The high school’s jazz ensemble and pops orchestra were recently selected to play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio as part of the Hall’s Rock Star Program. The student-musicians, accompanied by band director Jerry Cannarozzo and orchestra director Kathy Attard, toured the Hall in the morning and performed in the afternoon.

“Both of our groups were well received and we were invited back to perform in the future,” said Cannarozzo.

Melding remembrance of proud milestones and reflection on future choices and journeys, the Deer Park High School Class of 2019 celebrated the school’s 56th commencement on June 28.

As in years past, the Roisin Dubh Pipe Band led the seniors into the stadium, while an ensemble consisting of the ninth grade and symphonic bands, directed by Jerry Cannarozzo, played “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Valedictorian and Student Council President Katherine Cho led the Pledge of Allegiance, Alexandria Costanza sang the national anthem, a choral group of 27 students sang the school’s alma mater, and alumna and Class of 2009 valedictorian Ekta Patel greeted the seniors.

“When we first entered high school, we were told it was going to be the best but quickest four years of our lives, and it was,” Senior Class President Ryan Hegney said in his address. “But it was the most important. It felt like yesterday that we were waving to our parents at our bus stops, and now we realize how suddenly all these years of school have flown by.”

Salutatorian Eiman Nawaz urged her classmates to be openminded and empathize with others.

“There will always be a chance to meet someone who could be your next friend, mentor or love,” Nawaz said. “A lot can be changed if you just listen to other people. It’s a work in progress and it’s going to take a lot of time to achieve that, but we’re not trying to win a prize, it’s just bettering ourselves. The simplest way to do that is just grow, listen to other people and have your voice be heard. There’s 7.53 billion people in this world. If even a couple of us did that, it would make a difference.”

In her speech as valedictorian, Cho said, “We are at an age where we can make our own choices. We are old enough to have opinions and the passion to take matters into our own hands. It’s not important to be right, it’s only important to be true to yourself and your moral compass. However, we are young enough that if we make mistakes, so be it. We have the time to turn and try again. After all, that’s the beauty of our generation. While others are stumbling in the dark, we are the ones to illuminate the candle and point them towards the light. What you choose to do with this power to lead, where you to choose to lead to, and how you choose to lead defines you and is what you are ultimately accountable for.”

“I’m already looking forward to the day we all cross paths again,” Cho said in closing. “Until then, please stay happy and healthy. Everyone has worked hard in their own way, and our reward is this singular moment.”

In a final graduation speech as superintendent of schools, Eva Demyen said to the seniors, “It is an important milestone in our lives, leaving Deer Park Schools – you as graduates and me as a retiring superintendent. This is just like ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ the end of a fabulous journey, but what a myriad of possibilities to come in the future.”

Demyen went on to quote several lines from the Marvel superhero film that reflected pertinent values and insights, before telling the graduates, “I wish you all the happiness, love and success that is possibly possible.”

The seniors also heard from alumnus Paul Becker, a retired naval rear admiral and member of the Class of 1979.

“While there’s 40 years between my class and yours, please know that when I wore the cloth of my country – either afloat in the Pacific or in the deserts of the Middle East – it was alongside teenagers right out of high schools like this,” Becker said to the seniors. “That’s why I have some relevant advice as you begin your adult journey. Up to this point of your lives, most of you have measured success by being able to fit in, but from here on out, you’ll start measuring success by being able to stand out.”

Demonstrating a shared sense of pride, Principal Charles Cobb shared a long list of remarkable student achievements, accomplishments and charitable works before presenting the administration and Board of Education with the graduating class of 2019.

Once diplomas were conferred, the new graduates turned their tassels, tossed their caps, and walked out of the football field to the traditional strains of Elmer Bernstein’s “The Great Escape.”

 

Continuing last year’s new tradition, seniors visited their respective primary school buildings on June 24 for the second annual senior walk. The members of the Class of 2019 paraded down the halls, discussed their college and career plans, and enjoyed an interactive talk with second graders.

 

At Deer Park’s June 18 Board of Education meeting, the district honored numerous impressive student achievements and said farewell to longtime Superintendent Eva Demyen, who is retiring.

The evening began with a performance of a song by Robert Frost students from Rachel Burkel and Stephanie O’Connell’s classes and the Friends of Frost Social Club, which was dedicated to Demyen, along with the screening of a film on Frost’s BandAid Project and the presentation of a certificate to Frost student Stephanie Sheeler.

Next up was recognition of JFK’s Math Olympiad winners by adviser Lisa Baker. The 21 students honored were Danny Alvarado-Valle, Vincent Cacciola, Arianna Chowdhury, Emily Dong, Katherine Flores, Adam Hassanin, Adan Herrera, Ethan Nelson, Cristian Miller, Gianna Montes, Nobin Nath, Dave Osorio Lara, Mollie Pellicano, Frankie Pisano, Jaidyn Schabe, Jayna Singh, Allessandra Tejero, Arib Uddin, Hailey Weisse, Eshan Zaman and Ali Zorakhsh.

Ashley Rosenberg, the district administrator for ENL and world languages, then presented the winners of the 2019 Grand Concours National French Contest, an annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Middle school honorees included bronze medalist Anabelle Thelisma and honorable mention winners Emily Kleiber, Alexis Lazarte, Eadie Liu, Adithan Omprakash, Ayesha Shaukat and Anthony Vasquez; while high school honorees were gold medalist Saima Hoque, silver medalists Victoria Egan and Bartlett Polster, bronze medalists Kristin D’Souza, Sameer Riaz, Naomi Sauveur and Diondra Talleyrand, and honorable mention winners Rebecca Fox and Esteysy Yanes Amaya.  

Business-minded high schoolers participating in the DECA club were then presented with certificates by adviser Gregory Menig.

Closing out the evening and the moving tribute to Demyen’s remarkable career, Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer presented her with a proclamation presentation.

The district hired Garret Noblett as an associate principal for Deer Park High School.

Noblett had recently worked as a special education teacher at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station for the past seven years. He was also the alternative high school principal at Whitman for the past two years, as well as a principal for the Western Suffolk BOCES Regional Summer School for the past three years. Noblett’s prior positions also include a social studies/special education teacher at Deer Park High School, Robert Frost Middle School and Abraham Lincoln Alternative High School from 2007-2012, and a social studies teacher at Rocky Point High School during 2006-2007.

The Kings Park resident earned his bachelor’s degree in history and sociology from Stony Brook University, his master’s degree in secondary social studies education and middle school extension certificate from Hofstra University, an advanced certificate in special education from Dowling College, and school building/school district educational leadership certificates from Stony Brook University.

“As a graduate of Deer Park High School, I am very excited to come home to my alma mater and serve the community that has given me so much joy in my life,” Noblett said. “My goal as an associate principal is to foster a safe and successful learning environment for both students and staff while working towards district educational standards and goals.”