The Amity Weekly Minute: December 7, 2025
What's New?
From the Desk of Mrs. Warman
Dear Amity Families,
Thank you for a wonderful first week back from break! December definitely arrived in full force—with the cold and a few flakes of snow to welcome us into the season.
Throughout this quarter, the Amity Roller Rink has been rolling full speed ahead in our PE classes. Our students have absolutely loved this experience, and the excitement in the gym has been easy to see each day. A huge thank you to Mrs. Fowler for bringing this fantastic program and opportunity to our school. We are grateful for all the work that has gone into giving our Wildcats such a fun and memorable experience.
I will admit… I have yet to be brave enough to lace up a pair of skates myself—but I’m sure the students will convince me eventually!
As we head into next week, please remember to send students dressed warmly for outdoor recess. We will continue to go outside as long as the “feels like” temperature is above 25 degrees.
Thank you for another great week at Amity.
Laura
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Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
This is the Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
Full Gallery
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Sick Guidelines Reminder
Cold and flu season is here! Please review our Sick Guidelines to know when your child should stay home—especially for symptoms like fever, vomiting/diarrhea, flu/COVID-like illness, strep throat, pinkeye, and other contagious conditions. If a student becomes ill at school, families will be asked to pick them up.
Thank you for helping keep our classrooms healthy and ready for learning!
Click the link below to view the full Sick Guidelines document.
View Here
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School Closing Information Reminder
As we enter a season of unpredictable weather, we want to ensure all families are prepared in the event of a school closing or delay. Deer Park Schools will share any schedule changes through multiple communication channels, including:
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Text and phone call alerts
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Email notifications
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The district website
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Local news stations
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District social media accounts
Please take a moment to verify your contact information is up to date on FinalForms and make sure you are connected to the platforms that work best for your family. With potentially hazardous weather in the forecast over the coming weeks, staying informed will help ensure everyone remains safe and prepared.
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Amity Counselor Newsletter
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Breakthrough Cincinnati: Academic Enrichment Program
Breakthrough Cincinnati (BTC) is a four-year, tuition-free academic enrichment program designed to energize students to enter college with confidence.
What can families expect?
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A four-year program beginning the summer before 6th grade, but students can apply entering any grade between entering 6th graders and entering 9th grade
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Tuition-free academic-focused summer and school year programs, including meals, field trips, and supplies.
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Year-round support including monthly college and career enrichment, weekly tutoring, and continued college-focused support throughout high school.
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Mentoring from college-aged role models (Teaching Fellows) and a network of like-minded peers.
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Summer Program Dates: June 29, 2026–July 31, 2026 (excludes July 3). A typical day runs from 9 AM to 4 PM. Transportation to and from the program is included.
- Who does BTC prioritize? BTC prioritizes students who are:
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First Generation College Students
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From Single Parent Households
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Low Income
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Students currently in 5th or 6th grade who aspire to attend college are prioritized to apply, and students currently in 7th and 8th grade may also apply. There is a request to continue the program through its entirety for 4 years if you begin in grade 6.
To Apply: Visit breakthroughcincinnati.org.
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No School Winter Break
On December 19th there will be no school for students as our teachers will be participating in Professional Development and Records. Then Winter Break will be Monday December 22nd- January 5th. Students will return to school on Tuesday January 6th, 2026.
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Lost & Found Reminder
Our Lost and Found is beginning to overflow! If your child is missing a sweatshirt, coat, water bottle, or any other item, please encourage them to stop by the Lost and Found located next to the nurse’s office.
All unclaimed items will be donated over Winter Break, so please take a moment to check before they’re gone. Thank you for helping us reunite these items with their owners!
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Attendance Matters
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Sandy’s Closet & Family Resources
As the weather turns colder, Sandy’s Closet is fully stocked with winter coats, socks, and other warm clothing items — all free for our Deer Park families! The closet is open every school day from 8:00 AM–3:30 PM. If you need an alternate time to visit, please email Patty Hadden at hadden.p@dpccsd.org to arrange a convenient pickup.
In addition, simple, ready-to-make meal packs are available through Student Services at Holmes. Families may stop by the office any school day or contact us directly for support.
We encourage all families to take advantage of these wonderful resources — they’re here to help keep our students and families warm, supported, and well-fed this season!
For any questions, individuals can contact Pam Gilreath.
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Student Safety Reminder
As we move into the winter months and the mornings become darker, we want to remind everyone to be extra cautious during arrival and dismissal times. Please be mindful of our students walking to and from school and drive slowly when entering or exiting the Amity parking lot. Just a reminder that the main driveway entrance off of Galbraith becomes a Do Not Enter zone after 7:30 AM. This helps ensure the safety of students and staff in that area. Thank you for your continued attention to keeping all of our Wildcats safe!
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Recess During Cold Weather
With a return to colder temperatures, please remember to send your child to school with appropriate outdoor attire for recess. We will be going outside whenever the “feels like” temperature is 25 degrees or above. This gives our students time to burn some energy while getting some fresh air. Our recesses are 20-30 minutes so it is important that our students be comfortable while they are outside.
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Amity Elementary Community Resources
Click Here
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Deer Park School Lunch
Reminder each school year families have to reapply for Free and Reduced Lunch. There are applications in the front office at Amity. Please reach out to Diane Daily with any questions 513-936-6275.
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December 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:
- Professional Development/Records Day (No School): Friday, December 19
- Winter Break (No School): December 22-January 5
- School resumes on Tuesday Jan. 6
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In Case You Missed It
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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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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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