Robert Frost Middle School’s ENL department hosted its ENL Family Fun Night on April 10 in the school’s cafeteria. This annual event serves to encourage new ENL families who have moved to the community to connect with each other. Students and their families brought delicious popular food from their countries for all to enjoy, played games and listened to music. 

“Our students also created projects about their countries to display for all to see how diverse and beautiful our district is,” ENL teacher Christy Villalobos said.

Date Added: 4/17/2025

Cody Ciolino, who will take over as Deer Park High School’s new varsity football coach this August, held the first ever Commitment Day on April 8 for Robert Frost Middle School eighth graders who plan to play football in high school. During the event, held in the Frost cafeteria, the incoming football players were introduced to the varsity and JV staff, received varsity jerseys for the day, learned about team expectations and rules, and signed commitment letters to the Falcons football program.

“Getting the title of head coach is something I take great pride in, and I am looking forward to working with the kids here in building the program,” said Ciolino, a seventh-grade special education teacher at Frost and past varsity football assistant. “We are going build it from the middle school up, and we are going to make this program a community property. We are going to be focused on each step of the process. You’ll never hear my coaching staff or myself talk about wins and losses. It’s not important right now. What’s important is laying the foundation the right way, so when Sept. 12 comes, we’re in a situation that we win a football game.”

“This is your first introduction to Deer Park High School from both an academic and an athletic standpoint,” Principal Charlie Cobb told the eighth graders. “Tonight really begins your journey as student-athletes. There are three things I want to talk you about that are going to propel you from middle school to Deer Park High School: hard work, perseverance and dedication. These three characteristics will allow you to be successful in whatever you do in life. If you can hone in on those things right now, as young eighth graders who are are going be ninth graders next year, you are going to be successful, not only athletically on the playing field, but academically as well. I see most of you guys and a lot of parents here tonight have Deer Park colors and gear on. You wear it with pride and when you wear it, remember that you’re not only representing yourself, you’re representing your school, your family, your team, your program and your community. We are looking to build here, starting tonight, so take pride in what you do, because pride leads to good character and good character in life is going to get you where you want to be.” 

Date Added: 4/16/2025

During March, students and staff at Deer Park’s John Quincy Adams Primary School and John F. Kennedy Intermediate School teamed up once again to collect and donate Play-Doh to the children at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Following last year's successful initiative, over 1,000 cans of Play-Doh were donated. Play-Doh is often used therapeutically in hospitals to offer comfort, provide a creative outlet for expression and serve as a distraction during challenging times. 

“We are grateful to the students and families in the Deer Park community who donated to this wonderful cause,” teachers Kristen Alo and Kathryn Outcault said. “Thank you for helping to make a difference.”

Date Added: 4/16/2025

Deer Park High School’s Library Leaders Club, at the direction of librarian Evan DeNaro, have been busy working to give back to the community. Students recently spearheaded a clothing drive that benefitted Go Green Textile Recycling, whose mission is to redirect clothing to people in need, second hand stores and even overseas. Students worked with teachers and other clubs to collect clothing and work with Go Green to give them a second life. One club member, Genesis Osorio, was inspired to establish the clothing drive and use the proceeds to make donation baskets of sensory books for use in the sensory rooms at John Quincy Adams and May Moore primary schools.  

“We are incredibly grateful to Genesis for organizing a heartfelt fundraiser to provide sensory books and toys for our young learners,” May Moore Associate Principal Kim Essig said. “The students of May Moore will benefit greatly from her dedication and compassion, and this generous donation will continue to support our students for years to come.”

Date Added: 4/15/2025

Deer Park High School’s administrators and teachers honored the character and accomplishments of 17 dedicated students at the annual spring Breakfast for Champions, held in the school’s library on April 9. As their proud families applauded, the students were recognized in categories corresponding to school departments as well as principal’s and teacher’s awards. The event featured music from a high school string quintet consisting of Maxwell Ferguson (cello), Gloria Min (violin), Kelsey Rotzman (viola), Lorelai Silverstein (bass) and Lissha Varghese (violin).

Students were honored in the 15 school department categories of athletics (Talon Silverstein), business (Joseph Pinto), English language arts/library (Mia Rodriguez Osorio), English as a new language (Antonio Zacarias Leon), family and consumer science (Dave Osorio Lara), fine arts (Diana Joveini), guidance (Laetie Neifort), health (Emma Corley), math/computer science (Desire Soria), performing arts (Cassidy Boltz), physical education (Elizabeth Ochoa Carrero), science (Moriah Carridis), social studies (Adriana Herbster), technology (Bryan Ramlakan) and world languages (Briana Tavares), as well as the Principal’s Award (Christian McMillan) and Teacher’s Award (Alexander Plangetis).

“This morning’s event is an opportunity for our teachers and administrators to honor students who may have impacted them in some way,” Associate Principal Garret Noblett said. “The students here show exceptional conduct and character on a daily basis The stories we will hear today recognize students for their achievement, hard work and determination to overcome obstacles. We have students who have either worked on achieving their personal best inside and outside the classroom, demonstrated good citizenship, or shown compassion to help others.” 

“This event is really one of our most favorite days of the year,” Principal Charles Cobb said. “We get to recognize students for their outstanding accomplishments that they have at Deer Park High School. Students are here for a wide variety of reasons. They might not be academic, athletic or based in the arts. Many times, it’s because the students are good, solid people who do the right thing day in and day out, and these are the role models, the types of kids that we want other students to emulate. Congratulations to all our winners this morning. All the great things that you do make Deer Park High School such a special place.”

Date Added: 4/14/2025