Deerfield November Newsletter

November is Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The celebration of Indigenous cultures began as a week-long celebration in 1986, when President Reagan proclaimed the week of November 23-30, 1986 as "American Indian Week." Every President since 1995 has issued annual proclamations designating the month of November as the time to celebrate the cultures, accomplishments, and contributions of Native American and Alaska Native communities.

CIRCLE DRIVE TRAFFIC PROCEDURES

WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL DRIVERS USING THE CIRCLE DRIVE FOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP FOLLOW THE SAFETY EXPECTATIONS. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE MANY DRIVERS WHO ARE CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWING THE CIRCLE DRIVE EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES.

AS A REMINDER: WHEN THE CROSSING GUARD SIGNALS TRAFFIC TO MOVE FORWARD, ALL DRIVERS MUST ADVANCE WITH THE TRAFFIC OR ALL THE WAY TO THE ORANGE TRAFFIC CONES AT THE SOUTH END OF THE CIRCLE DRIVE. SOME CARS ARE STILL STOPPING RIGHT AFTER THE CROSSWALK WHICH ABRUPTLY STOPS THE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU AND BLOCKS THE CROSSWALK.

OUR CROSSING GUARD STAFF WILL VERBALLY REMIND OR MOTION DRIVERS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN SPACE ALLOWS. PLEASE FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS WHEN THEY ARE DIRECTING TRAFFIC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN HELPING US HAVE A SAFE AND EFFICIENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP!

ARRIVAL TIME

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE DROPPED OF AT SCHOOL ANY EARLIER THAN 7:45 UNLESS EATING BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL.

STUDENTS EATING BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL SHOULD NOT ARRIVE EARLIER THAN 7:35 WHEN THE SCHOOL DOORS OPEN AND THERE IS SUPERVISION.

THE WEATHER IS GETTING COLD, SO PLEASE KNOW THAT STUDENTS WILL BE WAITING OUTSIDE UNTIL THE 7:45 BELL RINGS. IN ADDITION, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS IS THIS WEEKEND SO IT WILL BE DARK IN THE MORNINGS.

JONI APPLEMAN, PRINCIPAL

November 20-24 No School Fall Break

November 21 High 5 Nominations Due

December 10 Deerfield Plays at LGA

3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.- Third Grade

4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.- Fourth Grade

6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.- Fifth Grade

December 11 Dental Clinic at Deerfield

December 12 PTO Meeting

7:00 p.m. in the music room or via Webex

December 14 Deerfield Dines Out

Jeffersons on Wakarusa

December 19 Winter Parties

October's Character Trait was Responsibility! These students were nominated by their teacher for their OVER THE TOP Responsible behavior! They were recognized at our assembly today! Congratulations to the following students:

Each month staff give out thousands of Gold Slips to students following the 3R's. Staff turn in cards for every 50 tickets they give out. During our monthly assembly, we draw one lucky winner and they received a $10 gift card. This month's winner is Mrs. Fisher! Congratulations!

Christina Terfler has been chosen as Deerfield's Friend of Education! Christina will be recognized at the District's Friend of Education Ceremony on November 15th. Thank you Christina for the many years and hundreds of hours you have dedicated to our school! We are so very appreciative of everything you do to support our staff and students!

November 13-17 is Bully Prevention Week! We will be focusing on making Deerfield a Bully Free School! Help us celebrate this work!

• Monday: Put bullying to bed (wear pajamas)

• Tuesday: Tune out Tuesday - Tune out bullying (wear a band shirt and participate in end of day dance part)

• Wednesday: Hats off to kindness (hat day)

• Thursday: Be unique (mismatch day)

• Friday: STOP bullying (wear red - make a new friend day)

Our Deerfield Staff would like to thank our PTO for providing meals and snacks during Parent/Teacher Conference last month! It's so nice to have a hot meal provided on these long days! We can't think you enough for all you do!

Our goal is for our students to see themselves in our change makers and to also learn that they can do anything they put their mind to. Another goal is for our students to see people who are unfamiliar to them, to grow in empathy, and push for justice for the inequalities that marginalized communities face.

10/31-11/4 Ruth Asawa

11/7-11/11 Brian Hanni

11/14-11/18 Mikaila Ulmer

11/28-12/2 Sharice Davids

Tips to help improve your child's school attendance!

• Know the school’s attendance policy and when school starts (8:00 am)
• Have a regular bed time and morning routine—lay out clothes the night before.
• Schedule medical appointments after school.
• Don’t plan extended trips when school is in session. (We have lots of breaks built into our calendar)
• Have a back-up plan for getting to school when something comes up.
• Have your child stay home only when truly sick.

Deerfield's percent of students who have less than 7 absences so far this school year is 87%! This is great but we'd like it to increase to at least 95%! Below is the percent of students with less than 7 absences per grade level:

• Kindergarten - 84%
• 1st Grade - 92%
• 2nd Grade - 89%
• 3rd Grade - 91%
• 4th Grade - 81%
• 5th Grade 87%

Congrats to our 1st Graders for leading the school this month with their awesome attendance!

We are providing free dental screenings to ALL of our Deerfield students in December.

Following the screening with a dental hygienist, parents will be informed if there are any obvious dental concerns and will be provided instructions to see a dental professional if follow up is recommended.

WHEN: DECEMBER 11

WHO: ALL STUDENTS

WHY: This screening is required by the State of Kansas but does not replace a dental check-up.

