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.
The information below is intended to help answer some of the most frequently asked questions and point you in the right direction for anything you might need, from athletics and student health forms to calendar and volunteer opportunities.
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.
NEW FAMILY information
| Division Contacts |
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Early Childhood Center Lower School Office Middle School Office McKay Academic Center |
| Back-to-school procedures |
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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. |
| important back-to-school dates |
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New Student Orientation PreK/Kindergarten Home Visits 1st Grade School Visits First Day of School Upper School Back-to-School Night (parents only) Middle School Back-to-School Night (parents only) ECC New Parent Coffee Lower School Back-to-School Night (parents only) |
| Parent-School communication |
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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 |
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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. The 2025-2026 Key Dates Calendar found under "Quick Links" the Parent Portal lists school holidays and other important dates for next year. |
| new 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 school Athletics |
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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. 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. 2025-2026 Middle School Sports Offerings |
| Upper School Athletics |
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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). 2025-2026 Upper School Sports Offerings |
| required Athletic Forms |
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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 |
| Middle & Upper School Course schedules |
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Core courses for the 2025-26 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. |
| School Uniforms |
| Students in PK3-grade 12 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 on the Parent Portal and in the division handbooks posted on PowerSchool. |
| AFTERCare/Enrichment |
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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. |
| School Supplies |
| School supplies are provided for Lower and Middle School students. The Upper School supply list will be posted to the Parent Portal prior to the start of school. |
| summer Reading & Math Assignments |
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All new and returning K-12 students have summer reading assignments. Pre-Kindergarten students do not have summer reading assignments. However, parents are encouraged to read with their children during the summer. All new and returning 6th-12th grade students have summer math work to complete prior to the start of school. Although new fifth grade students are not required to complete summer math assignments, they are encouraged to review math facts and math concepts from the previous school year. Lower School students do not have required math assignments but are encouraged to review math facts during the summer. Summer assignments will be posted here and linked to the Parent Portal in May. |
| Carpool Procedures |
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The Dunham Early Childhood Center at Siegen Lower School (PK3-Grade 4) | Main Campus Middle & Upper School | Main Campus |
| SAGE DINING |
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All of our meals are provided by Sage Dining. K-12 students each lunch in the Rollins Family Dining Hall; PK2-PK4 students eat in their classrooms. PK3-1st grade parents will receive a weekly email that allows them to select their student's drink and hot lunch or sandwich choices for the upcoming week; selections must by made by 7:30 am each Monday morning. Students in grades 2-12 have full menu options. Weekly menus for all divisions may be found here or accessed through "Quick Links" on the Parent Portal. SAGE offers daily menu items that are made without the 12 most common food allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, milk, gluten, eggs, fish, wheat, sesame, soy, mustard, and sulfites), providing a safe and hassle-free option for those navigating common food allergies. If your student has a food allergy or is on a restrictive diet, please make sure to contact our school nurse, Connie Jenkins, prior to the start of school. |
| TIger Roar SPirit Store |
| We invite you to stop by Tiger Roar, our school spirit store, located in the Middle School Gym, to purchase spirit items, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, golf shirts, shorts, stadium seats, blankets, and other popular gift items. The store also stocks a limited quantity of used uniforms and sample uniform pieces that may be tried on for size. |
| What IS BLACKBAUD ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT? |
| Blackbaud Enrollment Management is the system you will use to pay your bill and re-enroll for the next school year. |
| What is PowerSchooL? |
| PowerSchool is the system you will use to check grades and access other information, including division handbooks and student schedules. Over the summer, you will receive PowerSchool login credentials from your division office. |
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