Our Core Values
The Deerfield community is one that truly cares about all students, families, and staff members. We strive to align our actions and behaviors with the following core values: Cooperation, Academic Excellence, Acceptance, Respect, Responsibility, and Effort. Forming the acronym CARE, our core values help us create an environment in which all students can learn and grow.
Dear Deerfield Community,
I hope you had a safe and restful Thanksgiving recess and are looking forward to this short and busy stretch of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. It’s hard to believe that there are only 18 school days before the December vacation.
As we get further into the winter months, I want to take a moment to remind you of some of the policies and procedures that help us safely navigate the weather during the colder months of the school year.
Please remember that students go outside, even in snowy weather, unless it is an unsafe temperature. For Westwood Public Schools, students will stay inside if the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Students will also not have outside recess if the conditions are too icy or rainy. Please make sure your child is dressed for the winter temperatures, so he or she can play outside comfortably and safely.
On snowy days, please make sure your child is equipped with snow pants and snow boots. Without this gear, students will need to play on the shoveled blacktop areas of the playground, which is a lot less fun than playing in the snow on the field or playground. Please send your child to school with a pair of shoes in addition to snow boots. The Deerfield fields tend to remain wet and puddly for a few days after it has rained. Therefore, it is also helpful to send an extra pair of shoes with your child on and after rainy days. This will help students stay comfortable and keep our hallways and classrooms clean and dry throughout the day.
In addition, I want to provide an update regarding Deerfield’s morning arrival. Beginning on Monday, December 6, 2021, all students will begin their school day with an all-school outdoor recess during the 8:30am - 8:45am morning arrival time. Students who arrive between 8:30am - 8:45am will proceed directly to the playground where staff members will be present to provide supervision. At 8:45am, a bell will ring calling students to line-up and proceed to their classrooms. In the event of inclement weather, students will enter the school and proceed directly to their classrooms. Please do not drop your child off before 8:30am. We are not able to provide supervision of students prior to that time.
We hope this change to the start of the day will help students build peer-to-peer connections across the school community and help get their minds and bodies ready for the school day ahead.
Be kind. Work hard. Have fun!
Sincerely,
Joshua Baumer
Principal
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Joshua Baumer
Principal
Deerfield Elementary School
72 Deerfield Avenue
Westwood, MA 02090
781-326-7500 x8201
