Deerfield May Newsletter
May 2021
Teacher Appreciation Week May 3-7th
Calendar of Events
May 6- Uke can play! 5R Music Program 6:30pm-7pm
May 11- PTO Meeting 7pm
May 13- Uke can play! 5B Music Program 6:30pm-7pm
May 18- 5th Grade Visits to West Middle School 9:30am-10:15am
May 18- 2nd Grade Virtual Music Program 6:30pm-7:30pm
May 20- K-4 Transition Up Day 8:15am-9am
May 20- Uke can play! 5H Music Program 6:30-7pm
May 26- 5th Grade Recognition (5H 8:30am-9am, 5B 9:15am-9:40am, 5R 10:00am-10:30am
May 27- Last Day of School! This is a FULL Day of school! - Dismissal at 3:05
Last Day of School - Thursday, May 27th - Full day of school! Students dismissed at 3:05!
We are going through a high volume of our mask supply at school due to students not bringing their own masks from home. PLEASE be sure your child wears a mask to school and that you are sending back-up masks (2 or more) with your student EACH day. If your child prefers disposable masks to cloth masks, keep in mind that disposable masks often break so several replacement masks may be required for them to keep on hand at school.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Transition Up Day! - May 20th 8:15-9:00
If you plan to have your K-4th grade student attend our Deerfield Transition Up Day, please let us know (785-832-5660). Also let your DYL teacher know that you will be absent from their class during this time.
*There will not be a virtual option.
REMINDER: STUDENT RETENTION
As a reminder, grade retention is not a practice that is supported by our school district or state. As we continue to receive requests to retain students, we are resending the information provided by our district below. Although retention may seem like a practice that makes "sense" due to the changing learning platforms we have experienced this past year, research does not support it as an effective practice and can have negative repercussions. This is even more so for students with an IEP and older students.
District statement:
Student retention is the practice of “holding students back a grade” and has come up in response to learning loss attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have found that student retention is generally not supported by research as an effective practice to support students. Additionally, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) recently released the “Navigating Next” guidance for school districts, which discourages broad-based retention strategies (p. 13).
As we look ahead to the 2021-2022 school year, we will not be recommending student retention as a learning loss remediation strategy for our PreK-12 students. We believe that our exciting and engaging summer learning opportunities and classroom-based strategies and interventions will successfully and effectively address any suspected learning losses over time caused by the pandemic. Our school is eagerly preparing to implement these strategies this summer, next school year, and beyond for each student as needed.
5th Grade Celebration
We are so proud of our fifth graders and how hard they have worked during this historic year. To send them off in style, we have the following planned.
On the day of recognition, each student will wake up to a yard sign saying "congratulations!" with the image that is on the 5th grade shirts. For families with more than one address, we will put the sign on the address in the DF area. At school that day, there will be signs from the Sign Gypsies congratulating our graduates. At the end of recognition, each student will receive a mylar congratulations balloon.
In the middle of May, each 5th grader will get their free t shirt (thank you Nichole Feurt for your work on this!!!).
District Covid Cases Updates
You may view the current listing of reported COVID cases on our website at https://www.usd497.org/Page/12912.
Find additional COVID-19 resources, district health and safety measures, and links to information about the COVID vaccine at https://www.usd497.org/Coronavirus.
Thank you for continuing to follow, and encourage your children to follow, these healthy habits to prevent the further spread of the virus in our community: wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home when ill, and stay at a safe distance from others outside your household.
2020-2021 Yearbook!!
Distance Learners:
If you would like to purchase a yearbook please mail cash or check to Deerfield Elementary. Make checks payable to Deerfield Elementary with "YEARBOOK & your child's name" in the memo of your check.
Hero of the Week
5/3-5/7: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
5/10-5/14: Fred Rogers
5/17-5/20: Ashley Fiolek
5/24-5/27: Joni Appleman
Attention Parents!
Kindergarten Enrollment
We are excited to welcome our incoming kindergarten students for next fall! It's time to start the enrollment process.
Children who reach age 5 on or before Aug 31, 2021, are eligible for kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year. Please share this information with your neighbors, friends and/or family who may also have an eligible student.
Click Here to begin the on-line enrollment process and select the link for the 2021-2022 school year.
Next, be sure to email or bring the required registration documents below to your school/administrative assistant:
- *Certified Birth Certificate - *We will need to see the original prior to the first day of school, but can use the scanned copy for now
- Proof of Residency -Proof of Residency (accepted: a current utility bill - water/gas/or electric, current car registration, or a new lease agreement/buyers agreement)
- Current Immunizations - We will take immunizations that your child has had to this point. You may follow up with any updated immunizations prior to the first day of school.
- *Physical - *We understand that some children may not have had their 5 year physical yet and will have more immunizations at that time. You may email it as soon as it is complete, or prior to the first day of school.
If you are unsure of your school boundary or have questions, please call the enrollment center at 785-330-1921.
Building Reminders
As one of our mitigation strategies, we are continuing to limit access to the building. Please help by following these protocols:
- If you need to deliver something to the office, please send it to school with your child as opposed to hand delivering to the office.
- If your child forgets their water bottle, they can get a cup from their teacher to use for the day. You do not need to bring their water bottle to school.
- If you need to pick up your child early from school. Please stay in your car and call the office (785-832-5660). The office will sign out your child and send them to you.
- As always, we appreciate everyone wearing a mask while on school grounds.
Reminder: Traffic Plan
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Deerfield School
Email: japplema@usd497.org
Website: https://www.usd497.org/Domain/10
Location: 101 Lawrence Avenue, Lawrence, KS, United States
Phone: 785-832-5660
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deerfield497/