DVHS PTSA Newsletter - Aug 25, 2026
published by the DVHS PTSA for our school community
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👫 - Please see the important PTSA announcement below for updates and opportunities to get involved in our DVHS community. Thank you for your continued support!
INVITATION FROM DVHS PTSA
A very warm welcome to our wonderful Wildcat families! Many thanks to those who have purchased their Parent and Student memberships and contributed via donations. Those who have not yet become members, please use this LINK to sign up for membership.
Here are some more ways to connect with your PTSA:
1) Subscribe to our Newsletter via this LINK
2) Attend our Association meeting, and interact with our guest speaker- Principal Ms. Falkner, Tuesday Sept 15, 2026 in the DV Library. Time: 6:45-8:30 pm.
Space is limited. Please use this form to RSVP and send Qs for our Speaker. LINK TO RSVP FORM
3) Meet us at the PTSA table in the Quad during Back to School Night on Wednesday August 26 (5:45-9 pm)
For any questions and concerns, you can email us: dvhsptsa@gmail.com (President, Dr. Seema Gahlaut) or dvhsptsa.evp@gmail.com (Exec VP Ms. Shivangi Bhatt)
Upcoming PTSA Association Meetings:
- Sept 15, 2026: 7-9pm, DV Library
- Nov 17, 2026; Jan 19, 2027; March 16, 2027; May 18, 2027 - 7 to 9pm, DV Commons
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DVHS Counseling Department
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You’re Invited to the Dougherty Valley High School ELAC Meeting
Who: Parents, guardians, caretakers, staff and community members
What: Participate in a school-level committee designed to advise school officials on English language programs and services
When: Wednesday, August 26 at 5:15 pm (before Back to School Night Principal’s Welcome)
Where: Dougherty Valley High School Library
Why: Our students deserve rigorous, engaging, and inclusive learning opportunities. Together, we can continuously work to better serve our students!
We look forward to seeing you!
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Welcome back Wildcats!
We hope your year is off to a great start! Please see below for important information:
- All schedule change requests must be submitted using the Elective change form available on the DVHS Counseling website 8/17 at 4pm through 9/4 at 4pm. Please allow at least 2 school days for processing. Continue following your current schedule until you receive an email update.
- For Non District Coursework and transcript submission information for advancement and/or to be added to the DVHS transcript, please see here
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ASB SHIRTS ARE HERE! ASB shirts will be available for PURCHASE Friday, 8/28 for $15 at the Spirit Shack.
HOMECOMING TICKET INFO COMING SOON Please note that in order to qualify for any ASB discount prices for Homecoming tickets, you must purchase an ASB Package by September 3rd. Once this date passes, any ASB packages that are bought will not be counted toward the discounted tickets. Be sure to get your package early to take advantage of the discounted rates!
RALLY ON FRIDAY 8/28 We have the Back to School Rally next Friday, 08/28! The rally is at 1:45pm in the main gym and is open to all students. We will be giving out prizes including FREE Homecoming tickets. You won't want to miss it. SPIRIT WEEK THIS WEEK (8/24 - 8/28) - Monday: Beach Before Bonfire- Sunglasses, beachwear, and “dogs out”
- Tuesday: Fire Fits- 2016-themed fits
- Wednesday: Put Out the Fire- Dress like your water bottle
- Thursday: Burn the Backpack- Bring anything but a backpack
- Friday: Class Themes
- Seniors- PINK
- Juniors- RED
- Sophomores- BLUE
- Freshmen- BLACK
Not sure what to wear? Check out the Spirit Week Outfit Inspo!
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Student Clubs/Organizations
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CLUB DAYS Club Days are officially happening on September 2nd and 3rd during both Student Support and Lunch. Come and check out all the incredible clubs our school has to offer! Details and club maps are coming soon.
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2027 Reflections Art Competition
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Calling all student artists, writers, filmmakers, and creators! The National PTA Reflections program is back, and this year’s theme is "What My Culture Means to Me". This is your opportunity to express your identity, heritage, and perspective through original work in one or all six categories including Visual Arts, Photography, Literature, Music Composition, Film, or Dance. We also welcome submissions in the Accessible Arts Division to ensure every student can participate and shine. Start brainstorming your piece—the official entry form and detailed submission rules will be released next week, so check back soon!
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Scholarship Opportunities for Black-American Youth
We are also thrilled to announce that Douglass Fort of The Blerd Academy will be holding a virtual presentation on Saturday, August 29th at 10 am - 11 am. The link will be visible on the FAB website prior to the event. The Blerd Academy, which has been featured in Ebony Magazine, helps high-achieving Black-American youth get scholarships to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). This will be an excellent presentation to attend if your student(s) is interested in attending an HBCU and/or acquiring a scholarship to attend an HBCU.
