The Amity Weekly Minute: February 23, 2025
What's New
From the Desk of Mrs. Warman
Dear Amity Families,
We had a great week of learning at Amity! One of the highlights was our first-grade tube races, where students designed and built creative cars using tubes of all shapes and sizes. It was so much fun watching their designs in action, and our students did an amazing job! A big thank you to our first-grade teachers for organizing this engaging and exciting event.
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Looking ahead, we are excited to see our families at parent-teacher conferences on Thursday, February 27, and Friday, February 28. If you haven’t signed up yet, the sign-up link is still available below—we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher.
Let’s make it another great week!
Warm regards,
Laura Warman
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Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
This is the Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
Full Gallery
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Upcoming Erin’s Law Curriculum at Amity Elementary
Last year, we informed you about Ohio’s 134th General Assembly enacting Senate Bill 288, which updated the prescribed curriculum for health education, adding requirements related to child sexual abuse prevention, dating violence prevention, and sexual violence prevention. The law includes requirements for student instruction, parent and legal guardian notification, and training for school personnel.
- Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, schools are required to provide developmentally appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse prevention to students in grades kindergarten through six.
- Amity will hold these sessions on March 11 (Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd grades) and May 6-7 (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th grades) for individual home rooms. Each session will be one hour with each student participating in one session.
Curriculum Topics:
Deer Park Schools have selected the curriculum presented by The Council on Child Abuse (COCA), which covers a range of important topics. Those topics can be found for the K-6 grade Child Abuse curriculum, linked here. The K-6 curriculum will be provided for all students in grades K-6 annually.
Video Links:
To enhance the learning experience, COCA will provide some visuals and videos that will support the learning experience. These videos will be shared with students during dedicated class sessions and are available to you ahead of time through this link.
Watch the Videos
Opt-Out Form:
We understand that discussions around child abuse can be sensitive, and we respect the individual choices of our families. If you wish to opt your child out of the COCA curriculum, please fill out the attached opt-out form. The opt- out form will be provided again closer to the presentation date, as well as a hard copy shared by your child's teacher.
View the Form
Your partnership in creating a safe and supportive learning environment is invaluable. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions.
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Absence Reminders
With sickness this time of year, we want to provide some reminders about attendance.
- Please make sure to communicate with the school office whenever your child will be out along with the reason for the absence. Please continue to communicate with your child’s teacher, but it’s also important to include the office in any communication.
- Please prioritize bringing doctor’s notes every time your child goes for a visit. We are able to code these absences differently so it makes a big difference when students have a note.
- Families are allotted 10 parent approved absences a year, after the 10th parent excuse has been used absences will be unauthorized unless a doctor's note is provided.
- Attendance phone number: 513-891-2414
- Attendance email: amity.attendance@dpccsd.org
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After School Spring Enrichment
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Amity Spring Pictures March 5th
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Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser
With 15 days to go in our Kids Heart Challenge fundraising event, we are at $3,540 of our $8,500 goal! If we are able to reach our school goal by March 7th, the top two fundraisers will get to pie a staff member in the face during our all school assembly!
This past week students discussed and practiced life saving techniques, such as practice calls for emergencies, hands-only-CPR as well as moving their way through the heart and lungs to simulate the circulatory system!
There is still plenty of time to sign up and join the team for becoming heart heroes for kids with heart disease! Families that commit and complete Finn’s Challenge on the KHC app or online, will receive an American Heart Association cape and will be entered into winning tickets for the 2026 Super Bowl!
Visit heart.org/schools and select Amity Elementary to begin! Thank you to all who have received donations and a HUGE thank you to our Amity kiddos for their hard work inside of PE!
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Conference Sign-Up
Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 27th and Friday, February 28th. Please see the sign up below to sign up for conferences with your child’s teachers.
We are able to accommodate parents in person, over the phone, and digitally via Google Meets. There will be no school for students on both conference days.
Amity Conference Sign Ups- Spring 2025
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Amity Library Night
Amity Library Night is Tuesday, February 25th at the Dillonvale Public Library. Our theme this year is "WILD ABOUT READING!" We look forward to seeing everyone from 5pm-6pm.
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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
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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.
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Looking Ahead
Please mark these important dates on your calendar:
- Amity Public Library Night: Tuesday, February 25
- Conferences (No School for Students): Thursday, February 27-28
- End of 3rd Quarter (No School for Students): Friday, March 14
District Event Calendar
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In Case You Missed It
Kindergarten Registration Opened Feb. 1!
It's that time again, Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-26 school year is officially open!
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 Kindergarten is that the student must turn 5 years old on or before August 1st.
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
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Amity Elementary School Announces Preschool Open House Events
Amity Elementary School is pleased to invite prospective students and their families to our upcoming Preschool Open House events. These sessions offer an excellent opportunity to explore our preschool facilities and learn more about the Head Start programming available for the 2025-2026 school year.
Open House Schedule:
- Thursday, February 27, 2025: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday, February 28, 2025: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
During the Open House, attendees will have the chance to:
- Tour our state-of-the-art preschool classrooms and facilities.
- Meet our dedicated teaching staff and administrators.
- Receive detailed information about our Head Start programs and enrollment process.
- Ask questions and engage in discussions about early childhood education opportunities at Amity Elementary.
We encourage all interested families to attend and discover how our programs can provide a strong foundation for their child's educational journey.
For more information about our preschool programs and to access registration details, please visit our Preschool Options page:
Visit Page
We look forward to welcoming you to Amity Elementary School and partnering with you in your child's early education!
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Champions Summer Camp
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Reminders of Deer Park Entry and Check-In Procedures
- Visitors must use the main entrance only; all other doors should remain locked.
- Visitors must state their name and purpose of visit before being granted entry.
- Upon entry, visitors must report immediately to the main office for check-in.
- Visitors must provide a valid photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID).
- A visitor badge/sticker must be issued and worn at all times while in the building.
- A student entering after 8:10 AM please bring them into the building to be signed in.
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Yearbooks for the 2024-2025 School Year:
If you have not yet purchased a yearbook for the school year please check out the flier below.
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Breakfast Drop-Off Safety Reminder
We kindly ask all families to be mindful and diligent during breakfast drop-off times, as students are walking in the circle lot during these early morning hours. Please drive slowly, remain alert, and exercise caution when pulling in and out of the drop-off area. Thank you for helping us ensure the safety of all our students!
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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.
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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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Sandy’s Closet Hours
If you are in need of a coat for your child, please make sure to check out Sandy’s Closet at Holmes Elementary. Sandy's Closet is open for families to shop for clothing items Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to-3 p.m.
Individuals can contact Pam Gilreath with any questions at 513-936-4698.
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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.
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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.
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Stay in the Game
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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!
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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
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Attendance, Arrival, and Dismissal Information
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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
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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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