Deerfield News
November 20, 2020
About Us
david.goetz@avondaleschools.org or
victoria.sheldon@avondaleschools.org
Email: david.goetz@avondaleschools.org
Website: http://www.avondaleschools.org/
Location: 3600 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 537-6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeerfieldFalcons/
Mr. Goetz's Corner
Next Tuesday is the end of the first trimester. It's hard to believe that we have already completed 12 weeks of school! We are so thankful for our Deerfield community, who are committed to seeing our students education as a top priority, whether it's in the classroom, or via zoom from home. We have the best educators, staff and families here at Deerfield!!
This week we had another supply pick-up for students. Thank you to everyone who was able to come and obtain supplies for their students. If you were unable to make it to school this week, we will have another supply pickup on December 10th. That date is also our picture retake day, from 2-6 pm. You can sign up for retakes below.
Thank you for all of your support for the Stach family, by purchasing masks, t-shirts and monetary donations! With your financial contributions, we were able to provide much-needed assistance to one of our own. The Stach family is very thankful for everything received!
If you haven't had a chance to sign-up for our 'Adopt A Family' Giving Tree yet, see the details and sign-up below. Gifts are due back to our office by December 4th. Thank you for helping this worthy cause to assist our Deerfield & Avondale families in need this holiday season!
Please note that in addition to today, we have another half day of school on Tuesday, November 24. Students will attend class through Zoom with their teacher until 11:30 am. There will be no school for Thanksgiving, from November 25-27th.
Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving!
Mr. Goetz
Nov. 20 - Half Day, Dismissal @ 11:30 AM
Nov. 24 - Half Day, Dismissal @ 11:30 AM &
Last Day before Thanksgiving Recess
Nov. 25-27 - No School, Thanksgiving Recess
Dec. 4 - Last day to bring in 'Adopt A Family' gifts
Dec. 9 - PTO Meeting @ 7 PM
Dec. 10 - Picture Retakes 2-6pm
Dec. 11 - No School
Dec. 21-Jan. 1 - Christmas Recess
Jan. 4 - Return to Learning
Jan. 7 - Early Dismissal @ 1:35 PM
Jan. 18 - No School - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Adopt a Family Giving Tree - Virtual Edition
Hello dedicated Deerfield families! The holidays are coming up quickly, so let's spread some holiday cheer! If you are able, please consider helping out our Deerfield and Avondale families by signing up to donate items/gift cards. If you purchase an item, please include a gift receipt. Please do not wrap items. All items/gift cards need to be dropped off at the Deerfield office by Friday, December 4th. Thank you in advance for your generosity! Merry Christmas!
Picture Retake Day- December 10th
If you would like to attend Picture Retake day, please sign up for a time on our sign up genius at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050548afa72ca0fd0-picture1
Positivity Project Weekly Theme: Gratitude
This week's theme is gratitude. With Thanksgiving next week, our focus continues to be on gratefulness for all that we have. Research has shown that it's helpful to make a conscious effort to count one's blessings. Many experts have suggested keeping a daily gratitude journal, to reflect on all the good things for which we can be thankful. Grateful people readily show appreciation for kindness given and return that kindness to others.
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present."
****Art/Gym Teachers SUPPLIES Survey - FIXED LINK!**
Our Specials Teachers need YOUR input!
We apologize if you were unable to take the survey last week. The link has been updated, so if you could, please click on the link below to help Deerfield Specials Teachers determine how we can best support our students with supplies for Distance Learning. Supplies include the following:
Gym: ball, jump rope, bean bag,
Art: colored pencils, markers, watercolors, paint brushes, oil/chalk pastels (set of 12 min.), tempera/other paoint (min. of 8), 9" x 12" art paper (not copy paper), air dry clay (i.e., Crayola Model Magic), etc.
Please complete the survey below (ONE per family), so we will know what the needs are for these items. The deadline for completion of the survey is Monday, November, 30th.
Thank you for your prompt participation!
Mr. Stabnick & Mrs. Marchand-Waite
Mr. Stabnick's November News (P.E.)
