High school art teacher Rita Murphy was honored at the second annual Teacher of Excellence Awards ceremony, hosted by State Sen. Phil Boyle at the Bay Shore Fire Department on May 4.

“We celebrated the achievements of 16 outstanding educators and school professionals who have dedicated their lives to teaching and helping their students learn, thrive, and reach their fullest potential,” said Boyle. “Our school communities are so very fortunate to have such passionate educators.”

Murphy, who is retiring this year, began her teaching career in 1990 as a substitute art teacher for both the Comsewogue and Longwood School Districts, before being employed full time with Smithtown High School West. She began teaching in Deer Park in September 1991. 

“I have been teaching for just under 28 years, and I have loved having the privilege and honor of teaching,” she said. “My philosophy has always been that art is ‘play with a purpose.’  I am fortunate to have lived my philosophy, and so I tell students daily: when choosing a career, choose what you love. If you choose what you love, you will always be successful because of your passion.  As I retire this year, I look back on an incredibly and wonderfully fulfilled life.”

Deer Park’s districtwide STEAM Expo, an annual event at the high school held on budget vote night, showcases student achievement in art, music, science and technology. During this year’s Expo on May 16, an expanding crowd of visiting voters, families and community members were electrified by an exciting live demonstration of celebrity portrait “drip painting” by sophomore artist Vincenza Grippe.

After taking Rita Murphy’s mural painting class in her freshman year, Grippe was ready to take her work to the next level.

“On the first day of school in September, Vincenza came to my drawing and painting class and stated that she loved art,and wanted to work on her art skills as much as possible,” said teacher Joseph Mucci. Before long, she had been recommended to paint an outer space mural at STAT Health’s childrens unit. Then came the genesis of her unique technique.

“One day in my drawing and painting class, Vincenza came to me and said she wanted to try a new style of portrait painting that involved drip and splatter techniques,” said Mucci. “We stretched some canvases, and she started painting away. She had some black paint and a few old palette knives. She started basic and small, but the outcome was remarkable. In a few quick weeks, she was painting masterful drip portraits featuring iconic personalities like, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Marilyn Monroe, Biggy Smalls, Frida Kahlo and John Lennon.”

Grippe has recently done other live drip painting demonstrations at events like the Staten Island Art Festival, and has sold several paintings and received numerous commissions. She is currently painting a mural for local paintball facility NYZ Apocalypse. Next year, she plans to enroll in Deer Park’s Advanced Placement portfolio art course.

“Vincenza is one of the best art students I have ever had in almost 17 years of teaching,” said Mucci. “Her talent and work ethic is professional and unmatched. She is mature beyond her years and has a kind heart. She has come a long way in such short time, and her optimism, smile and overall character only add to her unbelievable ability. I truly believe that Vincenza is at the beginning of her creative career as a professional artist.”

Other STEAM Expo highlights included lively and elegant music by the Robert Frost Middle School Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra; dramatic performances by high school actors excerpting works like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Barefoot in the Park” and “Cinderella”; and a “Evening at the Improv” performance by Robert Frost eighth-grade theater arts students. Middle school science fair projects were on display in the cafeteria, and technology demonstrations throughout the building included seventh-grade dragster races, AP chemistry projects, and displays of 3D printing, CAD, metals, robotics, home improvement, woodworking, animation and architecture.

The high school’s Class of 2017 valedictorian and salutatorian are Omaier Mohiuddin and Alima Hossain, respectively.

An AP Scholar with Distinction, Mohiuddin is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, Math Team, Red Cross Club, Art Club and International Culture Club, and serves as president of the Spanish Honor Society. He will attend Stony Brook University this fall, majoring in engineering. 

Hossain is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Olympiad team, Math Team, SADD Club, Red Cross Club and International Culture Club. She also will attend Stony Brook University, majoring in biology.

High School newspaper staff members Katherine Cho, Rebecca Fox, Kaitlyn Hart, Fabiha Khan, Catherine Taipe and Alejandro Villa Vasquez attended an April 27 mock press conference with New York State Assemblymen Chad A. Lupinacci and Andrew Raia. Accompanied by newspaper advisers Christine Murphy and Luciana Restivo, the students were able to ask questions about current issues such as LGBT rights, the heroin epidemic, gang violence on Long Island and changes in education.

“We are so proud of the professionalism our students exhibited during this event as they gained knowledge of the journalistic process,” said Murphy.

High school students in Melissa Green’s AP biology classes recently visited Stony Brook University to conduct two biotechnology labs: a bacterial transformation lab, in which they incorporated a gene from a bioluminescent jellyfish into bacteria, causing the bacteria to express that trait and glow green; and a DNA restriction analysis lab, exposing enzymes to various environmental conditions and seeing the effects on DNA.

“This was a great opportunity for our seniors to experience applications in the field of biotechnology,” said Green. “My students were excited to explore new lab techniques using state of the art equipment.”