John F. Kennedy Intermediate School fifth graders recently took part in the annual “Day in Clay” art experience, giving them the opportunity to create either a bowl or a plate while experimenting with a variety of clay and texture tools. Students personalized their pieces with their own creative designs before adding color using clay glaze.

“Our students look forward to this project every year, and it’s always a lot of fun to see what they come up with,” teacher Briana Fayans said. 

Date Added: 12/18/2025

The student government at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School once again hosted its annual Candy Cane for a Cause fundraiser, partnering this year with the Warrior Joseph Toy Drive to support children at Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center.

The toy drive was founded by the family of Joseph Baggio, a third-grade student who spent eight months receiving care at Cohen’s and understands firsthand the comfort a toy can bring during a hospital stay. Inspired by his experience, Joseph asked to collect toys for hospitalized children instead of receiving Christmas gifts of his own. With the support of his family, the Warrior Joseph Toy Drive was created to encourage children facing serious medical challenges.

“Not only is Joseph a warrior for what he overcame, but he is also a warrior for others, as he helps bring joy to those who are fighting their fight, letting each child know they are not alone,” JFK teacher Darlene Matulich said.

Working together, the JFK school community collected more than 100 toys, all of which were donated to Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center. The effort highlighted the power of student leadership and community coming together to make a difference.

Date Added: 12/16/2025

The young actors of Deer Park’s Robert Frost Middle School delighted audiences with two terrific performances of the modern Disney classic “Frozen Jr.” in December. The production was directed by Lauren Penta and Lori Sullivan, who praised the cast’s commitment and confidence throughout the rehearsal and performance process.

“It takes more than ice powers to bring Frozen Jr. to life, it takes a cast and crew brave enough to ‘let it go’ and bold enough to make the magic real,” Penta said. “They were all amazing.”

The cast featured Julianna Rubio as Young Anna, Ryleigh Tatarian as Middle Anna and Aleynah Alegre as Anna; Mackenzie Levy as Young Elsa, Ayla Korkmaz as Middle Elsa and Addison Sheehan as Elsa; Jaxon Tweed as King Agnarr and Abigail Heissenbuttel as Queen Iduna; Caleb Castillo as Pabbie and Jillian Wagner as Bulda; Santino Bianco as Hans; Jacob Vargas as Kristoff; Dylan Levy as Sven; Amare Tavarez as Olaf; Paige Gomez as Weselton and Oaken’s Wife; Francisco Ponce as Oaken; Ava Simonetti as Oaken’s Kid; Jamiee Jones as the Bishop; and Paul Noto as the Steward.

Date Added: 12/15/2025

Third, fourth and fifth grade students from John F. Kennedy Intermediate School kicked off the holiday season last week with two back-to-back winter concerts, held in the school’s gymnasium and attended by proud families. Under the guidance of Orchestra Director Jake Cosentino, Band Director Eric Gottesman and Chorus Director Kristen Lombardo, the developing young musicians delivered a series of impressive performances. Highlights included a thunderous rendition of “Tyrannosaurus Rocks” by the JFK Advanced Band, which opened the second concert, and a beautiful performance of the Catalonian carol “El Desembre Congelat” by the chorus.

Date Added: 12/15/2025

Rebecca Yackel, who teaches the mural painting elective as well as studio art and art concepts classes at the high school, was recently given the amazing opportunity to be a part of the team that painted the Manhattan street mural “As Above, So Below,” presented by Hudson Square Business Improvement District as a part of Hudson Square Canvas. This professional development opportunity will serve to enrich Yackel’s classroom practice and support meaningful mural projects that contribute positively to the Deer Park community.

“Throughout the process, I gained firsthand experience with wall preparation, scaling techniques and managing a multi-day installation in a community setting,” Yackel said. “I am excited to bring this knowledge back to my mural painting class in Deer Park. The experience has equipped me with new strategies for guiding students through the full mural-making process, from developing concepts that reflect community identity to executing work responsibly and professionally in public spaces. I plan to integrate these techniques into our curriculum, helping students understand both the artistic and community-building impact of public art.”