Wildcat Weekly

November 11, 2018

Exciting Happenings

Schomaker's Sports Medicine classes get CPR/AED Certified

Mr. Schomaker's students enrolled in the Sports Medicine 101 course recently received the opportunity to get their CPR/AED certification.  Mercy Health ran a multi-day training course during the Sports Medicine periods, free of charge to students.  Within Schomaker's two first semester courses, 34 students attempted the certification and all 34 passed.  Schomaker and Mercy Health will run another training course in the winter.

Ms. Hibbett's Class Field Trip to See Author Sharon Draper

Seventh graders made the trek to Amity on November 5th to hear award-winning author and former Cincinnati teacher Sharon Draper discuss her life as a writer and give book talks on several of her most popular books. Student volunteers acted out roles in books like Out of My Mind and Blended, making everyone in attendance eager to get reading.  Ms. Draper also autographed books for students, who were able to purchase books at the event.

Deer Parker - An Online Newspaper Created by Students

The Deer Parker is an online student newspaper written and edited entirely by 9-12th graders. Students in the Introduction to Journalism course, as well as students working independently, come up with ideas for articles, conduct interviews, take photos, write, and publish stories of interest to other Deer Park students and the community in general.  With some experienced student-journalists and others writing for the public for the first time, The Deer Parker is a great opportunity for writers and readers alike.  

Click here to check it out!

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

This year's Fall Play, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, is a satirical take on some of our most beloved fairy tales. It's a show that will keep both adults and children laughing from start to finish. We will be performing on November 16th and 17th at 7 PM in Crawford Auditorium. Tickets will be $5. Students have been working very hard on it and we hope to see you there!

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Available at No Cost to You!

From the Office of 

College and Career Readiness

Need to Know By Grade Level

Seniors:  
Seniors are working on completing college applications, asking teachers for letters of recommendations, meeting individually with Ms. Madden, and learning about the FAFSA.

The following colleges will be visiting Deer Park during X-bell:  University of Cincinnati, Ball State University, Xavier University, Wittenberg University, Ashland University, Bellarmine University, and Wright State University.  More will be added regularly.

Graduate Services was at Deer park High School on Monday September 24th to speak with seniors.  Seniors were sent home with a packet of information on how to order cap and gowns. Please order cap and gowns before December 10th to avoid an increase in cost.  Any questions can also be directed to Graduate Services at 513-272-5890.  

Cap and Gown Q&A:
Q: When should I order my cap and gown?
A: The cost of cap and gowns will go up starting December 10th-order as soon as possible to ensure appropriate sizing.
Q: How can I order my cap and gown?
A: Orders can be placed on-line at www.graduateserviceinc.com or by phone at 513-272-5890. Graduates Services will accept cash, check or credit card.

*Graduate Services will be to the Scarlet Oaks campus on October 22nd to discuss cap and gown orders.

Juniors:  
Will be taking assessments during CCR to determine how their values and interests apply to potential careers.

Sophomores:  
Will be taking assessments during CCR that will explore how students interests correlate with potential job opportunities.  

Interested in ordering a class ring-visit graduate services website here.  

Freshmen:  

Jr High:  
Our 7th and 8th grader students will explore such topics as what makes successful habits and time management skills, along with activities like a career scavenger hunt and exploring a wealth of career-based videos called Road Trip Nation.  They will also couple what they are learning in CCR and Naviance with their own personal strengths that they are exploring through TLC (Thriving Learning Communities).

This week, the junior high students should have taken the Via strengths finder, and so can you!  Found at https://www.viacharacter.org/www, this free survey would allow you to see what strengths you and your student have in common!

High School End-of-Course Assessment Retake Information

We are sending this notice to explain the upcoming testing dates that are available to our high school students.  The assessment component of Ohio’s new graduation requirements provides three ways to be eligible for a high school diploma.

1. Earn a cumulative score of 18 points, using seven end-of-course state tests over four years of high school, or
2. Earn 13 points by attaining an industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and a workforce readiness score on WorkKeys, a nationally recognized job skills assessment, or
3. Earn scores in English language arts and mathematics on a national college admissions test or tests that indicate the student can do college-level work without needing to take remedial classes (such as the ACT or SAT).

Last year, all students taking high school level courses in English 9, English 10, Algebra, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History and American Government took state assessments to earn points towards graduation.  For each test, a student earns one to five graduation points for a potential of 35 points. To meet Option A, a student must earn a minimum number of 18 points from all tests.  This graduation option gives a student flexibility in accumulating 18 points. A high score on one test can balance a low score on another test. However, a student must earn a total of at least four points on English tests, four points on math tests and six points on science and social studies tests.

