The Amity Weekly Minute: August 31, 2025
What's New?
From the Desk of Mrs. Warman
Dear Amity Families and Community,
It has been another wonderful week at Amity! Each week I see examples of “growing minds” all throughout our building—whether it’s students solving problems together, sharing their writing, or learning new ways to express their emotions.
This week, I’d like to take a moment to introduce our school social worker, Mrs. Marshall. She partners with teachers and students by leading classroom lessons that support social and emotional growth.
I got to visit Mrs. Livingston’s class during their weekly SEL lesson. Mrs. Marshall teaches all Kindergarten–2nd grade classrooms once a week to build consistent SEL skills across our early grades. Every lesson follows the same structure: begin with a warm welcome and feelings check-in, review expectations (eyes watching, ears listening, voices quiet, body still), and then enjoy a read-aloud. Lessons end with play-based center rotations, where students practice the skills they’ve just learned.
This approach is both meaningful and research-based. Read-alouds provide a developmentally appropriate way to explore emotions and social situations, giving children a safe space to model and discuss positive behaviors. The play-based centers that follow give students hands-on opportunities to practice these skills, which aligns with what brain research tells us—young children learn social-emotional competencies most effectively through interactive, experiential learning. Research also shows that weaving SEL into everyday routines improves self-regulation, empathy, and peer relationships (CASEL, 2023; Denham et al., 2017).
We are proud of the ways our students are learning to care for themselves and for one another. Enjoy the three-day weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday, September 2nd!
Warmly,
Laura Warman
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Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
This is the Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
Full Gallery
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Fall Picture Day – Mark Your Calendars!
Amity’s Fall Picture Day is scheduled for Thursday, September 18th. School House Photos will be here to capture those smiles! Please see the flyer below for package options and details.
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Arrival & Dismissal Reminder
Just a quick reminder to please be mindful and respectful of our neighbors during arrival and dismissal. Our shared goal is to make sure every student gets to and from school safely. Thanks for helping us keep things running smoothly!
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Community Update: Linden Avenue Road Project
The City of Deer Park, in partnership with Kleingers (city engineers), will begin a road project on Linden Avenue starting around September 8th. The work is expected to last about a month, weather permitting, and will take place between Lake Avenue and the school’s property line with the church.
During the project, Linden Avenue will be reduced to one lane. The construction company is aware of school drop-off and pick-up times and will work to minimize disruptions.
To help traffic flow safely and efficiently, Linden Avenue will temporarily become ONE WAY (eastbound) from Lake Avenue to Beech Avenue. Proper signage will be posted to guide drivers during this period.
We understand this project will cause delays, but thank you for your cooperation as our priority is to ensure all students arrive and leave school safely.
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Introducing Our Counselor & Social Worker Newsletter
We’re thrilled to launch our brand-new Counselor & Social Worker Newsletter, crafted to keep our Amity community informed, connected, and empowered! Each edition will bring you valuable insights, updates on school programs, mental health tips, and resources tailored for students and families. Whether you’re seeking strategies to support your child’s emotional well-being or curious about upcoming wellness initiatives, this newsletter is your go-to source. Be sure to check it out and stay tuned for the latest from our counseling and social work team.
View the Newsletter
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No School Monday September 1st
There will be no school Monday September 1st for observance for Labor Day.
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September 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
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Looking Ahead
Please mark these important dates on your calendar:
- Labor Day (No School): Monday, September 1
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In Case You Missed It
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Interested in Dance?
Deer Park Schools is sharing a great opportunity from the Deer Park Dance Program! While registration has ended, you can still visit www.deerparkdance.com for more information. You can also reach out to the program directly at thedeerpark.danceprogram@gmail.com with any questions.
Classes are available for students in Preschool through 12th Grade.
View the Flier
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Registration for Student Wildcat Packs
Wildcat Packs is a Joshua's Place program that gives food to kids to take home on the weekends. To qualify for a weekly Wildcat Pack a student must be signed up for free and reduced lunches and elect to receive the pack by filling out the linked form. The Wildcat Pack is given at no cost to your child.
Students will receive their packs on Thursday’s from their teacher.
The first Wildcat Weekend Packs will be sent home on Thursday, October 9th.
Learn More
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Cub Scout Opportunities for Students
Deer Park Schools is excited to share upcoming opportunities with Pack 3791! Students can participate in the Pinewood Derby this winter and the Cub World Adventure Camp this summer—featuring archery, hiking, swimming, and more. These programs offer students a chance to build skills, confidence, and memories that last a lifetime. Check out the details here:
View the Flier
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Reminder from School Nurse Karle
Dear Parent/Guardian(s),
The Ohio Department of Health has issued immunization requirements for school attendance for the 2025-2026 school year. Please see below for specific grade level immunization requirements:
- Kindergarten students are required to have the following immunizations:
- Four (4) doses of Tdap/DTap/Td
- Two (2) doses of MMR
- Two (2) doses of Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Three (3) doses of Polio
- Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B
- Seventh graders are required to receive:
- One (1) dose of the Tdap vaccine
- One (1) dose of the Meningitis vaccine (MCV4).
