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Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School Wildcat Weekly: August 23 2026

Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School Wildcat Weekly: August 23 2026

A Message from the Principal

Dear Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School Families,

Welcome to the 200th year of Deer Park Schools. It was so great to have our students back in school this week! We had an excellent first week, and I want to give a special shout-out to our 7th graders. Their transition into the Jr./Sr. High School has been as smooth as any group I have seen since I have been here. They appear to be a great group of students, and we are excited to have them as part of our school community!

If you are new to our newsletter, welcome! We try to include everything you need to know about what is happening at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School. Please take the time to read through the newsletter completely so you do not miss any important information.

If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can contact me at 513-891-0010 or by email at vandermeer.j@dpccsd.org.

We are looking forward to a great school year!

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

Building Highlights

Our first week of school was filled with lots of action! We kicked things off with our class meetings on the first day, where we reviewed our building-wide expectations and set the tone for a great school year.

We also had our first sporting events of the year, including volleyball, boys and girls soccer, and our first football game on Friday night. 

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year. Seeing our students return to the field and court gives us the opportunity to watch the next generation of Wildcats stand out, grow, and excel. We are excited to see what this year has in store for all of our students!

Building News

Our first week of classes has been off to a great start, especially with our new College Credit Plus (CCP) classes! It has been exciting to see our students dive into these opportunities as they work toward becoming Future Ready while also earning college credit and potentially reducing future college expenses.

If you have any questions about your student’s classes or coursework, please do not hesitate to reach out to their teachers. We are excited about all the opportunities this school year has to offer!

Marching Wildcats Friends & Family Performance

The Marching Wildcats invite friends, family members and the Deer Park community to a special Friends & Family Performance on Wednesday, August 26 at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School.

After being unable to perform Friday night, the band is excited for another opportunity to take the field and showcase this year’s show! Guests may begin arriving at 8:30 p.m., with the performance beginning around 8:40 p.m.

Come out and help us give our Marching Wildcats a great crowd and plenty of Wildcat support!

Clubs and Extracurriculars

Deer Park offers a TON of free and fun clubs for students to take part in. Click the link below to see the list with start dates, times, etc!

Click Here

Counselor Corner

Click the link below to view the 2026-27 Counselor Corner

The 2026-27 Counselor Corner

Looking Ahead

  • Girls JH Volleyball vs. Indian Hill: Monday, August 24 | 4:30/5:30 p.m.
  • Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Seven Hills: Monday, August 24 | 7 p.m.
  • JH/HS Cross Country at Clark Montessori: Tuesday, August 25 | 5 p.m.
  • JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. Mariemont: Tuesday, August 25 | 5:30/6:30 p.m.
  • Girls Varsity Soccer vs. CNE: Tuesday, August 25 | 7 p.m.

  • Senior Retreat: Friday, August 28

    • We will be taking all seniors off campus to Connection Point, the location where we hold band camp. Students who attend Scarlet Oaks will be excused from Scarlet for the day. The retreat will provide our seniors with an opportunity to bond, build relationships, and help set the direction for a great school year. Students will hear from two outstanding speakers, participate in team-building activities, and enjoy a cookout together. Please make sure you have completed the field trip form in FinalForms so that your student is able to attend. 

       

  • Picture Day: Wednesday, September 9

    • All students will be expected to have their picture taken so that we can update their photo in our school records.

In Case You Missed It

Bell Schedule

For the Jr./Sr. High School  Schedule please click here Click Here 

A couple of things to keep in mind regarding the daily schedule:

  • The school day will be 8:10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Doors will open at 7:30 a.m Students may buy breakfast during this time
  • All students arriving prior to 8:00 a.m. will report to the cafeteria until the bell rings, releasing them to their lockers and class.

Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School Backpack & Cell Phone Policy

As we begin the 2026-27 school year, we want to remind students and families of a few important expectations regarding backpacks, electronic devices and Chromebooks.

Students are permitted to carry their backpacks with them throughout the school day and will also be assigned a locker.