A Message from Ms. Johnson (Music)
Barnes & Noble Book Fair
Save the Date - Barnes & Noble Book Fair
Save the dates for Deerfield's Barnes & Noble Book Fair! Shop at the Barnes & Noble store located at The Village of Rochester Hills from Wednesday, December 2nd - Saturday, December 5th and proceeds from your sale support the Deerfield PTO. Just remember to mention Deerfield Elementary School when you are checking out, so we get the credit. All sales count: children's books, adult books, toys, games, Legos, items at the Starbuck's cafe, etc. If you would prefer to use curbside pickup, please call the store directly at 248-841-2751 to place your order. Online orders are not eligible for the Book Fair sales. Thanks for your support!
Meeting Date for 2020-2021 School Year
December 9th, 2020
January 13th, 2021
February 10th, 2021
March 17th, 2021
May 12th, 2021
Please consider contributing to our PTO with the following fundraisers.
AVONDALE DISTRICT NEWS
Avondale Theater Company Fundraiser
Moments Photograhy
Employment Opportunities in the School District
GATE
Chartwells Food Distribution
Free & Reduced Lunch Program - when school resumes in-person instruction
Blessings In A Backpack
Avondale families wishing to enroll their student(s) in our Blessings in a Backpack program, please fill out the form at this link:
https://forms.gle/PdsACS8KPo7tWKtf9.
Blessings in a Backpack provides simple meals at NO COST each week during the school year for families who need assistance. While Avondale Schools is conducting remote learning, meals will be disbursed in conjunction with the Chartwells Food Service Breakfast and Lunch distributions. (Watch for details about distribution dates, times, and locations.) Sign up today!
Change to In-Seat Instruction Plan
November 6, 2020
Good Morning Avondale Family,
As you may be aware, during last night’s Special Board of Education meeting, the Board voted 7-0 to modify the timeline for students and staff to return to in-seat instruction and to continue remote instruction at this time.
In making their decision, the Board cited the rising number of positive COVID cases in Oakland County as provided by the Health Department; the designation of the County as being at Risk Level “E” (the level with the highest risk for returning to in-seat instruction); the County’s disclosure that they are having difficulty conducting timely contact tracing; recent cases of COVID and/or quarantining within the Avondale School District that have already caused us to cut back on services (even with only a small percentage of our student population in-seat); knowledge of school districts in our area needing to overturn their decision to return to in-seat instruction causing additional disruption for their students; the inevitability that the volume of COVID cases when the community is in Level “E” will impact the number of staff required to quarantine making it problematic to operate in-seat instruction (complicated too by the shortage of substitute teachers); and the recommendation by the Oakland County Health Department that school districts who began the 2020-21 school year in remote learning should remain in remote learning.
Foremost in our minds is our responsibility to keep our students and staff safe. We know that some school districts who have instituted approved, consistent and broad measures to mitigate the spread of COVID are among those returning to remote instruction. This suggests that the virus may not start in a classroom but it is getting into the classroom, compromising the safety of everyone in the room and by extension, throughout the building.
We are aware of the difficulties this decision may cause for some of our families. Many of you shared personal stories of how this is impacting your lives. I believe that every member of the Avondale School District learning community empathizes with the struggles many of you are facing. This pandemic has touched every person in some way. It is our charge though to find a safe way to educate the children in our community. After months of planning and considering every possible option we have determined that staying remote, during this time, is our best chance of eventually returning to an in-seat learning environment without interruption or set-back.
For our students and staff, this means that we will continue with remote instruction and follow the current schedule without pause. The Board of Education has indicated they will revisit this decision when the County Risk Level is at “D”. At that time, we will start planning and preparing for a return to in-seat instruction to begin when the County Risk Level reaches “C”. Data from the health department suggests that this may not be until the middle of January, 2021 so we are hoping to be able to return to in-seat instruction sometime around January 19, 2021 (again, depending upon the County Risk Level reaching Level "C".)
I want to thank the Board of Education for their time spent listening to the concerns of staff members and families and for their thoughtful approach in making this decision. Thank you, as well, for your understanding, support and partnership as we continue to work together to navigate these fluid challenges.
Sincerely,
Dr. James V. Schwarz, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Avondale School District