DeKeyser News

Thanks to the generosity of our families, our Toys for Tots donations were picked up on Friday! Our Student Council students helped load the truck and were excited to be part of spreading holiday cheer throughout our community.

A huge thank you to our amazing DeKeyser volunteers and the PTCG for making this year’s Santa Shop such a wonderful success! The students of DeKeyser Elementary had the very best time. The joy, excitement, and holiday spirit were truly unforgettable. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm made this special event possible, and we are so grateful for your support! ❤️

🌟 A big thank you to our amazing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade Beautification Team! Your creative winter arrangements have made the front of our building truly beautiful and welcoming. ❄️🎨 Thanks to the profits from our bagel sale, we were able to purchase supplies for your gorgeous winter pots. Your hard work and talent are spreading joy throughout DeKeyser Elementary, and we’re excited to see your beauty and spirit continue all year long! 💙✨

🎉 Congratulations, Sofiane! 🎉
We are so proud to celebrate you, a 3rd grade student at DeKeyser Elementary, for being the 2025 Kaleidoscope Writing Winner! What an incredible achievement to be our very own published author — your creative poetry truly stood out. Keep shining and writing! ✨📝

Monday, Dec. 15

• Spirit Day: Merry Sweater Monday – Kick off the week in your coziest (or ugliest!) holiday sweater

• Hannukah Begins

• 8:00 – ATG Meeting

• Bagel Order Forms Sent Home – Order Forms Due Wednesday – Bagel Delivery Friday

• 2nd Grade NWEA – Math

• 5th Grade NWEA - ELA

• 6:00 – 7:00 – Cub Scouts – Gym / Wall Up

• 7:00 – Board of Education Meeting

Tuesday, Dec. 16

• Spirit Day: Tinsel Toes Tuesday – Put on your comfiest holiday socks! Bonus if they’re silly or mismatched

• 5th Grade NWEA - Math

• 6:00 – 8:00 – CARE Virtual Parent Support Meeting

• 6:00 - 1st Grade Music Concert – Gymnasium – School / Evening Performance

• 6:45 - 4th Grade Music Concert – Gymnasium – School / Evening Performance

• 7:30 -5tht Grade Music Concert – Gymnasium – School / Evening Performance

Wednesday, Dec. 17

• Happy Birthday Briana Pfeiffer! 🥳

• Spirit Day: Wrapped up Wednesday – Dress like a gift and add bows, ribbons and tinsel to your outfit

• 5th Grade NWEA – Make-Up

• Bubbles Boutique – School Store Open Durning Lunch

• Beautification Team – Students meet during lunch recess

Thursday, Dec. 18

• Spirit Day: Tree Topper Thursday – Rock your best holiday headbands, hats, antlers, bows….anything festive on top!

• 11:45 – 1:00 – Student / Staff Celebration (Luncheon)

Friday, Dec. 19

• Spirit Day: Jolly Jammies Friday – Get cozy in festive holiday pajamas! Don’t forget your slippers!

• Bagel Delivery Day

• ½ Day – Dismissal 12:09 – AM Specials

• 2nd Marking Periods Ends

Santa Shop was a HUGE success thanks to all of the amazing volunteers that helped our dolphins shop, wrap, and soak up the holiday spirit at DeKeyser!! A tremendous THANK YOU to Stephanie Steffes who has been purchasing and organizing all the Santa Shop items for months and putting together such a beloved event for our school community. PTCG appreciates Stephanie and all our volunteers more than you could possibly know!

Please be on the lookout for our Daddy Daughter Dance note coming home next week! This event is scheduled for Friday, January 30th from 5:30-8:00pm at Shelby Gardens. Our beautiful DeKeyser daughters can enjoy a magical night out with their Dad, Grandpa, Uncle or any special father figure. There will be a full banquet dinner, live DJ, photo booth, professional portrait, activity station, dessert bar, and MORE! The cost is $60 per couple (Dad/daughter) and then $25 for each additional daughter. Payment is due by Friday, January 9th with cash, check payable to DeKeyser PTCG, or online payment with Zeffy accepted. This would be quite a special holiday gift for your little lady to receive this holiday season! We look forward to having you join us at the Life of a Snow Girl dance!! Please click here to register and pay online for the Daddy Daughter Dance: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/life-of-a-snow-girl-daddy-daughter-dance

Be sure to get all your Holiday Spirit Gear ready for a fun-filled last week of school before the holiday break. We can't wait to see everyone in all their festive attire! Thanks for participating with us!

It's not too late for families!!

• All UCS families are asked to complete the Education Benefits form Here - enter "Utica Community Schools" and follow the prompts. These forms help maintain our Title 1 funding as well as other essential funding for our schools. It can also help reduce fees for pay-to-play sports, lower internet costs, reduced AP/college application fees and more!
• Most online forms are processed within two (2) working days compared to 10 using paper applications.
• Paper copies of these forms are distributed to all student households or are available at your child’s school.
  • Complete the forms and return them to your child’s school or mail them to Utica Community Schools, Food & Nutrition Services, 11303 Greendale, Sterling Heights, MI 48312
  • Education Benefits Form

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

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!

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.

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