Support the DCPSO: Register to donate, participate in the Charleston Wrap fundraiser, and/or apply for a company matching gift with your employer.
- Miss the Room Parent Training? Contact Eve Lanham (president@deercanyonpso.org) for a link to the video and password to watch the training.
- 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
- 9/23 - School Site Council Meeting @7:35 am in Room 14 or Zoom
- 9/23 - Charleston Gift Wrap orders due by end of day
- 9/25 - PSO meeting @ 4-5:30 pm in Room 14 or on Zoom (agenda)
- 9/30 - Staff Professional Day – No School for Students and No ESS
October
- 10/4 - Movie Night
- 10/9 - DC Dining @ Rubio's in Carmel Mountain
Good evening, Deer Canyon families!
This week was full of learning, reviewing Deer Canyon expectations of respecting each other and the environment, and deep-diving into our sitewide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) framework!
On Monday, students viewed a brief Monday Message from me that detailed the start of LatinX Heritage Month. We celebrate LatinX Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 to honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of LatinX individuals in the United States. This month is a time to recognize the achievements of LatinX people in various fields, such as Dr. Ellen Ochoa, who became the first Latina in space, and artists like Frida Kahlo, who have inspired many with their unique expressions. Additionally, we remember the positive impacts of civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, who fought tirelessly for better working conditions and rights for farmworkers in the United States, leaving a lasting legacy in farmworkers rights and social justice.
I informed students that, coming soon, we will have a lunchtime opportunity to learn about and celebrate the diverse influences that LatinX communities have brought to our society. We are also looking for parent volunteers to host this lunchtime activity in celebration of LatinX Heritage Month. Please be in touch with melmeniawy@powayusd.com if you are interested in supporting this event; dates are flexible!
Next week, we have much to look forward to! Our School Site Council will meet to introduce ourselves and learn about the role of the council. Deer Canyon will also briefly host an Executive Director from Learning Support Services to show off all the amazing things happening in our classrooms. I’m also excited to announce that we have partnered with a second high school’s Student Ambassadors! On Wednesday, we will welcome our Mount Carmel Ambassadors for a lunch playdate! This opportunity is always a favorite for our students.
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Help your child be an Attendance H.E.R.O.: Here. Everyday. Ready. On-time.
Parent partnership is crucial to ensuring our students are receiving the full advantage of consistent school attendance. Students who attend school regularly are significantly more likely to achieve proficient academic levels in reading and math, do better on tests, as well as likelier to graduate and be successful in future endeavors. Help us accomplish this by:
Establishing consistent bedtimes and wake up times
Planning ahead to avoid scheduling appointments and vacations during school
Communicating with teachers regarding illnesses or religious/cultural holidays
Staying engaged and regularly checking in with your children about their experiences
Emphasizing the importance of attendance with your children
Reaching out to us for help to address any barriers to attendance
Thank you for your support and partnership! For more attendance tips and resources, visit bit.ly/attendancehero.
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
This week at Deer Canyon, we finalized plans for our DC Leaders. Students will be notified on Monday, Sept. 23. The following day during lunch, we will have our first meeting to discuss committee selections and future projects. Again, thank you to all applicants. Seeing so many of our students willing to volunteer to improve our school is truly inspiring!
Next Monday will also kick off Start With Hello Week. The purpose is to promote connectedness, inclusion and new friendships on campus. The schedule of events will be as follows:
- Sept. 23: Meet & Greet Monday
- Sept. 24: Name Tag Tuesday
- Sept. 25: Wanna Play Wednesday
- Sept. 26: Thread with a Friend Thursday
- Sept. 27: SPIRIT DAY: Brighten someone’s day. Wear NEON!
I’m continuing to confer with teachers and staff, compiling candidates for our small counseling groups. We’re also coordinating our schedules for the upcoming Second Step and SEL lessons. These will begin in the next week or two. Mrs. W has already begun instruction with our younger students, focusing on listening skills and paying attention.
Please note, PUSD’s Caring Connections Parent Education website has new and exciting courses being offered this Fall. Each term they have different parenting education courses. We recommend periodically checking the website for the new courses offered to parents, families, and our school community. Click HERE to view the CCC Parent Education Fall Courses.
We Need Your Help: PSO Open Positions
We're still seeking volunteers for a few key PSO positions this year:
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.
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 — 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
Help Pick our Movie Night Film
Want to help pick our movie selection for the Deer Canyon Movie Night on 10/4? Then head on over to the Deer Canyon PSO Instagram (@deercanyonpso) this weekend on Saturday and Sunday to vote in a poll. May the best movie win!