Deer Park Junior/Senior High School will be offering retakes during the dates of December 10th – January 10th, with specific dates for each test to be announced later.  For sophomores, these are optional assessments, but it is highly recommended for juniors or seniors who scored a “1/Limited” on any of their assessments.  If you would like your student to retake one of these assessments, please contact Jason Spelic at 891-0010 or at Spelic.j@dpccsd.org and feel free to contact us if you have any questions re: these state assessments, questions about the retakes, or need assistance understanding the new graduation requirements.

Looking to Raise Healthy Kids?

Click HERE for the latest Know! Prevention Action Alliance Newsletter.

HOBY Leadership Seminar Looking for Students

Below is information on the HOBY Leadership Seminar.  Interested students should see Ms. Madden for more details by November 15th.  The seminar is located in Antioch College on June 27-June 30th (students will need their own transportation).  Deer Park can send one student!

Leadership Seminars (LS)

Each spring, 10,000 high school sophomores from across the country join one of HOBY’s 70 State Leadership Seminars to recognize their leadership talents and apply them to become effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace and community.

What is the State Leadership Seminar (LS)?

HOBY’s flagship program, the State Leadership Seminar, empowers high school sophomores to develop their leadership talents to become the leaders of their community. The seminar curriculum is based on the Social Change Model of Leadership and develops leadership from three perspectives: Personal Leadership, Group Leadership, and Leadership for Society. Learn more from our Sophomore Registration Kit. Or Click Here for a one-page flyer.

What do students do at the State Leadership Seminar?

The 3-4 day seminar weekend is filled with interactive activities and workshops that allow students to discover their personal leadership strengths. After understanding leadership from three different perspectives, students then learn to cultivate their skills to lead others and make a positive impact in their community.

ACT Prep

John Baylor Prep is a free resource available to Deer Park Students preparing for the ACT. Below, you will find information about what John Baylor Prep can assist with. More information can be obtained by emailing Corrie Madden (madden.c@dpccsd.org).

Now 12 Sessions, split into two 20-minute videos.  You’ll now have the flexibility to show the ACT Classic course in 40-minute sessions, as before, or 20-minute sessions. Students take a quiz and do a homework assignment after the second video in each session. Online section tests are available after each subject.

The (optional) Strategies for the Writing Section video and worksheet now appears as Session 13.

Full Online ACT Test | In addition to online section tests, student now have the option to take a full ACT test online after session 10.

Subject Related Resources:

English | The Grammar Rules have been refined and consolidated to 19 Rules! Simplicity, clarity, and higher scores correlate.

Math | We’ve added repeating decimals, scientific notation, basic trig identities, and a few other concepts that have all appeared recently on the test.

Reading | We’ve added a fourth Reading strategy to particularly help students who are racing to finish that final fourth passage. Now they can.

Science | In response to the ACT’s reduction in the number of science passages from seven to six, we’ve updated our strategy so that students exploit that extra time for each passage.

Naviance Student Information

Deer Park students grades 7 - 12 will continue to use the Naviance platform as part of their college and career readiness efforts.  While the look and name has changed, the link is still found by clicking on Naviance Family Connections on the main highschool website under Quick Links.  Your student's account will be their district email address and student ID number.  Students can also download the app to their phone. Please check out this great tool together.

ACT vs. SAT

The ACT has English (grammar primarily), Math, Reading, and Science, while the SAT has Reading, Writing & Language (grammar primarily), Math (no calculator), and Math (with a calculator). For high school juniors focusing on the ACT, here are reasons why you might also try the SAT senior year:

1. Your ACT Science score is well below your Math score. The SAT has two Math sections but no Science section.
2. You want additional chances to trigger that big scholarship. Colleges don’t learn and don’t care how many times you take either test.
3. You typically run out of time on the ACT’s Math and Reading Sections. The SAT allows 13 minutes per Reading Passage, while the ACT allows 8 minutes and 45 seconds per Reading passage.

College applications

College applications are due November 1- February 1 (depending on the college)   FAFSA: Became available to complete on October 1. Apply early at www.fafsa.gov  www.fafsahelpoh.org:  Provides calendar of FAFSA Workshops in OH, Paper FAFSA & Worksheet for review, Videos of FAFSA Tips & Completion process, Creating an FSA-ID, Responsible Borrowing Students needing to take the ACT again, should register via www.actstudent.org.   10 Most Common College Application Mistakes: 1. Only apply to 1 or 2 schools 2. Not applying to a financial safety school 3. Only taking the ACT/SAT once or twice 4. Assuming that retail price is sticker price 5. Not visiting the school before accepting 6. Not filling out the FAFSA 7. Not attempting to negotiate financial aid 8. Not applying for private scholarship dollars 9. Not promoting you extracurricular skills 10. Not focusing on the essay

College Application Tips

Start early. Set deadlines for completing essays, collecting recommendations and filling out forms a few weeks before they’re actually required.

