Robert Frost held its annual National Junior Honor Society induction on April 26, welcoming 62 new members in a virtual ceremony. Speakers included NJHS adviser Seth Margolin, Principal Eliana Levey and District Administrator for Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Jeanne Kozlowsky.

The new inductees were seventh graders Hasan Asif, Brandon Bailey, Anaelle Beauchamp, Alexis Borowski, Pearse Boylan, Baileigh Braithwaite, Gianna Bruni, Emily Cannet, Julia Castaldo, Rebecca Comba, Bailey Corcoran, Olivia Corrado, Addison Costanza, Kayla Cruz, James DeGrange, Drew    Delargy, Lucas Di-Vanna, Taylor Gabel, Skylar Gavin, Casey Giles, Aubrey Goetz, Carsyn Goetz, Natalie Hample, Jaelyn Hasemann, Jordyn Hasemann, Ryan Hughes, Mason Jones, Ruby Kappel, Aimen Khan, Gavin Lallbachan, Michael LaSorsa, Alyssa Lema, Jessica Lema, Mina Marchetti, Onwuka Offiah, Sophia Paduano, Adison Patrick, Madison Picciocchi, Valentina Plaza, Aubrey Pottinger, Bryan Ramlakan, Brooke Rivela, Ava Sacarin, Jaidyn Schabe, Sophia Sheeler, Luciano Stallone, Sidra Syed, Isabella Turner, Jasmine Uppal, Eve Valentine and Salwa Waseem; and eighth graders Frank Alfieri, Jack Azzaretto, Miguel Belliard, Sohaib Choudhry, Praise Eze, Alexeyia Garrido, Destiny Gavin, Tyler Lynch, Nicole Tavares Batista, Dru Tulloch and Jason Turner.

Large murals created by high school students enrolled in the school’s mural painting class were recently installed in the hallways. The student-artists worked with a new material called CanvasTac that is traditionally used for large billboards and trade show banners. This very durable and flexible canvas has a very sticky back. Once it is installed on the walls, it is permanent until it ever needs to be removed, and then it can be peeled off and installed in a new location. Using this material allowed the students to be able to work in class and then roll their canvas up to take home and continue to work on. The mural students are also currently working on a second series of paintings that will be installed prior to the end of the school year.

 

The high school’s Gay Straight Alliance club, directed by Victoria Rosenthal, sponsored the Day of Silence on April 23. A national, student-led movement, the Day of Silence features students standing up against LGBTQ discrimination, harassment and lack of inclusivity by taking a vow of silence for the entire day. 

Deer Park’s Spanish Honor Society, French Honor Society and many in-person and virtual high school students supported this important movement and pledged their silence for the day. All participants received a GSA-created pin recognizing their vow.

The high school honored its top 10 graduates of the Class of 2021 at the district’s April 28 Board of Education meeting. Recognized were valedictorian Jasleen Kaur, salutatorian Matthew Heinen and the remaining top 10 ranked seniors: James Hope (ranked third), Ushima Chowdhury (fourth), Sameem Ahmadzai (fifth), Gianna Giffone (sixth), Taylor Korsiak (seventh), Isabella Coon (eighth), Steven Shames (ninth) and Victoria Mung (10th).

“Your accomplishments here are based on the last four years of academic success you’ve had here at Deer Park High School, but in all actuality, it began much earlier than that,” Principal Charles Cobb told the seniors. “It is important to recognize not only your accomplishments, but those of your parents, guardians and the teachers that you’ve had along the way from every building in the district. This is just the start. There’s no doubt in my mind that you will continue to achieve vast and amazing accomplishments in whatever you go on to after high school. Remember what you’ve accomplished here and use it as a base and foundation as you move forward, but always continue to strive for more, to better yourself and your community.”