- Participate in the Fall Fundraising Extravaganza!
- Contact melmeniawy@powayusd.com if you are interested in volunteering for a lunchtime activity to celebrate Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Order DCES Spirit Wear.
Save the Date
September
- 9/9 - Safety Committee meeting, 7:45-8:15 am
- 9/9 - โSpecialsโ begin and Running Club begins
- 9/11 - Picture Day make-ups only
- 9/12 - PUSD Board of Education Meeting @ 6pm
- 9/13 - First VAPA Vision Day
- 9/16 - DC Dining @ Panda Express in Carmel Mountain
- 9/20 - Movie Night (volunteers needed)
- 9/25 - PSO meeting @ 4 pm
- 9/30 - Staff Professional Day โ No School for Students and No ESS
Good evening, Deer Canyon families,
This week flew by in a hurry and was tragically marred by the devastating event that unfolded at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Our hearts are heavy. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, students, and staff affected by this senseless act of violence.
Itโs important to remember that young children may be exposed to this news and naturally experience confusion, fear, or sadness in response. In times like these, it is crucial to maintain open lines of communication with your children, offering them a safe space to share their thoughts. The partnership between home and school is a critical part of supporting your student. Please remember that our school counselor, Mr. Higgins, and I are here to support you and your children. Contact us at any time if you need assistance or guidance.
As for Deer Canyon happenings, we kicked off the week with Picture Day and it was such a delight to see students and staff dressed to the nines! Our first FUNky Friday was just another reminder of how much I love the work I get to do each dayโฆand the people I am fortunate to do it alongside! We had a blast recognizing student birthdays, Caught you Being Kinds, and last yearโs Running Club milestones, while also learning about Trustworthiness from our Westview Ambassadors.
We capped our morning off with some staff silliness: karaoke to "Canโt Stop the Feelinโ"! Way to go โfull out,โ DC Staff! We hope you enjoyed :) Immediately following FUNky Friday, parents joined me in Room 14 for Coffee with the Principal, where we discussed โwhere weโve been, where we are, and where weโre goingโ at Deer Canyon!
For students who were absent for Picture Day this week, please plan to send your student to school ready for their picture make-up opportunity this Wednesday! Additionally, we understand that there is interest in sibling school pictures. While this has not been a widespread practice, I would like to collect interest for this opportunity and see what we can do to accommodate the requests outside of the instructional day. Please complete THIS FORM by Monday at noon if you are interested in this possibility and we will be in touch with you by Tuesday.
This coming week, we observe Patriot Day on September 11. This is a day to reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and honor the lives lost and heroes who emerged in the face of adversity. On Wednesday, as we remember the past and seek to foster unity and understanding, let us come together in a spirit of community, compassion, and remembrance for all.
Next week, we also deepen our learning experiences by beginning our โspecials!โ Classes will start their Library visits, STEAM visits, and our VAPA Vision program will come to Deer Canyon for our first biweekly VAPA learning opportunity!
What is VAPA Vision?
Utilizing Prop 28 - Arts and Music in Schools Funding, a brand new program has been created to provide all K-5th grade students an equitable experience in all 5 VAPA strands (Music, Dance, Visual Arts, Theater and Media Arts).
The VAPA Vision team is composed of 17 highly qualified, veteran Poway Unified teachers.
One VAPA Vision teacher will be paired up with your childโs teacher this year. While your childโs teacher joins colleagues for collaboration, your child will experience a standards-based VAPA lesson in the classroom on 14 visits throughout the school year.
VAPA Vision has partnered with the WongAvery GLES (Global Languages for Elementary Students) Program. On each VAPA Vision day, an Artist in Residence will provide students with a live 20 minute Global Language and Culture lesson.
Please visit the PUSD webpage under Global Languages and Innovation for more information about this exciting new program.
We have many campus needs and wishes! Help us start the year on the right note!
We are still looking for at least one more member of Deer Canyonโs Safety Committee! The safety committee will convene regularly to discuss physical campus safety, digital/online safety, and mental health and wellness, in addition to alternating member participation in 4 district-wide safety summits. Email mastanley@powayusd.com if you are interested in being part of this committee!
We are still seeking a PE Teacher! I am in conversation with a qualified candidate, but (in case things donโt work out!) am still seeking referrals for Multiple Subject credentialed teachers that are interested in providing Physical Education instruction to our students for 16 hours per week. If you are or know someone who is a qualified candidate, please reach out to me directly at kbendix@powayusd.com.
In addition to these opportunities to join campus committees and councils, I encourage you to get connected through your classroom teacher and 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!
Please be sure to bookmark the Deer Canyon school calendar and follow us on Instagram (@DeerCanyonPUSD) for event information, reminders, and celebrations!
Have a wonderful weekend, Deer Canyon!
Katie Bendix
Principal
Thereโs lots in store for September. This week, I visited all 4th and 5th grade classrooms to announce that DC Leader applications are available now! The application window is open until the end of the school day on Friday, 9/13.
