Panther Express

From the Panther's Den-A Note From Mrs. Gill

Dear DC Family,

As we head into the month of May, we are excited to celebrate Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. The Dry Creek team is truly something special, and we look forward to recognizing the dedication, care, and energy they bring to our students each and every day. They make a lasting impact on our school community, and we are so grateful for all that they do.

Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of celebrating our incredible volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize and thank those who give so generously of their time to support our students and staff. A special thank you to Mrs. Salomonson and our DC choir for their beautiful performance—it truly made the morning even more special. We are so grateful for our volunteers and all that they do for our school community!

A big thank you to our incredible coaches and supportive families who came out for the BHS Area Participation Track Meet Friday at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. It was wonderful to see our students out there giving their best, cheering one another on, and representing our school with pride. We are so grateful for the encouragement and support that make these opportunities possible for our students!

Our final Movie Night of the year was a huge success, with over 200 students in attendance! It was a fun evening filled with laughter, friends, and great memories. Thank you to all our students and volunteers for coming out and making it such a special event—we love opportunities like this to come together as a school community.

State and District testing begins this Monday! We appreciate your support in helping your child be successful by ensuring they get a good night’s rest and arrive to school on time each day. Please try to schedule any appointments outside of morning testing hours so students can fully participate without interruption. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students during this important time!

We have a lot of year-end events quickly approaching! We have our Arts in the Park coming up on May 14th. We will be hosting our first ever Dry Creek Science Fair in conjunction with Arts in the Park, and student projects will be on display that evening. Our Panther Pride Art Contest is also under way. Donuts with Grown-Ups will be May 22nd, with tickets going on sale next week.

In Service & Gratitude,

Mrs. Gill

As we approach state testing, we truly appreciate your partnership in helping our students feel prepared and confident. Being at school each day and arriving on time makes a big difference, as testing takes place in the mornings and builds from day to day.

A good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast can go a long way in helping students feel their best. We also kindly ask that you make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments during this time so students can fully participate without interruption.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our Panthers shine!

Click Here to Sign Up

Join the Track Parent Square group here: https://www.parentsquare.com/groups/join/n2oghjd7wb

Families interested in enrolling in Expanded Learning Club (ELC) for the 2026-27 school year are encouraged to visit https://www.cusd.com/expanded-learning-club. You are welcome to attend any of the Parent Information Meetings listed on the website. Registration for Dry Creek ELC is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM.

PTC Board Election

PTC Meeting

Talent Show

Regular attendance makes a meaningful difference in your child’s overall school experience. When students are at school each day, they benefit from direct instruction, class discussions, hands-on activities, and time with their peers—experiences that are difficult to fully make up. If an absence is necessary, please contact the office in advance and request an independent study packet so your child can remain current with their assignments. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s continued growth and success!

Report an Absence

Dear Families,

This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means approaching life with energy and excitement, and it helps bring joy to those around us.

When people are enthusiastic, they show excitement about tasks, making it easier for them and others to stay involved. Enthusiastic people often inspire others, bringing fresh ideas and helping groups work better together.

Enthusiasm is contagious! It can lead to more success and happiness for both individuals and groups. When one person shows enthusiasm, it can encourage others to feel more energized and motivated, too.

To practice and encourage the character strength of enthusiasm at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Thank you for your support!

Here is a list of the Multi-Cultural and/or Heritage Events Mrs. Gill has or will announce to our students through a daily video announcement. Let us know if there is a holiday we missed! Also, if there is a holiday your family celebrates, we would love for you to email Mrs. Gill a picture of your celebration! Please include a short blurb to help with understanding of what is happening in the photo or some background on the holiday. We would love to share it with our Panther community through our video announcements!

September/October/November

Labor Day - September 2 Patriot Day - September 11 Mexican Independence Day - September 16

Chinese Moon Festival Day - September 17 Rosh Hashanah - October 2

Yom Kippur - October 11 Sukkot - October 16 United Nation's Day - October 24

Diwali - October 31 All Saints' Day - November 1 Day of the Dead - November 1

Veteran's Day - November 11 Thanksgiving - November 28

December/January/February

Jamhuri Day - December 12 Las Posadas - December 16 Hanukkah - December 25

Christmas - December 25 Hmong New Year - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 15

Vietnamese New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) - January 29 Chinese New Year - February 10

Black History Month - Month of February Vasant Panchami - February 2

President's Day - February 17 N'Cwala Festival - February 22 Ramadan - February 28

March/April/May/June

Hina Matsuri - March 3 St. Patrick's Day - March 17 Holi - March 14

Eid-el-Fitr - March 29 Iranian New Year (Nowruz) - March 20

Passover - April 12 Vaisakhi - April 14 Easter - April 20 Earth Day - April 22

Feast of Ridvan - April 21 Cinco de Mayo - May 5 Mother's Day - May 11

Vesak - May 12 Memorial Day - May 26 Shavuot - June 1

Birthday Marquee is available for families to recognize their child's birthday! Help celebrate your child's birthday by wishing him/her a Happy Birthday on the school's marquee (Nees sidewalk near crosswalk). Submit your birthday by the 25th of the month prior to your child's birthday. Birthday wishes will be posted for a week. Sign up and pay $20 online.

Please remember, if any birthday treats are being brought to school to share with the class, bring those to the front office, not directly to the classroom. Items must be store bought. We appreciate you giving your child's teacher at least one day's notice if treats will be dropped off. Thank you!

Breakfast & Lunch for All Students

Clovis Unified School District will continue to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all students. Please click on the link below for detailed menu information.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus