The Tradition of Homecoming

The colorful and creative parade floats, the drums and brass of the band, the blazing bonfire, the hard-fought football game, the crowning of the king and queen, the celebratory dance are the elements that make up a traditional, excitement packed, Wildcat Homecoming weekend. 

The first known homecoming of the schools was very different.  In 1906, current and past students and teachers were welcomed back to say farewell to the small Amity schoolhouse where students had learned their lessons since 1871.  The school was closing at the end of the year to move to a new modern building.  Attendees of the homecoming came from near and far to gather on the schoolgrounds to celebrate their old school with a picnic basket dinner “followed by a program of recitations, songs and addresses,” and of course lots of fellowship and reminiscing.

An early 1900s gathering of former students on the Amity school grounds.

Deer Park homecomings have changed a great deal since that time.  The 1950s is the first we see it as an annual event revolving around a football game.  At that time, the homecoming queen candidates were driven onto the field in convertibles, and after the game, a dance was held in the school gym.  The entertainment was the school’s dance band, the Grey Scarlets. 

The tradition has evolved over time, including the addition of a parade with floats made by the classes who compete for bragging rights of being chosen the best.  Homecoming kings were added to the royal court, and the dance began to be held at a venue off campus on the day following the game.  For a period of time the Thursday night girls’ Powder Puff football game followed by a bonfire kicked off the festivities. The events have changed, the dance attire and music have changed, but the one constant is that unwavering, fierce Wildcat pride in the school.  Please enjoy a look back at Deer Park homecomings throughout the decades.

1950s

1954

1954

1955

1955

1960s

1960

1962

1967

1969

1970s

1972

1972

1973

1978

1980s

1982

Troy Temar and Kelly McNamara, 1986

1986

1986

1990s

1991

1994

1994

1994

1995

2000s

2007

2009

2009

2009

2010s

2013

2013

2014

2017

2020s

2020

2022

2024

2025

Deer Park Schools invite you to put on your scarlet and gray this weekend and enjoy the 2026 homecoming festivities with your friends, family and former classmates.  Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!

“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”

Sources:

1. Various Antlers yearbooks

    

2. “Suburban Life” newspaper clippings

A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents, photographs and personal narratives in the district’s archives.

Learn More

Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.

Sign Up Here

Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!

Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.

Alumni & Community Story Submission

As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.

If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.

Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.

Submit a Story

Everything You Need to Know: Homecoming & Bicentennial Celebration Week

One of the biggest weeks in Deer Park history is almost here!

Next week, October 5-10, Deer Park Schools will celebrate Homecoming alongside the culmination of our Bicentennial Celebration, bringing together students, families, alumni and community members for a week celebrating 200 years of Deer Park pride.

From Harvest Night and Senior Night celebrations to the Homecoming Parade, football game, alumni activities and Bicentennial Celebration, there is plenty happening throughout the week.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Thursday, October 8 | Amity Fall Harvest Night

6:00-7:30 p.m. | Amity Elementary

Amity families are invited to a free evening of activities throughout the building.

From 6-7 p.m., teachers will host literacy games and activities at each grade level. The Amity Book Fair will also be open for purchases, with proceeds benefiting the Amity Library.

At 7 p.m., the Third Grade class will hold a special performance in the gym.

The event is free for all Amity families.

Thursday, October 8 | Volleyball Senior Night

Senior recognition around 6:30 p.m. | Varsity match at 7 p.m.

Help us celebrate our Wildcat seniors as Deer Park Volleyball hosts Senior Night.

Senior recognition is expected to begin around 6:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match at approximately 7 p.m.

Come out and help us recognize our seniors and cheer on the Wildcats!

Thursday, October 8 | AHA Spaghetti Dinner & Soccer Red Out

Deer Park Boys and Girls Soccer will host the 11th annual American Heart Association Spaghetti Dinner and Red Out at Deer Park High School.

Dinner, provided by Krimmer’s Italianette, will be served from 4-6 p.m. in the Deer Park High School cafeteria. The meal includes spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, a breadstick and lemonade or water. Baked goods will also be available for purchase from our soccer athletes.

Carry-out is available for those who would like to take dinner to the stadium and cheer on the Wildcats.

Soccer action begins with the Varsity Girls at 5 p.m., followed by the Varsity Boys at 7 p.m.

American Heart Association staff will also be in attendance to offer “Stayin’ Alive” Hands-Only CPR demonstrations, free Know Your Numbers blood pressure screenings and other heart-healthy information.

All proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.

Be sure to wear red to support our Wildcats and the American Heart Association!

