DeKeyser News
November 8, 2025
Principal: Mrs. Shannon Hathcock
Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Lisa Russo
Clerk: Mrs. Heather Mansour
Location: 39600 Atkinson, Sterling Heights., MI 48313
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Office Phone Number: (586)797-4400
24 Hr Attendance Line (586)797-4499
Fax (586)797-4401
Email officedekeyser@uticak12.org
Website: DeKeyser Elementary / Homepage (uticak12.org)
Facebook: DeKeyser Elementary School
School Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:55 PM (full days) and 9:05 AM -12:09 PM (half days)
Morning SACC (DeKeyser): 6:45 am - 9:05 am
Afternoon SACC (Messmore): 3:55 pm - 6:00 pm (Students bussed from DeKeyser to Messmore)
Breakfast Hours: 8:45 - 9:05
UCS 2025 - 2026 School Calendar
The complete 2025-26 UCS Calendar is now available. Follow the below link to see important dates for the remainder of this year. Please note: October 31 – Halloween – is the end of the first quarter and will be a half-day for elementary students.
Winter Concerts
Save The Date
November VIP Parking
What's Happening at DeKeyser
November 10th - 14th
November 2025
VIP Parking – Brenden McKee
Native American Heritage Month
Family Literacy Month
Military Family Appreciation
Diabetes Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Habit 3: Put First Things First / Purposeful People Character Trait: Responsibility
Monday, Nov. 10
Bagel Order Forms Sent Home – Order Forms Due Wednesday – Bagel Delivery Friday
8:00 – ATG Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Veteran’s Day
6th Grade SMART Moves – 5/6 Collaboration Space
6:00 – PTCG Meeting
6:30 – 8:30 DeKeyser Dolphins – Lego Robotics Team Practice - Cafeteria
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Bagel Forms & Money Due Today
Bubbles Boutique – School Store Open Durning Lunch
Beautification Team – Students meet during lunch recess
Thursday, Nov. 13
World Kindness Day
Picture Retake Day
3:55pm-5:15pm Slime Science with KidScientific (Art)
4:00pm-5:00pm Macomb Crew Soccer-Session 2 (Gym)
6:30 – 8:30 DeKeyser Dolphins – Lego Robotics Team Practice - Cafeteria
Friday, Nov. 14
Frozen Friday - $1 Popsicle Sale
Bagel Day Delivery
Happy Birthday Kim O’Keefe!🥳
World Diabetes Day
Saturday, Nov. 15
America Recycles Day
I Love to Write Day!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Nov. 10th - Dec. 5th
Toys for Tots - Toy Drive
Nov. 10th - Dec. 5th
Bagels return to DeKeyser!
PTCG Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 11th - 6:00pm
Bubbles Boutique - School Store
Open - Every Wednesday - During Lunch
Our first day of running the school store, Bubbles Boutique, went great! Students were so excited to shop during their lunch recess. With the help of our students and staff volunteers, all items were bagged and delivered to classrooms after lunch.
Students receive their purchases in a stapled bag from their classroom teacher after lunch. Students are asked to put these bags in their backpack to be taken home. We remind all students not to open their school store bags on the bus and to wait until they get home to check out their purchases.
Our school store will be open every Wednesday during lunch recess. Items range from $1 to $3 and include school supplies, peanut-free snacks, and other fun surprises!
Thanks again for helping make our first day such a success!
Picture Retake Day
Thursday, Nov. 13th
What's Happening at DeKeyser
November 17th - 21st
November 2025
VIP Parking – Brenden McKee
Native American Heritage Month
Family Literacy Month
Military Family Appreciation
Diabetes Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Habit 3: Put First Things First / Purposeful People Character Trait: Responsibility
Nov. 10th - Dec. 5th
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Toys for Tots - Toy Drive
November 17th - 21st
American Education Week
National Substitute Appreciation Week
Monday, Nov. 17
8:00 – ATG Meeting
6:00 – 7:00 – Cub Scouts – Cafeteria-Wall Down
6:30 - 7:30 - Science Olympiad Open House-Gym
Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 18
- National Entrepreneur Day
6th Grade SMART Moves – 5/6 Collaboration Space
6:00 – 8:00 – CARE Virtual Parent Support Meeting
6:30 – 8:30 DeKeyser Dolphins – Lego Robotics Team Practice - Cafeteria
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Walk Out Wednesday – Weekly Wellness Habit
Bubbles Boutique – School Store Open Durning Lunch
Beautification Team – Students meet during lunch recess
Thursday, Nov. 20
Parent Involvement Day
4:00pm-5:00pm Macomb Crew Soccer-Session 2 (Gym)
6:00 – EDAC Meeting @ Bemis
6:30 – 8:30 DeKeyser Dolphins – Lego Robotics Team Practice - Cafeteria
Friday, Nov. 21
Frozen Friday - $1 Popsicle Sale
Saturday, Nov. 22
2:00 – 4:00 – Gym Jam @ Cutting Edge
Science Olympiad Open House
Monday, Nov. 17th - 6:30 - 7:30 - DeKeyser Gymnasium
DeKeyser Parent Support Opportunity
Virtual Parenting Class for School-Age Children
CARE Presents - School Age Parenting Class
Join other parents of elementary-age children at this virtual, six-week discussion group for ideas, support, laughter, and encouragement. Discuss ways to understand behavior, build self-esteem, increase cooperation, and provide discipline that teaches personal responsibility, emphasizing the hot topics of School Success and Alcohol, Tobacco, and other drugs.
