February 25, 2022
Hello Dunham Families,
We had a wonderful week that included Prairie Day for Mrs. Wilde’s class and our 4th, 5th & 6th grades had a school site spelling bee to see who will participate in the Sonoma County Virtual Spelling Bee. Congratulations to all who participated and to Eva Burcina and Lylah DeLore for winning the Dunham School Spelling Bee! We know you will do a fantastic job at the County Regional Spelling Bee. Also, this week we started a new program called Positive Office Referrals. Basically, the idea is to replace the negative stigma that can be associated with visits to the office with an opportunity for students to come to the office for positive outcomes from their “Safe, Responsible and Respectful” behavior choices. Students are recognized with a trip to the Principal’s office, but for a good reason, and pick a prize from the treasure chest.
Have a great weekend,
Daniel Hoffman
Superintendent / Principal
As you might have heard, Dunham School District was involved in a lawsuit over outdoor masking at school. Please see the below press release from the Board of Trustees regarding the Court’s ruling on their outdoor masking lawsuit
The Dunham Elementary School District is pleased to announce the dismissal of a lawsuit alleging the District’s adoption of outdoor masking requirements violated the constitutional rights of its students and their parents. Following rejection by the Sonoma County Superior Court of the plaintiffs’ claims seeking both temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions, the dismissal was filed on January 12, 2022.
In early fall, the Dunham Elementary School District Board of Trustees adopted universal masking requirements, both indoors and outdoors, for students and staff. This COVID-19 mitigation strategy, instituted by many school districts in the County, provided a “modified quarantine” option that permitted students to attend in-person instruction despite close contacts with COVID-19-positive individuals. This policy was instituted following mandatory ten-day quarantines for three grades of students at the District. The students in question had all played at recess together prior to one student becoming ill with COVID-19.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of three students and their parents on September 20, 2021, alleged the Dunham Elementary School District Board of Trustees exceeded its authority and substituted its own judgment for that of the Sonoma County Health Officer by implementing the outdoor masking policy, notwithstanding the Sonoma County Health Officer’s strong recommendation that school districts throughout Sonoma County adopt just such a policy. In rejecting the plaintiff’s claims, Judge Rene Chateau stated: “To say that [the] Defendants ‘thought they knew better’ than health authorities because they adopted the ‘strong ‘recommendation’ of those same health authorities defies basic logic.”
“It’s a real shame,” stated Board President Spencer Crum, “that the district was forced to spend almost $50,000 defending such an unnecessary lawsuit. Nobody on the board liked the idea of outdoor masking and we intend to remove the policy as soon as we can, but outdoor masking is the best way to ensure healthy kids stay in school. The money is gone and in the end it is programs and resources for students that end up suffering.”
Dunham School Superintendent /Principal Daniel Hoffman said he was happy with the court’s decision and to get this ordeal behind him and is looking forward to moving on to build relationships with these families.
The school district is located in Petaluma, CA and serves 150 students with an annual budget of 2 million dollars.
Yearbooks On Sale Now!
A year book is a fun and wonderful way to keep the memories of this year at Dunham. The ONLY way to ensure that you have a copy for each child in your family is to pre-order them now. Your child will receive the yearbook at the end of the school year.
Click To View: Yearbook Order Form
Enrollment Time!
If you have a future TK or Kindergartener at home who is either turning 5 on or before September 1st, 2022 (for Kindergarten) or turns 5 between September 2nd and February 2, 2023 (for TK), please call the office so we can make sure we have a spot for them on our class rosters for next year. Also, we have room for students in some other grades as well. As you know, Dunham is a unique and great place to go to school. Our campus, culture, programs, staff, community, families and traditions make for an exceptional educational experience. If you have a family member, friend or neighbor who is looking for a school, send them our way. We’d love a chance to meet with them and further discuss our wonderful school. We appreciate your support.
COVID-19 Testing Available at School
We continue to offer onsite COVID-19 testing for our students as a convenience to parents on Wednesday mornings from 7:40-8:30. A parent must consent and be present for the testing. We are able to offer testing for at-school exposure, COVID symptoms and surveillance testing. Testing is for Dunham students only. Please see the below information about registering, consent and availability.
Click To View: COVID Testing Flyer Page 1
Click To View: COVID Testing Flyer Page 2
Click To View: Testing Consent Form
After School Pediatric Vaccination Clinics
Below is a link from Dr. Steve Herrington, the Sonoma County Office of Education Superintendent regarding after school pediatric vaccination clinics.
https://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/school_staff_immunization.html
Also, here is additional information about where to find after school pediatric vaccine clinics for Students and Families Ages 5 and older.
COVID-19 vaccine clinics for Sonoma County students age 5 and older, as well as their families, will be offered at numerous dates, times, and locations throughout the fall and winter. As clinic times and locations are confirmed, they are posted here. Getting a vaccine is safe, effective and free. No appointment is needed. Clinic is intended for those attending this school and their families. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, call (707) 565-4667.
Find a list of after school pediatric vaccine clinics here. (https://www.scoe.org/vaccines)
You can also find a calendar of vaccine clinics through the County of Sonoma website here. (socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information/clinics/)