Friday, October 9 | Homecoming Parade

5:30 p.m. | St. John’s Church down Plainfield Road

Homecoming Friday begins with the annual Homecoming Parade at 5:30 p.m.

The parade will leave from St. John’s Church and travel down Plainfield Road toward Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School.

Students, families, alumni and community members are encouraged to line the parade route and help us celebrate Homecoming and 200 years of Deer Park Schools.

Friday, October 9 | Homecoming Football Game

7 p.m. | Deer Park vs. Taylor High School

Following the parade, make your way to the stadium as the Wildcats take on Taylor High School in the 2026 Homecoming game.

This year's Homecoming will include several special opportunities for Deer Park alumni as we celebrate the district's Bicentennial:

• Cheer Alumni: Join the team for the pregame tunnel and “Onward Deer Park.” Alumni should meet at the stadium following the parade.
• Chorus Alumni: Join us to sing the National Anthem and Alma Mater. Alumni should meet at the track by 6:45 p.m.
• Former Deer Park Homecoming Kings & Queens: Past Homecoming royalty is invited back for a special recognition during the evening. Alumni should meet at the track before halftime.

It will be a special night at Harry Yeaggy Family Stadium as generations of Wildcats come together to celebrate 200 years of Deer Park pride, 1826-2026!

Saturday, October 10 | Cheers to 200 Years: Deer Park Bicentennial Celebration

5-8 p.m. | Montgomery Inn

The celebration continues Saturday evening with Cheers to 200 Years: Deer Park Bicentennial Celebration, a special gathering for Deer Park alumni, staff, families, friends and community members.

The adults-only event is open to guests 21 and older and includes:

• Heavy appetizers
• Commemorative signature glass
• Two drink tickets
• Live music
• Raffle prizes

An evening celebrating two centuries of Deer Park Schools

Tickets are $50 per person.

Saturday, October 10 | Homecoming Dance

7-10 p.m. | Deer Park High School Gymnasium

Deer Park High School students will close out Homecoming Weekend with the 2026 Homecoming Dance.

The dance will be held from 7-10 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium. Attire is semi-formal.

Tickets are $30 and are PRESALE ONLY. Tickets will be sold:

• Wednesday, October 7: During breakfast and high school lunch
• Thursday, October 8: During high school lunch

Scarlet Oaks students must email henry.ka@dpccsd.org to order tickets and submit the required paperwork.

All students attending the dance must be checked in by 8 p.m. If a student purchases a ticket but does not arrive by 8 p.m., their parent or guardian will be notified.

Leave Your Mark on Wildcat Walk

As Deer Park celebrates 200 years, families, alumni, staff and community members have an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the Don Benhase Wildcat Walk! Purchase a personalized commemorative brick to honor your family, recognize a graduate, celebrate a special memory or simply show your Wildcat pride.

Bricks will become a permanent part of Wildcat Walk, creating a lasting connection between today’s Deer Park community and generations of Wildcats to come.

Purchase your Wildcat Walk Brick:

200 Years. One Deer Park.

Whether you're spending Thursday evening at Amity, celebrating our senior student-athletes, lining Plainfield Road for Friday's parade, returning to Howard Field as an alum, joining us at Montgomery Inn or celebrating at the Homecoming Dance, there are plenty of ways to be part of this historic week.

Wildcats past, present and future are invited to join us for a Homecoming and Bicentennial Celebration 200 years in the making!

-- Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success! --

Onward Deer Park High

After World War II, the growth of the American suburbs exploded.  Deer Park’s rural landscape soon transitioned into a suburban community.  It was the perfect place for young families to build a home and seek the American Dream.   By the fall of 1937, total enrollment of the Deer Park Village School (which housed Amity and the high school) was 766 students with 23 graduating in the spring.  Within 10 years the enrollment had grown 68% to 1,124 pupils with 60 seniors receiving diplomas.   By the mid-1940s the Amity Road building was bursting at the seams. 

It was clear, the district needed more space for students and plans were made for a new high school.  Eighteen acres of land had been purchased several years earlier along Plainfield Pike, and now was the time to use it. 

Superintendent Carl Crawford and principals Gillilan and Watters study blue prints, late 1940s.

During construction of the new high school, the Amity building was very overcrowded.  Once the new building was far enough along to be occupied, a decision was made to move a group of students there.  The gym and specialized classrooms were not yet built or prepared to accept high school students so the 4th through 6th grade students attended class in the unfinished building from the winter of 1951 through the spring of 1952.  A former student recalled that after Christmas break, his 6th grade class carried their books and personal belongings down Linden Avenue to the unfinished high school where they spent the rest of the school year. 

Aerial view of new Deer Park High School – Front of building and gym/industrial arts wing

The start of the 1952 school year was an exciting time for the community as the new Deer Park High School welcomed its first students along with the junior high classes.  The north wing was not entirely complete but when finished later in 1953 offered a gymnasium, locker rooms and the industrial arts, home economics and commercial departments.  The new building also included a branch of the Cincinnati Public Library which served the high school students and community for many years. 

The long awaited and new Deer Park High School, 1952

The Cincinnati Public Library branch was in the front south corner of the high school. (1958)

Whether learning team work through sports, the use of tools and machinery, the skills of home economics or the commercial skills of business - the north wing was always abuzz with activity.

The dedication for the new school was held in November.  An open house was held before the ceremony allowing the community to view the school.  The Band Sponsors served a turkey dinner in the cafeteria at $1.50 for adults and $0.75 for children.  The dedication ceremony included music provided by the high school band, presentation of flags by the V.F.W., remarks by P.T.A. and school board members and the invocation and benediction by clergymen.  As was the custom at the time, the school district presented the building to the community as a symbol of appreciation for their support in funding the school.  It was accepted by the mayor of Deer Park and a Rossmoyne community leader.

Within a decade, the community outgrew the high school building and there was a need for more classroom space.  In 1961, a junior high wing was added that extended west and north  from the original section of the school.  This addition formed a quadrangle of the entire junior-senior high building with a courtyard in the center.

Graduates examine the new construction at their alma mater.

The new junior high wing and courtyard, 1962

Junior high students hard at work, 1958

The original blueprints drawn up in the late 1940s included plans for a third wing on the south end of the building.  It was to provide an auditorium and classroom space for the instrumental and vocal music departments.  With no auditorium at the high school, concerts, plays, Parkers and ceremonies were still performed on the small Amity stage.  There was limited seating, the teacher lunchroom was used as the dressing room and students often had to go out a side door and run around the back of the building to enter from the opposite side of the stage - which was especially challenging on a rainy night.   After nearly 20 years of using the stage down the street, the time had come to build the performing arts wing.  This phase of the plan finally became a reality with the 1969 dedication of the Carl Crawford Auditorium, a beautiful 948 seat venue for showcasing the students’ talents and celebrating their successes with ceremonies.

Carl Crawford was a teacher, coach and principal at Deer Park High School before serving as superintendent for 23 years.

The 1950s and 60s were a time where Wildcat Pride in our schools was on full display. The construction of the junior/senior high school, the athletic fields and the performing arts auditorium were the result of great vision and community support that resulted in a school in which the students, staff, parents and community all took great satisfaction. The school has continued to evolve over the decades to meet ever changing educational needs.  In 2015 the industrial arts and home economics wing was redesigned to create the Career Academy, a flexible space to promote future ready learners.  In recent years, floor by floor renovations have occurred to update the classrooms for the needs of today. 

Students take a break from class and enjoy a beautiful day on the front lawn, 1966

The pioneers who raised the first log schoolhouse in 1826 could never have imagined the modern high school that now resides just yards away from where that primitive school once stood.  Their foresight and sacrifice for their children’s education resulted in the legacy that is today Deer Park Schools.   

“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”

Notes:

• A bond was passed in 1945 for $400,000 to construct the first part of the high school facing  Plainfield Rd. The district was expecting federal money to complete the work, but the federal law didn’t pass.  Therefore, a bond for $597,000 was approved by the voters in 1950 for the construction of the gym and industrial arts wing. 
• Amity Road is now known as Galbraith Road

Sources:

1. “The Sycamore Messenger”, May 17, 1962, “School System, Deer Park’s Pride”

    

2. Amity a Reflection, 1907-2007, submitted recollection of Paul Herbert

    

3. Dedication Program for Deer Park High School, November 12, 1952

    

4. Dedication Program for Carl E. Crawford Auditorium, March, 1969

    

5. Various Antlers yearbooks

A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents, photographs and personal narratives in the district’s archives.

Learn More

Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.

Sign Up Here

Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!

Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.

Alumni & Community Story Submission

As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.

If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.

Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.

Submit a Story

For more than the first century of Deer Park Schools, students brought their meals in lunch pails and ate in classrooms, on the front steps or on the school grounds. Others walked home for their noon meal.  With the opening of the high school addition to Amity in 1935, there was a cafeteria for the first time.  The dining space was much smaller than Amity’s lunchroom today, occupying less area than two classrooms.  This was adequate space for the time though because meals were only served to high school students.

