New Family Information

welcome, New Families!

We're thrilled that you're joining the Dunham community. To facilitate your transition into a new school and keep you informed over the summer, we've created this web page just for you.

We know you may have additional questions not addressed on this page. Please feel free to contact our admissions office or your division office. We're here to help and look forward to having you with us in August.

Lower School Office/Early Childhood Center
Phone: 225-767-7097 Ext. 310
Email

Middle School Office
Phone: 225-767-7097 Ext. 331
Email

Upper School Office
Phone: 225-767-7097 Ext.311
Email

Parent-School Communication

During the school year, you will receive letters and email communications from your child's division head and teachers. Emergency communications, such as notification of school closure due to inclement weather, will be delivered via phone call, text message, and email. Therefore, it is important that you let your division office know of any changes to your contact information, including your preferred email address. Please note, too, that in order to receive the emergency text message, you will need to "opt in" for SMS text messaging on the student information form you will receive over the summer.

Important announcements will also be included in the Daily Spirit, our e-newsletter. You will start receiving this email once a week during the summer and then each afternoon once the school year begins. If you do not receive the Daily Spirit by the first day of school, please contact your division office.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

A link to the school calendar can be found the News & Events tab of our website. While the default setting will display all school events, you may adjust your search settings to filter by division or department. You also have the option to change the calendar display from monthly to daily or agenda view.

Middle & Upper School Course Schedules

Core courses for the 2024-25 school year will be scheduled during the summer as the division heads review student files. Students in grades 6-12 also have elective courses that are scheduled according to student preferences. New students should expect to be contacted by their division head during the summer with information about course selection. If you have not received a communication by July 1, please contact your division office.

Student Health Information

Thanks to a partnership with Ochsner Medical Center, we have a full-time nurse on staff who oversees our health and wellness program. In compliance with current government HIPPA regulations, student medical records and medications are stored securely in the nurse's office. In order for us to continue to provide the best standard of care possible, updated student health information must be on file for each student enrolled at The Dunham School.‍

Immunization Records‍

All new students are required to submit their immunization records to their division office via email or in a sealed envelope prior to the start of school.

Required Student Health Forms

Prior to the start of the school year, parents will be contacted by their child's division office to complete the required student health forms electronically through PowerSchool, our student information system.

Middle & Upper School Athletics

Middle School Athletics

Our Middle School program focuses on installing the techniques and strategies for each sport that will be used at the Upper School level, all the while trying to point our young people to Christ. Our teams participate in different leagues, and most of the competitions take place on weeknights. Middle School students may sign up for fall teams here. Please note that all participants must be cleared by a medical professional and submit the required athletic forms (noted below).If you have questions, please email Middle School Athletic Director Matt Smith.

2024-2025 Middle School Sports Offerings
(FALL) Cross-Country - Boys & Girls
(FALL) Swimming - Boys & Girls
(FALL) Softball - Girls
(FALL) Football - Boys
(WINTER) Basketball - Boys & Girls
(WINTER) Soccer - Boys & Girls
(WINTER) Wrestling - Boys
(SPRING) Volleyball - Girls
(SPRING) Track & Field - Boys & Girls

Upper School Athletics

All of our Upper School teams are sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). Every student-athlete will be registered with the LHSAA and must be eligible to participate in competition. There are several rules involving eligibility, including academics and residency. If you have any questions regarding eligibility rules or about Upper School athletics, please contact Athletic Director Neil Weiner. To sign up for a team, please email the head coach listed below for each sport. Please note that all participants must be cleared by a medical professional and submit the required athletic forms (as noted below).

