The Deer Park School District recognized Deer Park High School junior Kayla Tyson at the Nov. 26 Board of Education meeting for winning a gold medal at the 2024 Taekwondo Dracula Open, held Oct. 27-28 in Bucharest, Romania. A second-degree black belt Tyson has been studying taekwondo since age 3 and was ranked No. 2 in the  nation. Prior to a recent injury, she had been scheduled to travel to Portland, Oregon in January to compete for a spot on the 2025 U.S. National Team.

“For those of you who don’t know anything about martial arts, the dedication that it takes to get to this level is something that I’m not sure you can really wrap your head around unless you’ve been part of it,” Superintendent James Cummings said. “What martial arts does is that it teaches you lessons about discipline, perseverance and overcoming fear.”

“She has achieved so much in her young life,” Board President Donna Marie Elliott said. “We are so proud of you, Kayla.”

“Kayla represents the very best of the best,” said Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, who was on hand to congratulate Tyson. “I think it’s a testament to her family, to her and also a testament to our community that we raise such wonderful kids.”

Also in attendance was Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, who presented Tyson with a proclamation, and revealed that Nov. 26, 2024 had been declared as Kayla Tyson Day in the Town of Babylon.

Date Added: 12/12/2024

Students in Deer Park High School’s College Virtual Enterprises course, led by business teacher Annemarie Lenio, held a Virtual Trade Show on Nov. 12 for their TrailBlaze firm. The course helps students learn about business and entrepreneurship by creating and managing a virtual business. The event’s purpose was to help the students raise funds for TrailBlaze and gain valuable experience in the business world, specifically on how to sell products. This skill will prove to be a great asset to the students when they attemd their first in-person trade show in January.

During the entire afternoon, the VE students set up in the high school’s conference room with their laptops and headsets, engaging in sales calls via Zoom, with separate spaces – referred to as breakout rooms – for each buyer. When parents, other students or VE students from other schools were sent into a breakout room, they were greeted by one of the students from TrailBlaze, who would then give a sales pitch and attempt to sell one of the five products – the TrailBlazer, Urban Engine, BlazePro, BlazeFit or BlazeJr – relating to the firm’s major concept of an attachable, eco-friendly bike motor.

The College Virtual Enterprises class sold a total of 92 products for TrailBlaze, amounting to $19,163.68. CFO Ubaid Iqbal, Accounting Associate Nathan Trifu and CEO Lucas Di-Vanna were the top three employees in TrailBlaze product sales, with Iqbal selling 17 products, Trifu selling 15 and Di-Vanna selling nine.

“Overall, the company’s virtual trade show was a success and a great experience for the students,” Lenio said.

Date Added: 12/10/2024

Deer Park High School’s French Department rekindled its tradition of community, food and fun on Nov. 22 with “Les Jeux Olympiques à Deer Park.” At this year’s annual French Dinner, which featured an Olympics theme, students, families and friends enjoyed exceptional homemade cuisine and tasty treats as well as contests and games. Awards and medals were presented to the winning “athletes” and children.

“A big thank you to all who attended or supported the event,” teacher and event organizer Susan Bollag said. “We look forward to seeing you again next year!”

Date Added: 12/10/2024

Deer Park High School held its annual fall Breakfast for Champions on Nov. 20, welcoming winning students, parents, school administrators and teachers to the school’s library for a morning of recognition of students who have worked on achieving their personal best, overcome challenges, worked hard in the face of adversity, demonstrated good citizenship, showed compassion for others, and exhibited personal growth and success.

Students were honored in the 17 school department categories of athletics (Nevaeh Legros), business (Abigail Cullen), English Language Arts/Library (Arleen Perez), English as a new language (Caroll-Ann Plaisimond), family and consumer science (Sophia Paduano), fine arts (Shaila Williams), guidance (Samantha De Los Rios), health (Laylani Springer), math/computer science (Adib Shaikh), performing arts (Sarah Cannet), physical education (Ilayda Avcu), science (Reginald Jean-Louis), social studies (Amira Khan), technology (Giuliana Seuferling) and world languages (Amelia Williams), as well as the Principal’s Award (Syed Muhammad Hashmi) and Teacher’s Award (Perron Smith).

The breakfast was accompanied by a lovely performance by the talented high school string quintet of Cassidy Boltz (viola), Maxwell Ferguson (cello), Gloria Min (violin), Lorelai Silverstein (bass) and Lissha Varghese (violin).

“This morning’s event is an opportunity for teachers and administrators to honor students that have impacted them in some way, whether it’s academic, social, being polite or helping other students in the classroom,” Associate Principal Garret Noblett said. “The students here today have shown exceptional conduct and character on a daily basis.”

“At Deer Park High School, our Breakfast for Champions ceremony celebrates the extraordinary perseverance, resilience and character of our students,” Principal Charlie Cobb said. “These individuals have overcome challenges with courage and determination, embodying the true spirit of what it means to be a champion. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful for the families, teachers and staff who have supported them along the way. This event reminds us of the strength and potential within our Deer Park community.”

Date Added: 12/9/2024

Students at Robert Frost Middle School were very curious as a new vending machine was installed in the lobby in November. They soon discovered that this machine dispenses books to students as an award from their English language arts teachers and to Project Wisdom winners each month. The vending machine and books are a part of the larger BookLove initiative at Robert Frost, encouraging reading throughout the school.  

Securing the vending machine was the result of efforts by Executive Director of Secondary Education and Human Resources Jeanne Kozlowsky, Associate Principal James Henry and Library Media Specialist Anne Lotito-Schuh, through donations and grant funding.  

“This vending machine builds student excitement for lifelong reading habits, and it’s a daily reminder how much students really love books,” Director of ELA Justin Uliano said.

Date Added: 12/9/2024