 Wildcat Weekly
November 18, 2018
Exciting Happenings
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.
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.
- Earn a cumulative score of 18 points, using seven end-of-course state tests over four years of high school, or
- 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
- 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.
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.
PSAT Results
PSAT Scores results will be available to students on December 11th. Paper copies of these scores reports will be distributed out to students shortly after this date.
November College Tips
- Don't let your grades slide. It's easy to be distracted from school work when working on applications. Senior slump can be disastrous for your admissions chances.
- Make sure you've submitted all components of your applications if you are applying to colleges with November deadlines for early decision or preferred application.
- Put the final touches on your application essays, and get feedback on your essays from counselors and/or teachers.
- Continue to research scholarships.
- If you submitted the FAFSA, you should receive the Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully look it over for accuracy. Errors can cost you thousands of dollars.
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:
Drug Misuse Community Forum
The DP CATS (Coalition Advocating Teen Success) and Prevention 1st hosted a community forum this week. If you missed it and are interested in helping out with either After Prom or hosting a parent meeting, please contact us at 891-0010. Please click HERE to see the presentation on prevention and HERE take a community readiness survey. Thank you.
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
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.
|
Order Your Deer Park Spirit Wear
Spirit wear orders are being taken until Saturday, December 1, 2018. Delivery will be the week before Christmas and you will be contacted via email on location and time of pick-up.
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
|
|
 |
Deer Park Schools Looking for Substitute Teachers
 Deer Park Schools is looking for substitute teachers at both Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School and Amity Elementary.
If you are interested in becoming a Substitute Teacher for us please apply here. We are partnered with Hamilton County Educational Service Center for this service. They are located at 11083 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231.
Please log on the Hamilton County Educational Service Center's website. Once on the site please follow the directions on that page to complete and submit the forms.
|
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
Upcoming Events
|
