Smore logo
remove_red_eye 1.3K
page background

DeKeyser News

September 20, 2025

DeKeyser NewsSeptember 20, 2025
Ways To Stay Connected
DeKeyser Website
DeKeyser Facebook
PTCG Facebook
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

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

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

Security Safety Video Security Safety Video

Safety remains a priority for our school. Elementary is once again providing training to our students on our safety protocols. The protocols identify actions that students may be asked to take in the event of a potential incident: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.


The training is provided through a short, animated video. In the video, the teacher – Mrs. Appleton – and her students walk through the different responses in a very relaxed and engaging way for younger children. The script was written by our staff.


The protocols will continue to be part of the training while practicing our regular school safety drills, such as fire drills, security drills, tornado drills, evacuation procedures, etc.



The video is available for you to review at this link: UCS School Safety: Standard Response Protocol - Elementary - YouTube If you have any questions, please contact our office.

Fall Conferences - Coming Soon! Fall Conferences - Coming Soon!

An important parent-school activity that occurs each fall is our Parent-Teacher Conference. This is your opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss progress this year and shared expectations.

Please note: October 2 is a half day for all secondary students (junior high and high school), and October 15 is a half day for all elementary students to accommodate conferences.

Here is the upcoming schedule for our conferences:

  • October 14 – Evening Conferences (5:00-8:00 p.m.)
  • October 15 – Afternoon or evening conferences 1-4pm, 5-8pm (this will be a half day for our students)

More information on how to sign up for conferences will be sent shortly.


We look forward to seeing you there!

Spirit Week Spirit Week

Sept. 22nd - Sept. 29th Sept. 22nd - Sept. 29th

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

What's Happening at DeKeyser What's Happening at DeKeyser

September 22nd - September 26th September 22nd - September 26th

September 2025

VIP Parking – Amy Nowaczok



Hispanic Heritage Month

Deaf Awareness Month


Habit 1: Be Proactive / Purposeful People Character Trait: 3-to-Be



NWEA Fall Reading & Math Testing Window – K-6: September 2, 2025 - September 26, 2025

Monday, Sept. 22

  • Spirit Day: Lions / Pajama Day - Wear Detroit Lions gear or favorite PJs
  • First day of Fall


Tuesday, Sept. 23

  • Spirit Day: Twinning Day - Wear the same colors as your bestie or group of friends!
  • Rosh Hashanah

  • 6:00 - 8:00 - A Night on Mars - Malow Jr. High


Wednesday, Sept. 24

  • Spirit Day: Wacky Wednesday - Wear crazy socks and mismatched clothes - anything silly goes!


Thursday, Sept. 25

  • Spirit Day: Sports Day - Wear your favorite sports team shirt or jersey!
  • 4:00pm-5:00pm Macomb Crew Soccer-Session 1 (Gym)

  • 6:00 – 8:00 O'Keefe's Parent Advisory Meeting (Gym)


Friday, Sept. 26

  • Spirit Day: Color Wars - Wear your grade level assigned DeKeyser shirt or color!
  • Frozen Friday - $1 Popsicle Sale
  • FUN RUN

  • Johnny Appleseed Day

  • Scholastic is hosting live author events on Friday's in September!

  • M-STEP Parent Letters Sent Home (Grades 4-6)

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

STEAM Night Opportunity for Students STEAM Night Opportunity for Students

Tuesday, Sept. 23rd - 6-8 pm @ Malow Jr. High Tuesday, Sept. 23rd - 6-8 pm @ Malow Jr. High

Is your child interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics)? Are they looking to broaden their horizons and try out a new opportunity? Night on Mars is the perfect event for you! For children in 2nd to 5th grade only, Night on Mars is a fun, interactive design and building event that will help children explore their interest in science and robotics. It will include an immerse experience along with a creative design and building activity, all free of charge. Not only will they have tons of fun, but you and your child will be informed on our high school robotics team, Crevolution 2851, and Project FIRST First. Project FIRST First is an excellent opportunity to allow your child to begin/join a robotics team in their school. All you have to do is show up! We hope to see many of you there.

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

Fun Run Schedule Fun Run Schedule

Friday, September 26th Friday, September 26th

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

DON'T FORGET TO RSVP! DON'T FORGET TO RSVP!

Title 1 - Back To School - Parent Event Title 1 - Back To School - Parent Event

Tuesday, Sept.30th - 5:30 - 7:30 Tuesday, Sept.30th - 5:30 - 7:30

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

What's Happening at DeKeyser What's Happening at DeKeyser

September 29th - October 3rd September 29th - October 3rd

September 2025

VIP Parking – Amy Nowaczok


Hispanic Heritage Month

Deaf Awareness Month


Habit 1: Be Proactive / Purposeful People Character Trait: 3-to-Be


K- 5 -
mClass DIBELS 8 – Fall Window – Sept. 22 – Oct. 17

Monday, Sept. 29

  • Happy Birthday Teresa Cuares! 🥳

  • Picture Day (Gym)

  • Coffee Day


Tuesday, Sept. 30

  • 10:00 - 6th Grade - SMART MOVES - 5/6 Collaboration Space

  • 5:30 – 7:30 – DeKeyser Title 1 Back to School Parent Event (Gym)

October 2025

VIP Parking – Danyette Embry


National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Bully Prevention Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month


Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind / Purposeful People Character Trait: Respect



K- 5 - mClass DIBELS 8 – Fall Window – Sept. 22 – Oct. 17

Wednesday, Oct. 1

  • Fall Count Day

  • 10:00 - Student Council Assembly - Student Speeches

  • 6:30pm – 8:00pm Cub Scout Meeting (Cafeteria)

