Deer Canyon Echoes

• Register For Science Olympiad
• Order your yearbook before Oct. 31 to receive 10% discount
• Sign Up For Trunk or Treat
• Pre-Order Pizza Dinner for Monster Mash
• Review the Oct. 6th PSO Meeting minutes.
• Purchase Deer Gear HERE
• Purchase your Deer Deals Card HERE
• Link your Ralphs account as an easy way to give back to the PSO; supporting students, teachers and staff!
• Follow the PSO on Instagram
• Follow Deer Canyon on Instagram

• Wed. 10/28 - PSO Budget Meeting in Room 14 or Google Meet at 5pm

• Thur. 10/29 - ELAC Fall Meeting on Google Meet at 1:45 pm

• Fri. 10/30 - Halloween Parade at 9am

• Fri. 10/30 - Monster Mash from 5 to 8 pm

• Sat. 10/31 - Last Day to order Yearbooks with 10% Discount

• Mon. 11/2 - 11/5 - Halloween Candy Buy Back at the Front Gate

• Wed. 11/4 - PSO Meeting in Room 14 or Google Meet at 5pm

• Tue. 11/10 - PSO Silent Auction at Knotty Barrel

Dear DCES Families,

We have so much coming up in the next couple of weeks! Thank you for staying connected and involved in our school community.

Digital Citizenship Week

This past week, students across our district participated in Digital Citizenship Week.

As we reflect on technology and its impact on our children, I highly recommend the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. As a parent, reading it completely made me rethink how I allow my own children to use technology—it is truly a must-read!

Scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter for helpful tips and resources on building healthy tech habits at home.

Upcoming Events & Reminders

Next Week: ❗❗Red Ribbon Week ❗❗

We have an exciting lineup of daily activities scheduled for Red Ribbon Week, including spirit days and designated days to wear red!

Spirit Tunnel: Join us first thing Monday morning to walk through our Spirit Tunnel! Be sure to arrive early so your child can experience it—the tunnel will conclude at the first bell.

Full Schedule: Please CLICK HERE to view the complete daily schedule for the week and details.

Friday, Oct. 30: 🎃 Halloween Parade & Costume Rules 🎃

• Time: 9:00 AM
• Route: Students will parade from the MPR to the TK gate (just outside the school).
• Viewing: Parents are invited to line up along the route after morning drop-off to watch!

Costume Guidelines:

• No weapons or toy weapons: Any item that could be dangerous is strictly prohibited.
• Masks: Masks may be worn only during the parade and are not permitted on campus during the regular school day.
• Footwear: Appropriate shoes must be worn for safety.
• Changing / All-Day Wear: If your child wishes to change after the parade, please send a change of clothes. If they plan to stay in costume all day, please ensure it meets the school dress code and allows for a comfortable learning environment.

Friday, Oct. 30: Monster Mash

Come join us in the evening for a Spooktacular time at our annual Monster Mash!

Important Event & Safety Notes:

• Parking: Mesa Verde will also be hosting a school event on the same evening, so parking around the schools will be very limited. Please give yourself extra time to park and walk.
• Pedestrian Safety: With multiple events, there will be many children walking near the streets who may not be paying attention. Please drive very carefully, especially as it gets dark.

Spotlight on Technology: Healthy Tech Habits (Fall 2026)

Teaching students to develop healthy habits with technology is vital for their overall well-being. As we launch into this school year, establishing balanced technology routines at home helps set our students up for success both in and out of the classroom.

Small, Intentional Steps Make a Big Difference:

• Designate Screen-Free Zones: Keep mealtimes and bedrooms tech-free to protect sleep and encourage family conversation.
• Co-Create Family Rules: Work with your children to set consistent daily expectations around screen time and screen-free play.
• Model Healthy Boundaries: Show your children how you balance device use with daily life.

Family Resources: 📚

Elementary Resource: Family Media Agreement (K–5 Printable Guide & Screen Time One-Pager)

Together, we can help our students build a grounded foundation for lifelong, responsible technology use.

Have a wonderful week, DCES families!

-Mrs. Gordon

Through our schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, Caught Being Kind, students are recognized by a staff member for exemplifying respect for themself, others, or the environment. I am excited to share with you the names of individuals who were Caught Being Kind last week!

TK

Isha G., Kaden B., Samaira R., Veer B., Kshirsa H., Artem O.,

Kinder

Parys H., Logan M., Sharan S., Max D., Liam K., Miles E., Piper M., Nikki S., Finn E., Sudhanva R., Troy P., Jian K., Nikki S., Amna A.

1st

Siena G., Janice C., Kiana V.

2nd

N/A

3rd

Tej V., Luca Z., Hunter N., Nathan S

4th

Dylan G., Diya M., Yunfan Z., Joey S.

5th

Penny H., Ganeev G., Arya S., Jibreel N., Evan T., Anya K., Aadhya B., Agnes R., Theo S.

Does your child love experimenting, building, problem-solving, or discovering how things work? Join the Deer Canyon Science Olympiad Team for the 2026–27 season! It's a fun way for students to explore science, work as a team, and put their skills to the test!

Here's the Scoop:

• Practices begin: Week of October 26, approximately 1 hour per week per event (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday afternoons).
• Competition Day: Saturday, February 6, 2027, at San Diego Miramar College.
• Events: Six exciting challenges, including The Penne Express, Rockstars, Watt's Up, Chill Out, Spin to Win, and Radish, Set, Grow! Students can participate in multiple events.
• Practice Locations: Virtual or at coaches' homes while school classrooms are being arranged.
• Cost: $150 per student, payable to Deer Canyon PSO by check or Zelle (dcespso). Include "Science Olympiad" and your child's full name in the memo. Please reach out to president@deercanyonpso.org if cost is a concern.