2024-2025 Upper School Sports Offerings
(FALL) Cross-Country - Boys & Girls; Coach Aaron Nasers
(FALL) Swimming - Boys & Girls; Coach Hilary Morris‍
(FALL) Volleyball - Girls; Coach Meagan Herrington
(FALL) Football - Boys; Coach Neil Weiner
(WINTER) Basketball - Boys & Girls Coach Chad Myers (boys); Coach Hilary Morris (girls)
(WINTER) Powerlifting - Boys & Girls; Coach Chris Lopiparo
(WINTER) Soccer - Boys & Girls; Coach Dan Hawkins (boys); Coach Stanley Johnson (girls)
(WINTER) Wrestling - Boys; Coach Brad Goudeau
(SPRING) Softball - Girls; Coach Jeff Hand
(SPRING) Baseball - Boys; Coach Hayden Jennings
(SPRING) Golf - Boys & Girls; Coach Calob Leindecker (boys); Coach Teddi Page (girls)
(SPRING) Tennis - Boys & Girls; Coach Chad Myers
(SPRING) Track & Field - Boys & Girls; Coach Aaron Nasers

Required Athletic Forms
Middle and Upper School students who plan to participate in team sports next year must turn in the required athletic forms. Upper School athletes must submit both the Upper School LHSAA Packet (first-time participants only) and the Annual Dunham Athletics Medical Packet (sports physical required). Middle School athletes are only required to turn in the completed Annual Dunham Athletics Medical Packet (sports physical required). If you have any questions about Dunham Athletics, please contact Athletic Director Neil Weiner.

Annual Dunham Athletics Medical Packet
Upper School LHSAA Athletic Packet (first-time Upper School participants only)

School Uniforms

All Dunham students wear uniforms purchased through School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger. There are also a few approved items available in our Tiger Roar Spirit Store located in the Middle School Gym. Each division has guidelines for regular "daily dress" as well as required chapel or "formal dress" (daily dress only for PK3 and PK4 students). Two-year olds in the Dunham Early Childhood Center do not wear uniforms. Divison dress code charts can be found in the division handbooks posted on PowerSchool and on the Parents web page.

Aftercare/Enrichment

Aftercare runs from 3:15-6:00 pm* each day school is in session and is available on a daily or drop-in basis. Our Aftercare Program serves children in PreK3-4th grade who are kept busy and entertained through indoor and outdoor play and educational activities led by our CPR-trained staff.  Our Study Hall Program serves children in grades 5-8 with an extended period of time for homework or study. A variety of after school enrichment classes are offered each year. Students who are enrolled in Aftercare or Study Hall may sign up for enrichments and will be escorted to and from class by our staff. For more information please visit our Aftercare & Enrichment page or contact Bekah Myers.

*Aftercare begins at 2:00 pm daily for PreK3, PreK4, and kindergarten students and at 3:30 pm for grades 5-8. If your child is in our new two-year-old program in the Dunham Early Childhood Center, please visit the ECC page to learn about your aftercare options.

Back-to-School Information

Back-to-School information will be sent to you from your division office during the summer. Please also be watching for an email from PowerSchool, our student information system, with all of the forms (health, carpool, family contact information, etc.) that must be completed in order for your child to start school in August. We kindly ask that you review the back-to-school information and submit any necessary forms by August 1. If you do not receive a communication by July 26, or if you have any questions, please contact your division office.

‍Mark your calendars for these important dates back-to-school dates:

ECC Teacher Meet & Greet
(for two-year-olds and their parents)
Wednesday, July 31
More information about this event will be sent to you during the summer.

New Student Orientation
(for new students entering grades 2-12 only)
Wednesday, August 7
More information about the new student orientation will be sent to you during the summer.

PreK/Kindergarten Home Visits
August 8, 9, and 12
Your child's teacher will contact you to schedule a convenient date and time.

1st Grade School Visits
August 8, 9, and 12
The times for these classroom visits will be posted during the summer.

First Day of School
Tuesday, August 1 (ECC/Two-year olds) 
Thursday, August 8 (2nd-12th grade)  
Tuesday, August 13 (PK3-1st Grade; half-day)

Upper School Back-to-School Night (parents only)
Tuesday, August 13; 6:30 pm; Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center

Middle School Back-to-School Night (parents only)
Thursday, August 15; 6:30 pm; Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center

ECC New Parent Coffee
Friday, August 16; 8:00 am; Rollins Family Dining Hall
(for PK2 parents only)

Lower School Back-to-School Night (parents only)
Tuesday, August 20; 6:30 pm; Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center

SEE YOU SOON!