High school freshman Jimmy Jiang and Robert Frost eighth grader Adithan Omprakash were among only 84 students named Long Island Young Scholars of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY Old Westbury. Their selection recognizes that they are in the top one-tenth of one percent of Long Island math students in their grade level.

Demonstrating their impressive skill and growing mastery of music technique, the high school’s student-musicians performed everything from classical pieces to holiday favorites during the school’s two annual winter concerts, held in the auditorium on Dec. 18 and 19.

“It is amazing how far the students have come since the beginning of the year,” said Kathryn Attard, the orchestra director. “Their music was a challenge, but they definitely rose to the occasion. They had an amazing concert and I am very proud of all of them.”

During December, the high school’s Patriot and SADD clubs worked to collect toiletries and winter hats and gloves for homeless veterans, reaching out to both fellow students as well as the community. Before the holiday break, club members filled 23 gift bags, one for each resident of the Veterans Place in Yaphank, with enough items left over to save for future residents.

“The response from the community was heartwarming and overwhelmingly generous,” said teacher Laurie Osbern, the Patriot Club’s adviser. “We can always count on Deer Park to come through whenever there is a need for support.”

The Patriot Club had previously run a districtwide fundraiser in November for the GI Go Fund, an organization that assists veterans, active-duty personnel, family members and other members of the military community with employment, benefits and housing. Students and staff from each district school building wore patriotic clothing to show their support, while school, district office and transportation department employees raised $1,600 in donations.

Continuing a special tradition, the high school’s ensembles toured the district on Dec. 20, sharing holiday joy through music.

Led by band directors Jerry Cannarozzo and Maxx Vogelsberg, musicians from the high school and Robert Frost joined over 400 other tuba and euphonium players from across the nation in a Dec. 15 performance of traditional Christmas carols and other holiday favorites at the 46th annual Tuba Christmas concert at Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center. Participating students included high schoolers Anthony Aguilar, Louis Bianco, Paul Buehler, Logan Eisenberg, Brady Parks, Ilianna Pena, Manny Saladino, Joseph Soto and Matthew Soto, and middle schooler Summer Eisenberg.

Chris Wilhjelm served as the conductor of this year’s event, which was created by tuba master Harvey Phillips to honor his late instructor William J. Bell.