Deer Park High School students enjoying lunch, 1939

The business of managing the new cafeteria was owned and operated by Anna Hambly.  Mrs. Hambly had deep ties to our schools as she had attended the two room Amity building on Plainfield Pike as a young girl and continued to live in the community.  She made all the food from scratch and took great pride in offering a daily variety of appetizing and nutritious luncheon menus at prices which seem inconceivable to us today.  For 24 cents a student could have pork chops with dressing, buttered peas, jello salad with fruit, cottage cheese and butterscotch pudding.

Amity cafeteria staff, 1937

Anna Hambly on left.

Serving lunch to the high school students required more manpower than what just three cooks could manage. The home economics teacher organized students who were interested in working in the cafeteria galley.  This group was referred to as the “Kitchen Mechanics” or “Knights”.  The high school paper reported, “In return for services performed, in the cafeteria, during the lunch hour, a group of students receive their noon-day repast.  This group is rotated so that every two weeks a new group of Knights are present in the galley.”

Students also had the option of leaving school during their lunch period.  Some walked home to eat, but others bought lunch at small stores and delis along Amity and Blue Ash Roads.  Kirkpatrick’s was located directly across the street from Amity.  Mrs. Kirkpatrick would sell soups, sandwiches, small cans of beans etc. to the students who would eat at benches in the store.  Another popular spot was Leverenz which was close to the railroad tracks. They offered specials each day such as spaghetti, chili, macaroni and cheese or soup.  There were no chairs or tables so students sat out front on the steps and held their food on their laps.  Being a rural area at the time, there were dairies nearby so another option was a nearby dairy bar.

After a new high school was built on Plainfield Road in the early 1950s, the elementary students who didn’t chose to walk home for lunch began eating in the cafeteria.  They also took over the jobs the high school students had done helping in the kitchen. The cafeteria didn’t have an automatic dishwasher so students were the dishwashers – washing and drying dishes by hand.  Students could work during their recess period and get a free lunch and payment of a quarter a week. In the 1960s, the cafeteria was enlarged, and a huge automatic dishwasher was installed.  Students still helped but only needed to stack the dishwasher and sort the silverware.  Today’s students may be surprised to learn that lunch wasn’t served on disposable trays with sporks. Rather it was served on trays with plates, bowls, cups and silverware which all needed to be washed, and that job was taken on by students. 

Today the high school and elementary lunchrooms are bigger and brighter. The kitchens have modern appliances, some of which weren’t even imagined in the 1930s.  The student meal choices have also changed to reflect evolving eating habits and interests.  (Kids – pizza and tacos would never have been on the menu even though they are student favorites today.)  Regardless of the changes, one thing remains constant … lunch is still one of the students’ favorite periods of the day … and the teachers’ too.

“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”

Notes:

• Amity Road is today named Galbraith Road.
• Kirkpatrick’s was located in the small gray building that still stands on Galbraith Road, directly across from Amity School.

Sources:

1. Amity: A Reflection, 1907-2007
2. Interview with Marian (Baker) Mueller, March 2007
3. Interview with Betty Poole, March 2007
4. Submitted Amity memories, Dennis Klasmeir, 2007
5. "Tom Tom,” Oct. 29, 1936, (Deer Park High School newspaper)
6. Antlers, 1939, (Deer Park High School yearbook)

A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents, photographs and personal narratives in the district’s archives.

Learn More

Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.

Sign Up Here

Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!

Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.

Alumni & Community Story Submission

As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.

If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.

Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.

Submit a Story

Deer Park Community City Schools is partnering with the Hamilton County Health Department and 1N5 to offer a series of four FREE virtual parent sessions designed to support student wellness and provide families with valuable resources to help their children thrive.

The series kicks off next Tuesday, September 29, with a session on Healthy Habits! All Deer Park families are invited to participate in these free online sessions, which will cover a variety of topics focused on promoting healthy habits, supporting mental and emotional well-being, and helping parents navigate challenges facing today's students.

Each session will take place virtually from 6 to 7 p.m., allowing families to participate from the comfort of their own homes.

Through this partnership, Deer Park Schools hopes to provide parents and guardians with practical information, helpful strategies and opportunities to learn more about supporting their children's overall wellness.

Families are welcome to participate in any or all of the sessions that interest them. For those who prefer additional privacy, participants are welcome to keep their microphones and cameras turned off throughout the sessions. Families can listen and learn without being required to appear on camera or speak.

All four sessions are free and open to district families.

How to Join

• All sessions will be held virtually via Google Meet from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Click Here to Join the Virtual Parent Wellness Sessions 
• Families may also join by phone:
• Phone: (570) 634-6210
• PIN: 849 885 721#

Deer Park Schools is grateful to the Hamilton County Health Department and 1N5 for their partnership in providing these valuable opportunities for our families. Together, we can continue to support the health, wellness and success of every Wildcat.

-- Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success! --