- Order DCES Spirit Wear.
Save the Date
August
- 8/28 - PSO (Parent Staff Organization) meeting @ 4 pm (agenda)
- 8/29 - Back to School Night @ 5-7pm
- 8/30 - Spirit Day - Summer Vibes
September
- 9/2 - Labor Day - No School
- 9/16 - DC Dining @ Panda Express in Carmel Mountain
- 9/25 - PSO meeting @ 4 pm
- 9/30 - Staff Professional Day – No School for Students
Welcome back to the 2024-25 school year, Deer Canyon!
It's been a wonderful kick-off to what is sure to be a terrific year! A big thank you to the Deer Canyon PSO and the 5th grade students for organizing such welcoming events earlier this week, including campus tours, popsicles, a Club Fair, music, and more! It was exciting to see staff, parents, and students enjoying themselves back on campus. That, coupled with parents walking their students on campus on the first day of school, taking photos at the photo booth and in clouds of bubbles, and gathering over coffee and cookies in the MPR, truly set the tone for a positive and high-energy school year. Coming up, we will have many opportunities to connect — stay tuned!
Please be sure to bookmark the Deer Canyon school calendar, and follow us on Instagram (@DeerCanyonPUSD) for event information, reminders, and celebrations!
Thursday, August 29: Back to School Night (see below)
Friday, August 30: “Summer Vibes” Spirit Day! Wear your favorite summer shirt, shades, or anything that brings you back to summer days! *School dress code applies, including close-toed shoes.
This year, the last Friday of every month will be a Spirit Day. Join us for the fun and camaraderie that dress-up can bring!
Our learning and fun on campus is already in full swing, and we’re off to a great start! Students are settling into new classroom routines, making new and enhancing established connections, and learning or revisiting Deer Canyon expectations in a variety of locations on campus. On the first day of school, students were welcomed with a brief video from me, reintroducing myself, reminding students of the helpful adults on campus (including an introduction to our new counselor, Mr. Higgins), and re-establishing our three school expectations: Respect Yourself, Respect Others, and Respect the Environment.
This year, our students are stamping their “Passports to Success” by visiting multiple destinations on campus and discussing what our Deer Canyon Expectations look and feel like in each location. Mr. Pete (Custodian), Mr. Higgins (Counselor), Ms. Lewis (Library Media Tech), Ms. Tish, Ms. Valerie, Ms. Irene (Character Coaches), and I have partnered with teachers to schedule class travel across campus for discussions about Respecting Ourselves, Respecting Others, and Respecting the Environment in our bathrooms, hallways, library, lunch tables, and on the playground. Be sure to ask your student about this activity and our commitment to the Three R’s. Our students are making us proud!
Next week, I will be visiting classrooms to further discuss school expectations and commitment to creating and cultivating a culture of belonging at Deer Canyon. I look forward to continued conversations next week and beyond!
Back to School Night (BTSN) is next week: Thursday, August 29. Our teachers are eager to meet their families and share important information for the 2024-25 school year. Teachers will be presenting in their classrooms and general playground supervision will be available for Deer Canyon students with prior registration (more information regarding supervision will come from the PSO).
On Monday, a detailed BTSN email will be sent to all TK-5th grade families
Teacher presentations for Grades TK-2, 5 to 5:35 pm
Town Hall in the MPR with Ms. Bendix and the Deer Canyon PSO, 5:40 to 6 pm
Teacher presentations for Grades 3-5, 6:05 to 6:40pm
Have a TK-2nd grade student? Please join us from 5 to 6 pm for your teacher’s session, then head straight to the Town Hall!
Have a 3rd-5th grade student? Please join us from 5:40-6:40 pm for the Town Hall, then head straight into your teacher’s session!
Have students in both grade ranges? Join for the whole night! 5 to 6:40pm
Parent opportunities for involvement on campus committees:
Interested in being a member of Deer Canyon’s Safety Committee? The safety committee will meet four times per year to discuss physical campus safety, digital/online safety, and mental health and wellness, in addition to alternating member participation in four district-wide safety summits. Email mastanley@powayusd.com if you are interested in being part of this committee.
We need THREE parent representatives to serve (or continue serving) on our School Site Council. The role of the SSC is to be a vehicle for parent and community input in the process of needs assessment and the setting and monitoring of goals and objectives. The SSC reviews and recommends the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).
Please email nominations for parent representatives to mastanley@powayusd.com by Wednesday at 3 pm. If we have more than three parents interested, elections will take place at Back to School Night.
Returning members still actively serving their term will receive communication in the coming weeks, scheduling our first meeting in late September.
In addition to these opportunities to join campus committees and councils, I encourage you to get connected through the Deer Canyon PSO. There are myriad ways to give your time, talent, or treasure through this organization and enhance the school experience for each and every Deer Canyon student!
Follow us on Instagram @deercanyonpusd for updates, reminders, and pictures of the joyful learning taking place on campus!
I look forward to another great year with our special school community. Please reach out or stop me at pick-up/drop-off with any questions or needs.
Katie Bendix
Principal
Back to School Night Childcare Available
We are looking forward to Back to School Night on Thursday, August 29. This is an adult-only event.
Childcare will be provided on the playground while teachers give their presentations. Childcare pre-registration is required and must be completed by noon on Wednesday August 28.
To pre-register for childcare, please fill out this form → Childcare Pre-Registration
Please check your email on Wednesday night; your family will be assigned a number that you will need for check in. Authorized pick up person must have their ID with me for pick up
If you have any questions, please reach out to Razan Lin (vpprograms@deercanyonpso.org).
