Twenty-one talented and hardworking Deer Park music students were chosen for the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s All-County Festival ensembles.

Deer Park High School freshmen Emily Dong (violin, Orchestra), Lillah Hubert (soprano, Chorus), Aubrey Hyney (trombone, Band) and Kaiya Pierson (alto, Chorus), and sophomores Emily Cannet (flute, Orchestra), William Fox (bass, Chorus), Dylan Girard (clarinet, Band), Ryan Hughes (tenor sax) and Lauren Marable (flute, Band) performed at the SCMEA West Division 3 concert on March 9 at Huntington High School.

Robert Frost Middle School seventh graders Jocelyn Pierson (soprano, Chorus) and Mikaela Ponte (violin, Orchestra), and eighth graders Joshua Beylin (clarinet, Band), John Paul Grande (trumpet, Band) and Timothy Spenelli (baritone, Chorus) performed at the SCMEA West Division 2 concert on March 10 at Huntington High School.

John F. Kennedy Intermediate School fifth graders Addison Sheehan (voice, Chorus) and Jayden Rivers (voice, Chorus), and Robert Frost Middle School sixth graders Hailey Cannet (clarinet, Band), Zoey Eisenoff (violin, Orchestra), Christopher Jackson (alto sax, Band), Natalie Siskoglou (voice, Chorus) and Jillian Wagner (voice, Chorus) performed at the SCMEA Central Division 1 concert on March 10 at East Islip High School.

“We are immensely proud of our talented students who were selected to participate in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s concerts this season,” Director of Fine and Performing Arts Bradley Murphy said. “Their acceptance into these prestigious ensembles is a testament to their hard work, dedication and exceptional musical abilities. These students have represented our district with distinction, showcasing the caliber of our music programs and the commitment of our educators. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement and commend them for being ambassadors of excellence in the arts.”

Date Added: 4/25/2024

As part of ongoing efforts to promote a culture of inclusivity and kindness within the school community, the World of Difference Club at Deer Park’s Robert Frost Middle School introduced a March Out Against Hate schoolwide activity on March 26. The purpose was to raise awareness about the importance of combating hate and fostering acceptance and respect among students.

During homeroom, classes began the day by watching a “Sorry Isn’t Good Enough” video highlighting the impact of hate and the long-lasting effects that hateful speech and behavior can have on others. They also discussed two main points: how to be an “upstander” and how to stand up to a bully or incidents of hate. Students involved in clubs and sports were then encouraged to participate by creating banners and signs with messages against hate.   

Following the video presentation and sign-making activity, club students were invited to join together to walk the school’s track, a symbolic gesture that serves as a visible demonstration of their commitment to standing up against hate and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion at Robert Frost Middle School and the world.

“We believe that activities like March Out Against Hate not only raise awareness but also empower students to be active agents of positive change within our school community,” speech language pathologist Stephanie O’Connell said. “By coming together as a community and taking a stand against hate, we can make a positive impact and create a school environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.”

Date Added: 4/16/2024

Robert Frost Middle School held its annual spring play, a production of Craig Sodaro’s comedy “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Colosseum,” on March 15 and 16. It was directed by Michael Moriarty, with set design by Maria Giglio.

Set in Ancient Rome, the show featured a large, talented ensemble cast of actors including Logan Stylianou (Simplcuss), Jayson Tavarez (Publicus Piscius), Giavanna Whitaker (Glitzi), Katherine Fuentes Perez (Suplica), Paige Gomez (Julia), Isabella Sandoval (Vistillia), Arafat Shah (Emperor Caesar Augustus Dressingus), Mikaela Ponte (Bubo), Sarahfina Roffi (General Spurius Sillius), Yiana Sanchez (Dominatia Violencia), Yuriko Sanchez (Tadius), Aaron Grant (Terribulus), Mikayla Hill (Drusilla), Emily Hofacker (Agrippina), Zahra Kareem (Pompeia), Inaaya Khan (Mitzi), Genesis Martinez Hernandez (Divinia), Livia Oliveira (Euphemia) and Shannon Orin (Blitzi).

“This was a very special performance, as it was the 10th anniversary of when we first performed it,” Moriarty said. “It was one of the funniest plays we've ever done, and the kids didn’t disappoint. We had such a fun time creating this show, and the talent was amazing. This was also a very fitting performance for Maria Giglio’s final show, because she will be retiring at the end of the year.”

Date Added: 4/8/2024

The Deer Park School District has again been named a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities designation recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders in making music education part of a well-rounded education. Only 975 districts nationwide were given this designation for 2024.

Date Added: 4/8/2024

Before presenting the evening’s student recognitions at the Deer Park School District’s March 26 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent James Cummings shared a recent donation of a plaque given by the Town of Babylon to the late May Moore in 1999, the namesake of the district’s May Moore Primary School.

Next, the Board honored the students in the Robert Frost Middle School peer tutoring program – including Sofia Flores, Paige Gomez, Manaal Irfan, Serah Jacob and Maya Romero – for their exemplary volunteer work in helping other middle school students with math.

“It’s a really great opportunity for our students,” Cummings said. “They get to share their skills with some students who might need some help.”

Finally, the Take a Look at Teaching Club at Deer Park High School was highlighted. In this extracurricular activity, participating students experience what it’s like to be a teacher. The club serves as a pipeline for creating new teachers and bringing greater diversity to the pool of teachers.

Date Added: 4/3/2024