Week Seven - Spring 2026

Principal’s Message: 

If you walk through the hallway outside the offices before or after school over the next few weeks, you will notice a long row of empty chairs lined up against the wall. Walk by during the school day, and those same chairs are filled with students waiting for their one-on-one meetings with their counselor. That is right. Our counseling team is meeting with every 9th, 10th, and 11th-grader. Yes, that is more than 1,200 students. These conversations are about more than just picking classes. They are about goals, interests, and making a thoughtful plan for next year and beyond. With so many outstanding options at Del Oro, from art, drama, and choir to child development, psychology, welding, wood, game design, and more, these meetings help students explore what excites them while staying on track for graduation and future plans.

• Performing Arts (and Snow Sports): Here are two fun stories from the Performing Arts world, with a snowy twist at the end: Three Del Oro students, along with choir director Ms. Murgo, participated in the California Music Educators Association Capital Section Honor Choir last weekend. They joined about 100 students from across the greater Sacramento area to rehearse and perform together, representing Del Oro beautifully. Our choir also held a performance this week to showcase the work they have been putting in throughout the year. Meanwhile, our Band Drum Majors competed in their first conducting competition of the season in Sacramento. Olivia Mored took first place among all first-year conductors, and Sadie Stroup took first place among all advanced conductors. This marks the first time our Drum Major and Assistant Drum Major have swept both divisions. Ready for the snow sports connection? Sadie’s twin brother, Sutter, also claimed first place this week. Instead of conducting a band, he was racing down the mountain in a slalom race at Alpine Meadows, and he beat the second-place competitor by more than 10 seconds. In fact, he has won all his races this year and is set to compete well at the state competition! Talent clearly runs in that family.
• An Unconventional Practice: Two of our spring sports teams joined forces for a practice this week in the rain, and it was not who you might expect. On Tuesday, the varsity baseball team traded the diamond for the pool and joined the varsity swim team for a combined practice. There were relays, a few friendly races, and plenty of laughter as the baseball boys tested their endurance in the water. It was a great picture of athletes supporting one another, stepping outside their comfort zones, and building camaraderie across programs. I am not sure how many of them are ready to give up their cleats for goggles, but it was a memorable afternoon and a reminder that at Del Oro, we are one team.
• Soroptimists Awards: On Wednesday night at the Blue Goose, we had the privilege of celebrating two Del Oro students and four Confluence West students at the Loomis Soroptimists Awards ceremony. The mission of the Loomis Soroptimists is to improve the lives of women and girls through programs that lead to social and economic empowerment. This year, they recognized the impressive achievements of six of our students and awarded scholarships to support them in their next steps. Congratulations to Riley, Amelia, Jaden, Skylar, Sophie, and Milee. We are so proud of each of you. And a heartfelt thank you to the Loomis Soroptimists for investing in our students and in the future of our community.
• Afternoon Pick Up Chaos: I know I have shared this before, but a few issues have come up recently regarding afternoon pick up. Please make sure you are doing these two very simple things when you are picking up your student at the end of the school day: 
  1. Follow all traffic laws: Don't stop in the fire lanes, the bike lane, or the bus loop; stop at the stop signs; use your turn signals; etc.
  2. Be kind: Remember that many others are doing their best to keep students safe. Be kind to everyone. People are learning how to act by watching you.
• More than Basketball: We had plenty to celebrate on the basketball court this week. Our boys defeated Grant to advance to the quarterfinals tonight at Destiny Christian, and our girls earned impressive wins over Ponderosa and Colfax to move on to the semifinals on Tuesday at Christian Brothers. But the most meaningful moment of the week did not happen during a game. It came during the first annual Siena Hoffman Award ceremony. Take a look at the video of the ceremony. It is a powerful reminder that while we love to compete and win, what matters most is the character, spirit, and community that surround our athletics programs.