Mission Statement Our mission at Deerwood Elementary School is to be steadfast in our commitment to working collaboratively to make our school the best school in Osceola County and beyond. Our Vision We will guarantee our Challenger community has the education they deserve by:
- Creating a collaborative community that cultivates and empowers future leaders.
- Meeting the needs of each diverse learner on their learning pathway.
- Instilling confidence in all Challengers that they can innovate to become the best at what they choose.
At Deerwood, we R.I.S.E. All Deerwood Challengers will RISE to achieve academic, behavioral, and social success. Together we will demonstrate Resilience, Integrity, Safety, and an Eagerness to Learn. We are the Challengers, and we will RISE! Behavioral Expectations - Resilience – Always bounce back and try your best when something gets hard.
- Integrity – Be honest, and always do the right thing even when no one is watching.
- Safety – Think before you speak, think before you act, and be aware of your body.
- Eagerness to Learn – Put your best effort into your learning and get better each day.
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School Hours: 8:20 am - 3:15 pm Wednesdays 7:50 - 2:15 pm Student arrival: 7:50 - 8:20 am Visitor Check-In:
- All visitors must check in at the front office. A valid photo ID will be required for entry.
- Visitors will receive a visitor sticker that must be worn at all times while on school premises.
Scheduled Appointments:
- Whenever possible, please schedule appointments in advance to minimize wait times at the front entrance.
Student Drop-Off:
- Student arrival is through our car rider or walker/bike gates only. All gates will close by 8:15 am. Parents and guardians dropping off or picking up students during school hours must do so through the main school entrance. Staff will be available to assist with the process.
- Students will not be permitted to be dropped off in the front office area unless arriving tardy to school.
- Students arriving after 8:20 am must be escorted to the front door by a parent/guardian for entry into the school.
Student Pick up:
- Must provide a valid physical id such as an identification card, driver's license, or passport.
Rainy Day Dismissal:
- During inclement weather, walkers and bike riders will be held until safe. Please come to the front office (park in parking lot) to pick up your child. Once the weather is cleared up, we will dismiss walkers/bikers as usual.
Breakfast:
- All students are offered free breakfast from 7:50-8:20 am. Please arrive by 8:00 if you want your child to have breakfast as we do not want them to be late to class.
Cell Phone use:
- Not permitted upon entry to campus.
Dress Code:
- All students are expected to comply with our school dress code colors regardless of grade level.
Parent Portal account:
- All parents should have an account. The Parent Portal allows parents to better monitor their child’s progress in school by providing Internet access to grades, attendance, discipline academic history, graduation verification, and standardized test results in a secure password-protected environment.
ParentSquare:
- Please join our school ParentSquare to stay connected and informed of school events and important notifications right to your phone.
PBIS:
- The goal of PBIS is to create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment that promotes positive behavior, academic achievement, and social-emotional well-being for all individuals. Through evidence-based practices, collaboration, and targeted interventions, we seek to prevent challenging behaviors, strengthen social skills, and foster a culture of respect, responsibility, and support. Our ultimate goal is to empower individuals to become self-disciplined, confident, and successful contributors to their communities.
Classlink:
- All students have access to multiple resources in Classlink to work on at home to strengthen their reading and math skills. If your child does not know their password, reach
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District Multilingual Parent Leadership Council |
We are seeking parents of multilingual learners to serve on our Multilingual Parent Leadership Council (MPLC). The MPLC provides parents with valuable information, resources, and leadership opportunities that empower them to support multilingual learners while serving as advocates within their school communities.
Our first meeting will be held in person on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Professional Development Building. Subsequent meetings will be conducted virtually to provide greater flexibility for participants.
We invite parents to represent our school who are actively involved and demonstrate a commitment to supporting multilingual learners. MPLC members gain important insights about district initiatives, educational programs, and resources that they can share with fellow parents and families at their schools.
