Deer Park High School’s varsity boys basketball team was honored for winning their 10th League Championship since 2012 at the annual Suffolk County Boys Basketball Coaches Association Awards Dinner, held March 30 at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Individual players recognized at the dinner include junior Drew Delargy (Academic All-County), sophomore Nusanti Delbridge (All-League), senior DiMaunte’ Gardner (All-League, All-Conference, All-County, League IV Most Valuable Player, Class AA All Tournament team) and junior Damien Scott (All-League and All-Conference).

Guided by coach John McCaffrey, the Falcons were the second seed in Class AA, and after defeating East Islip for the third time this season in the quarterfinals, advanced to the Suffolk County final four for the 10th time since 2006, and the 11th time in program history. Deer Park will return 12 lettermen next season, and will supplement the returners from competitive JV and Robert Frost Middle School teams to attempt to reach the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season.

Date Added: 4/1/2025

Brianne Hertzog’s World of Tech classes at Deer Park High School recently discovered how hydraulics work and are present in many places, often without us even noticing. The basic principle of any hydraulic system is that force applied at one point is transmitted to another through the use of incompressible fluid. These systems can be found in everyday applications such as automobiles (brakes, steering), aerospace (aircraft controls, landing gears), construction vehicles (excavators, cranes), office chairs (levers to adjust height) and amusement park rides (raising and lowering safety bars, brakes and launching mechanisms).

After the students gained an understanding of how hydraulic systems function, it was time for them to create a project that demonstrated their knowledge. To showcase hydraulic power and mechanics, the class was divided into six groups, each tasked with building a T-Bot Hydraulic Arm from a kit. Once completed, the groups practiced moving different parts of the T-Bot, with the use of incompressible water in tubes and syringes, to pick up and transport dice and ping pong balls for a series of competitive challenges. The competition featured four different tasks, and the students demonstrated strong teamwork and collaboration to successfully complete each challenge.

Date Added: 4/1/2025

The Deer Park community came together on March 3 for an unforgettable night of high-flying dunks, jaw-dropping tricks and nonstop laughter as the world-famous Harlem Wizards took over Deer Park High School. In a thrilling matchup against a team of dedicated staff members from all Deer Park schools, the Wizards put on a show that had the packed gym roaring with excitement. The energy in the building was electric, with students, families and faculty cheering, laughing and even joining in on the fun. From dazzling ball-handling skills to hilarious crowd interactions, the Wizards delivered an entertainment experience like no other. It was a night filled with joy, school spirit and an overwhelming sense of community. Thanks to this incredible event, a significant amount of money was raised for the Deer Park Chapter of Best Buddies, helping to support their mission of inclusion and friendship. The funds will directly benefit the Best Buddies Long Island Friendship Ball on April 11, an event Deer Park is honored to host. 

“A huge thank you to the Harlem Wizards, the Deer Park Booster Club and everyone who came out to support such a fantastic cause,” teacher Joe Alo said. “This night was one for the books, proving once again the power of community spirit in Deer Park.”

Date Added: 4/1/2025

Deer Park High School seniors Dimaunte’ Gardner and Kelsey Rotzman were recent-ly chosen as the winners of the 2025 Suffolk Zone Awards. The Suffolk Zone Chapter of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance annually gives awards to one male and one female student in each Suffolk high school, selected for excellent achievement in physical education, outstanding character and leadership in schoolwide activities.

Gardner, a small forward on the school’s league champion varsity boys basketball team, was named to Newsday’s Top 100 Long Island boys basketball players for 2024-2025, and earned the Principal’s Award at the spring 2024 Breakfast of Champions.

Rotzman, a key member of Deer Park’s varsity cheerleading team, was recently named an AP Scholar.

Date Added: 3/31/2025

Six local businesses partnering with Deer Park High School’s Falcon Career Academy program were honored at the district’s March 25 Board of Education meeting. Greek Krave, Panera Bread, Texas Roadhouse and Tropical Smoothie, all of Deer Park, and Panera Bread and Stew Leonard’s of Farmingdale were all recognized for the impact they have had on the program. Each business was presented with a plaque donated by the district’s Special Education Parent Faculty Club.

“To these businesses, your willingness to provide opportunities, mentorship and support is truly invaluable,” District Administrator of Secondary Special Education David DePrima said. “You have helped us tranform our vision for these students into a tangible reality. Through your collaboration, our students have gained so much more than just work experience. They have learned the importance of responsibility, communication and perseverance, and valuable skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Your commitment to helping them grow and thrive is something we will always be grateful for”

“It’s a special thing for these businesses to open their doors and provide opportunities for our kids,” Superintendent James Cummings said. “It doesn’t go unnoticed and certainly doesn’t go unappreciated.”

Also honored was varsity boys basketball coach John McCaffrey, who nominated three other high school staff members for recognition: social studies teacher Joe Alo and security guard Kelly Boyle, the co-creators of the school’s Student Booster Club, and custodian Ed Phelan, one of the basketball program’s biggest supporters. 

“Deer Park is an amazing place and it’s because of people like the four of you,” Board President Donna Marie Elliott said. “Thank you for everything you do.”

Date Added: 3/31/2025