What's New?

From the Desk of Mr. Drouhard

Dear Amity Families,

We had an amazing talent show prior to our Spring Break with plenty of different acts. I’m always surprised by the talents that our students have outside of their daily academics. We heard comedy sketches, saw a variety of dances, and also plenty of great vocals! Not only do these students have talents, but also courage. It isn’t easy to stand up in front of the entire school and perform! Plenty of nightmares have occurred around such circumstances! Haha. I have no doubt we had some future Parker’s Performers in our Amity Talent Show cast!

Kudos to Zoe Parker for heading up our talent show. Thank you to Conner Singleton and Karen Henry for keeping all our acts organized backstage.

Take Care,
Josh

Weekly Photo Gallery

Click the link below to access photos from all around Amity Elementary during the week! 

Full Photo Gallery

Solar Eclipse 1 Hour Early Release Reminder

Just a reminder that we will be releasing at 2:05 on Monday, April 8th due to the Solar Eclipse. The height of the eclipse will be around 3:00 on Monday. Each student at Amity will be coming home with a pair of solar eclipse glasses so they can safely view this phenomena.

Caps For 6th Grade Art

Hi everyone! My name is Rachelle Swan, I will be student teaching in the art room with Mrs. Laine and all your kiddos. I am a senior at Miami University and will be here until the second week in May! I am so happy to be here and get to know all the students, staff, and parents!

I need your help! We will be collecting plastic bottle caps for a mural project with the 6th graders. I would love support from all grades, in collecting these caps!​ Examples are water bottles/jugs, Gatorade, sodas, etc. Any size, style and color! :)​ Please send them with your student on a day that they have art or have your student drop them off before school in the art room.

Thank you for the support and please feel free to reach out to me with any questions! My email is swanr@miamioh.edu

Sincerely,
Rachelle Swan

Champions Camp

Upcoming Erin’s Law Implementation at Amity Elementary

As a reminder, earlier this year we informed you about Ohio’s 134th General Assembly enacting Senate Bill 288,  which updated the prescribed curriculum for health education, adding requirements related to child sexual abuse prevention, dating violence prevention, and sexual violence prevention. The law includes requirements for student instruction, parent and legal guardian notification, and training for school personnel. 

• Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, schools are required to provide developmentally appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse prevention to students in grades kindergarten through six. 
• Amity will hold these sessions on April 9th, May 7th and May 9th for individual home rooms. Each session will be one hour with each student participating in one session.

Curriculum Topics:

Deer Park Schools have selected the curriculum presented by The Council on Child Abuse (COCA), which covers a range of important topics. Those topics can be found for the K-6 grade Child Abuse curriculum, linked here. The K-6 curriculum will be provided for all students in grades K-6 annually.

Video Links:
To enhance the learning experience, COCA will provide some visuals and videos that will support the learning experience. These videos will be shared with students during dedicated class sessions and are available to you ahead of time through this link.

Watch the Videos

Opt-Out Form:
We understand that discussions around child abuse can be sensitive, and we respect the individual choices of our families. If you wish to opt your child out of the COCA curriculum, please fill out the attached opt-out form. The opt- out form will be provided again closer to the presentation date, as well as a hard copy shared by your child's teacher.

View the Form

Your partnership in creating a safe and supportive learning environment is invaluable. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.

April Lunch Menu

Due to supply issues, lunch menu options change frequently based on availability. The most up-to-date menu is below, however, please continue to check the Deer Park Food Services website for the latest information.

Visit the Website

Looking Ahead

Please mark these important dates on your calendar!

• Board of Education Regular Meeting: Tuesday, April 16 | 6:30 p.m.
• Amity Fine Arts Night: Thursday, April 18 | 5:30 p.m.
• 78th Annual Parkers: Friday, April 26 | 8 p.m. & Saturday, April 27 | 2 p.m./8 p.m.
• 1st Grade Spring Concert: Thursday, May 2 | TBA

In Case You Missed It

Ohio State Test Dates

We are just a couple of weeks out from the Spring Ohio State Tests that are taken in grades 3-6. While it is still almost a month away, I want to get dates your way for family scheduling purposes. Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest and breakfast in the morning prior to testing!

