What's New?

A Message from the Principal

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

We hope you have had a great weekend! Here is what is happening at DP Nation!

**Celebrate Attendance Awareness Month This September at Deer Park Jr/Sr High School**

Did you know? Statistics indicate that students who maintain good attendance in September are more likely to succeed throughout the academic year. At Deer Park Jr/Sr High School, we're dedicated to keeping our students "In the Game" by encouraging regular attendance. This September, we're making attendance fun with weekly celebrations to motivate our students to show up and shine.

Here's What's Happening:

• Thursday, September 5th: Cookout in the Courtyard
  Students are in for a special treat as our amazing lunch crew grills up hamburgers and hot dogs in the courtyard. This delicious reward is for all students who come to school on Thursday.
• Friday, September 13th: Homecoming Game Incentive
  The Jr./Sr. High School class with the highest attendance rate for the week will enjoy free admission to the homecoming football game. A fantastic way to celebrate school spirit and attendance!
• Friday, September 20th: Sweet Success
  The class with the highest attendance rate for the week isn't just winning in attendance; they're also winning a free cookie on Friday. A sweet treat for a week of great attendance.
• Friday, September 27th: Attendance Dance-Off
  To wrap up the month, students will take to the hallways for a dance-off at the end of the school day. It's a fun and energetic way to celebrate our commitment to attendance.

Let's make this September a record-breaking month for attendance. Show up, participate, and let's all be winners by staying "In the Game." See you in school!

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

Building Highlight

Deer Park Jr/Sr High School is dedicated to providing students with meaningful experiences that are focused on their future success. We aim to align our programs with the individual strengths and interests of our students, offering various pathways that not only increase their exposure to diverse fields but also set them on the path to lucrative post-graduation opportunities. Each week, we will spotlight a different pathway to showcase the opportunities available.

Did You Know?

By successfully completing the courses in Biology, Sports Medicine 101, and Sports Medicine 201, along with participating in related experiences coordinated by our school, students can fulfill the requirements for the Health Science Pre-apprenticeship.

Benefits for Our Wildcats:

• Competency Demonstration: Students will be able to show their proficiency, making them eligible for additional Diploma Seals, which are part of meeting the Ohio Graduation Requirements.
• Broadened Knowledge: Students will gain a deeper understanding of various professions within the Healthcare field and establish valuable connections with local employers.
• Valuable Credentials: The opportunity to earn credentials, such as CPR certification, will benefit students in numerous work environments.
• On-the-Job Experience and Scholarships: Eligible students will have access to paid on-the-job experiences and scholarship opportunities, further enhancing their readiness for their future careers.

Interested in Learning More?

For more information, we encourage you to contact your student's College and Career Readiness Counselor. They can provide detailed insights and help guide your student on their path to success.

Building News

Homecoming Week Spirit Dress Up Days:

Get ready to show off your Wildcat pride with our upcoming Dress Up Days! Each day of the week, we'll have a different theme to celebrate our school spirit and creativity. Make sure to participate and have some fun! Check out the themes below and start planning your outfits:

• Monday- Jersey Day
• Tuesday- Country Cowboy v. Country Club Day
  • Dress as a cowboy or as a country club goer!
• Wednesday- White Lies Day
  • Wear a white t-shirt with a little white lie!
• Thursday- Dress Like Your Grade Day
  • Seniors: Senior Citizens
  • Juniors: Adults
  • Sophomores: Teens
  • Freshmen: Kids
  • Junior High: Babies
• Friday- Homecoming Spirit Day 

Powder Puff Information

Get ready for an exciting evening at the annual DPHS Powder Puff Tournament! Here are the key details:

• Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024
• Time: Starts at 6:00 PM (Gates open at 5:15 PM)
• Location: DPHS Football Field
• Admission: $5 per person (Pay at the gate)

Special Highlights:

• Split the Pot & Raffles: Participate for a chance to win! (You do not have to be present to win.)
• Concessions: Available throughout the event.
• Half-Time Jump Contest: Don’t miss the excitement during the break!
• Youth Cheerleaders: Cheer on the players with our youth cheer team!
• National Anthem: Performed by Abby Spangler.

