Deer Park High School juniors and seniors visited St. John’s University campus in Queens on Oct. 8. The tour was a great opportunity for the students to see first-hand what SJU offers, both in terms of academic rigor and campus life.  

Date Added: 10/22/2025

Proudly wearing the school colors of white, grey, and maroon, the entire Deer Park school community came together on the sunny morning of Oct. 18 for a joyful homecoming parade, marching from John F. Kennedy Intermediate School to Deer Park High School. Serving as grand marshal was longtime Deer Park resident and district custodian Tony Santoro, a proud member of the Deer Park High School Class of 1977 and dedicated Deer Park Fire Department.

Once everyone gathered at Al Centamore Football Field Football Field for the pregame ceremony, Student Council President Ava Bush led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by the Phoenix Club. The celebration continued with recognition of the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, and County Legislator Tom Donnelly presented Santoro with a special commendation.

“Tony lives his life as a great example of what it means to be a valued community member,” Board of Education President Donna Marie Elliott said. “For all that you do, Tony, here at Deer Park High School, for all the happiness you bring to our beautiful town, and especially for what you mean to Deer Park and all of us, we celebrate and honor you today.”

The crowd was then treated to energetic performances by the Robert Frost Middle School and varsity kickline teams, as well as the PAL, Frost, JV, and varsity cheerleaders. Adding a royal highlight to the ceremony, Kerwin Bartholomew and Alexis Borowski were crowned homecoming king and queen and took their ceremonial ride around the track as the Phoenix Club performed the school’s alma mater. Members of the homecoming court included Ilayda Avcu, Pearse Boylan, Heidy Gonzalez Morales, Thomas Luscardi, Jaheim McCallum and Mischa Rose.

While awaiting the big game kickoff, the Student Council hosted a festive Fall Festival behind the stands, featuring pumpkin decorating, face painting with the Art Club, and a food drive to support local families.

Deer Park’s Falcons came out fast and furious, with wide receiver/defensive back Christian Myrick returning a 71-yard punt for the game’s first touchdown. Myrick added two more exciting TDs before the second quarter ended, but Newfield’s Wolverines ultimately prevailed, 42-21. 

At halftime, the Marching Falcons electrified the crowd with a rousing performance, and the winners of the high school’s float contest were announced – the seniors captured first place, followed by the juniors in second, sophomores in third and freshmen in fourth.

Date Added: 10/21/2025

Deer Park High School’s 2025 pep rally on Oct. 17 was a spirited celebration of school pride, energizing students and staff for the following day’s homecoming festivities. The event began in the cafeteria with photo ops for the school’s athletic squads, and continued onto the football field, where excitement filled the stands as each team made its entrance to cheers from the crowd. Performances by the Phoenix Club vocal ensemble, Marching Falcons band, kickline, and varsity and JV cheerleaders – as well as the amusing antics of the Falcon mascot – added to the festive atmosphere and showcased true school spirit.

Date Added: 10/20/2025

Deer Park High School recently honored the September Students of the Month: Matthew Schabe was named Scholar of the Month and Xavier Kelly was named Citizen of the Month.  

“Xavier joined our school community this year and immediately made a positive impact," his nominating teacher said. "He’s the first one here every morning, always greeting staff with a big smile and engaging conversation. From the start, he sought out ways to get involved, joining multiple clubs and connecting with his peers. On one occasion, he was asked to attend a senior presentation during class. Xavier took the initiative to inform both teachers and even completed his quiz before the school day began so he could meet all his responsibilities. His positivity and dedication bring an uplifting energy to our mornings.”

“Matthew consistently demonstrates exemplary participation and maturity in Italian class," his nominating teacher said. "He is a respectful and positive student who approaches every assignment with focus and effort. During study hall, he works diligently on his coursework and sets a strong example for his classmates. His enthusiasm for learning and his commitment to doing his best make him a true role model. Matthew’s reliability, kindness and academic drive reflect what it means to be an outstanding scholar.” 

"Congratulations, Xavier and Matthew, for embodying the qualities of leadership, respect and excellence that make our school community so proud," Associate Principal for Guidance and Support Services Dr. Dina Pannone said.  

Date Added: 10/16/2025

The College Board has honored 84 Deer Park High School students for their outstanding academic performance in Advanced Placement coursework, recognizing them as 2025 AP Scholars. These designations celebrate students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through exceptional performance on rigorous AP exams.

The College Board’s AP Scholar Program honors several levels of distinction based on student performance across multiple exams.

AP Scholar recognition is awarded to students who earn scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. Thirty-eight Deer Park students earned this designation, including seniors Daniel Aguilar, Ilayda Avcu, Brandon Bailey, Baileigh Braithwaite, Arianna Chowdhury, Bailey Corcoran, Abigail Cullen, Skylar Gavin, Aubrey Goetz, Natalie Hample, Jordyn Hasemann, Abrar Hossain, Parleen Kaur, Isabel Khemraj, Abdulllah Latif, Jessica Lema, Matthew Morace, Julia Neilson, Sophia Paduano, Mia Rodriguez, Antonio Rosado, Saad Salman, Sophia Sheeler, Hayden Snyder, Vincent Vela, Nicholas Velasco and Salwa Waseem, and juniors Abrar Ahmed, Kimberly Cho, Chelsea Cornelia, Ashhad Fadel, Aubrey Hyney, Aditya Kataria, Sophia Lindsay, Connor McGuinness, Gianna Montes, Gofur Moral and Noah Olthoff.

AP Scholar with Honor recognition is granted to students who earn an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, with scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams. Twenty-two Deer Park students earned this designation, including seniors Elizabeth Boyle, Emily Cannet, Olivia Corrado, Addison Costanza, Sebastian Garcia, Carsyn Goetz, Matthew Hennessey, Mason Jones, Jack Lanteri, Jonathan Manzanares, Aubriella Nunez, Aubrey Pottinger, Jayna Singh, Nathan Trifu and Brian Williams, and juniors Emily Dong, Nia Elias, Adan Herrera, Abbas Meersyed, Kevin Mostriansky, Nobin Nath and Ali Zorakhsh.

AP Scholar with Distinction, the highest level, is presented to students who earn an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, with scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams. Twenty-four Deer Park students achieved this elite distinction, including seniors Tanin Ahmadzai, Hiba Amin, Hasan Asif, Kayla Cruz, Gavyn DeFour, Lucas Di Vanna, Maxwell Ferguson, Nicolas Flores, Madison Griffin, Raquibul Hasan, Ubaid Iqbal, Ruby Kappel, Lauren Marable,  Bertrand Mondelus, Onwuka Offiah, Angel Oliva, Ceica Pierre, Ava Sacarin, Jaidyn Schabe, Sidra Syed, Jasmine Uppal, Eve Valentine and Thomas Wesnofske, and junior Vincent Cacciola.

Through the AP Program, students engage in college-level coursework while still in high school, gaining valuable experience and the opportunity to earn college credit. The district congratulates all of Deer Park's AP Scholars for their hard work and success in achieving this important national recognition.

Date Added: 10/7/2025