What's Happening at the "D"
August 21, 2021 Vol. 2
DeKeyser Elementary
Email: shannon.hathcock@uticak12.org
Website: https://dekeyser.uticak12.org/
Location: 39600 Atkinson Drive, Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Phone: (586)797-4400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DekeyserElementary
Hello DeKeyser Families,
I hope you have been enjoying the last few weeks of your summer vacation. DeKeyser teachers have been coming into the building anxiously preparing for the start of an exciting year. We are so excited to welcome our students back into the building on August 31st. Please read through the newsletter for updated information and events that will help you plan for the beginning of the school year.
If you have any questions about the information below, please do not hesitate to call our office at (586)797-4400.
Have an amazing day!
Mrs. Hathcock
School Hours
Full Day: 9:20 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.
Half Day: 9:20 a.m. - 12:24 p.m.
DeKeyser Office Information
Principal: Mrs. Hathcock
Clerk: Mrs. Cooper
Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Open Daily: Monday - Friday
Address:
39600 Atkinson
Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Office Phone Number: (586)797-4400
Attendance Line (586)797-4499
Fax (586)797-4401
Self Screening Procedures
Before your child leaves in the morning, ask these two questions:
- In the last 24 hours, has your child developed any of the following symptoms that are new/different/worse from baseline of any chronic illness: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of smell or new loss of taste?
- In the last 24 hours, has your child developed any of the following symptoms that are new/different/worse from baseline chronic illness: subjective fever (felt feverish) or measured temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher chills or rigors (severe chills with shivering), headache, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose or congestion and fatigue?
The answer should be NO to both questions. If not, your child should remain at home for their protection and the health and safety of his/her classmates and the adults in your local school. Please call DeKeyser Elementary office to communicate this absence.
School Age Child Care
DeKeyser Elementary is happy to announce that we will be offering school age child care EVERY MORNING. Our DeKeyser SACC program will be available from 7:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Monday-Friday. DeKeyser students who are interested in afternoon SACC, will be bussed to Rose Kidd Elementary. Afternoon SACC will be available from the 4:10 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. If you would like to learn more about this service, please review the following information.
Families must pre-register online.
Registrations will not be done on site or over the phone.
- Completing the online form is NOT a guarantee or confirmation of registration
- Once families complete the online form, a SACC representative will contact you to confirm your registration and process payment. Please have your credit card information available.
- Once payment is complete, you will receive a separate email with required paperwork. Completed paperwork must be emailed to "schoolname"sacc@uticak12.org (ex. DeKeysersacc@uticak12.org)
- Registrations will be processed on a first come fist served basis, availability is limited.
- If the program is full at your location, you will receive an email indicating you have been placed on the waitlist. Families on the waitlist will be contacted as space becomes available.
Dolphin Days
Kindergarten Meet and Greet - 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
First Grade - Sixth Grade Students 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Families can come at any time within the given time frame. This will be an informal event that gives you and your child the opportunity to walk around the outside of the building at your own pace. If you are unable to attend, NO WORRIES! Your child will receive their papers on the first day of school. All staff members will be outside the first week of school helping students find their classroom line up location.
Back To School Information
Visitors
Visitors are not permitted at school at this time. If you need to meet personally with school staff, please call ahead to make an appointment. Before you arrive, please make sure you have completed the self-screening process. Be sure to have your photo ID available when coming to the office.
