What's New?

A Message from the Principal

Dear Deer Park Jr./Sr. High Families:

We hope you enjoyed a wonderful weekend and had the opportunity to attend the Cake Walk on Saturday night. As a reminder, this week follows a shortened schedule: classes will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with parent/teacher CCR conferences taking place on Thursday and Friday.

We encourage you to actively participate in the conferences as they offer valuable insights into your child's progress and provide a great opportunity to collaborate with our dedicated staff. Your involvement plays a crucial role in enhancing our students’ educational experiences.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for your continued support.

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

Building Highlights

Bowling Team

This past week marked the conclusion of our Boys and Girls Bowling Season at the District Tournament. The teams traveled to Dayton and faced very tough competition under challenging lane conditions. The boys' team was led by junior Jo Mil, who scored 641 across three games. He finished 14th overall individually, narrowly missing a spot in the State Individual Tournament by just 4 pins. The girls' team was led by junior Lucy Heringer, who scored 459 across three games. The 2024-2025 season was memorable for both teams, with numerous accolades for each. Jo Mil won the Mariemont D2 tournament, and our girls' team finished second in the same tournament, with Chloe Oiler earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Both teams ended the season in second place overall in the CHL, with many of our bowlers setting personal scoring records. Additionally, both teams finished second at sectionals and advanced to districts together for the first time since the 2017-2018 season.

Girls Basketball

A big shoutout to our girls' basketball team for completing their season. Special recognition goes to Kaylie Williams, who finished as the second all-time leading scorer in girls' basketball at Deer Park. Kaylie finished just seven points shy of breaking the record.

Boys Basketball 

We would like to extend our best wishes to our boys' basketball team for their upcoming game on Tuesday at 6:15 PM at Ross High School, where they will compete in the next round of the state playoffs. GO CATS!!!

Perfect North

Enjoy these photos of our high school students relishing their well-deserved reward for excellent attendance and behavior during the second quarter.

View the Gallery

Cake Walk

Last night, we held our 66th annual Cake Walk at The Park! It was wonderful to witness such a large turnout from the community, coming together to support our bands, win cakes, and simply have a fantastic time. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Lauren Troxell and everyone involved in organizing this event, contributing cakes, and managing the activities. It was truly a remarkable community event.

View the Gallery

Building News

Conferences

We're excited to announce that on February 27th and 28th, we will be offering an opportunity for you to meet with your child's teacher to discuss their progress. Please use this Link to sign up and take advantage of this opportunity to engage in your child's educational journey. This is a great chance to talk about your student's college and career readiness. There are so many opportunities and pathways now for our students, and this meeting is an excellent opportunity for you to discuss them with their teachers. Let us know if you have any questions.

2025 Prom Information

Mark your calendars! Prom tickets will be on sale from Tuesday, March 25, through Friday, March 28, from 3:15–4:00 PM in the high school front lobby.

💲 Tickets are $75 each (cash only) and include:
✔️ Admission to Prom
✔️ Dinner at Prom
✔️ Admission to After Prom
✔️ Unlimited Attraction Package at Scene75

🔹 Senior student fees must be paid in full ($0 balance).
🔹 Junior student fee balance must be under $300.
🔹 Any underclassman guest must have a fee balance under $500.
🔹 Waivers and permission slips must be signed by both the student and a parent/guardian before purchasing a ticket.
🔹 Guest forms must be signed by administration if bringing an underclassman or a student from another school district.

🚨 All ticket sales are final—no exceptions!

If you have any questions, see Mrs. Henry in Room 157 or email henry.ka@dpccsd.org.

Get ready for an unforgettable night, Wildcats!

Counselor's Corner

Click HERE for the Counselor’s Corner!

The Wildcat Wallet: Your Friday Finance Update

The Wildcat Wallet, our ongoing Friday Finance Update featuring essential district financial insights, is now part of your weekly newsletter.

At Deer Park Schools, we take financial responsibility seriously. Each year, our district undergoes a rigorous independent audit to ensure we are managing taxpayer dollars effectively. For four consecutive years, we have been honored with the Auditor of State Award, recognizing our commitment to accountability and accuracy in financial reporting.

In our latest audit, Deer Park Schools received an unmodified opinion—a clean audit with no findings for recovery. While we face financial challenges, including deficit spending, we remain dedicated to careful planning and transparency.

Watch the video above to hear Treasurer Jeff Lewis explain what this means for our district. You can also review our last five audits HERE.

Looking Ahead

Please mark these important dates on your calendar:

• Boys Basketball OHSAA District Semifinal vs. MVCA (at Ross HS): Tuesday, February 25 | 6:15 p.m.
• Conferences (No School for Students): Thursday, February 27-28
• End of 3rd Quarter (No School for Students): Friday, March 14

In Case You Missed It

City of Cincinnati Job Opportunities

The city of Cincinnati is planning sessions with juniors and seniors during lunch and X-bell to explore opportunities within their recreation, police, and fire departments. We will keep you updated on the schedule as soon as it's finalized. Furthermore, Christ Hospital is organizing a day for students to discover the wide range of job opportunities in healthcare with their affiliated college. This will be an invaluable experience for students nearing graduation and uncertain about their future careers, and they should make sure to participate in this field trip.

Stay tuned for more details on these and many other opportunities. .

Discover Opportunities at the Gifted Resource Fair!

Join the Southwest Ohio Coordinators of Gifted Association for the annual Gifted Resource Fair on Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:10 PM, at the Hamilton County ESC Conference Center (11083 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231).

This free event is perfect for educators, families, and students eager to explore:

• Engaging enrichment camps and programs.
• Informative learning sessions led by gifted education professionals.

