DeKeyser News!

Email: officedekeyser@uticak12.org
Website: DeKeyser Elementary / Homepage (uticak12.org)

Location: 39600 Atkinson, Sterling Hgts., MI 48313

Phone: (586) 797-4400

School Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:55 PM (full days) and 9:05 AM -12:09 PM (half days)

Breakfast Hours: 8:45 - 9:05
Facebook: DeKeyser Elementary School

Principal: Mrs. Shannon Hathcock

Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Lisa Russo

Clerk: Mrs. Heather Mansour

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

Dear DeKeyser Families,

The first day of school is almost here! The excitement is building at DeKeyser Elementary, and we cannot wait to welcome our Dolphins back through our doors on Monday, August 31st for the official start of the 2026–2027 school year!

There is nothing quite like the first day of school. The backpacks are packed, classrooms are ready, supplies are organized, and our teachers and staff are eagerly waiting to see the smiling faces of our students. After weeks of preparation, we are ready for what matters most—our Dolphins!

As we begin our first week of school, August 31–September 4, our focus will be on helping every student feel welcomed, safe, connected, and excited to learn. Teachers will spend time building classroom communities, establishing routines and expectations, helping students get to know one another, and creating a strong foundation for a successful year.

Whether your child is walking through the doors of DeKeyser for the very first time or returning for another year as a Dolphin, we know the first day can bring many emotions. There may be excitement, a few butterflies, and lots of anticipation! Please remind your child that they are surrounded by caring adults who are ready to welcome them, support them, and help them have a wonderful first day.

Getting Ready for Monday

As we prepare for our first day together, families can help us get off to a great start by:

• Reviewing arrival and dismissal procedures with your child.
• Making sure your child knows how they will be getting home each day.
• Clearly labeling backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, jackets, and other personal belongings.
• Establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines.
• Allowing a little extra time Monday morning as everyone adjusts to the first-day routine.
• Most importantly, sending your child to school knowing that they are ready for an amazing year!

Thank You, DeKeyser Families!

Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and trust as we begin another school year together. A successful school year is truly a team effort, and we are grateful to have such wonderful families working alongside us.

Monday is going to be an exciting day at DeKeyser Elementary, and we cannot wait to see our Dolphins!

Get those backpacks ready, set those alarms, and get ready for an incredible first week!

Here’s to a fantastic first day and an AMAZING 2026–2027 school year!

The Dolphins are ready for another great adventure!

With Dolphin Pride,

Mrs. Shannon Hathcock
Principal
DeKeyser Elementary School

AUGUST 2026

• 31 - First Day of School for Students - 1/2 Day - 12:09 Dismissal (Breakfast Served)

September 2026

VIP Parking: Lisa Dicker

• 1 - Full Day - (Lunch Served)
• 2 - 3 to Be Kickoff Assembly - Wear your blue DeKeyser 3 to Be shirt!
• 3 - All back-to-school paperwork DUE
• 4 - NO SCHOOL - FINAL DAY to purchase device insurance
• 7 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
• 8 - PTCG Meeting 6pm
• 9 - First LEGO League - Season Kickoff Meeting - Eppler Jr. High - 5:30 - 6:30
• 11 - T-Shirt Orders Due
• 15 - Skate Night - The New Rink - 6:00 - 8:00pm
• 16 - Restaurant Night - Buddies Pizza - 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
• 16 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Professional Development
• 19 - Family Wellness Fair @ Henry Ford High School 10:00 - 1:00
• 30 - Picture Day

Students will give their name to the cashier, select their breakfast, and then sit at a cafeteria table. Students will remain in the cafeteria until they are released to their classroom between 8:55 - 9:05.

General Information

• All students enter through Door #1 (front entrance) each morning.

• Students will NOT enter through exterior classroom doors, except for kindergarten students (see below).

• DeKeyser staff will greet all students upon arrival.

• Students purchasing breakfast go directly to the cafeteria upon arrival at 8:45.

• Students not purchasing breakfast enter Door #1 (front entrance) at 8:55 and go directly to the gymnasium where they will line up with their class until escorted to their classroom by the classroom teacher.

Arrival Exception – Kindergarten Students Only

• Kindergarten students accompanied by a parent may enter through their classroom’s exterior door at 8:55.

• Kindergarten students requesting breakfast my be dropped off by a parent at Door #1 (front entrance) at 8:45.

• We are allowing our Kindergarten students to have direct door access to help them feel comfortable with their new setting. This also helps with the separation anxiety that these students often feel the first few weeks of school.

Morning Arrival

Door #1 opens at 8:45 a.m. for students receiving breakfast

Door #1 opens at 8:55 a.m. for students NOT receiving breakfast

Parent Drop-Off –

· Enter at the BLUE Parent Drop-Off

· Parents must pull all the way forward.

· Parking is not permitted in this lane.

· This lane is intended for parents who wish to drop their 1st – 6th grade student off at the front of the building.