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District-Wide Spirit Day & Run for Education
Get ready for Spirit Day!! On Thursday, September 3, all SRVUSD schools and departments will celebrate a district-wide Run for Education Spirit Day. Students and staff are encouraged to show their excitement by wearing Run for Education gear, including hats, shirts, medals, or gear from previous Runs for Education. The ‘Most Spirited School’ will receive a prize.
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Street Smarts Bike Festival - Sept. 12th
Join the fun at the annual Street Smarts Bike Festival on Sunday, Sept. 12. The fan-favorite obstacle course is back, an awesome band will play, and our police partners will be on hand to offer training and information. Food, face painting, and even henna tattoos will be available. See the flyer for details!
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Innovation Tri-Valley (ITV) Leadership Group is searching for students who are DreamMakers and RiskTakers
The student recipients of the annual DreamMakers and RiskTaker Awards are selected by the ITV Education and Workforce Development Committee with final approval of the President or Superintendent of each host educational organization based on common criteria.
Characteristics of DreamMakers and RiskTakers: - They have accomplished something important and made an impact with a focus on Innovation (i.e. Technical Innovations, Inventions, Social Innovations, Artistic creations or accomplishments); and
- They have grit – maybe they are not an A student, but perhaps they have demonstrated resilience, courage, passion, creativity and/or innovation.
- Students with disabilities and students of all socio-economic backgrounds will be considered equally.
SUBMISSION PROCESS: Nominations can be made by individuals nominating themselves or educators/mentors/ parents/administrators nominating students. The Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group Selection Committee will review submissions and will present finalists to Superintendents, Principals, and Administrators of appropriate school districts for final selection. Nominated Students must be in good standing.
All nominations must be submitted with this form by Friday, September 25, 2026.
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September Board of Education Resolutions
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🚢 Senior Yacht Night 2027 — Let’s Make It Legendary!
Class of 2027, your senior year deserves an unforgettable send-off! 🎓✨
Get ready to dress up, bring your friends, and cruise into graduation in style! Senior Yacht Night is your chance to celebrate with 300+ seniors aboard a luxury yacht, surrounded by waterfront views, great food, dancing, casino-style games, and unforgettable memories.
🛥️ May 2027 | 4:30–11:30 PM date TBD 📍 Transportation from DVHS included — luxury coaches to and from the yacht 👔 Semi-formal / Nautical Chic / Party Attire 🎉 4-hour cruise packed with food, fun, DJ, dancing, lots of casino games & activities!
⚠️ Important: - The event will only set sail if sufficient students sign up for this event and the sooner they sign up, the better will be the chance to get a booking for our desired date and yacht option. If participation is insufficient, the event will be canceled and payments refunded (after deducting the fees, if any).
- The date currently shown on the ticket page is a placeholder; the final date will be announced as we reach our required minimum participation. Please review detailed information on the Future Fund signup link provided below.
If you want this epic night to happen,please review the details carefully on the Future Fund signup link provided below, round up your crew and sign up early! https://dvhs.futurefund.com/go/72050-dvhs-senior-yacht-night-2027
🎟️ Lock In Your Ticket Early! Introductory pricing through September 30: - DVHS Seniors: $215
- SRVUSD Senior Guests: $230
- DVHS PTSA Student Members: $210
Regular pricing begins October 1: - DVHS Seniors: $230
- SRVUSD Senior Guests: $245
- DVHS PTSA Student Members: $210
📲 Get your ticket now and help make Senior Yacht Night 2027 set sail!
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DVHS earned the Participation trophy the last two years in a row! Ready to make it a TRIFECTA while supporting our students and schools? Join us on October 11th at the 43rd SRVEF Run for Education!
NEW THIS YEAR: A 1.5 mile course. Start at the same time and place as the 5K 🏁, but enjoy a shorter route—perfect for families and groups with participants of varying ages. 👨👩👧👦🙌
Sign up here: srvef.org/the-run!
Your participation helps fund essential programs across our 35 SRVUSD public schools.
Every step makes a difference.👟💫 Let’s make this Run the best one yet! 🎉
#SRVEFRun2026 #SupportSchools #SupportSRVUSD #RunForACause
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🎶- Please see the Music Boosters announcements below for important updates, upcoming events, and ways to support our outstanding music programs. Thank you for your continued support of our talented DVHS musicians! If you are already a music booster, Thank you so much! If you haven't yet, it's not too late to join and enjoy all the benefits of becoming a member. Membership will get you one or more entries to each concert (even the ones your kids aren't in!) In addition, you'll get a link to download the video recordings of our concerts. We've done the math, if you want to see your kid perform, you'll wish you were a member.