- Twelfth graders are required to receive:
- Two (2) doses of the Meningitis vaccine (MCV4), unless the first dose is administered on or after the student’s 16th birthday, then the second dose will not be required.
A copy of the student’s immunization record must be submitted to the school in order to complete the requirement. Records can be submitted in person or by fax to Amity or the Jr./Sr. High School. The deadline to turn in proof of immunization is on August 26th, 2025. Students who do not have proof on this day will be withheld from school starting August 27th, 2025.
You may obtain the vaccination at any Hamilton Co. Public Health Dept. Clinics (513-946-7600), Norwood Health Dept. (513-458-4600), TriHealth Clinics at Walgreens, Kroger Little Clinic, or your family doctor. Please check with your health care provider to be sure your child is properly vaccinated for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Click here for a full list of the Ohio Department of Health’s Immunization Requirements for School Attendance. Please contact us with any questions or concerns regarding your child’s immunizations.
Sincerely,
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Christie Scholl MSN, RN, LSN |
Leslie Karle, MSN, RN, LSN |
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Jr./Sr. High School |
Amity Elementary |
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Fax: 513-891-3845 |
Fax: 513-891-0106 |
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Step Store Information for Students Grades 3rd-6th
Dear Parents and Guardians of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th students,
We are excited to share that starting Monday, August 25th, our school will be launching the S.T.E.P. program, which is part of the University of Cincinnati Economics Department. Everything is funded by the University, along with private donors. Erin Harris is our S.T.E.P. coordinator and is also a Deer Park parent. S.T.E.P stands for Students Enterprise Program!
This incentive-based program helps encourage positive behavior, academic responsibility, and school attendance, while also teaching students the basics of money management.
Students will have the opportunity to earn up to $15 in STEP Bucks each day based on the following criteria:
- Attendance and punctuality
- Homework completion and being prepared with materials
- Positive behavior and following school rules
That means students can earn up to $75 a week for making good choices!
Students will be able to spend, save, or donate their earned STEP Bucks at the S.T.E.P. Store, which will be open four times during the school year. Our first store will take place on Friday, October 24th. We encourage students to make thoughtful decisions about how they use their earnings.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to be recognized for their efforts, develop responsibility, and learn about saving and spending. We appreciate your support in encouraging your child to take pride in their daily choices. Ask your child about their Red StEP book!
Thank you for partnering with us to support our students’ growth!
Warmly,
Ms. Hopper
Step Store Coordinator
hopper.j@dpccsd.org
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Lunch/Recess Times:
Below are posted lunch and recess times for the 2024-25 school year.
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Grade |
Lunch Times |
Recess |
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K |
10:50-11:20 |
11:20-11:40 |
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1st |
11:00-11:30 |
11:30-11:50 |
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2nd |
11:20-11:45 |
10:55-11:20 |
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3rd |
11:30-12:00 |
11:00-11:30 |
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4th |
12:10-12:40 |
12:40-1:00 |
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5th |
12:20-12:40 |
11:55-12:20 |
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6th |
12:00-12:20 |
12:20-12:40 |
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Attendance, Arrival, and Dismissal Information
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Cell Phone Policy
We understand that students are starting to get cell phones in the later grades within Amity. Please help us in talking to your student about the following expectations prior to the start of school. This year Amity Elementary students will be expected to turn their cell phones off when they get to Amity in the morning and keep them off until the end of the day. This is a change from last year. We believe this will help eliminate distractions throughout the academic day. Because all students are issued a chrome book at the beginning of the school year there is not a need for students to access their cell phones during the school day for academic purposes. If students need to connect with you during the school day, they are welcome to use the phone in the front office to call you.
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FinalForms
We will continue to utilize FinalForms in an effort to help simplify your life! Please login to FinalForms at https://deerpark-oh.finalforms.com to update any new information or to confirm that there are no changes for the 2025-26 school year. If you do not have a home computer, please use one of Amity’s computers during the Meet and Greet located in the PDC or visit the local library where computers are available for public use.
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Schoology
The Schoology Learning Management System offers a tremendous amount of information in a user friendly version. You will be able to communicate with your child’s teachers, check homework and grades, and find teacher resources through teacher Schoology pages.
Schoology Link
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2025-26 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
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Staying Connected
There are multiple ways to stay connected to Amity Elementary School.
- Email Newsletter: All parents who have completed FinalForms should receive Amity Weekly Newsletters. If you are not currently receiving them, please register for the email 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 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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