This class runs every Tuesday from November 11th – December 16th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Virtually on Zoom. This is a free class with the book included. Register on this site and call CARE 586-541-2273 to arrange to pick up the book.
Virtual Classes Dates
Tuesday, November 11th - 6:00 - 8:00
Tuesday, November 18th - 6:00 - 8:00
Tuesday, November 25th - 6:00 - 8:00
Tuesday, December 2nd - 6:00 - 8:00
Tuesday, December 9th - 6:00 - 8:00
Tuesday, December 16th - 6:00 - 8:00
Fall Title I Update
Please take a moment to check out some of these wonderful resources for all families. Click on the link for access to the live links.
PTCG News
Thank you so much to all the families that joined us on Friday evening for our DeKeyser Skate Night at The New Rink! We hope everyone had a great time. Please be sure to save the date for Tuesday, November 11th for our next PTCG meeting at DeKeyser. This will be our last meeting of 2025 since we do not have a meeting in December. We'd also appreciate you saving the date for our Cutting Edge Gym Jam & Ninja Course on Saturday, November 22nd from 2:00-4:00pm. This will be ONLY Gym Jam & Ninja Course fundraiser for the whole year and it's a big one! Cutting Edge gives back 50% of the proceeds with an extra $250 if we have 100 kiddos come to play. Please read the directions below to register. We hope to see you there!
Families can also register at www.cuttingedgeusa.com (Enroll Now → Bookings → School Fundraisers→Select DEKEYSER).
You can check out the event page on Facebook by clicking here: https://fb.me/e/39VNMReU5
Reminder: 50% of paid admissions go back to DeKeyser! Be sure to direct your families to use our school's link to count towards DeKeyser's donation total!
Do you know about the Cutting Edge 100's Club? Bring 100 or more students and receive a $250 BONUS, personalized school banner hung at our gym, and 10 Free Gym Jam passes!
Food Assistance Resources
There has been an increased request for food assistance resources recently. The following are resources that can be shared with families regarding food assistance in Macomb County:
- Macomb County Food Resources by Community 9.26.25.pdf
- Macomb Community Food Resources
- https://www.uwstclair.org/Food
- https://pantrynet.org/mobile-distribution-events/Gleaners Mobile Pantry Drive Up Distribution Events
- https://www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food/ Forgotten Harvest Mobile Pantry locations
- https://mi211.org/food-assistance Michigan 211 Food Assistance Programs and locations
DeKeyser Elementary - Student Council
Maturation Programs for 4th & 5th Grade Girls
The Macomb Intermediate School District will be offering additional maturation programs for fourth and fifth grade girls along with their mothers or guardians. These sessions will provide an opportunity to address questions related to growth and development. See the flyer below with important dates and registration information.
Community Events / Opportunities
Grade Level T-Shirts
We Love Our Volunteers and Visitors!
We are asking for your support to help keep our students safe. If you plan to volunteer in our classrooms, work directly with a student and/or chaperone a field trip, etc. you will need to have a volunteer background check on file. The new volunteer application form is located at this link: www.uticak12.org/volunteer. The background check involves multiple state and federal law enforcement databases. We greatly appreciate the involvement of our families and the difference you make at DeKeyser Elementary. Thank you for your partnership with this extra step that will improve safety in our school.
A few reminders:
- Please have all required documentation ready before you begin.
- The application must be completed in one sitting.
- One application can be used for multiple schools
- Once approved, you will be cleared to volunteer in UCS schools
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the DeKeyser Office: OfficeDeKeyser@uticak12.org or 586-797-4400.
Thank you for supporting our students and school community through volunteering!
School Age Child Care
Utica Community Schools is pleased to provide an opportunity for School Age Child Care (SACC)!
DeKeyser Options are as follows:
Morning SACC: Monday - Friday 6: 45 am - 9:05 am (Currently registering on a waitlist)
Afternoon SACC: Monday - Friday 3:55 pm – 6:00 pm at Messmore Elementary
Students will be bussed to this location after school.
Please click on the link below for more information and the opportunity to register your child for SACC.