In addition, we have the following welcome events coming up:
Booster Meeting
Hopefully you can join the members of the Board in kicking off this year. Our first meeting is this coming Monday, August 24th at 6:30pm in PA-132 aka the Choir/Orchestra Room. The meeting is open to all and you will get a first hand look at all the shenanigans that we get up to while planning our annual pancake breakfast. We hope to see you there!
Incoming Family Nights
For families that are new to Dougherty there are the following family nights:
Orchestra - Wednesday, August 26th 7:45pm in the Green Room (After Back to School Night)
Choir - Thursday, August 27th 7:00pm in the Choir Room
Band - Wednesday, September 1st, (time TBD, usually around 6:00, check with your kids!) in the Commons
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Welcome DVHS Families!
Welcome to another exciting year of Dougherty Valley High School Athletics! Whether your student is a returning athlete or joining a DVHS team for the first time, we are so excited to have your family as part of the Wildcat community.
The DVHS Athletic Boosters are a parent-led organization dedicated to supporting all of our student-athletes, teams, and coaches. Our goal is simple: to help provide our athletes with opportunities, resources, and experiences that go beyond what the school’s athletic budget can provide.
What Do the Athletic Boosters Do?
Your support helps make a difference across DVHS Athletics. Booster funds help provide: - Financial support for DVHS athletic teams
- Pay for an athletic trainer
- Grants and resources for coaches
- Scholarships for graduating student-athletes
- Equipment, supplies, and other team needs
Every contribution helps us continue investing in the student-athletes who represent Dougherty Valley High School.
Why Become a Booster Member?
Membership is more than a donation - it is an investment in DVHS Athletics. When families join the Athletic Boosters, they help provide consistent funding that benefits athletes across our entire athletic program. The more families who participate, the more we can do for our teams.
A membership also comes with great benefits, including Fast Pass admission to all home DVHS athletic games (including football, flag football, volleyball, basketball, stunt, and more), plus access to Pixellot. Click here to buy your membership.
If you have already purchased your Athletic Booster Membership, you can pick up your membership card at Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 26, starting at 5:30 PM. We will have a Booster table in the quad from 5:30–7:45 PM. Stop by before Principal Falkner's welcome or anytime between classes! This will be your only opportunity to pick up your exclusive DV tote bag! Supplies are limited so tote bags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Support Your Fall Sport!
For our Fall Sport families, we also encourage you to make a sport-specific donation to your student's team. Click here to donate!
These donations are especially important because they go directly toward the needs and priorities of that individual sport. Every team has different expenses, and your support can help coaches provide the best possible experience for our athletes throughout the season.
Please consider supporting both: Athletic Booster Membership – supports DVHS Athletics as a whole Your Sport-Specific Donation – directly supports your student's team (Football, Flag Football, Women’s Tennis, Women’s Golf, Women’s Volleyball, Song, Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Water Polo)
Together, these contributions strengthen the entire Wildcat athletic program and make a meaningful impact on your athlete's team. Thank you for being part of the DVHS Wildcat family and supporting our student-athletes!
Next Athletic Booster meeting Please join us for our next meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026 @ 5:30 pm in the DVHS library.
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Our Fall Sports season is right around the corner - tryouts begin the week of August 10th! You can find the try-out information here.
Fall Athletics: Cheer, Cross Country, Football, Song, Women's Tennis, Women's Golf, Women's Volleyball, Men & Women's Water Polo.
Athletic Clearance is required for participation in tryouts/practice. Follow the steps below: - Create an account on Home Campus.com.
- Complete the registration process, which includes uploading a current signed physical form.
- You will be notified by email of the status of your student athlete’s clearance.
For any student to be eligible to participate in athletics, they must have a GPA which is a 2.0 or higher.
Student athletes not meeting the 2.0 or above GPA (unweighted) requirement may apply for a one-time Academic/Athletic Waiver (can only be used ONE TIME in their 4-year high school career), which allows the student athlete a grace period of 1 quarter to bring their grade back up to a 2.0. while continuing to participate in athletics.
If you have any questions regarding athletics or to discuss the option of the waiver, please contact Athletic Director Bob Spain, or check out the DVHS Athletics page .
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💲 - Please see the important Ed Fund announcement below for updates and ways to support our school programs and student opportunities. Your continued generosity makes a lasting difference for our Wildcats—thank you for your support!
Thanks to all of the families who have already donated during registration. Your contributions are critical to support on-going class-size reduction for our student body. However, we have not yet hit our annual fundraising goal so if you haven't donated yet, please do so here: https://dvhs.futurefund.com/first_step
Please direct your questions to Ed Fund President, Jigar Champaneria at doughertyvalley.edfund@srvef.org.