· Keep the line moving and crosswalks clear.

· Students must be able to exit the car on the passenger side of the vehicle independently. Parents are not permitted to get out of the car in this lane.

· Students unable to exit independently from the passenger side of the vehicle are not permitted to use this lane. Student safety is our priority. Students exiting the vehicle on the driver’s side is not permitted in this lane.

· Parents wishing to provide students with additional help such as unbuckling children, getting backpack out of back of car, etc. will need to park the car and walk the student to the front door for arrival.

· Students will be allowed to exit vehicles at 8:45 for breakfast when using this lane.

· Students will be allowed to exit vehicles at 8:55 for arrival if not eating breakfast when using this lane.

Walkers

· PLEASE -Do not arrive before 8:45 a.m. (no supervision is available).

· Enter through Door #1.

Bus Riders

· Buses arrive through the back of the building using a dedicated bus loop.

· Students getting breakfast will exit the bus at 8:45 or upon arrival and enter through Door #1.

· Students not wishing to receive breakfast will remain on the bus until 8:55.

While we understand the appeal of having fast food delivered to school, we prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of our entire student body. Allowing outside food deliveries creates logistical challenges, disrupts the school environment, and can lead to unfair advantages for some students. For these reasons, fast food deliveries during school hours will not be permitted. We encourage all students to either bring a packed lunch or enjoy the meals provided in our cafeteria.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Full Day Dismissal: 3:55 p.m.
Half-Day Dismissal: 12:09 p.m.

Parent Pick-Up

· All parent pick-up will be at classroom doors at 3:55 (full day dismissal) or 12:09 (half day dismissal)

Parent Pick Up Procedure

· Park and walk to your child’s classroom exterior door.

· Students exit classroom doors at 3:55 (full day dismissal) or 12:09 (half day dismissal)

· Teachers ensure students are released to a parent or prearranged family member.

· A transportation survey will be sent by each teacher before school starts.

Walkers

• Grades K–1: Must be picked up by a parent at the classroom door (students may not walk home alone).
• Grades 2–6: May walk home if prearranged with the teacher via the transportation survey.

· Walkers exit through their classroom doors at 3:55 (full day dismissal) or 12:09 (half day dismissal)

Bus Riders

• Students walk through the inside of the building to the gymnasium and line up in a designated area for each bus color.
• Staff will assure students are in the correct colored area; students will be called to enter the buses one bus at a time.

• Buses are identified by color — ensure your child knows their bus color.

• Students receive a colored bus tag for their backpack during the first week of school.

• Kindergarten and 1st grade students have bus helpers to guide them to the correct bus each day.

• Please try to complete all early dismissals prior to 3:30 pm (full days) or 11:45 am (half days)
• Early dismissals are difficult to accommodate between 3:30 p.m. and 3:55 p.m. due to recess, transitions, and end of day classroom procedures.

1. Please press the buzzer to speak with someone in the office
2. You will be asked to state your name and reason for visiting
3. You will be asked to show your photo id into the security camera
4. Office staff will buzz the door for you to enter the building
5. Please pass through the lobby and enter the office
6. Office staff will help you with your request

In addition, we are asking you do not let any visitors in the door as you enter (as they come up behind you) or as you exit the building.

The teachers and staff are committed to student safety and security, and we would like to thank you for your assistance in helping keep the students of DeKeyser safe.

Please take a moment to read the following regarding cell phones, smart watches, and other personal devices. Our district policy says: "The personal use of non-school issued cell phones or other electronic communication devices (ECDs) by students is prohibited at any time while in school or in a district vehicle." It also states: "Elementary students may bring a device to school, but the device must remain in their backpacks or locker area."

Here’s the plan:

• Students should keep cell phones and smart watches at home.
• If your child needs phone for after-school safety (like walking home), the phone must be:
1. Stored out of sight in their backpack.
2. On silent and not used at all during the school day

By following Board Policy and our Student Code of Conduct, the implementation of this will allow our school to be a place where kids can focus, connect face-to-face, and enjoy a much-needed break from constant notifications.

If you need to get a message to your child during the school day, please call our office at (586) 797-4400, and we will be sure they get it.

Our Dolphins have plenty of screen time in their lives. Let’s work together to protect their learning space and give them the gift of being fully present during the school day.

Thank you!

THANK YOU to all families who have already turned in your form. We appreciate you! We hope all families are able to take a few minutes to complete this form online or with the paper copy that you will receive the first day of school.

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

Safety remains a priority for our school. DeKeyser Elementary will be 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 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.

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

Afternoon SACC: Tuesday - Thursday 3:55 pm – 6:00 pm at Oakbrook 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.

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.

Volunteer applications need to be renewed annually. If you submitted a volunteer application in November, you do not need to submit a new application at this time. Raptor will automatically send a renewal application when their current volunteer approval is approaching its expiration date.

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!