnusd.org/agenda.

Sports Update

Del Norte Warriors return to action this week with several home games across baseball, softball, and tennis. On Tuesday, March 10, Boys’ Tennis will host North Coast Prep at Del Norte High School at 3:30 PM, followed by Varsity Baseball vs. Hoopa at 4:00 PM. The schedule continues on Wednesday, March 11, when JV Baseball hosts South Fork for a doubleheader at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, while JV Softball hosts Eureka for a doubleheader at the same times here at Del Norte High.

The week continues on Thursday, March 12, with JV Softball hosting McKinleyville for another doubleheader at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. On Saturday, March 14, Boys’ Tennis will again be at home taking on Arcata at 10:00 AM, while JV Baseball travels to Fortuna High School for a doubleheader against Fortuna beginning at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Thank you to our families and community for showing your Warrior pride.

I also want to let you know that the HDNL League Commissioner Jack Lakin reached out over the week to recognize Boys and Girls Basketball and Boys and Girls Wrestling teams for their focus on positive sportsmanship.  Thank you to our student athletes, coaches, and Athletic Director Taylor Duncan for representing our community with pride and integrity.

That’s it for this update. We’ll see you next Monday.  Thank you.