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Double Your Gift With Corporate Matching
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Did you know that your donations to the DVHS PTSA are eligible for corporate matching programs? You can help the PTSA earn more money to support our students and school community simply by taking advantage of your employer’s donation matching program. Go to our page on the Benevity portal for more info: https://causes.benevity.org/content/dougherty-valley-high-school-ptsa.
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To make our absence reporting process more efficient for everyone, we encourage all parents/caregivers to report student absences using the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or the Campus Parent mobile app. This is the fastest and most accurate way to get information to our attendance office, saving you time and helping our staff focus on what matters most - supporting our students and families. As a reminder, the Parent Portal is also the official source for your student's grades, so we encourage you to log in regularly. Please take a moment to download the Campus Parent app or bookmark the website to stay connected. Please see more information.
Reporting an absence is simple: just log in, navigate to "Absence Requests," enter the details, and submit. While you can still call the attendance line or email us, using the portal is the most effective method. Thank you for your partnership in making our school run smoothly! Infinite Campus Absence Reporting
Other Ways to Report an Absence While the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or Campus Parent mobile app are the preferred methods, you may also report an absence by emailing our Attendance Secretaries by Alpha, or calling the attendance line at (925) 479-6400, Option 1. We kindly remind parents and guardians of the following important procedures:
Early Pick-Up: If your student needs to be picked up early from school, please notify the attendance office in advance. This will help us ensure that your student's departure is handled efficiently and does not disrupt classroom instruction. - Absence Corrections: Should you notice that your student has been mistakenly marked absent, please ask your student to communicate with their teacher to complete an absence correction form. This will help us keep accurate records and ensure that your student’s attendance is properly documented.
- Independent Study Contracts: To request a short term pre-determined absence Independent Study Contract, a parent/guardian must submit a completed form to the Attendance Office. We kindly ask that these are requested at least a week in advance of the planned absence(s). Click here for an Independent Study Request Form.
Again, thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to your students' education. If you have any questions or need further assistance regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to visit our Attendance page or contact our Attendance Office.
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SRVUSD Technology Updates
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This school year, aligned with our lost/damaged textbook policy, students/families will be held financially responsible for the repair/replacement cost for physical damage to a device, or the loss of a device, whether accidental or purposeful. Families are not responsible for normal wear and tear of devices. For any families who encounter a situation where their student’s device has been physically damaged or lost, and who are concerned about this being a financial burden, they should speak directly with their school. We encourage you to review this Technology One-Pager for more information and links to additional resources.
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Join the DVHS PTSA – Support, Connect, and Make a Difference!
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Help make Dougherty Valley High School the best it can be — become a PTSA member today!
Whether you're a Parent/Guardian, Student, or Teacher/Staff, your membership helps strengthen our school community and supports the programs that enrich the DVHS experience.
No volunteering or meeting attendance required (unless you want to!) — just your membership makes a powerful impact.
Why Join DVHS PTSA?
Your membership supports a wide range of programs, including:
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Weekly SCHOOL Newsletter for timely campus updates
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Staff/Department/Principal presentations for school insights
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Family engagement events: College counseling, Math Night, expert panels & more
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Health & Wellness initiatives in partnership with student leadership
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Inclusion & Diversity efforts — including "No Place for Hate" & anti-bullying programs
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Legislative Advocacy for students & families through California PTA
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Reflections Arts Program – a platform for student creativity
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Senior Scholarships — up to $5,000 awarded to graduating seniors
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Teacher Grants — $2,000–$6,000 awarded annually for innovative classroom projects
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Thoughtful Giving to our Sister School in Oakland
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Support for Special Needs/Exceptional Education students
For more information, please visit the Dougherty Valley High School - Membership
DVHS PTSA is a 501(c)(3) organization — donations and memberships may be tax deductible and eligible for corporate matching.
Join us today and be part of something impactful!
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FOLLOW DVHS PTSA ON SOCIAL MEDIA Keep up with school events and news!
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Wildcat Bi-Weekly Brief The Wildcat Bi-Weekly Brief is published by the DVHS PTSA for our school community, bringing you campus news, important dates, and PTSA and booster group updates every other week during the school year.
All are welcome to subscribe: parents, family members, students, teachers, staff, and community members. Use the Update Profile link in the footer to choose the lists that best suit your interests.
Have news to share? Email the PTSA at dvhsptsa@gmail.com to submit content for an upcoming issue.
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Dougherty Valley High School | 10550 Albion Road | San Ramon, CA 94582 US
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Neil Armstrong PTA
