DeKeyser News

Thank you so much to everyone who made today possible for our DeKeyser Dolphins at the Lego Robotic competition at Henry Ford II High School. I was so proud to watch our students compete and share what they have learned these past few months. Thank you for the time and energy both our parents and students have put into preparing for this event. Your dedication to practicing, building, and improving your robot truly showed today.

I appreciate each and every one of you — thanks for making today such a memorable success!

With gratitude,

Mrs. Hathcock

December 2025

VIP Parking – Brenden McKee

Dec. 8-12 - Holiday Gram Sale

Monday, Dec. 8

8:00 – ATG Meeting

1st Grade - NWEA Testing – Math
6th Grade NWEA Testing - Math

Tuesday, Dec. 9

1st Grade - NWEA Testing – ELA
6th Grade NWEA - Math

6:00 – 8:00 - Pathways Event – Henry Ford II High School

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

Choir Cluster Concert @ Stevenson HS

Wednesday, Dec. 10

Happy Birthday Susan Towers! 🥳

2nd Grade NWEA -ELA
6th Grade NWEA - Math

Bubbles Boutique – School Store Open Durning Lunch

Beautification Team – Students meet during lunch recess

6:00 - 4th Grade Music Concert – Gymnasium – School / Evening Performance

7:00 - 5th Grade Music Concert – Gymnasium – School / Evening Performance

Thursday, Dec. 11

4:00pm-5:00pm Macomb Crew Soccer-Session 2 (Gym)

5:00 - Santa Shop Set Up

Friday, Dec. 12

Frozen Friday - $1 Popsicle Sale

Santa Shop

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December 2025

VIP Parking – Brenden McKee

Dec. 15 - 19 - Holiday Spirit Week

Monday, Dec. 15

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

8:00 – ATG Meeting
Bagel Order Forms Sent Home – Order Forms Due Wednesday – Bagel Delivery Friday
2nd Grade - NWEA - Math
5th Grade - NWEA Testing - 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

6th Grade SMART Moves – 5/6 Collaboration Space
5th Grade - NWEA Testing - Math

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

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

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

PBIS / Pod Pals Assembly
5th Grade - NWEA Testing

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)
$1 Popsicle Sale

4:00pm-5:00pm Macomb Crew Soccer-Session 2 (Gym-Makeup date)

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

2nd Marking Periods Ends

Happy December to all our DeKeyser dolphins! Please be sure to check out our December calendar that has all the exciting events and information coming up this month! Holiday Grams were sent home this week so your kiddos can write a joyful message to their friends with a candy cane that will be added onto each gram. We are also all set and ready to go for our Santa Shop on Friday, December 12th! Santa Shop is a one-day holiday shopping event for students to pick out special gifts for their family and friends. They will shop with their class at an assigned time and have the opportunity to wrap each item too. All items are only $3 each! On the day of the event, please send in your child's shopping list with cash in an envelope labeled with your child's name and their teacher's name. Volunteers are needed for this event so please click here to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444AEAB22A5FF2-60696623-dekeyser?useFullSite=true#/

Dekeyser Elementary Santa Shop

Our Dekeyser Santa Shop is an exciting one day event being held this year on Friday, December 12th. Our volunteers will help students shop for their gifts and keep on budget as well as wrap gifts. The more volunteers we have, the better we can help our students! We will be opening at 8:30am for our littlest Dolphins in Preschool to come shop with their families. If any volunteers can come a little earlier than 9, the help would be greatly appreciated. Just put a comment on your sign up! Thanks!!

signupgenius.com

Click here to sign up

A tremendous shout out to Jessica Harrison for putting together our DeKeyser Box Tops report for December!! You can download the Box Tops app on your phone to scan items that will benefit our school. Bravo to Ms. O’Keefe’s PreK kiddos for taking the lead in their Box Tops contributions so far!! Click here to download the app: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=AWF05LJL...

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

Click here to register for CARE presentation

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

You may have noticed we have a new supplemental math curriculum for our 3rd-6th grade students called ST Math. ST Math is a supplemental math program that uses a visual, spatial-temporal learning approach to teach mathematical concepts. Instead of starting with math symbols and language, students first interact with visual puzzles and animations that represent mathematical ideas (like number sense, fractions, geometry, etc.).

Click here to learn more about ST Math

Please help us allow all DeKeyser Dolphins to start their day STRONG by being on time each day. Thank you for adjusting routines, planning ahead, and helping mornings run more smoothly. Your efforts truly make a difference.

Why Being on Time Matters

Ten minutes late each day adds up to fifty minutes of lost learning in a week. Over a school year that becomes almost eighteen hours, which is equal to about three full school days. Those first minutes of the day set the tone. Students may miss directions, routines, or early connections with classmates when they arrive late, and that can make the whole day feel harder.

What Helps Most

Thank you for:

Leaving a few minutes earlier
Keeping the drop off lane moving
Having backpacks and coats ready before arrival
Parking and walking when the line looks long

A quick reminder: doors open at 8:55, and students can line up for breakfast at 8:45.

We Appreciate You!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in helping your child start the day calm, confident, and ready to learn. We appreciate you!

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: