While attending an orientation at Robert Frost, fifth-graders met with administrators and guidance counselors, who described a typical sixth-grade schedule and described how the incoming sixth-graders can successfully make the most of their middle school experience.  The students also went on a tour of the building led by National Junior Honor Society members.

“This is always an exciting time of year where we look forward to meeting our newest group of students and helping ease the transition to their new school,” said guidance counselor Lisa McQuilkin.

Robert Frost again participated in the Band-Aid Project this year, a nationwide movement that promotes awareness and acceptance of people with autism and developmental disabilities. The school earned an award for a video created for the initiative.

More than 225 Frost students pledged to be speechless by wearing a band-aid on their mouths for an entire school day, only using others means of communication such as dry erase boards, paper and pencil, and gesturing with their teachers and peers during classes. 

“The goal of the project was to teach students what it is like to have a disability,” said speech teacher Stephanie O'Connell. “Once the students have this insight, it is my hope that they will be more compassionate and understanding of their peers who might be different from them. Fostering friendships between students of all abilities is the ultimate goal.”

A Band-Aid Project video was also made highlighting five Frost students who have a brother or sister with special needs. The video was honored by being selected for an award by the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission’s Interfaith Anti-Bias Task Force.

View the Robert Frost Band-Aid Project video here.

Splendid accomplishments by the district’s students were recognized at Deer Park’s June 18 Board of Education meeting, with Suffolk County legislators Susan A. Berland, Steven J. Flotteron and Tom Donnelly in attendance.

After Ron Becker was honored on his retirement from the Deer Park Arts Council, high school student Tianna Greene was recognized for being the winner of Suffolk County’s “The Truth About Stimulant Drinks” PSA video contest. Adviser Gregory Menig honored this year’s DECA student winners.

The winners of the 2018 Grand Concours National French Contest were resented by Ashley Rosenberg, the district administrator for ENL and world languages. Recognized for their achievement in this annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French were high school students  Matt Berhalter, Usihma Chowdhury, Roose Desir, Nilufer Dilmen, Rebecca Fox, Kevin Garcia, Richardson Greffin, Anniee Jeanite, Emily Kleiber, Gregory Lazarte, James Raymond, Sameer Riaz, Matthew Rosati, Salar Saeed, Catarina Silva, Yasmeen Syedda-Hensley and Esteysy Yanes Amaya, and Robert Frost students Kristin D’Souza, Victoria Egan, Arianne Hernandez, Saima Hoque, Sonam Kataria, Bartlett Polster, Naomi Sauveur, Adam Stevens, Doindra Talleyrand, Liah Vidal, Arunan Xavier and Michelle Xuan.

“This year, with the encouragement of our outstanding French teachers, Deer Park had 75 middle and high school students participate,” said Rosenberg. “I’m so pleased that of these participants, 29 were nationally recognized for their performance on the exam. It's such an impressive accomplishment, and these students should be immensely proud.”

June 20 was a night of welcomes and farewells, and of awards and certificates, for eight-graders at Robert Frost. Kicking off the moving up ceremony, National Junior Honor Society President Michelle Xuan led the pledge, while Student Council President Sofia Arrascue addressed her classmates, saying, “We now have to think of our future, and try to get as close to our dreams as possible.”

“This evening is an important commemoration of the past three years of your children’s educational and emotional journey,” Principal Eliana Levey told the proud assembled parents. “The middle school years can potentially be the most challenging school years for many students. At fifth-grade orientation three years, I told you that middle school was like a rollercoaster, with many ups and downs, but I promised you that we would end on a high note, and here we are today.”