Meeting Dates 2026-2027 September 2, 2026 - in person November 3, 2026 - Virtual (TEAMS) February 3, 2026 - Virtual (TEAMS) April 7, 2026 - Virtual (TEAMS)
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As we prepare to welcome our Challengers back to school next week, we want to share a few important reminders to help ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process for all students and families.
School Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:20 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Wednesday: 8:20 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Students may enter campus beginning at 7:50 a.m. Arrival & Dismissal Options Car Riders All car riders must use the designated car loop. Please remain in your vehicle at all times. Students should enter and exit vehicles from the passenger side only. During dismissal, families must display a current Deerwood-issued car tag for student pickup. Car tags will be available for pick-up at Meet the Teacher for families who complete the form. DWES Car Tag Information 2026-2027 – Fill out form-
Walkers & Bike Riders -Only students may enter through the walker/biker gate. -Please do not stop or park your vehicle near the walker gate. -Families arriving by car should use the designated car loop for drop-off and pickup. Bus & Private Transportation -To check bus eligibility, visit:
-Please contact the front office for information regarding private transportation options. Important Information Drop-off and pick-up at the front of the school are not permitted. Access to the front loop is reserved for supported classrooms with an approved special car tag. Please follow all staff directions and use the traffic pattern shown in the map below. The first few days of school are always our busiest, and your patience and cooperation help keep everyone safe. By working together and following these procedures, we can ensure a smooth start to the school year for all of our Challengers. If you have questions, please contact the school office at 407-870-2400. We can't wait to see our students tomorrow! |
📞 Report an Absence Attendance Hotline: 407-870-4073 Parents should call the Attendance Hotline each time their child is absent.
✅ Excused Absences - Documentation must be submitted within 2 school days of the absence.
- Upload documentation through the FOCUS Parent Portal.
- Students may have up to 5 parent-excused absences per semester without medical documentation when reported through the Attendance Hotline.
🏥 Medically Excused Absences - Medical documentation is required.
- Documentation must include the date(s) of the appointment or illness.
- Upload documentation to the FOCUS Parent Portal within 2 school days.
✈️ Pre-Arranged Absences - Must be requested 10 school days in advance.
- Supporting documentation is required.
- Examples: funerals, family travel, special events.
- District policy allows 3 pre-arranged excused absences per year.
- Approval is not guaranteed. The Principal reserves the right to approve or deny requests.
✝️ Religious Absences - Follow the same procedures as pre-arranged absences.
- Verification of the religious observance may be requested.
⏰ Tardy to School - Students arriving late must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to check in.
- Excessive tardies may result in disciplinary action.
🚶 Early Dismissal - No student checkouts during the last 30 minutes of the school day.
- Students may only be released to an approved emergency contact.
- A valid government-issued photo ID is required.
📍 Attendance Office Maria Cuevas 📧 maria.cuevas@osceolaschools.net 📞 407-870-2400 Ext. 24210 |
The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a team of people representing various segments of the community–parents, teachers, students, administrators, support staff, business/ industry people and other interested community members.
The purpose of a SAC is to assist in the preparation and evaluation (developing and evaluating) of the results of the school improvement plan and to assist the principal with the annual school budget. Additionally, SAC receives funds "to be used at the discretion of the School Advisory Committee A portion of the money should be used for implementing the school improvement plan." "The improvement plan shall include performance indicators which are measurable."
Each school in the State of Florida must have a SAC. By law, each SAC must be composed of the principal and an “appropriately balanced” number of “stakeholders.” These individuals must be representative of the ethnic, racial and economic makeup of the community served by the school. The majority of SAC members (over 50 percent) must not be employed by the SCHOOL DISTRICT on whose SAC they serve. |
Parent & Student Resources |
The Osceola Schools Parent Resources page provides families with a comprehensive hub of tools, information, and supports to help students succeed. It includes essential items such as attendance guidelines, bell schedules, enrollment and registration links, school meals, transportation, supply lists, and academic calendars. Families can also access instructional resources like Canvas Observer, Focus Parent Portal, ClassLink, and at‑home learning tools (e.g., CPALMS, Khan Academy). Additionally, the page offers curriculum guidance, assessment information, mental health and student support resources, ESE and MTSS guidance, safety information, bullying reporting tools, and community partner links. The site serves as a one‑stop location for district updates, academic supports, wellness programs, extracurricular information, and parent engagement opportunities. The School District of Osceola County, Florida - Parent & Student Information Page. |
Families of students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Florida are eligible to participate in the New Worlds Reading Initiative. This free program provides nine high-quality books delivered directly to your home each month, supporting literacy development and encouraging a lifelong love of reading. Enrollment is simple and takes only a few minutes to complete online.
Sign up here:
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Dear Deerwood Families, We’re excited to announce that Deerwood Elementary School spirit clothing is now available online at https://sfnd.io/qgqk2! 🎉 Support our school and show off your Challenger pride with a variety of customizable apparel including: Whether you're a student, parent, staff member, or alumni, there's something for everyone.
Thank you for supporting our school community. Let’s wear our spirit proudly! |
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Our district has partnered with Varsity Tutors again this year to provide unlimited, live support from highly qualified tutors, self-study resources, and engaging extracurricular classes.
When students need help with homework or are struggling to solve a problem, they can immediately chat with a tutor, 24/7, to get the help they need. Students can take practice tests and follow personal lesson plans for guided self-study. They can also sign up for expert-led live classes, and learn subjects like Geometry, Middle School Math, Elementary School Reading and more. All students are enabled to access the Varsity Tutors platform via Classlink.
The comprehensive platform integrates interactive study tools, collaborative workspaces, and dynamic tutoring resources including:
- 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring
- On-Demand Essay Review
- Live Enrichment and Remediation Classes
- SAT and ACT Test Prep Classes
- Celebrity-Led StarCourse Classes
- Self Study Resources
- College & Career Readiness Resources
- Adaptive Assessments & Personalized Learning Plans
- Recorded Enrichment Classes
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The Zones of Regulation helps children to manage difficult emotions, known as ‘self-regulation’. Self-regulation can go by many names such as ‘self-control’, ‘impulse management’ and ‘self-management’. We want students at DWES to grow into successful teenagers and adults. Teaching students at a young age about managing their feelings will support them in later life so that they don’t turn to negative coping strategies which affect their mental and physical wellbeing. We aim to help students to: - Recognize when they are in the different Zones and learn how to change or stay in the Zone they are in.
- Increase their emotional vocabulary so they can explain how they are feeling.
- Recognize when other people are in different Zones, thus developing better empathy.
- Develop an insight into what might make them move into the different Zones.
- Understand that emotions, sensory experiences (such as lack of sleep or hunger) and the environment might influence which Zone they are in.
- Develop problem-solving skills and resilience.
- Identify a range of calming and alerting strategies that support them (known as their personal ‘toolkit’).
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FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows the public to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. FortifyFL was created and funded by the 2018 Florida Legislature as part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The application was named by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The Office of Attorney General, Department of Education and Florida Department of Law Enforcement coordinated its development and roll-out.
Quick and Easy Safety Tip Submission
By accessing FortifyFL, students or parents can provide a description of the threat, share pics and videos and optionally submit their contact information.
The FortifyFL app can be located in Classlink.
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Running Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:45am 9/4 - 2nd grade Squishy Day Fundraiser - $2:00 9/7 - Labor Day Holiday 9/10 - Cross Country Meet @ Kissimmee Middle 9/19 Cross Country Meet @ DWES 9/25 - Student Holiday/No School 9/26 - Cross Country Meet @ St. Cloud HS 9/28-10/2 - Career Week & Book Fair 9/30 - Parent Workshop 10/1 - Fall Pictures 10/3 - Cross Country Meet @ OHS 10/9 - End of 1st Grading Period 10/12 - Teacher Workday/Student Holiday 10/15 - Cross Country Meet @ Kissimmee Middle |
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Deerwood Elementary School
Location: 3701 Marigold Avenue Phone: (407) 870-2400 |
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