The Amity Weekly Minute: February 22, 2026
What's New?
From the Desk of Mrs. Warman
Dear Amity Families,
Thank you for another wonderful week at Amity!
We hope you’ll join us this Tuesday, February 24th, for Amity Library Night at the Dillonvale Public Library from 5:00–6:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to celebrate reading together, and we look forward to seeing many of our Amity Wildcats and their families there!
This week, learning was buzzing in Mrs. Hoop’s class, where students in 2nd–4th grades have been exploring a variety of paper-engineering techniques. They are learning how to create pop-ups, pull-tabs, and other paper mechanics. Over the next several weeks, students will combine these skills with creative writing as they design and create their very own pop-up books. It has been exciting to see their creativity and problem-solving skills in action!
As we head into the coming weeks, we are also looking forward to connecting with families during parent-teacher conferences. Thank you for your continued support and for all you do each day to help your child come to school ready to learn.
Warm regards,
Laura Warman
|
|
February 26th & February 27th Conference Sign Up:
Please be sure to sign up for parent-teacher conferences using the link below for Wednesday, February 26, and Thursday, February 27.
Amity Conference Sign Ups- Feb. 2026
|
|
Nominate a Deer Park Educator for Celebrate Excellence 2026
Deer Park Community City Schools is proud to announce Celebrate Excellence 2026!
Celebrate Excellence, founded by the Hamilton County Educational Service Foundation, honors outstanding “Educators of the Year” from public school districts across the Cincinnati area. Each district selects one exceptional educator — teacher, counselor, administrator, or other certified staff member — to be recognized at the annual breakfast celebration.
We invite you to nominate a Deer Park educator who demonstrates a strong commitment to student achievement, makes a positive impact in our schools and community, and serves as a genuine role model for students. Specific examples and anecdotes are encouraged. No additional materials are required.
Please submit completed nomination forms to Jennie Cunningham at the Board Office by Friday, March 6, 2026.
Fill Out Your Nomination Here!
|
|
Amity Counselor Newsletter
|
|
Amity Spring Pictures March 6th
|
|
🎉❤️ Kids Heart Challenge Update — We Did It… and We’re Not Done Yet! ❤️🎉
WOW! Our school community has shown incredible heart — we’ve officially reached AND have gone above our Kids Heart Challenge goal with a few days still to go! 🙌
Because of YOU — your generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to heart health — we are already making a lifesaving impact. Every dollar raised helps support the mission of the American Heart Association to fund research, provide education, and improve the lives of people affected by heart disease and stroke.
💥 Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!
Even though we hit our goal, the challenge isn’t over yet! These final days are our chance to:
❤️ Help even more hearts in need
🏆 Earn fun thank-you gifts and classroom recognition
👟 Show our students the power of teamwork and giving back
🧠 What Students Are Learning
Through Kids Heart Challenge, students are building lifelong skills:
- Calling for help
- Hands-only CPR awareness
- Recognizing signs of heart attack and stroke
- The importance of staying active and heart healthy
🎯 New Goal: How Far Can We Go?
Top classes for registered students:
- 2nd grade, Mr. Huster
- Kindergarten, Mrs. Huesman
- 6th grade, Miss. Vaughn
Top classes for dollars raised;
- 2nd grade, Mrs. Baker
- Kindergarten, Mrs. Huesman
- 4th grade, Miss Schroer
Thank you for being HEART HEROES! 💖
— I am so proud of this community!
|
|
The Future Ready Expo will take place on Thursday, February 26, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Open to students in grades 5–11 and their families, the Expo offers an opportunity to explore different pathways after high school and begin thinking about future goals. More information, including session and booth details, will be shared soon.
|
|
Kindergarten Registration for 2026-2027 is Now Open!
It's that time again. Kindergarten Registration is officially open for the 2026-27 school year!
In an effort to make this process as easy as possible, we have created a page on our website to walk you step-by-step through registration. This page will serve as your guide for registration.
As a reminder, the Deer Park Board Policy on registering for Kindergarte
If you ever have any issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at hollander.b@dpccsd.org or d
Visit the Registration Page
Important Dates to Know:
Kindergarten Information Night
Amity Elementary will host a Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. This evening will give families the opportunity to hear directly from our kindergarten teachers, review expectations, and learn more about activities planned for the upcoming school year.
In-Person Kindergarten Registration Days
-
Monday, March 16, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
-
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Kindergarten Screeners
All screeners will be held at Amity Elementary on the following dates:
-
Monday, May 4, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
-
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
-
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
|
|
Amity Library Night Tuesday February 24th
Our annual Title One Library night is Tuesday, February 24th. Our theme will be a wild animal theme "WILD ABOUT READING!" The event will be at the Dillonvale Public Library from 5:00-6:00. The students can enjoy wild animal themed stations, a library scavenger hunt, and take home their own bag of ingredients to make hot cocoa. They can also get a library card and learn about fun events the library hosts. We will have a school-wide spirit day at school on February 24th, so wear your favorite animal print or animal related clothing. We hope to see you there!
|
|
Amity Yearbooks available for order
|
|
February 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
|
|
Looking Ahead
Please mark these important dates on your calendar:
- February Conferences Feb. 26th & 27th
Conferences will take place on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th. There will be no school for students on both of these days.
|
|
In Case You Missed It
|
|
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?
-
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
-
Tuition-free academic-focused summer and school year programs, including meals, field trips, and supplies.
-
Year-round support including monthly college and career enrichment, weekly tutoring, and continued college-focused support throughout high school.
-
Mentoring from college-aged role models (Teaching Fellows) and a network of like-minded peers.
-
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:
-
First Generation College Students
-
From Single Parent Households
-
Low Income
-
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.
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
Amity Elementary Community Resources
Click Here
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
--
Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success
--