You may opt-out your student from the screening by completing the Google form

HERE

*all students are screened unless an opt-out form is received prior to

December 11, 2023.

The Equity Resource guide was created by the Deerfield Equity team in the hopes that families can find resources, events and additional information to support our vision of all students attaining an equitable education. Expect 2 more guides to be sent out this year

President-Angela Wilson

Vice President-Brooke Hesler Ramsey

Treasurer-Nicole Beatty

Secretary-Heddy Pierce-Armstrong

Come to a PTO Meeting or Follow us on Facebook

TUESDAY, November 14, 2023, 7 p.m. in the Deerfield music room. If you are unable to join us in person, you can join the meeting via our Webex link below.

https://usd497.webex.com/meet/awilson

Come learn about the ways PTO supports students and staff, find out how you can help, and VOTE on issues that matter to you, including how PTO spends its budget.

Want to stay in the know?

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/deerfieldPTOlawrence

We also share all of our events and announcements in the Deerfield Parents & Guardians Facebook group. Join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1559532244201069 and invite all your Deerfield Facebook friends!

Remind - If you would like to receive PTO Text Reminders

Text 81010 with the message @dfpto

THANK YOU!!!!

Thank you to ALL of our families who contributed their time, effort and donations to our Fall Parties and Conference Meals! The fall parties were a success and teachers and staff were treated to Chipotle burritos and a lavish snack bar during conferences! A special thank you to the room parents for their party planning and to Trisha Franklin for overseeing the snack bar.

Thank you to Jered Shaw, FS Athletic Director and Deerfield parent, for allowing Deerfield PTO to work the satellite concession stand at the FS/LHS football game! The 5th grade class raised over $600 for their end of year activities!

Proposed Bylaws Changes

Deerfield PTO, Inc. is proposing changes to our bylaws, as shown attached. https://storage.googleapis.com/pt05-2/messages/attachments/b772ba6b2dc6a1b39bb7415e54b57b2f/Proposed_Amendments_to_Deerfield_Elementary_PTO_Bylaws.pdf

The bylaws committee will make a presentation regarding the proposed changes at the next PTO meeting on November 14, 2023, at 7pm in the music room, with a full vote to take place at the meeting on December 12, 2023.

Please submit any feedback regarding the proposed bylaws amendments in writing to ksdeerfieldpto@gmail.com on or before November 6, 2023, so the bylaws committee can consider the comments.

Did you know that shopping at Dillons can benefit Deerfield PTO?

The Kroger Family of Companies is committed to community engagement, positive social impact and charitable giving at the national and local levels. Every community is unique, but our common goal is to partner with the neighborhoods we serve and help the people there live healthier lives.

One of the ways in which we do this is through our Dillons Community Rewards program. This program makes fundraising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Card to an organization, all you have to do is shop at Dillons and swipe your Shopper’s Card. Here’s how it works:

• Download the Dillons app

• Open the app and click the three lines in the top right corner

• Click rewards

• Select community rewards

• Click the blue search for organization

• Type in Deerfield PTO

• Once it pops up, click enroll

It's that easy! Sign up, shop and give back to Deerfield PTO!

School secretary Amy Treat is October's High Five winner! Second-grader Charlotte Wagner nominated Amy for a High Five because Amy is the first person everybody sees when they walk into Deerfield, and she is always smiling and is always kind. PTO also thinks Amy deserves a High Five. Did you know that Amy helps coordinate getting the High Five flowers to winners? This is the first time Amy has received them herself.

Know a teacher or staff member who deserves a High Five? Nominations are now open for November and will be accepted through Tuesday, November 21. The winner receives a bouquet of flowers generously donated by Dillons at 6th & Lawrence Ave. The nominating student receives a pizza party for the class generously donated by Toppers Pizza. Students can fill out a paper form in the library or complete an online submission here: https://forms.gle/K59vX78cMufd1bvc8.

If your student nominated a teacher or staff member who didn't win, those nominations will still be considered in subsequent months during the school year. All nominees will be notified of their nominations on at least a semester basis.

Questions? Contact Brooke Hesler Ramsey at brooke.hesler@gmail.com or Heather Tildes at heathertildes@gmail.com.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders! Please join your classmates for some fun at LGA on Sunday, December 10th (See assigned times) $10 per child – PTO will receive 50%.

Play time is for Deerfield students only. We kindly ask that you do not sign up friends or siblings to ensure all students who wish to attend are able. Please make sure your student is signed up in advance. Parents and Guardians are welcome to stay, but not required. All Parents/Guardians must sign a waiver and make payment inside during drop-off.

A sign up genius will be provided closer to the December 10 date. Please email Ashlee with any questions. AshleeBeck@yahoo.com

The annual Deerfield PTO carnival will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 3-6pm.

If you are interested in helping plan the carnival and/or silent auction, email ksdeerfieldpto@gmail.com. This is PTO's largest fundraiser and it takes all hands on deck to make this event a success!

Our main mode of communication will be direct email and newsletters. However, on occasion we send text reminders for special events our announcements. If you would like to received text reminders, o sign up by texting 81010 with the following message according to your child's last name:

A-D: @deera-d

E-K: @deere-k

L-Q: @deerl-q

R-Z: @deerr-z

When prompted, enter your name and your child's name in parentheses. Please know that you number is not shared with anyone else. You can unsubscribe anytime by texted @leave.