Class Colors:

• Seniors: Gray
• Juniors: Red
• Sophomores: Black
• Freshmen: White

Please note that class colors are required for players and coaches.

All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the Junior Class Prom. Be sure to come out, show your school spirit, and enjoy a fantastic evening of friendly competition!

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

Upcoming Terrace Metrics Dates

As we have done in previous years, our district is giving the Terrace Metrics Assessments to grades 6–12. Below is the schedule for the assessments:

• Monday, September 17 – 8th and 11th grade
• Wednesday, September 19 – 7th and 12th grade
• Monday, September 24 – 9th and 10th grade

These assessments will provide valuable data on our students’ social/emotional strengths and needs. Please note that the results are confidential; no teacher will have access to your child’s results.

Only members of the school’s response team (e.g., counselors, school psychologists) will see the students' results, which are available immediately after the assessment is completed. This allows us to understand the strengths and needs of every student, including those who would benefit from additional strategies. If your child indicates high distress, a member of the school’s response team will contact you by phone to discuss the next steps.

One possible step may include a “Clairity” assessment, provided by Clarigent Health. Clairity involves a private, ten-minute interview where the student is asked about their thoughts and feelings by a trained member of the response team. The interview is securely recorded, and the speech patterns (rather than the answers themselves) are analyzed to help the response team determine the best course of action for the student.

For more information on this survey, please click here.

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.

Pre-Order a 2024-2025 Yearbook!

The cost is $40 for junior high and $70 for high school and can be pre-ordered online at yearbookforever.com or through Ms. Sullivan in Room 56. Cash or check accepted. Make the checks out to Deer Park Community City Schools.

Email Ms. Sullivan with any questions at sullivan.c@dpccsd.org!

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications and Instructional Fee Waiver Due Sept. 14

The deadline to submit the Free & Reduced Lunch Application and School Fee Waivers for the 2024-25 school year is approaching. Please note that any benefits from the previous year will expire on September 14, 2024. Parents must apply for new benefits each year. To ensure continued assistance, make sure to complete your application by this date.

Fill out the form by clicking the link below! If it is your first time filling out the online form, select 'Register' and follow the prompts to gain access to the portal.

CLICK HERE

You can also access the Free & Reduced Lunch Application by using FinalForms. 

Visit Final Forms

Free Health Care

Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio's Healthy Start & Healthy Families Programs.

These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more  information or to request an application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm.

Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

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!

Counselor's Corner

Click HERE for the Counselor’s Corner!

Looking Ahead

Please mark these important dates on your calendar:

• Junior Class Powder Puff Tournament: Sunday, September 8 | 6 p.m.
• JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. Reading (Faculty Appreciation Night): Tuesday, September 10 | 5:30/6:30 p.m.
• Boys and Girls Soccer vs CNE (American Heart Association Night): Thursday, September 12 | 5/7 p.m.
• Homecoming Parade: Friday, September 13 | 5:30 p.m.
• Varsity Football vs. Taylor HS (Homecoming): Friday, September 13 | 7 p.m.
• Homecoming Dance: Saturday, September 14 | 7-10 p.m.
• Conference Day (No School): Thursday, September 26
• Conference Day (No School): Friday, September 27

In Case You Missed It

Extra 2023-24 Yearbooks for Sale!

There are a couple 2023-2024 high school yearbooks for sale still! The cost is $70. See Ms. Sullivan to get yours today! You can email her at sullivan.c@dpccsd.org with any questions!

Important Expectations for All Athletic Events

As we gear up for an exciting season of Deer Park athletics, we want to remind everyone of the expectations for attending all athletic events. To ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone, please note that any students or children under 9th grade must be accompanied by a parent or adult to attend these events.

Thank you for your cooperation, and let's make this season one to remember by showing our Wildcat pride responsibly!

Bell Schedule

Please click here for Jr./Sr. High School Lunch and Bell Schedules 

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.

Attendance Reminders/Updates:

A few changes are being made for this school year. Please review the following instructions:

• When a student is absent, please call the attendance line at 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.

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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