All personal electronic devices—including cell phones, AirPods, headphones and similar items—must be turned off and stored in the student’s backpack during the school day.

All students will be issued a district Chromebook for use at school. Students should not bring personal computers, laptops or iPads to school.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a focused, distraction-free learning environment for all students.

Attendance Reminders/Updates:

Please review the following instructions:

  • When a student is absent, please call the attendance line at 513-891-2414 before the start of the school day.
  • If a student will have a late arrival or early dismissal, please email DPHSattendance@dpccsd.org no more than one day in advance. Be sure to include the student's name, reason for leaving/arriving late, and the time the student will be picked up.
    • Ensure that all emails come from an address we have on file for a parent/guardian. If the email address is not on file, it will not be accepted.
    • If you send an email or a physical note for early dismissal, you do not need to come in to sign your child out; we will allow them to sign out on their own.
    • However, if you only call and do not provide written permission, you will be required to come into the school and sign your child out on the SafeId kiosk, located in the main lobby.
  • Even if your child is 18, they will not be permitted to leave without parental permission.
  • Any medical appointment or court appearance is excused and will not be counted against a student.
    • These appointments will only be marked as medically excused once documentation (e.g., a medical note) has been received to verify.

Dress Code Reminders

As we welcome students back for another school year, we want to remind students and families of our expectations regarding appropriate dress at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School.

Students should make clothing choices that align with the school dress code and help maintain a respectful, comfortable and focused learning environment for everyone.

We appreciate the support of our families in reviewing these expectations with students before the start of school. Complete dress code information can be found in the Student Handbook, accessible through FinalForms.

Apply for Free/Reduced Lunch

Free Reduced Lunch

Schoology and FinalForms

Please be sure your FinalForms are updated prior to your child starting school, as mentioned above, before receiving his/her Chromebook. Please check your previously entered information for accuracy. You may click here to access the forms and get started.

Secondly, as a reminder, teachers use Schoology to keep grades and assignments up to date. Schoology’s platform offers a tremendous amount of information in a user-friendly version. You will be able to communicate with your child’s teachers and check homework and grades through Schoology. If you need your Schoology login information, please contact the main office at 513-891-0010.

Picture Day

Sports Pictures

From the School Nurse

As we prepare for the start of the school year, please review these important health reminders:

Medication Drop-Off: Daily or emergency medications may be dropped off on Thursday, August 13 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday, August 17 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or on regular school days from 7:45 a.m.-3:05 p.m.

Per school policy, students may not carry their own medications, with the exception of inhalers and EpiPens when the required forms have been completed. Medication forms and additional information are available on the district’s Student Health Services webpage: https://www.deerparkcityschools.org/parents/student-health-services

Required Vaccinations: All 7th-grade students must have documentation showing they received the Tdap and meningococcal ACWY vaccines after age 10.

All seniors must have documentation showing they received a second/booster dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine after age 16.

Please send updated vaccination records to Nurse Christie at c.scholl@dpccsd.org.

2026-27 PDF District Calendar

Each year, the Deer Park Board of Education approves the district's yearly calendar, which can be found on the Deer Park Schools website. This calendar includes official school dates, holidays, and breaks. Additionally, a printed event calendar will be sent home with your student during the first week of school. For your convenience, you can access the PDF calendar using the link provided below.

View the Calendar

Staying Connected

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

  • E-Mail: Newsletter: All parents who have completed FinalForms should receive Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School Weekly Newsletters. If you are not currently receiving them, please register for the e-mail communication. To register, simply go to www.deerparkcityschools.org and click on the button on the bottom of the page that says “Subscribe to District News”. From there, you will send an email requesting that you be added to future email communication from the district.
  • X: Follow Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School for the most up-to-date news and happenings! @DeerParkHS, @DeerParkSchools, @dpcounselor, and @DP_Athletics
  • Instagram: Follow @deerparkhs for photos featuring students, teachers and staff!
  • Facebook: Follow us at Deer Park Community City Schools and Deer Park Jr/Sr High School.

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Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success

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