Classroom Teacher Assignments
Announcing Our 2021-2022 DeKeyser Staff
SACC
Mrs. Debbie Kinsel
Nursery / Preschool
Miss Kim O'Keefe
Kindergarten
Mrs. Jennifer Conklin
Ms. Melissa Klein
Mrs. Kimberly Carlson
Ms. Amy Rozwadowski
First Grade
Mrs. Kristen Sears
Mrs. Kristen Sherrill
Mrs. Jennifer Welke
Second Grade
Ms. Casey Farr
Mrs. Shari Ritz
Mrs. Megan Yax
Third Grade
Mrs. Lauren Sprow
Mrs. Emma Wagner-Distelrath
Mrs. Miranda Devoogd
Fourth Grade
Mr. David Murray
Ms. Jennifer Trupp
Mrs. Kristina Pradko
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Vesna Matovski
Mr. Jaime Sheridan
Sixth Grade
Mrs. Alexis Giera
Ms. Gretchen Kraatz
Mrs. Darlene Vachon
Specialists
Mrs. Toni Beauvais - Media Center
Mrs. Donna Langlois - Music
TBD - Art
TBD - Gym
Mrs. Aleece Tousignant - ISM
EL
Mrs. Drita Ivezaj
Literacy Consultant
Mrs. Danielle Price
Learning Center
Mrs. Courtney Mikoliczeak
Mrs. Deborah Kaiser
Speech
Mrs. Jessica Miller
Social Worker
Ms. Carol Elly
Occupational Therapist
Ms. Kelly Gordon
Health Aid
Mrs. Traci Wist
Specials
Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
School officially begins at 9:20 a.m. Outside supervision of all students will start at 9:10 a.m. Please DO NOT drop your child off at school prior to 9:10 because there will be no outside supervision.
Arrival Procedures:
- Bus Drop Off: Busses will park along the sidewalk and stop just before the DeKeyser school sign. Busses will park close together. There will be NO CROSSING between busses at any time. I am asking that all families cross at designated spots. Staff will be outside to help with this process. Look for signs the first week of school.
- Parent Quick Drop: This will be for parents who wish to drive up and drop their child off without parking. Your child must be ready to quickly get out of the car on the RIGHT side and walk on the sidewalk to their class. No child will be allowed to exit the car on the left side closest to the parking lot. This drop off will be in front of the busses along the sidewalk next to the cross walk. Please look for the signage during the first week of school. Parents wishing to do a quick drop should drive slowly on the left side of the busses and pull up along the front on the building. Look for the signs to help you with this location.
- Parent Parking: Parents who wish to walk their child to class in the morning must park and cross at a designated cross walks. DeKeyser Staff will be at all cross walks to stop traffic for a safe crossing. PLEASE wait for the staff member to cross you. Do not bypass the line and cross on your own. We promise that we will get you across the street SAFELY and QUICKLY. Our 2 crosswalks will be near the front of the building. Look for the signs during the first week of school. *All parent parking will be in the front of the building. Staff will park in the back of the building. The staff parking lot will be roped and coned off for the safety of all students. IF there are no available spots to park, you will need to make another trip around the parking lot until a spot becomes available. PLEASE do NOT create a spot or block another parking spot to accommodate your needs. Remember that the first week of school will be busy. I hope that everyone can be patient with the process. My number one goal is to keep everyone safe!
Dismissal Procedures:
Bus Dismissal:
Busses will park in the same designated space. Students will enter busses upon their grade level dismissal time. Once all students have been dismissed from the building and all students are seated on the bus, traffic will be stopped and the busses will be released to leave. PLEASE allow the busses to get out quickly. Do not cross in front of a bus. Thank you!
Parent Quick Pick Up:
This will be a little trickier in the afternoon. You will need to focus on the dismissal time of your child and try to plan your arrival accordingly. Remember that the first week of school will be VERY BUSY. PLEASE be patient with the process until the system becomes known by all. All students who are being picked up by their parent will be asked to come to the front of the sidewalk by the DeKeyser sign and the big bushes. They will stand in a line and wait for their parent to pull up. DeKeyser staff will be there to help announce student names to quickly get into your car on the RIGHT SIDE ONLY. Parents should stay in their car at all times. Students will NEVER be allowed to walk around the car for their safety. Always pull to the front of this space to accommodate multiple cars. If your child is not ready to be picked up, you may be asked to do another loop around the lot to help get other students out.
Parent Parking:
If you wish to stand outside of your child's classroom, you will park your car in the FRONT lot. Please cross at the designated spots after school when you are walking on and off the property. Once again, if there is not an available spot, be patient and make another loop. Do not create a space or block another car. Teachers will always stay with your child until they are picked up. If you are late, students will be sent to the office. You will want to make sure that you are parked and on the school property by 4:00. See the staggered dismissal times.
Late Pick Up:
If you are running late, you must call the office at 586-797-4400 and let them know. You can also let your child's teacher know through their designated messaging preference. You will learn about this the first week of school.
Bicycles / Scooters
Late Arrival / Early Dismissal
- For the safety of our staff and students, parents/visitors will not be allowed in the building unless they have an approved appointment.