Keynote Speaker: Chris Anderson, host of OutSCIder Classroom, will share insights on helping kids find their voices and the lessons learned through perseverance.

Don't miss:

• Vendor visits highlighting after-school and summer enrichment opportunities.
• Delicious coffee from the State Street Coffee Truck.
• Exciting raffle opportunities—bring your credit card or check!

Registration begins at 8:30 AM.Reserve your spot today! Register here.

Empower your gifted learner with resources and opportunities tailored just for them!

Homework Club

Homework Club has resumed after school each day from 3-4 PM.

High School

• Monday - Mrs. Beck, rm. 233
• Tuesday - Ms. Feldman, rm. 155
• Wednesday - Mrs. Parker, rm. 225
• Thursday - Mr. Devine, rm. 239
• Friday - Mr. Moore, rm. 27

Junior High

• Monday - Mrs. Smith Room 153
• Tuesday - Ms. Daly Room 60

Deer Park Schools Seeking Substitute Bus Drivers

Deer Park Schools is currently looking for substitute bus drivers to join our transportation team. This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who are interested in supporting our students and community by ensuring safe and reliable transportation.

Substitute bus drivers play a crucial role in maintaining the smooth operation of our transportation services. This position is ideal for those looking for flexible hours and a way to make a positive impact on the lives of students.

Key Requirements:

• A valid CDL with School Bus and Passenger endorsements.

• • Training available to qualified candidates

• Clean driving record.
• Willingness to undergo a background check.

We are also searching for a van driver, which does not require a CDL, however, all other qualifications are required. Those interested in applying or seeking more information can contact CJ Thornton at thornton.c@dpccsd.org.

Free Parenting Support for Teens

Parenting teens can be challenging, but help is just a click away! Triple P Online offers a free, self-paced course designed to help parents and caregivers build positive relationships, manage challenging behavior, and support teens' emotional well-being. This resource is available at no cost to Ohio families and provides practical tools and strategies for navigating the ups and downs of parenting teens.

Learn more and sign up here: Triple P Parenting Courses.

Support “Joshua’s Closet Serve Saturday”

Deer Park Schools is excited to invite the community to participate in “Joshua’s Closet Serve Saturday,” a partnership with the local organization Joshua's Place, aimed at supporting local families through volunteer service and donations.

This event will take place on the first Saturday of every month at 8688 Donna Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45236, starting at 10:00 a.m.

Each Serve Saturday, volunteers will collect donated items for the Food Cooperative and School Care Closets, as well as assemble packs for weekend food programs. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals and families to come together and make a positive impact in the community.

“We need YOU to serve our community!”

This initiative is open to everyone and is family-friendly. Whether you’re looking to lend a hand, donate items, or simply spend a morning giving back, Serve Saturday welcomes your support.

Participants can also contribute directly by scanning the QR code provided on the event flier. For more information about this program and how you can get involved, please contact Deer Park Schools.

Varsity Tutors Information

We want to remind you that all students in grades K-12 have free access to Varsity Tutors, a fantastic online platform offering 24/7 academic support, live group classes, essay review, and more. Through this partnership, your child can connect with expert tutors whenever they need help!

To make things easier, we’ve included a quick video tutorial explaining how your child can access the Chat with a Tutor feature. This feature allows students to ask questions and get immediate assistance in a subject they’re struggling with — all available through their district Clever accounts.

Watch the Video

In addition to the Chat with a Tutor feature, we also want to reshare that students have access to free SAT and ACT test prep courses through this platform. This is a unique opportunity for our students to prepare for college entrance exams with expert guidance, helping them gain confidence and improve their readiness for their next academic step.

We encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource, available to all students through June 30, 2030.

PTO/Booster Organizations

Join the Wildcat community and make a difference! We invite you to get involved with the Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School PTO and our Booster organizations. You can visit Deer Park PTO to join the PTO, Deer Park Athletic Boosters to join the Athletic Boosters, and Deer Park Band Sponsors to support our band program. Your participation helps enhance the student experience at Deer Park!

Ohio State Test Resources

If your child will be taking an Ohio End of Course assessment this spring (grades 3-8 and some high school courses for graduation), you can access practice tests at home. We are pleased to share a valuable resource to support your child’s education: the Ohio State Test (OST) Portal. This site offers a range of tools and information that you can use to help your child prepare for state assessments.

Here’s how you can utilize the OST Portal:

1. Practice Tests: Access practice tests to familiarize your child with the types of questions they will encounter. These tests simulate the actual assessment experience, allowing students to practice navigating the test interface and understand the format of questions.
2. Family Resources: The portal provides a variety of resources, including test-taking tips, FAQs, and information specific to each grade level and subject area. These materials are designed to help you understand the testing process and how to best support your child.
3. Released Test Items and Scoring Guides: Review released test items from previous assessments along with their scoring guides. These guides include answer keys, scoring rubrics, and explanations of why certain answers are correct or incorrect. Understanding these can give insight into your child's progress and areas for improvement.

To start using these resources, please visit the OST Portal at oh-ost.portal.cambiumast.com/families.html.

We encourage you to explore the site and make the most of the available tools to support your child’s learning and preparation.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education.

Wildcat Packs Program

Joshua's Place is excited to offer the Wildcat Packs program, providing weekend food for students. To qualify, students must be signed up for free and reduced lunches and registered for the program. Packs will be sent home every Thursday, with the first distribution on October 10th. To sign up, scan the QR code or return the registration form to school. For any questions, please contact John Mathias at john@joshuasplace.cc.

Registration Form

2024-25 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 links below 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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