Deerfield Digest
September 18, 2026
About Us
david.goetz@avondaleschools.org or
Julianne.Splain@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/
September 15th - Community Coffee with the Superintendent at Common Roots Cafe 9:00-10:30am
September 17th - Family fundraiser night at Jet's Pizza
September 21st - NO SCHOOL Teacher PD
October 2nd - Deerfield Fun Run (See details below)
October 9th - Homecoming Parade
October 12th - NO SCHOOL
October 13th - NO SCHOOL Teacher PD
October 14th - PTO Meeting 7 PM
October 16th - Family Dance 6-7:30 PM
October 17th - Family Photo Shoot (PTO Fundraiser, more info below)
October 30th - Half Day (Dismissal at 11:45am) end of 1st quarter
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Please check the Nutrislice website for Breakfast and Lunch menus at Deerfield:
Deerfield Fun Run
The Fun Run is only 2 weeks away! We're looking forward to cheering for our Deerfield Falcons on Friday, October 2nd, as they run with their classmates. The students will be running during the times listed below. Family members are invited to the parent pick up/drop off loop to cheer the students on with us. Students will have bubbles to help cheer their friends on, so feel free to bring some bubbles from home to participate with them!
Don't forget to continue with your fundraising efforts. Thank you for your participation and encouragement so far! Our families are the reason why Deerfield is such an amazing place for our students to learn, grow, and build community! Remember, the more we raise, the more we can do! Also, all students who raise $100 or more will be invited to a breakfast with Mr. Goetz. Fun Run online donations/forms are due by Monday, October 5th. If you need another form, there is a copy below.
Your student’s individual donation link was emailed to you. If you did not receive an email, simply search and find your student’s online pledge page by visiting: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/deerfieldelementary26.
Fun Run times:
8:50-9:36 - 4th grade
9:45-10:31 - 3rd grade
10:40-11:26 - 5th grade
12:15-1:01 - Kindergarten & TK
1:10-1:56 - 1st grade
2:05-2:51 - 2nd grade
Please note that if your student is in the SAILS classroom with Ms. Sobko, they will be running with their grade level class.
We are also looking for volunteers to help during the event. Please visit the Signup Genius below to review available times and sign up. It is highly recommended that you sign up for a time before/after your student runs, so you can watch and cheer them on while they are running. Thank you in advance for your help!
Spirit Wear
We are excited to announce that our fall spirit wear sale has begun! There are many Deerfield items available with three new logos to choose from! Be sure to look through the whole webpage! Many of the items have the option to come in different colors, so be sure to choose which one you want before adding it to your online cart. We are also offering some purple and gold Avondale gear that feature a Deerfield Falcon logo. Items will be delivered to Deerfield, and you can choose to pick them up or send them home with your student. The online shop closes on October 4, 2026, so be sure to place your order by then. Don't miss out on the opportunity to show your Deerfield and Avondale pride!
Please use this link to view and purchase:
https://deerfield elementary fall spiritstore2026.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Library Volunteers
Mrs. Summerfield is excited to welcome volunteers to the Deerfield library this school year! The students always get excited to see their parent/guardian or their friend's parent/guardian helping out.
Prior to volunteering, you must complete the Avondale School District volunteer form. It needs to be returned with a copy of your driver's license to Mrs. Splain in the main office.
To volunteer, please visit the Signup Genius at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DA4AB2AA6F9C16-65893653-deerfield
You may sign up for any spots that fit your schedule, and are not limited to only your student's class.
Thank you for sharing your time and energy with our Deerfield Falcons in the library!
Photo Shoot
Save the date for a Family Photo Shoot on October 17th! Bonnie Kakuda of Moments Photography does an amazing job capturing the smiles of our Deerfield families. If you are in need of a photo to put on your holiday card or display on your mantle, you don't want to miss this opportunity. More details and a Signup Genius link will come home soon!
Deerfield Dad's - Homecoming Float Meeting
The Deerfield Dad's group will be meeting at Craig Pitt's house on Monday, September 21st, at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Craig at 810.300.4893 for more details. We can't wait to see our Deerfield float!
Important Information
School begins promptly at 8:32 AM. The doors will be open at 8:20 AM for student drop off. School dismisses promptly at 3:39 PM. If your child is late to school, parents must park in the parking lot and students must be walked into the building by an adult and signed in at the main office before heading down to class. Students are not allowed to sign themselves in. This must be completed by an adult.
There are no dismissals after 3 PM. Students are not called down to the office until someone is in the building to pick them up.
We are a NUT free school. Products that contain nuts, MAY contain nuts or are produced in facilities shared with nuts are not allowed.
Medication must be kept in the office. Students must have documentation signed by a doctor on file in order for medication to be administered at school. Over the counter medication cannot be administered to students without a note from a doctor as well.
If your child is sick (fever, vomiting, diarrhea), please do not send them to school. We diligently try to prevent the spread of illness. If your child goes home from school sick with a fever (100+) or vomiting, they must be free of symptoms without fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours before returning to school. This standard is set by the Oakland County Health department.
Parking Lot Procedures
Arrival and dismissal is a busy time at Deerfield. We have many cars moving through our parking lot, along with families walking. Please follow these reminders to help keep everyone safe and help our process run smoothly:
- Cross at the designated cross walks.
- Students need to walk with an adult in the parking lot. Students cannot walk into or out of the school alone, unless using our loop.
- Take turns when traffic is merging.
- Follow the flow of traffic.
- Show kindness and respect towards each other.
September PTO Meeting Minutes
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the PTO meeting on September 9th. We hope to see you again at a future meeting!
If you were unable to attend but would like to learn more about what was discussed, please see the meeting minutes below.
Our next meeting will be held on October 14th, and we would love to welcome even more families! Your feedback, ideas, and involvement are so valuable to our PTO and our school community.
We are incredibly grateful that Deerfield has such supportive parents and guardians. Thank you for all you do to support our students and school!
PE Newsletter
Raffle Basket Donations
If you are interested in donating any items or baskets/bags to be raffled off at the Deerfield Family Dance, please bring items up to the Deerfield office by Friday, October 9th. We are in need of many items - baskets/bags, gift cards, arts/crafts, Squishmallows, Needohs, Legos, kid's toys, candles, soaps, lotions, etc. If you have any questions, please email the PTO at deerfield.pto.3600@gmail.com. Thank you for your donations and generosity! We hope to see you at the dance on October 16th!
Food Services Newsletter
We are excited to announce that our school has partnered with Blessings in a Backpack Avondale, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food to children who may benefit from supplemental nourishment over the weekend.
We are reaching out to you because your child can participate at no cost to you in this important program for the current school year!
By opting in, your child will receive a bag of food items every Friday before leaving school. The bags typically include a variety of nutritious options, such as cereals, fruit cups, yogurt, pasta, soups, and more. Our program is committed to ensuring that the foods provided are high in protein while minimizing sugar and sodium, with guidance from a registered dietitian.
Please note that due to the confidential nature of the program, we are unable to accommodate special dietary needs. We encourage you to review the nutrition and allergen information associated with the provided items to ensure they are safe for your child. Blessings in a Backpack cannot be held liable for any adverse reactions that may occur.
If you would like your child to participate in the program, please sign the below form.
Blessings in Backpack Registration
After your consent, your child will receive a bag of non-perishable food every Friday, distributed
in a discreet and caring manner.
Physical forms are available in the main office. You can contact Mrs. Splain if you would like one sent home.
Grant Opportunity
Resources
Parent Resources
Parent E-Safety Resource