Thursday, Oct. 2

  • Yom Kipper

  • Custodian Appreciation Day – Let's Celebrate Zef and Ylli

  • 4:00pm-5:00pm Macomb Crew Soccer –Session 1 (Gym)

  • 6:30 - 7:30 - 1st Grade Parent's Night

Friday, Oct. 3

  • Frozen Friday - $1 Popsicle Sale
  • 10:00 – 10:45 – Detroit Lions Assembly with Roary

  • 3:00 – Chuck E Cheese visits DeKeyser

  • 4:00 – 9:00 - Chuck E Cheese Fundraiser

Sunday, Oct. 5

  • Happy Birthday Ylli Zykaj! 🥳

  • World Teacher’s Day

  • 11:00 - 2:00 - Sterling Heights - FIRE - Open House

  • 7:00 pm - Band-A-Rama - Runkel Field

Sterling Heights - FIRE - Open House Sterling Heights - FIRE - Open House

Sunday, Oct. 5th - 11:00 - 2:00 Sunday, Oct. 5th - 11:00 - 2:00

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

UCS - Band-A-Rama UCS - Band-A-Rama

Sunday, Oct. 5th - 7:00 pm Sunday, Oct. 5th - 7:00 pm

UCS - Band-A-Rama
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

PTCG News PTCG News

We are absolutely thrilled for our DeKeyser dolphins to lace up their sneakers and get ready for our 17th Annual Fun Run on Friday, September 26th! Students should wear their grade level color shirts (K- green, 1st- purple, 2nd- teal, 3rd- red, 4th- orange, 5th- yellow, 6th- royal blue) and good running shoes. Each grade level will spend about 45 minutes outside to warm-up with drills from the Army National Guard, run laps around the building with DJ Super Dave, and then enjoy a popsicle treat! PTCG volunteers will have water coolers outside but it's a good idea to have kiddos bring their water bottles to have outside with them for this event. We can't wait to celebrate all the funds that our school collected for an incredible school year at DeKeyser!


It's not too late to support our Fun Run event by sending in donations for your child! There are TONS of incredible prizes to give away for kiddos that help raise money for DeKeyser by sending in cash, a check made payable to DeKeyser PTCG, or sharing our Fun Run donation page online by clicking here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/dekeyser-fun-run We only have ONE WEEK LEFT to reach our school goal of $17,000!! We have collected about $3,150 online and about $1,500 sent in with cash/check which puts us at $4,650 so far. We are really hoping for a big push next week to help us reach that goal for an AMAZING whole school assembly SURPRISE for reaching $17,000 with a hint for kiddos that starts with FORWARD DOWN THE FIELD.....We appreciate your help!


If you are volunteering for the Fun Run, we look forward to meeting you on the grassy field for your AM or PM block. Even if you're not volunteering, parents are more than welcome to come on over to DeKeyser and cheer on your kiddo during their time outside. Please check out the schedule below if you'd like to visit our Fun Run and cheer on our dolphins:


Click here if you missed the SignUp Genius for volunteering at our Fun Run: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B49A8AE2AA1FEC61-51393693-funrun#/

DeKeyser Fun Run!

DeKeyser’s annual FUN RUN is the biggest fundraiser of the year for our Parent Teacher Communication Group (PTCG)!  Students get to head outside and warm up with Armed Forces, run around a track with a DJ pumping them up, and enjoy a popsicle treat to cool off afterwards. PTCG is asking our amazing DeKeyser community to help share the news of this Fun Event event with parents, family members, and friends by seeking pledges for participating in this great activity. Since this is our 17th year hosting a Fun Run, our school goal for this year is to reach $17,000. Please remember that 100% of the donations go to our school!

launch zeffy.com
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
pdf
insert_drive_file
PTCGlastcallFunRun.pdf
Download
1.1 MB
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
pdf
insert_drive_file
Fun Run2025.pdf
Download
1.0 MB
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
pdf
insert_drive_file
CalendarEventsPTCG.pdf
Download
362.3 KB

Grade Level T-Shirts Grade Level T-Shirts

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size
pdf
insert_drive_file
Grade Level Dekeyser (2).pdf
Download
1.9 MB

We Love Our Volunteers and Visitors! 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!

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map Show in original size

School Age Child Care 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.

Click Here For More Information Related to SACC

UCS Text Messaging Service UCS Text Messaging Service

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map
Consider signing up for Utica Community Schools texting service. This is a service for parents who would like information texted directly to them. The texting service provides school news and announcements, district information such as emergency school closing situations, or updates issued from UCS departments, such as transportation. To join this system, please text “Y” to 67587

UCS App UCS App

User uploaded image
zoom_out_map

Utica Community Schools has a new mobile app! Search for 'Utica Schools' in your phone's app store and download the free app to stay up-to-date on district and school news. The old mobile app 'Utica Community Schools' is no longer supported and should be deleted from your devices. Download at the App store here and Google Play here.

Past Newsletters Past Newsletters

DeKeyser News - September 13, 2025
DeKeyser News - September 6, 2025
DeKeyser News - August 29, 2025
DeKeyser News - August 23, 2025
DeKeyser News - Welcome Edition!
Mrs. Shannon Hathcock
Mrs.Hathcock is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters
Loading indicator

close

Created with

Communicate quickly and effectively with interactive newsletters.

Smore empowers educators to connect with their community, streamline school communications,
and increase engagement.

Create a newsletter