ELA 3rd-6th Grade:
Tuesday, April 16th & Wednesday, April 17th

Math 3rd-6th Grade:
Tuesday, April 23rd & Wednesday, April 24th

Science 5th Grade:
Tuesday, April 30th & Wednesday, May 1st

Fine Arts Night

Please join us for Fine Arts Night, The Greatest Show at Amity on Thursday, April 18th at 5:30pm. Artwork will be displayed from all the students and surprise acts from the Cincinnati Circus will be there. A special performance by our 5th grade students will begin at 7pm. You don’t want to miss this exciting night!

Dismissal Process Changes

With a return of nice weather, we understand that there will be changes with how students get home. If your child is going to be a walker vs. their traditional car rider (or vice versa) please let our office and homeroom teacher know. This helps us coordinate within the building of where students will be going. Please feel free to utilize our Amity Attendance email address: amity.attendance@dpccsd.org

Kindergarten Registration Now Open

It's that time again, as we have officially opened Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school year!

In an effort to make this process as easy as possible, we have created a page on our website to walk you step-by-step through registration. This page will serve as your guide for registration.

As a reminder, the Deer Park Board Policy on registering for Kindergarten is that the student must turn 5 years old on or before August 1st.

If you ever have any issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at hollander.b@dpccsd.org or daily.d@dpccsd.org. We are here to help!

Visit the Registration Page

Birthday Treats Reminder

Just a reminder that we strive to have non-edible birthday treats sent in for your student.   This helps navigate potential food allergies of our students.  If you need ideas for these types of treats, please see the flier below. 

New Amity Attendance Email

In an effort to ease and improve communication, we have created a specific Amity Attendance email. We have added a quick links to our webpage within Deer Park Schools as well and will embed this attendance email on our Amity Minutes going forward. Communicating that your child is going to be absent is an important step for our attendance records.

Here is our new email address: amity.attendance@dpccsd.org.

Amity Yearbook Sales

Amity will be selling yearbooks once again. Please see the information below for details on how to order yours. All yearbooks are ordered online directly from Schoolhouse Photos.

Deer Park Preschool Registration

Deer Park residents with students who turn 4 before August 1, 2024 are eligible to attend Deer Park preschool in the 2024-25 school year.

Classes will run five days per week (Monday through Friday) with a morning and afternoon session. Each session will include up to 14 students.

Monthly tuition for students will be $200. The student MUST reside in Deer Park School District to be eligible for attendance.

You can request a spot to be held for your student beginning Jan. 5 by contacting Pam Gilreath at the Deer Park Board Office at 513.936.4698. A $25 nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve your child's spot in the class.

Official enrollment dates will be released soon. 

Please contact Director of Student Services Patty Hadden via email or by phone at (513)-936-5937 with any additional questions regarding preschool registration.

Headstart Preschool is also offered based on income requirements. Headstart is offered to qualifying students ages 3 and older. For more information about Headstart, visit the Deer Park website HERE.

Lost and Found

We will be placing the Amity Lost and Found in the cafeteria for students to look through and retrieve items. If your student is missing something, please make sure you have them take a look. We will be donating all unclaimed items to Sandy's Closet on December 18th.

Sandy’s Closet Hours

If you are in need of a coat for your child, please make sure to check out Sandy’s Closet at Holmes Elementary. Sandy's Closet is open for families to shop for clothing items Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to-3 p.m.

Individuals can contact Pam Gilreath with any questions.

Sandy's Closet Donations

Please remember Sandy's Closet for your donations of clean, gently used clothing, shoes, boots, etc. We are always accepting infant, toddler, youth sizes and clothing appropriate for our high school students.

Items can be dropped off at the Holmes Building during school days between 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thank you for your continued support of Sandy's Closet!

Paying School Fees

Please remember to pay your student fees for the 2023-2024 school year. Fees can be paid in the front office during regular office hours or by using PaySchools. You will need a student ID to set up a PaySchools account. These are found on fee forms and are the same number your student uses for their lunch account. If your student doesn’t know this number, please feel free to reach out to us with questions at 513-891-5995. You can also email our secretaries, Diane Daily and Beth Teague for help.

Staying Connected

There are multiple ways to stay connected to Amity Elementary School.

• Newsletter: All parents who have completed FinalForms should receive Amity Weekly Newsletters. If you are not currently receiving them, please register for the e-mail communication. To register, simply go to https://www.deerparkcityschools.org/ and click on the button on the bottom of the page that says “Subscribe to District News”.
• Twitter: Follow Deer Park Schools for the most up-to-date news and happenings at @DeerParkSchools or @DeerParkAmity
• Facebook: Follow us at Deer Park Community City Schools.

