Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Durham Public Schools plans to get thousands more students in class

Also check out The Basement Yard Live on the Durham Patch calendar

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Saturday August 29th Patch AM
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Cheers Durham! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Durham Public Schools plans to get thousands more students in class
  • How will $5.3 million in new tech change Durham classrooms?
  • Guilty plea entered in heartbreaking 2023 killing of Durham 5-year-old.

Also on today's calendar: Beer Garden Concert Series: Your Mama's New Boyfriend and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Cloudy, humid; a p.m. t-storm, with a high of 84 and low of 69 degrees.
  • Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 87, low: 69. 🌶 Hot!
  • Monday: Turning sunny and very warm, with a high of 92 and low of 71 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Durham Public Schools works to combat Chronic Absenteeism (spectrumlocalnews.com) — Durham Public Schools is confronting high chronic absenteeism, with about 37% of students missing class during the first half of last school year. District leaders are forming attendance teams, expanding social worker outreach, and using restorative practices and community partnerships to tackle barriers like transportation, family responsibilities, and student disconnection so more Durham kids stay engaged in school.
   

2. School upgrades, new partnership coming to Durham schools (9thstreetjournal.org) — Durham Public Schools just approved nearly 2,000 new interactive classroom displays and a private staffing partnership aimed at filling exceptional-children teacher vacancies. The moves involve millions in technology and HVAC upgrades at several Durham schools, plus up to $1.5 million for contracted EC teachers, as leaders race expiring federal funds and ongoing staffing shortages.
   

3. Durham man admits guilt in 2023 killing of 5-year-old Khloe Fennell (abc11.com) — A Durham man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2023 shooting that killed 5-year-old Khloe Fennell and injured her teenage cousin at a home on North Guthrie Avenue. The case, which shook Durham and prompted a downtown vigil, now moves toward sentencing in December in Durham Superior Court.
   

4. Free American Mahjong open play at Hops & Flower in Durham on Sundays - Triangle on the Cheap (triangleonthecheap.com) — Durham mahjong players can drop into Hops & Flower on Hillsborough Road for free American Mahjong open play every Sunday afternoon through at least mid-2027. Sessions run 1 to 3:30 p.m., and attendees should already know how to play, bring a 2026 card, and bring a set if they have one.
   

📸 Around Durham

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Durham

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Durham Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Sunday August 30
  • Usama Siddiquee →
    Goodnights Comedy Club, 401 Woodburn Rd, Raleigh
    7:00 pm
    • Monday August 31
  • Montessori Model UN Information Session - 4th-8th (Virtual)
    Willow Oak Montessori Chapel Hill, NC 27517
    7:00 pm
    • Tuesday September 1
  • Golf Tournament 2026
    Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce Treyburn Country Club 1 Old Trail Drive Durham
  • Poilcy Committee Meeting
    Willow Oak Montessori Chapel Hill, NC 27517
    12:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Durham PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • #GoodNeighborDay Fredericka Tillery is a fabulous neighbor.
    She brings in our trash bins every Tuesday; she collects donations each month for PORCH; her property is kept in pristine condition; and she takes… (Nextdoor Innisfree)
  • MISSING CAT: I just recently moved to the area and my cat Zanthus did not return home this morning like normal.
    He was last seen on Clarendon St right off of Guess Rd. He's friendly and food motivated so he might come when called or coaxed with food. If you see… (Nextdoor Walltown)
  • Biofire Diagnostics, LLC posted a job opening for Material Handler - 2nd Shift in Durham. Apply here.
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Maintenance Technician Sr. - Custodial in Durham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Durham here.

Ok Durham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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