Deer Park Schools are open and on time Friday, January 20th.

Given the recent cold temperatures and snow - and forecasts for more of the same - we would like to share a few quick reminders with everyone:  In icy and/or snowy conditions motorists should use extra precaution when following or approaching a school bus. As we know, school buses make frequent stops as they load and unload students. Remember that laws require motorists to stop when the school bus stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.  Also, please be extra careful when driving near schools or when dropping off or picking up your child. We want everyone to be safe in the slick road conditions.

Students who walk to school or wait at school bus stops should be dressed appropriately for the cold, wet, and often icy weather. Proper outerwear should include boots, hats, gloves or mittens, a warm coat and possibly even snow pants; this outerwear will also keep kids warm as they enjoy outside recess breaks during the winter months. 

We're excited to announce that the Deer Park School District will be hosting a free spaghetti dinner for parents and community members who live in the Clayton area on Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Clayton Grange (4478 Railroad Rd.). Superintendent Becky Cooke will be sharing important news and information about Deer Park Schools.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Brent Seedall at 464-5522 or email him at brent.seedall@dpsdmail.org. We hope to see you at this Clayton Community event! To ensure we have enough food for the spaghetti dinner, please RSVP to Mr. Seedall by Monday, January 9.

The present three-year Maintenance and Operations levy, which makes up approximately 16% of the Deer Park School District's total revenues, will expire at the end of this school year. This means that voters will have an opportunity to cast their vote for another three year levy (to cover 2012-2015) in the special election this February. If you are not presently a registered voter, you can start the process online by clicking HERE. A registered Washington voter who has moved and needs to transfer registration must do so by January 16th, 2012.

If you would like information regarding the levy election, further details are available in an information brief available for download by CLICKING HERE. Additionally, you click on the "Vote" button to the right of this announcement for answers to some frequently asked questions. Finally, if you would like to speak with someone regarding the upcoming levy election, please feel free to contact either Superintendent Becky Cooke (e-mail) at 464-5507 or Business Manager Shauna Ferguson (e-mail) at 464-5506.

We have been notified by the Stevens County road crew supervisor of the seriousness of the current road conditions as well as an extreme weather pattern forecasted for the Stevens County portion of our school district. Presently, the forecast calls for 6 to 12 inches of snow over the next 24 hours, followed by heavy rain on top of the snow starting around noon tomorrow. These conditions will make it impossible for county road crews to keep up with necessary plowing; additionally, the rain on top of the snow and ice will make driving conditions extremely dangerous. 

Due to the possibility of dangerous conditions in this forecast, our present plan is to send high school students home at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Nov. 22nd. The Skills Center bus will not run and all after school activities are cancelled - including the Cornerstone after school program. Home Link will also not be in session on Tuesday.

We will be watching weather conditions very closely and it is possible that school will be cancelled on Tuesday if this storm arrives earlier than expected and conditions deteriorate more quickly than expected. Decisions regarding closures and late starts will be posted on our web site and we will use our automated phone system to inform families. As usual, we will also inform local media of any changes to our school schedule.

For Deer Park Elementary, Arcadia, and Deer Park Middle, conferences will continue as scheduled until 4:00pm. Parents may choose to reschedule by calling the school's main office. All conferences after 4:00pm on Tuesday will be rescheduled for a later date - stay tuned for more information.

The safety of students and staff is always our number one concern. If you have any questions please call us at 464-5500.

Conferences will begin on Friday, Nov. 18th and the schedule is as follows:

• On Friday, Nov. 18th and Monday, Nov. 21st, students at both Deer Park Elementary and Arcadia will attend school for a half-day. These are regular school days for students at DPMS and DPHS.
• Tuesday, Nov. 22nd and Wednesday, Nov. 23rd are non-student days at DPE, Arcadia, and DPMS; teachers will be engaged in parent/teacher conferences or in student led conferences throughout the day.  Tuesday, Nov. 22nd is a regular school day at DPHS.  Wednesday, Nov. 23rd is a half day at DPHS.
• Thanksgiving Break begins on November 24th.
  
• Please be reminded that on half-days, schools will begin releasing students for pick-up between 12:15 and 12:20 (please contact your child's school for specific information). 
  

Deer Park High School Drama proudly presents Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr. This musical brings to life classics such as 'Conjunction Junction', 'Interplanet Janet' and 'I'm Just a Bill', among many others from the Emmy® Award-winning Saturday morning cartoon series.

Twenty four students have been singing, dancing and acting under the direction of Cheryl Demke for over two months to bring this show to life. In addition, several crew members have been working on lighting and sound that will help bring this show to life.

This is the first musical in Deer Park High School's new theater and the first at DPHS in over 10 years! Come enjoy a night at the theater - you'll be entertained and might even learn a thing or two! Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr. premieres on Tuesday Nov. 15, and runs through Friday, Nov. 18. Curtain is at 7 pm. Cost is $5 for students/children and $7 adults. Don't miss it!

Deer Park High School’s Cornerstone After School Program went where few have gone before, inside the depths of Grand Coulee Dam. As part of a VIP tour, students were privileged to view Grand Coulee’s 28 massive generators in action, stand atop the dam’s 12 million cubic yards of concrete, and feel the vibrations of water driving turbines. Many touched a generator shaft spinning at 120 revolutions per second.

The group prepared for weeks by devising ways their experience could become part of their project-based learning. One student decided to enhance a Physical Science project by making a turbine to recharge batteries. Two more students decided to augment their English/Physical Science projects by comparing and contrasting wind and hydro electrical output. Another decided to supplement a Geometry project by making a scale model of the dam and calculating the surface area, volume, perimeter, etc. In the end, the experience provided fertile ground for learning and everyone was able to connect this engaging "field trip" with their individual project goals.

For more detail about the Grand Coulee experience (as well as a couple more great pictures) click the "Read More" link at the bottom right of this announcement...

On Tuesday morning November 15, 2011, from 8:00am to 12:00pm, members of the community are invited to visit schools throughout the Deer Park School District as part of the Superintendent's Community of Schools Tour. The purpose of the school visits is to provide an opportunity for the public to familiarize themselves with the facilities and observe students and staff members in their daily routines. “Many people have been at school for athletic events, concerts, or plays, but not many have been here to see how we operate on a normal school day,” stated Dr. Becky Cooke, Superintendent.

This guided bus tour will begin and end at the district office beginning at 8:00am and concluding at around 12:00pm. At the completion of the tour, the public will have the opportunity to ask additional questions to Superintendent Cooke concerning the Deer Park School District. Refreshments will be served. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community and public to see our schools in action. A complete schedule for the day can be downloaded HERE .

Please plan to make an effort to come and visit the Deer Park schools on November 15. Students and staff are eager to share what they do each day in their classrooms. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Brent Seedall at 464-5522 or email him at brent.seedall@dpsdmail.org.

Recently, a district committee was formed to try to answer some questions raised at both a state and a local level about how Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs like Deer Park Home Link are funded. The committee was comprised of four parents, two school board members, the director of business services, the superintendent, the Home Link principal, and a consulting teacher.  The committee was facilitated by Dr. Mike Dunn, the superintendent of Educational Service District 101, with technical support from Cory Plager, director of school financial services for the ESD, and it met weekly in mid September and October.

Over the course of numerous productive meetings, the team effectively explored the funding challenges facing ALE programs and Deer Park Home Link in particular - reaching consensus on a number of key funding issues related to Home Link. Please click the read more link for a more in depth explanation of the the process.