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Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success
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What's New?

A Message from the Principal

Hello Deer Park Families! 

We hope that you and your family have had a great Spring Break and that you were able to have some great family time over the last week. With just over a month left in the school year there is still a lot of excitement and fun happening. Please let us know if you have any questions!

John Vander Meer
Principal
Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School

Building Spotlight

This is prom week! Thank you to Ms Henry and the Junior Class for all of their work leading up to a great weekend of fun. Here is the schedule of events:

Building News

State Testing Information

This week, we will be starting state testing, which is an important tool for parents to gain insights into their child's academic progress and overall educational development. These standardized tests serve as a benchmark to assess a student's knowledge and skills in key subjects such as math, science, reading, and writing. By comparing their child's performance to a statewide standard, parents can gain a comprehensive understanding of their child's strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to make well-informed decisions about their education.

Furthermore, the results of state testing can have significant long-term implications for a student's academic and career prospects. High scores on these tests can open doors to advanced placement courses, scholarships, and prestigious academic programs. It also affects a student's path to graduation. By understanding their child's performance in relation to statewide standards, parents can guide their child towards appropriate academic pathways and set realistic goals for their future. Overall, state testing provides parents with crucial information about their child's academic progress, empowers them to actively participate in their child's education, and helps shape their child's future educational opportunities.

It is important that students are here and on time for these tests. Please let me know if you have any questions

Attention Jr High Parents:  

We have some important dates coming up in May!  

• May 9th:  8th Grade Field Trip to the University of Cincinnati
• May 13th:  7th Grade Field Trip to the University of Northern Kentucky
• May 16th - 8:30 AM: Jr High Awards and 8th Grade Graduation

Please click HERE for more information about these upcoming events!

Counselor's Corner

Check out important info from the guidance office by clicking the link below.

Counselor's Corner

Looking Ahead

Please mark these important dates on your calendar:

• Varsity Softball vs. Indian Hill HS: Tuesday, April 9 | 5:00 PM
• Varsity Softball vs. Mariemont HS: Friday, April 12 | 5:00 PM
• Junior High Run in the Park: Tuesday, April 16 | 4 p.m.
• Board of Education Regular Meeting: Tuesday, April 16 | 6:30 p.m.
• High School Run in the Park: Wednesday, April 17 | 4 p.m.
• 78th Annual Parkers: Friday, April 26 | 8 p.m. & Saturday, April 27 | 2/8 p.m.

In Case You Missed It

Deer Park Alumni Spotlight: David Coffey (Class of 1979) Shines in Media Production, Architecture, and Community Engagement

Deer Park High School alum David Coffey (Class of 1979) is not just your average success story. His journey from the halls of Deer Park to California's film industry and the historic houses of Bakersfield showcases the power of passion, dedication, and a touch of Wildcat spirit. David's story shows how his roots in Deer Park have shaped his extraordinary career and community contributions.

During his formative years at Deer Park High School, Coffey had his hands in a variety of extracurricular activities. A member of the Marching Wildcats, Debate Club (known as It’s Academic), Student Council, a Library Aide, and member of the Cross Country team, Coffey demonstrated leadership and versatility in his pursuits. His role as the PA Announcer for the Deer Park Wildcats Basketball team showcased his passion for community engagement and school spirit.

Read the Full Story

Save the Date: 25th Annual Golf Scramble

On Saturday June 8, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. shotgun start, the Deer Park Wildcat Boosters will hold our 25th Annual Golf Scramble at Avon Fields. More Details to follow.

Host an International Exchange Student 

Homework Club

UPDATED SCHEDULE - If your child needs extra help with their school work or just a place to do homework we have a homework club available for your child after school. Please see below for the schedule:

Junior High: 

• Monday - Mrs. Smith Room 153
• Tuesday - Ms. Baker Room 137
• Wednesday - Ms. Troxell Room 58 
• Thursday - Ms. Wills Room 58

High School: 

• Monday - Mrs. Beck Room 233
• Tuesday - Ms.  Feldman Room 155
• Wednesday - Mr. Moore Room 275
• Thursday - Mr. Devine Room 239
• Friday - Mrs. Beck Room 233

Paying School Fees

Please remember to pay your student fees for the 2023-2024 school year. Fees can be paid in the front office during regular office hours or by using PaySchools. You will need a student ID to set up a PaySchools account. These are found on fee forms and are the same number your student uses for their lunch account. If your student doesn’t know this number, please feel free to reach out to us with questions at 513-891-0010.