I began meeting with our new-to-Deer Canyon students and look forward to continuing to connect with new students as the weeks progress! Each student belongs at Deer Canyon, and it is my pleasure to help our new students build connections to our campus. Soon, we will also start our new student and friendship groups, as well as Second Step/SEL lessons.
Additionally, our districtโs Caring Connections Parent Education website has new and exciting courses being offered this Fall. Each term we offer different parent education courses; therefore, feel free to periodically check the website at the beginning of each term for the new courses offered to parents, families, and our school community. Beginning next week, click HERE to view the PUSD CCC Parent Education Fall Courses.
Fall Fundraising Extravaganza Begins!
Itโs time for the Fall Fundraising Extravaganza! Your friendly DCPSO humbly asks you to invest in your studentโs enriched education for the year. We rely on your generous contributions to fill the critical gap between the funds that the State and District provide us and what we actually need in order to maintain our enrichment teachers, educational resources, student and community event programs and much more.
Please read the information and flyers below to understand how you can support in up to 3 ways to help us achieve our annual goal of $99K:
Register to donate to DCPSO directly โ Be a DC Champion with a contribution of $280 per student ($1 per day per student) and receive a DC thank you gift in return.
Double your impact by applying for a company matching gift with your employer โ Last year we earned over $11K! These funds make a real difference!
Register and participate in the Charleston Wrap fundraiser โ Sell over 2,500 awesome items to family and friends (organization ID: 28022). DCPSO receives 30-40% of the proceeds.
A few important details to note about Charleston Wrap fundraiser:
Check out this kickoff video
All orders are due by EOD on 9/23
Orders can be placed on paper forms OR online (paper form orders have limitations! See below)
Paper Order Forms
Used for catalog items only (all items must have a code and price)
These items get delivered to school
Shipping is free
Turn in White and Yellow forms with cash or check payable to โDCPSOโ to the Front Office
Online Orders
Items from online orders are delivered to buyerโs home
All personalized items are online order only
Free shipping for orders with $98 subtotal (pre-tax) or higher
Students can win prizes over the two-week sales period โ Bring your tickets listed with # of items sold to the Front Gate on M/W/F to collect up to 10 Roller Botz
Students can win prizes for total items sold at the end of the sale โ Prizes are listed in the packet and will be sent home early November from school
Students can also win small prizes for every 10 visits (up to 20) they receive to their fundraising page after they send messages to family and friends from texts/emails/social media posts directly from their page (look for the โ1 of 10โ visits note on your fundraising page)
Thank you so much in advance for your support for our Fall Fundraising Extravaganza! Every little bit truly helps a lot. The more we invest in our students today, the more we ignite the possibilities for them tomorrow.
Movie Night Committee Needed
Movie Nights were a blast last year! Weโre looking for a few folks to help us bring these back, including one this Fall!
Help with movie selection. Coordinate food vendors. Consider bringing our DC Choir to warm up the crowd. Feel free to bring your own ideas and special touches!
Please contact Eve Lanham if youโre interested in helping out - president@deercanyonpso.org.
We Need Your Help: PSO Open Positions
We're seeking volunteers for a few key PSO positions this year:
Monster Mash Co-Chair: This annual Halloween festival will take place on Friday, Oct. 25. This person will work closely with the existing chair to lead a committee and help run the event for the school.
Volunteer Engagement Chair: This person helps coordinate volunteers on campus to help run various events that take place throughout the year. This person also organizes Room Parent volunteers. This position is a voting chair on the PSO.
Promotion Chair: This person will help lead a committee of volunteers, in conjunction with office staff, to plan Promotion for the 5th graders. This position is a voting chair on the PSO.
Art Adventures Co-Chair: This would be a great position for someone with a passion for art who wants to help engage our students in visual arts. This person will work with our current chair, Annie Baig, to oversee the Art Adventure program in our classrooms. This is a voting chair.
- Deer Canyon Website: This would be a wonderful volunteer opportunity for someone with website experience who would like to help intermittently (only a few hours a month at most).
If you are interested in any of those roles, please contact the PSO president at president@deercanyonpso.org.
Get Your DCES Spirit Wear
Let's start off the school year with some Deer Canyon Spirit Wear!
Our Spirit Wear shop is open and taking orders. There is a variety of options to choose from: tie-dye (perfect for FUNky Fridays), cartoon (fun for lower grade students โ and adults!), school logo, hoodies (perfect for cold weather), zip-up jackets and more. Orders are placed online and can be delivered to school for free or you can pick up at Big Frog (next to Stater Bros).
Place your Spirit Wear order here.
If you have any questions, please contact Razan Lin vpprograms@deercanyonpso.org
Fall Musical Theater Workshops
Our PSO is sponsoring after-school musical theatre workshops taught by Angie Serrano and Leasa Thernes. For more information and to register, visit Deer Canyon PSOโs Theatre Workshop Registration.
Class size is limited and first come first serve, so don't delay! Email the teaching artist, Angie Serrano, at jserrano@me.com with any questions.
