Week Five - Spring 2026

Principal’s Message: 

I brought a few educator friends into Mr. Powers’ Intro to Wood class this week to see students in action. Some were working on detailed napkin holders, others on wall clocks, and one student was building a small end table. One especially cool moment came when a teacher from another part of campus stopped by, holding a cell phone lockbox that had seen better days. He asked if Mr. Powers had a student or two who could help make it a little sturdier. It was a great example of the real connections that happen on our campus through our wide range of CTE programs.

• District Learning Walk: On Wednesday morning, we welcomed new teachers from across the district, along with district administrators and a few board members, for our annual District Learning Walk. We split into small groups and visited several classrooms before gathering back in the Learning Commons to debrief. There were far too many highlights to list, but two themes stood out to our visitors. They were struck by how thoughtful and intentional the teaching was across classrooms, and by how many teachers are creating meaningful experiences that invite students to engage deeply in their learning.  Ms. Strecker called it magic.  I like that!
  
• Legally Blonde: Ms. Watson held auditions this week for the spring musical, Legally Blonde. Like last year’s Little Mermaid, this production will be a collaboration between Del Oro Theater Arts and McLaughlin Studios. Interest was high, with over 40 Del Oro students auditioning, which has us very excited about what is ahead. Go ahead and add the show to your calendar now (April 17-26), because you will not want to miss it. I am still unclear about my role in the production. One student suggested I could play the chihuahua, but I am holding out hope for assistant to the assistant of the Dean.
• Club Rush: Yesterday at lunch, our clubs were out on campus recruiting new members. I felt so proud and thankful for the wide range of opportunities available for students to connect, explore interests, and find their people. It is also always fun to remind students that if they do not see a club that fits their interests, they can start one. That is right, at one point there was no Cheese Club, until a few students bravely decided it was time to unite around a shared love of cheddar, mozzarella, and the belief that nearly every problem can be improved with cheese. History was made, opinions were strong, and a club was born.
• Free the Air 5K: Del Oro 11th grader Emma Marks, who serves as our representative on the Placer County Youth Commission, stopped by this week to share about a meaningful project she is helping lead. Emma and the commission are organizing a community 5K called Free Your Mind, Free the Air, focused on raising awareness around nicotine use and its impact on young people. The event will take place on March 21 and is a great opportunity to support student leadership while promoting healthy choices in our community.
• Counselor Appreciation Week: The counseling staff at Del Oro is literally the best! It's School Counselor Appreciation Week, so it's the perfect time to reach out and thank them for their work.  We'd all be lost without them!