Staying Connected

There are multiple ways to stay connected to Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School. Please see the links below for ways to stay connected through Email, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

• Newsletters: All parents who have completed FinalForms should receive Wildcat Weekly Newsletters. If you are not currently receiving them, please register for the e-mail communication. To register, simply go to https://www.deerparkcityschools.org/ and click on the button on the bottom of the page that says “Subscribe to District News”.
• Twitter: Follow Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School for the most up-to-date news and happenings! @DeerParkHS, @DeerParkSchools and @dpcounselor.
• Facebook: follow us at Deer Park Community City Schools and Deer Park Jr/Sr High School
• Instagram: follow us at DPHS Principals

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Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success
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On March 21, Amity Elementary joined the global celebration of World Down Syndrome Day with a vibrant display of solidarity and creativity. Students and staff embraced the occasion by adorning mismatched socks, celebrating the connectivity of all students within our community.

Additionally, students showcased their artistic talents by creating sock artwork, which adorned the walls of Amity Elementary, creating a visually stunning tribute to inclusivity and acceptance.

World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness and promote inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome. The initiative aims to foster understanding, respect, and support for people with Down syndrome, emphasizing their valuable contributions to society.

Principal Josh Drouhard expressed his delight at the school's enthusiastic participation in this event, stating, "At Amity Elementary, we believe in celebrating our students and promoting inclusivity in every aspect of our community. World Down Syndrome Day provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about acceptance, empathy, and the importance of embracing differences.

"The colorful display of mismatched socks and the creative sock artwork beautifully exemplify our commitment to fostering a welcoming environment where every individual is valued and respected."

By participating in World Down Syndrome Day, the school reaffirmed its dedication to creating a supportive environment where all individuals can thrive.

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Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success!

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CINCINNATI, Ohio – On February 24, Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School students, along with high schools from across the Cincinnati area, illuminated 5/3 Arena at the University of Cincinnati with their spirit of giving and determination at the Night for the Fight fundraiser. Among the standout teams was "Stay Golden," comprised of 14 dedicated Deer Park students, who not only surpassed their fundraising goal but also secured a prominent position among the events 99 teams.

"Stay Golden" soared beyond expectations, rallying together to raise an impressive $10,203 in support of cancer research. Out of the 99 teams participating in the event, "Stay Golden" secured the third-largest fundraising amount.

The success of "Stay Golden" would not have been possible without the contributions of each team member. The roster included Grace Louden, Camille Lewis, Kylyn Little, Rachel Walker, Kaylan Harrison, Caden Lewis, Laura Bayer, Molly McHone, Dylan Rooks, Ellie Groeting, Reagan Osborne, Cameron Gilreath, Gina Wilson, and Haley Gilreath. Their collective efforts exemplify the spirit of generosity that defines Deer Park Schools.

As Deer Park Schools continues to nurture a culture of service, the achievements of "Stay Golden" serve as an inspiring example for all. Their dedication to making a positive impact leaves a lasting impression, reminding us all of the power of unity in the fight against cancer.

More information about Night for the Fight and CancerFree Kids can be found at https://cancerfreekids.org/.

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Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success!

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On April 26-27, Crawford Auditorium will be back alive with the sights and sounds of Parkers 2024! Tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday, April 13th from 9 a.m. to noon in the lobby of Crawford Auditorium at Deer Park High School (full sale details below). Tickets prices are $10 orchestra, $8 balcony, $5 senior citizen. Please bring cash or checks payable to Deer Park City Schools. Questions? Email godwin.s@dpccsd.org or call 513.936.4619.

Ticket sales dates (all ticket sales happen in the lobby of the auditorium):

• April 13th from 9am to noon
• April 18th from 6:30pm to 8pm
• April 23th from 6:30pm to 8pm
• Tickets will also be on sale prior to each performance

Show Times

• April 26th at 8 p.m.
• April 27th at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tickets Prices

• $10 for orchestra (main floor)
• $8 for balcony
• $5 for senior citizens