Wildcat Weekly - Jr/Sr HS 9-29-19

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Wildcat Weekly

September 29th, 2019

DP Jr/Sr HS Front Aerial View

Homecoming Week!

Monday starts the busy but exciting Homecoming week!  A couple of days ago, there was a press release with everything you'll need to do know about this week, and you can find that by clicking here.  Whether it's Spirit Week dress up days, pep rallies, the parade, the games, or the dance, we are looking forward to the fun and pride that comes with being a Deer Park Wildcat!  As always, it's a great day to be a Wildcat! 

-Shane Hartley, Deer Park Jr/Sr High School Principal


What's New?

American Heart Association Games and Red Out

Thursday, October 3rd is our annual American Heart Association event.  This will consist of a spaghetti dinner, bake sale, and a ladies' and men's soccer game.  For more information, please click this link!

Terrace Metrics Survey

On October 30th, our 9th and 12th grade students will participate in a survey called Terrace Metrics.  This survey is designed to be a comprehensive behavioral health tool that can quickly identify and prioritize students in need of services and supports.  The survey typically lasts about 15-20 minutes for students, and we will communicate more information about that day as it gets closer. Know that we will have extra support personnel available that day for any students who show such need, and parents will be promptly notified if any concerns should arise.  For more information, here is a link to their website.

News from the Counseling Department

ACT Prep and Practice: Even though it may seem far away, conversations between parents and students about college should start even as early as junior high!  As students progress to their junior and senior years, we begin talking more and more about college entrance exams, especially the ACT.  While colleges are continuously evolving in regards to what they consider to be critical information for admission, we want to work with parents to make sure that our students are as prepared as possible for college, should that be the appropriate route for our students.  As part of this, we use a program called John Baylor Prep.  This program has various videos to help students and parents, and we will share these videos occasionally through the Wildcat Weekly.  Here is a link to a video about what Seniors should be doing right now!


In Case You Missed It

Washington D.C. Parent Meeting

There will be a Washington D.C. Parent Information meeting on October 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the Deer Park Jr/Sr High School.  This meeting will be located in our "Cat Den" room, which is located in the front hallway of the building.  The meeting is for parents/guardians of any 8th grader currently planning on attending the Washington D.C. trip.  See you there!

World Affairs Hunger Seminar Opportunity

There is an opportunity for Deer Park students to attend the 2020 World Affairs Hunger Seminar in Wisconsin next June.  The Blue Ash Rotary Club is offering to send a student covering all costs except for transportation.  Students will meet with youth from around the world to discuss the global issues that impact our society.  For more information, click this link.  Please email me at hartley.s@dpccsd.org if you would like details!

Mobile Dentist Opportunity

The Mobile Dentist is scheduled to come to the Jr./Sr. High School on Monday, November 11th. Forms will be sent home to all 7th and 8th graders through their teachers, and forms are available in the front office for high school students.

Conference Times

Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up in a little over a month.  While we encourage you to reach out to teachers with any concerns before conferences, this is also a great time to have some great conversations about how to best work together with our teachers to prepare your students for success.

Sign-up information will be coming in future weeks, but we want to communicate with you the times for these days:
October 24th - 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (No School all day)
October 25th - 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (No School all day)

Fees

Please be proactive by paying your student's school fees as soon as you can. Unfortunately, we are no longer creating payment plans for students wishing to purchase homecoming tickets.  In order to purchase tickets for homecoming, the following fee balances apply:

  • Any student in grades 9-11 must have a balance of $500 or less
  • Any student in grade 12 must have a balance of $300 or less

Here is a link to our EZ Pay site for fee payment.  You may also pay through our board office or front office at the Jr/Sr High School.  Thank you for working with us on this!

