A total of 73 members of Deer Park High School’s DECA club participated in DECA’s Suffolk County Regional Competition from Dec. 2-6. In the most competitive regional competition in over 20 years, Deer Park’s students had an amazing performance, earning 31 trophies and 12 honorable mention awards. The team was guided by DECA adviser Gregory Menig.

Most of the Deer Park DECA students will be moving on to participate in New York DECA’s 66th annual State Career Conference, to be held March 5-7 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester.

Date Added: 1/21/2025

Emily Rodriguez, an eighth grader at Robert Frost Middle School, was recently named a runner up in the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest, earning a new iPad as her prize. For the contest, sponsored by Optimum and Univision Foundation in celebration of Hispanic Americans’ diverse histories, cultures and contributions, Rodriguez’s wrote an essay titled “The Most Colorful Time in Ecuador.”

Optimum representatives visited Robert Frost for a presentation ceremony, which was attended by the Rodriguez family and school administrators. Optimum additionally presented the school with a $500 gift card to DonorsChoose, a nonprofit organization that allows teachers to submit requests for needed materials or supplies.  

“Emily is an incredible young lady who is always ready to learn and to partake in activities both in and outside of the classroom,” Spanish teacher Meredith Telese said. “When presented with the opportunity to create an essay for this contest, based on the impact that Hispanic culture and traditions have had on her life, she was eager to begin. Her essay was well thought out and truly captured the influence that her Hispanic culture has had on her. She was able to capture the beauty and emotions experienced during Ecuador’s Carnival, making her entry very unique and special. I am so proud of Emily, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her.”

Date Added: 1/14/2025

Students from Deer Park High School’s Best Buddies chapter recently put on their science caps and teamed up with the school’s STEM Club to create some homemade slime! 

Date Added: 1/13/2025

Five different classes at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School recently joined forces to sponsor a dog named Vivian at the Babylon Animal Shelter. The students worked together to collect items needed by the shelter needed.

“We taught our classes the importance of giving back during the holiday season,” teacher Heather Buksa said.

Date Added: 1/9/2025

The Deer Park High School Business Department recently hosted a School/Industry Advisory Board meeting in the school’s library, with members of the business community, faculty and students in attendance.

The purpose of the Advisory Board – which comprises professionals from across different industries including business, insurance, healthcare, technology, law and higher education – is to help prepare Deer Park students for the world of work. Its members serve as hosts for student job shadowing, internships and cooperative work experiences. Topics of focus include industry trends, the board’s vision for future partnerships and how the board members can play a key role in shaping the future of Deer Park’s students.

At this meeting, the board discussed selecting a corporate sponsor for Deer Park High School’s Virtual Enterprise program, revising its job shadowing program, bringing back Career Day for high school students, hosting a career fair focused on careers in the trades and finding job placements for students in the school’s transition program.

“This collaborative meeting between professionals from the community and Deer Park High school students and staff was a productive kickstart to our School/Industry Advisory program,” Director of Mathematics and Business Christine Gill said.

Date Added: 1/9/2025