Be consistent. Using the exact same name on all your forms makes things easier for admission officers. Decide if you want to use a shortened version of your legal name or your middle name, and then always use the same version. Switching names — going from Bill to Billy, for example — increases the odds that your materials will get misfiled.

Be careful. Careless mistakes on your application can hurt your chances of getting accepted. After you finish an application, put it aside for a day and then check it over for errors. If you can, have a teacher or parent proofread it as well. Save and review online applications before you submit them.

Alert your school. You need to let school officials know which colleges you’re applying to so they can send along your transcripts. The people you ask to write recommendation letters also need to know where you’re applying if they’re mailing the letters themselves.

Completing the Package

Don’t wait. Anything that needs to be mailed, including your application itself, should be sent in several weeks before it is due. This allows time for delivery and processing. Online materials should be sent weeks before the deadline as well.

Submit once. When you apply online, you’ll usually get an automated response saying your materials have been received. If you don’t, contact the college’s admission office. Don’t apply online again or mail in another application.

Keep copies. Make a copy of each piece of each application. Save personal identification numbers, passwords, canceled checks and notes or emails from admission officers. This documentation can save you if a problem arises.

Get confirmation. If you mail applications, put a stamped postcard addressed to your house in each package so admission officers can let you know that your materials arrived. The U.S. Post Office also offers a similar “return receipt” service. It may take a few weeks for confirmation cards to reach you.

If you get a notice saying something is missing, don’t panic. Just call the admission office and calmly ask what steps you can take. This is why you wisely saved copies of everything and sent in your application early!

Wildcat Virtual Academy Update

If your student is taking one of our online WVA courses, we highly advise parents and students to log-in regularly together and check completion status. Students can log into the system at home; the website for the program is:

http://accelerate-deerpark.agilixbuzz.com

Login name is their lastname.firstinitial

Password is their student ID number.  

Know!

Know!  The Prevention Action Alliance produces a monthly newsletter.  This month’s issue discuss the tough topic of alcohol usage and sexual assault, a topic that is important for our parents and upperclassmen to be informed about.  Click HERE for the article.  

This organization, founded 30 years ago by a group of Ohio parents,  seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse. Click HERE for recent newsletters, KNOW!  Click HERE to be taken to their website.

We are always looking for good information about keeping our students safe. Please check out this link to STEMJOBS that has an article discussing students and the current opioid crisis affecting America.  

Start Talking: Building a Drug Free Future

"Children of parents who talk to their teens about drugs are up to 50% less likely to use". Check out this link for more information: 

http://starttalking.ohio.gov 

Get Involved in a Club/Activity at Deer Park Jr/Sr High School

Art Club
Amber Landers

Drama Club
Rachel Hackney
Sara Godwin

FCA
Greg Tabar

International Club
Jen Taylor
Marti Kitsinis

INTERalliance
Scott Calcaterra

NHS
Tim Hubbard
Sean Maher

Newspaper
Craig West

Photography
Craig West

Step-Up
Jason Spelic

C.A.T.S.
Jason Spelic

Hope Squad
Corrie Madden
Sean Maher

Need to Know

School Safety Drill - Monday November 12, 9:15am

As part of our ongoing commitment to safety and security, on Nov. 12th, we will be conducting a simulation to allow students and staff the opportunity to practice and further discuss appropriate responses to crisis situations. These simulations help fulfill the mandatory State Law requiring school safety drills three times per year. These simulations walk students and staff through situations such as if there were to be an active shooter in the building.

We realize these simulations elicit a range of emotions from our students. I encourage you to talk with your child regarding the simulations. If, after speaking with your child, you believe they could use some additional support, please do not hesitate to contact our office and we will do our best to assist you. Administrators and counselors are available to help our students work through the wide range of emotions.

Our goal is for students to know that safety and security are of utmost importance at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School and we are committed to keeping our school environment safe. I appreciate your ongoing support of our school.

ALICE is the protocol that Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School will utilize in the unlikely event of an armed intruder in our building.  ALICE is an acronym for:

• ALERT: Use plain and specific language to Alert others to the danger.
• LOCKDOWN:  Barricade the room.  Prepare to Evacuate or Counter if needed.
• INFORM:  Communicate the violent intruders location and direction in real time.
• COUNTER:  Create Noise, Movement, Distance and Distraction with the intent of reducing the shooters ability to shoot accurately. Counter is NOT fighting.
• EVACUATE:  When safe to do so, remove yourself from the danger zone and run home or to your family's designated safe location.        

As a reminder, this year we are implementing the use of blanks during our simulations. We have simulated gun shot sounds in the past, so this is not a huge departure from or extention to anything we’ve done in the past. For more information and to answer any questions you may have, please click here for an informational sheet prepared by the Deer Park Police Department.

Again, please don't hesitate to contact our office with questions.

Deer Park Schools Fitness Center Updated Hours

Deer Park Community City School District would like to remind all Deer Park residents that the fitness center at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School is open to all residents. The fitness center is now operating under new hours. The fitness center is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon. All residents MUST bring a photo ID each time they visit the fitness center, and can enter at the lower entrance of the facility on the north side of the school (pictured below), next to the tennis courts. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. The room features Cardio (treadmills, elliptical machines, and bikes), over 20 pin-loaded strength machines as well as free weight multi racks and dumbbells. We think you will be impressed with everything the room has to offer.

Help Needed!

Do you pick your student up from school?  Want to help out but don't have a whole lot of time?  The junior high is looking for a parent or two to assist junior high students get organized before they leave for home.  Time commitment: 2:45 - 3:15. If you are interested, please contact Jason Spelic at spelic.j@dpccsd.org

Need Assistance During the Holidays?

With the leaves beginning to change, we’re reminded that the holidays will be here before we know it. If you and your family are in need of assistance this holiday season, fill out a Holiday Food Drive form. All the buildings have forms available and the forms were also sent home with students. Please make sure you return your holiday food drive request form as soon as possible to any building in the district. One form per family. If you need assistance with this process or have questions, please contact Laura Buchanan at buchanan.l@dpccsd.org or 513-936-6286. To print out a form, click here.

Community Readiness Survey

Please consider taking a brief survey on your thoughts about drug and alcohol misuse in Deer Park.  Click HERE for the survey.

Attendance Line 513-891-2414

Please remember to call the attendance number when you need to report your child absent  or if they will be arriving late to school. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is important that the student’s name and reason for their absence are left on the attendance line. Thank you.

Deer Park Schools Looking for Substitutes

Deer Park Schools is looking for substitutes, educational aides, food service workers and secretary substitutes. Short-term and long term-positions are available. Details: Educational Aide: $11.00 per hour Food Service: $9.50 per hour Secretary: $11.00 per hour Short-term and long-term positions available Needs: High School Diploma or GED Clean criminal background check Apply: rachelwixey.com

Smiles Program Coming to Jr/Sr HS 11-14

Great news! Deer Park Community City Schools has partnered with the Smile Programs…the mobile dentists to offer in-school dental care! The mobile dentist will be coming to the Jr. /Sr. High School on November 14th, 2018 Simply sign up your child today at www.myschooldentist.com or fill out and sign a permission form. Permission forms will be available for students to pick up in the main office. Please return forms to the school nurse by October 23rd. Even better, dental care is usually at no cost to you. All insurance is accepted including Medicaid and CHIP. For those without insurance, a low cost self-pay option is available. For more information please visit www.myschooldentist.com or contact the school nurse.

Jr High Homework Club and Math Lab (3:00pm-4:00pm)

Jr. High Homework Club
Tuesday - Ms. Winebar (Room 60)
Thursday - Ms. Malkowski (Room 151)
Friday - Ms. Davison (room Room 51)

High School Math Lab
Mondays - Mr. Gabbard
Tuesdays - Ms. Ginn’s room
Wednesdays - in Mr. Moulton’s room
Thursdays - in Mr. Benjamin’s room

Staying Connected

There are multiple ways to stay connected to Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School. Please see the attached flyer for ways to stay connected through Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Text Messages.

• E-Mail: If you are not already signed up, please register for the e-mail communication. To register, simply go to www.deerparkcityschools.org and click on the button on the left side 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.
• Twitter: Follow Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School for the most up-to-date news and happenings! @DeerParkHS, @DeerParkSchools and @dpcounselor.
• Facebook: follow us at Deer Park Community City Schools and Deer Park Jr/Sr High School
• Text Messages: Through a great program titled Remind, we can provide text message alerts/reminders in a safe, confidential manner.Remind never shows a person's cell number, which means we never see your number and you never see ours. Standard text messaging rates do apply. To subscribe, send an individual text message to: 81010 with the message @dpwildcats. Follow the instructions you receive via text message to complete your registration. Seniors also have a text messaging service. To subscribe, send an individual text message to: 81010 with the message @dpseniors.
• Instagram: follow us at DeerParkHS and DP_Schools

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