Homework Help

Various opportunities for students to get extra time and help exist after school throughout each week.  Here are the Homework Club days and times we are currently offering:

Junior High Homework Club
Thursdays - Ms. Malkwoski (Room 151)

Math Homework Club
Monday - Ms.Ginn (Room 226)
Tuesday - Mr. Benjamin (Room 224)
Wednesday - Mr. Gabbard (Room 256)
Thursday - Ms. Adler (Room 157)

9th Grade Homework Club
Monday - Dr. West (Room 154)
Wednesday - Ms. Parker (Room 220)
Thursday - Ms. Adler (Room 157)
Friday - Mr. Moore (Room 155) - NOTE: Mr. Moore will switch to Tuesdays in November

Additional Notes from the Guidance Office

Vaping Prevention and Information: While the dangers of e cigarettes and vaping are becoming more and more obvious through local and nation news reports (just Google it!), teenage usage is also on the rise.  We want to pass along some basic information to parents that may help inform you as you discuss use of these dangerous chemicals that too many teenagers are putting into their bodies.  Please click this link to find more information and talking points.

Attention Parents of Gifted Students:  Registration for Super Saturday classes for the fall 2019 Term opened on September 1st, 2019!  For more information, please check out the Fall 2019 Class List.  For more information or to register, please visit online registration page

Drug Prevention:  Deer Park Jr/Sr HS is committed to helping students make safe choices!  To help us with this, please consider signing up for Know! Parent Tips.  These short yet informative articles from the Prevention Action Alliance have solid information on how you can prevent your students from the use/misuse of illegal substances.  

Naviance Student InformationDeer Park Jr/Sr High School students 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.

Junior High: Coming up  October 1 and 2, our 7th and 8th grade students will take part in the programs The ID Project. This program identifies disrespect, stereotyping, and bullying as the main causes negatively impacting middle and high school climate and seeks to help our students grow through a day of fun activities, presentations, and learning about each other. The program from Changepoint Learning is designed to give adolescents key tools that will serve them lifelong. The primary emphasis will be Self-Leadership focusing on the following:

-SMART Action Goals and SMART Action Plans
-Future Self (focusing on personal values and who each one desires to become)
-Time Management (utilizing the metaphors of Four Quadrants/Big Rocks
-Key Behaviors of Leadership
-Qualities of Character

The program does involve learning about the challenges and hardships that peers have gone through and students are given the opportunity to share their experiences only if they are willing. While we hope that all students will participate, you may choose to opt out if you do not wish for your child to participate.  To do so, please contact us at 891-0010 and/or if you have any questions, you can contact Jason Spelic at 936-4652 or at spelic.j@dpccsd.org.

IBM eMentoring Opportunity:  Attention 7th grade parents!  If you are interested in giving your student that extra boost, please contact Jason Spelic at 936-4652 about this great program!

Freshmen: 9th graders will start the year reviewing the requirements for graduation and the tentative options for after highschool.  Please talk with your student about how their 9th grade year will impact their 12th grade possibilities!

Sophomores and Juniors:  Deer Park High School is offering the opportunity for students to take the PSAT to its students.  The cost of the assessment is $17.  Payment should be given to Secretary Mrs. Vickrey by October 7th (checks can be made payable to Deer Park High School).  Below is some information about the PSAT.

As students begin preparing for college, the PSAT is an excellent opportunity to receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. In addition to receiving invaluable information about skill level, the PSAT also enters juniors into the National Merit Scholarship.  Additionally, the PSAT helps students to prepare for the PSAT by becoming familiar with the kinds of questions that will be on the SAT, as well as becoming familiar with the formatting of directions often seen in standardized testing.

The PSAT provides the first step for students as they begin to prepare for the next step after high school.  Please feel free to contact Corrie Madden (madden.c@dpccsd.org) with any questions.

Seniors: As part of the college application process, it's important to fill out the FAFSA form as part of receiving Federal Student Aide.  Please see this link for important information you'll need to fill out the FAFSA form!

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

Upcoming Events

October 4th - Homecoming Parade and Football Game

October 5th - Homecoming Dance

October 24th and 25th - Conferences (No School for Students)


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