- After the start of the school day, teachers will not be able to open their exterior doors for late arrivals or early dismissal.
Late Arrivals
- Students who come to school shortly after 9:20 a.m. should go to the office to be let into the building. We will have a staff member letting students in the front door.
- PLEASE do not allow your child to walk around the building to their classroom door after 9:20 a.m.
- If your child needs to check into school late, after all staff has gone into the building, please park your car and walk your child to the front office. You will need to buzz the intercom at the front door, state the reason for being late, and the student will be allowed to enter the building.
Early Dismissals
- If you need to check your child out of school early, you will need to walk up to the main entrance, buzz the intercom, and request your child to be released.
- Be prepared to show ID so we can verify that you are authorized to pick up the student.
- The student will check out with the office staff and then walk out the front entrance to the parent.
Staggered Dismissal Times
All Kindergarten students will be released to an adult or bus. Kindergarten students will not be able to walk home by themselves for safety reasons.. Please speak with your child's teacher or the office if you have any questions or concerns.
Kindergarten: 4:00 pm from their exterior classroom doors
1st Grade: 4:00 pm from their exterior classroom doors
2nd Grade: 4:05 pm from their exterior classroom doors
3rd Grade: 4:05 pm from their exterior classroom doors
4th Grade: 4:05 pm from their exterior classroom doors
5th Grade: 4:05 pm from their exterior classroom doors
6th Grade: 4:00 pm from their exterior classroom doors
Security Procedure REVIEW
- Please press the busser to speak with someone in the office
- You will be asked to state your name and reason for visiting
- You will be asked to show your photo id into the security camera above the outside door
- Office staff will assist you in your reason for visiting the office
In addition, we ask that you do NOT let any visitors in the door as you enter or exit the building.
All teachers and staff are committed to student safety and security and we hope that you will help us with our safety procedures at DeKeyser Elementary.
Technology Devices
Technology Device Insurance
Breakfast
- Breakfast will be available for our students who PRE-ORDER the day prior with their teacher.
- Breakfast will be delivered to all classrooms prior to the start of school
- Teachers will establish the guidelines for the eating of breakfast that is similar to their snack procedures in the classroom
- Students will eat their breakfast upon arrival
- Reminder - Breakfast is available to ALL STUDENTS for FREE this year. Please make sure to complete the Free and Reduced form as this helps DeKeyser receive state and federal funds that help our school. Thank you!
Lunch
- All students will eat lunch in the gym with their classmates at their designated times
- Students will either use hand sanitizer or wash their hands prior to coming to the gym for lunch
- Students will have assigned seats that are spaced out to the greatest extent possible
- Students will use hand sanitizer upon leaving their designated eating location and returning to their classroom
- Students may choose to bring a lunch from home or they may receive a FREE lunch prepared by the cook
- All lunches are free of cost, you do NOT need to send money to school if your child would like to order a hot lunch for the day
- Students must preorder lunch the day prior if they wish to have a "hot lunch." Menus can be found at https://uticak12.nutriclice.com or by clicking on the button below.
2021-2022 Lunch & Recess Supervisors Needed
Snacks
- Students will be allowed a healthy snack break each day
- Teachers will communicate their designated time and procedures the first week of school
- Suggested healthy snack choices could include: fruits, vegetables, applesauce, cheese, yogurt, crackers or pretzels. All of our classrooms are peanut/tree nut safe.
- Students should bring a full water bottle to school each day - WATER ONLY
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
This information is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. These supplemental programs help us offer supports and services to our students including but not limited to:
Pandemic -EBT
Instructional Supports (Staff, supplies, materials, etc.)
Professional Learning For Staff
Parent & Community Engagement Supplies & Activities
Technology
We ask that you please complete and submit the application as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our school is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the application is confidential. Without your assistance in completing the application, our school cannot maximize the use of available State and Federal Funds.
If you need further assistance, please contact food services at (586)797-1180 or email them at foodservice@uticak12.org
Recess
Forgotten Items
Dress Code
Mask Wearing
Contact Tracing / Isolation / Quarantine
Students Needing Medications
Because of the many students that have health conditions OR are on medications that could interfere with over-the-counter medications, we must have both a physician and parent signature on the Authorization for Medication. This is both a Utica policy AND a requirement from our state laws governing medication administration in schools.