Parent support is key! Each event is led by a parent coach, and volunteers are always welcome!

Don't Miss Out! Registration Closes October 30!

Sign Up Here!

Let's get curious, get creative, and make some science magic happen!

Doughnuts for a great cause!! Deer Canyon Parent Staff Organization is giving you the best reason to indulge in a dozen (or two) Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Until December 25, 2026, 50% of your order will be donated back to Deer Canyon Parent Staff Organization when you purchase via our fundraising sales page! Simply buy online, visit your local store & redeem using your code. Treat yourself or even gift them to friends and family. Dozens are redeemable nationwide, so feel free to share this page with other doughnut lovers!

Click here to order your first dozen Krispy Kreme

Monster Mash is NEXT WEEK!

Join us for a spook-tacular night of fun at Deer Canyon Elementary!

Date: Friday, October 30

Time: 5:00–8:00 PM

Location: Deer Canyon Blacktop

We Need Your Help to Make It Amazing!

Monster Mash is an amazing event for the kids and families, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our amazing parents. We’re looking for volunteers to help with:

• Set-up & Decorations (Thursday afternoon and Friday during the day)

• Event Support (games, food tables, Haunted Houses, and more!)

Volunteer:

Even a short shift makes a big difference—and it’s a fun way to be part of the event! Here is the link to the sign-up genius Monster Mash Volunteers.

We will also have a concession table to support 5th grade promotion. Here is the link to the sign-up genius 5th Grade Promotion Concession Table.

Event Highlights:

• Haunted House (for the brave!)

• “Not-So-Spooky” Haunted House (perfect for younger kids)

• DJ & Music

• Games & Activities

• Trunk or Treat

• Costume Contest (kids and parents can join!)

Trunk or Treat: We need volunteers who want to decorate their car trunks so the kids can parade through a festive lineup of cars/trucks on their way to Monster Mash. If interested, please sign up Trunk or Treat.

Food & Treats:

Pre-order link for Pizza ($5) & Drinks ($2): Monster Mash Food & Treats Pre-Order. Pre-ordering guarantees your spot—limited extras will be available at the event.

Halloween is all about costumes, trick-or-treating, and LOTS of candy! But what do you do with all those extra treats?

Deer Canyon PSO is excited to partner with SMILE Pacific Highlands Ranch Dentistry for their annual Halloween Candy Buy Back!

Bring your extra Halloween candy and help us turn those sweets into something even sweeter! For every pound of candy collected, SMILE PHR will donate $1 to our PSO!

Even better, the collected candy will be donated to Casa de los Pobres, helping spread a little sweetness to those in need.

Two Easy Ways to Drop Off Your Candy:

• Deer Canyon Front Gate: November 2-5
• SMILE Pacific Highlands Ranch Dentistry: November 2-6

It's a win-win-win! Less candy at home, healthier smiles, and a chance for our kids to learn the joy of giving back while supporting their school!

Save some treats, share the rest, and let's see how many pounds our Deer Canyon herd can collect!

How to Purchase:

To purchase a yearbook:

1. DOWNLOAD the Treering App or go to https://auth.treering.com/

2. LOG IN or SIGN UP using School Code 1015490278194159

3. CLICK "Explore (or "Purchase") Yearbooks" and select your child's name at the top.

4. SELECT soft or hard cover in the drop down.

We’re getting ready for our Bucks & Bids Silent Auction on November 10th at Knotty Barrel! We’re looking for donations to help make our auction a success. If you have a gift card, an item, an experience, or a connection to a local business that might be willing to donate, we’d love your help!

Every donation, big or small, helps support the programs and experiences our students enjoy throughout the year. Thank you for helping make this fundraiser a success!

Interested in donating? Please reach out to Kristine Fernandez at vpfundraising@deercanyonpso.org. We appreciate your support!

Our Deer Gear Spirit Shop has some new additions!

NEW Volunteer Shirts - perfect for showing your Deer Canyon spirit while helping out at school events!

More hat colors! Our Deer Gear hats now come in new color options for both adults and kids!

Whether you're volunteering, cheering on our Deer, or just want to add a little more Deer Canyon spirit to your closet, there’s something for everyone.

Shop the new Deer Gear:

Deer Gear Spirit Shop

Wear your Deer Canyon pride!

Last call!! We are still looking for a Holiday Bazaar Chair for this year's event on Friday, December 11. If we don't have a chair before November 3, unfortunately this year's event will be cancelled. The PSO Executive Board is happy to help this year's chair with the event, and it is a great, low-key event to try out getting more involved in the PSO. If you are interested in taking on this role, please email Dani at compliance@deercanyonpso.org by Monday, November 2.

The Deer Deals Discount Card is just $20, but the savings can add up to so much more! With discounts from 20 local businesses that you can use throughout the year, your card can quickly pay for itself - all while supporting Deer Canyon.

Wondering how much YOU could save? Try our new Deer Deals Savings Calculator! Select the businesses you already visit and see how quickly your savings can add up. Calculate My Savings

Every card purchased helps fund the programs, activities, and opportunities our PSO provides for Deer Canyon students. Grab a card for yourself and share it with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers - they can save money while supporting our school too!

Get your Deer Deals Card for $20: PURCHASE HERE

Valid through September 30, 2027