Our School

January Newsletter: 

Happy January Scots!

Welcome back, and Happy New Year! I hope Winter Break provided your family with time to rest, reconnect, and recharge. As we begin 2026, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school community. Your engagement plays a vital role in helping our students remain focused, motivated, and successful.

January is an important month at David Douglas High School. It is a time to re-establish routines, set goals, and finish the first semester strong as we approach Finals Week later this month.

📘 A Strong Start to 2026

This is a great opportunity to check in with your student about:

• Current grades and any missing assignments
• Attendance and daily routines
• Preparation for upcoming semester exams

Consistent attendance, healthy sleep habits, and dedicated study time will make a meaningful difference as we move into the final weeks of Semester 1.

🔧 A New Home for Career Technical Education (CTE)

We are excited to welcome students into our new Career Technical Education (CTE) building at the start of the second semester. Construction crews and school staff have worked for over a year to bring this project to completion.

The new facility will house six of our eleven CTE programs and is equipped with state-of-the-art tools and learning spaces designed to prepare students for future career pathways. The building will also be the new home of our Career Center, allowing us to better support students as they explore postsecondary options and plan for life after high school.

🚀CTE Fundraiser – Building for our Students Future

Partner with us for a special evening to support our CTE programs, including dinner, a sneak peak of our new CTE building, and an opportunity to see what your students get to experience! We are currently raising funds for all 11 of our CTE pathways. 

Fundraiser tickets are available to purchase for $100.00.  Click Here 

Event Details:

• Date/Time: January 23, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 PM
• Location: David Douglas High School, South Cafeteria | 1400 SE 130th Ave. Portland, OR

📅 Save the Dates

• Jan 5 — Students Return from Winter Break
• Jan 20–23 — Semester 1 Finals Week
• Jan 23 – CTE Fundraiser
• Jan 24 — End of First Semester
  (More detailed finals schedules will be shared soon.)
• Feb 3 – Forecasting Info Night

📝 Semester 1 Finals Week: January 20–23
Finals Week marks the official end of the first semester and the halfway point of the school year. These exams are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and finish the semester strong.

Families can support students by:

• Helping them plan study time in advance
• Encouraging consistent attendance during finals
• Reminding students to come prepared and on time each day

We encourage students to use available supports (Scots Center), ask questions, and communicate with their teachers as they prepare.

📱 Cell Phone Policy Reminder
We continue to see positive outcomes from our consistent implementation of the statewide cell phone policy, and we sincerely appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home.

As a reminder, under Executive Order 25-09, all Oregon K–12 schools must prohibit cell phone use during the school day. At David Douglas High School:

• Phones and headphones must be off and away from 7:40 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
• Devices must be powered off (or in airplane mode) and kept out of sight
• Phones may not be kept in pockets or on desks

Our students have done a darn good job adjusting to this expectation, and it is because of our shared consistency—school and home—that we have been able to maintain calmer classrooms, stronger focus, and more meaningful learning experiences. Thank you.

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call 503-261-8300 (option 2).

✨ Looking Ahead
January is a month of momentum. Together, we can help students stay focused, confident, and supported as they complete the first half of the school year and look ahead to new goals in Semester 2.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and care for our students and staff. We are grateful to be part of such a strong and engaged community.

With appreciation,
Jennifer Buscher
Principal, David Douglas High School

Student Handbook:

View DDHS Student Handbook (Google Doc)

See the 2025–26 Registration and Related Information in your language below:

View in English (PDF)

View in Spanish (PDF)

View in Chinese (PDF)

View in Russian (PDF)

View in Vietnamese (PDF)

We Are Here For Your Family Flowchart

We value our collaboration with families. Working together as a team with our families, schools, and community, supports student achievement. We want to ensure every David Douglas student can Learn, Grow, and Thrive.

If you have concerns, questions, or need support, please follow our family flowchart: