Schedule
The daily schedule at Deer Creek is built around a 7-period day. In addition to academic and exploratory/elective periods, each grade has a common 30-minute lunch period that includes the opportunity to get outside for some fresh air and exercise. In the afternoon, all students meet in their advisory groups, call BaseCamp, which focuses on building community among students and a teacher advisor in a daily setting that's smaller than their regular classes.
Passing Periods and Lockers
The four minutes between classes is called a passing period. The passing period gives students time to move from room to room, visit the restroom, get supplies from lockers, and socialize with others. Each student is assigned a locker for the school year with a unique combination lock, with ample room to store backpacks, coats, books, and supplies.
Grading and Infinite Campus
Deer Creek uses a standard-based grading system to assess student progress in both content understanding and work habits development. For more information about grading policies, please visit our forms and documents page. Student grades are recorded in Infinite Campus, which students and parents can access through the Campus Portal. The portal allows viewers to see the teacher gradebook entries for the student for each class, including scores for assignments and assessments, as well as missing work. Updated weekly, the portal is the easiest and quickest way to keep up-to-date on student academic progress.
Jeffco TechForEd Chromebook Initiative
The Jeffco TechForEd 1:1 Chromebook Initiative supports a learning environment where every student has access to technology every day, at school and at home. Students will need reliable home access to the internet for research, communication, and homework.
Incoming 6th graders from Jeffco schools will keep the Chromebook they were assigned in 5th grade; students new to Jeffco will be assigned a device to use while at Deer Creek. An annual fee of $50 is charged to all families to cover the costs of software, support, and infrastructure. A device warranty is also available for an additional fee. Under the initiative, students will receive a new device upon entering 9th grade at a Jeffco school. Privately owned laptops, chromebooks, and other devices may be used at home, but are not allowed at school, as they do not have access to the networks, apps, software, and assessments that district devices use.
6th Graders Speak- Favorite Thing about Deer Creek
6th Grade
6th graders' daily schedules consists of:
4 core classes – English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Math
2 exploratory classes each trimester, giving students six different exploratories for the year
6th graders also have the option of choosing band, orchestra, or choir during one of their exploratory periods for the year, in exchange for other exploratory classes.
Some exploratory classes are specific to the student's chosen pathway in STEM or Humanities
Study Hall or Academic Support class
BaseCamp - an advisory period
As with 6th graders throughout Jeffco, Deer Creek 6th graders attend Outdoor Education Lab each year. In order to accommodate our large number of 6th graders, we will be assigned to both Windy Peak and Mt. Evans OELS sites.
7th Grade
7th graders have 4 core classes – English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies – and three elective classes. In addition to 25 trimester-long electives, 7th graders can also choose from several year-long electives, including choir, band, orchestra, Spanish, and French. As an option within their English/Language Arts class, 7th graders choose from two themes for their final trimester: Dystopian Worlds or Fantasy-Conquering Realms. In addition, students choose three 12-week themes from five offerings for their social studies courses: Exploring Africa, Conflict and Cooperation, -Ologies, Global Issues, and Zombie Apocalypse.
Students in the STEM pathway have three elective requirements:
Exploration of Engineering 1
One Computer Science elective
One Literature & Writing elective
For the complete catalog of 7th grade STEM electives, visit our Course Guide.
Students in the Humanities pathway have four elective requirements:
One Fine & Performing Arts elective
One Health & Applied Arts elective
One Literature & Writing elective
One Language & Cultures elective
For the complete catalog of 7th grade Humanities electives, visit our Course Guide.
8th Grade
8th graders also have 4 core classes and 3 electives. As an option within their English/Language Arts class, 8th graders select from two themes for their final trimester: Debate or True Crime & Mystery. In addition, students choose three 12-week themes from five offerings for their social studies courses: Campaigning for Compromise, (Re)Building of America, Lost Voices of US History, The Pursuit of Happiness, and Social Change.
In addition to year-long electives such as band, orchestra, choir, Spanish 1 & 2, and French 1 & 2, students can choose from 33 trimester-long electives. There are no pathway elective requirements for 8th graders, giving students the most flexibility to personalize their elective experiences. As the oldest grade at Deer Creek, 8th graders are looked upon to provide guidance and leadership in the school. Some electives are open mostly to 8th graders, including the opportunity to be a teacher aide or a student mentor in our Significant Support Needs program. For the complete catalog of 8th grade electives, visit our Course Guide.