Over-the-Counter medications that require a physician signature include, but are not limited to:
Tylenol
Motrin
Benadryl
Tums
Hydrocortisone Cream
Cough Drops
Cough Syrup
Eye Drops
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Any questions can be directed to our district nurse, Emily Duzey, BSN, RN at 586-980-0743
Medical Health Plans
Health plans should be completed for any condition that may involve special dietary considerations, activity levels, medications, or treatment of urgent problems. Completion of health plans allow our staff to take the best possible care of your child.
A physician signature is required on all health plans. Any medications that are to be distributed by school staff or used by students at school must have an Authorization for Medication completed and signed by a physician, including any over-the-counter medications.
Health Care Plans and Authorization for Medication forms are available at Resources and Forms - Utica Community Schools (uticak12.org) Two transportation forms are required for every student that rides the bus with a COLOR picture attached to each form. Depending on your child's diagnosis, the following forms are required by the school.
Food Allergies/Insect Allergies/Latex Allergies: FARE Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan, Michigan Department of Education Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations, 2 Authorization for Medications (one for an anti-histamine and one for Epinephrine), 2 Transportation Forms (if your child is a bus rider)
MDE Dietary Accommodations: Required for Food Services for students with Food Allergies.
Asthma: Asthma Health Care Plan, Authorization for Medication for a rescue inhaler, 2 Transportation Forms (if your child is a bus rider)
Seizure: Seizure Health Care Plan, Authorization for Medication for rescue medications and/or other medications, 2 Transportation Forms (if your child is a bus rider)
Diabetes: Diabetes Health Care Plan, 2 Transportation Forms (if you child is a bus rider) and you must submit your Diabetes Medical Management Plan from your Endocrinologist
Heart Condition: Heart Condition Health Care Plan and 2 Transportation Forms (if your child is a bus rider)
Any other diagnosis: General Health Care Plan, Authorization for Medication (if needed), 2 Transportation Forms (if your child is a bus rider)
Please return all the necessary, completed and signed forms (dated after June 11, 2021) prior to August 31, 2021 to: officedekeyser@uticak12.org
Your cooperation will help ensure a safe and healthy school year. Any questions can be directed to: Emily Duzey, Utica Community School's District Nurse after August 16th at:
2021-2022 Calendar Dates
*Additional dates and calendar elements including but not limited to potential further closed dates, half-days, exam schedules, conference windows continue to be considered and will be released once determined.
August 2021
Aug. 23: DeKeyser Elementary - Summer Clean Up - OUTSIDE EVENT
Aug. 23: Job Fair Bemis Jr. High 1:00 - 2:00
Aug. 24: Bus Routes emailed to all families eligible for a bus
Aug. 26: Teacher Assignments emailed to all families after 3pm
Aug. 30: Dolphin Days - OUTDOOR EVENT -
(Kindergarten 4:00 - 5:30, 1st-6th Graders 4:30-5:30)
Aug. 31: 1st Day of school (1/2 day) 9:20 a.m. - 12:24 p.m.
SACC starts at 7:00am
Breakfast Program begins
September 2021
Sept 1 & 2: Students attend Full Day 9:20 - 4:10
SACC Hours 7:00 am - 9:20 am
Breakfast and Lunch served
Sept. 3: No School
Sept. 6: No School - Labor Day
Sept. 13: Picture Day
October 2021
Oct. 29: 1/2 Day of School - End of 1st Marking Period
November 2021
Nov. 2: No School - Election Day
Nov. 11: 1/2 Day , Conferences
Nov. 24-26: No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 2021
Dec. 20: 1/2 Day
Dec. 21: 1/2 Day - End of 2nd Marking Period
Dec. 22- 31: No School - Winter Break
January 2022
Jan. 3: Welcome Back
Jan. 17: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 2022
Feb. 21-25: No School - Mid-Winter Break
March 2022
April 2022
Apr. 1: 1/2 Day - End of 3rd Marking Period
Apr. 4-8: No School - Spring Break
Apr. 15: No School - Good Friday
May 2022
May 27: No School
May 30: No School - Memorial Day
June 2022
June 9: 1/2 Day
June 10: 1/2 Day - Last Day of School