Proudly wearing the school colors of white, grey, and maroon, the entire Deer Park school community came together on the sunny morning of Oct. 18 for a joyful homecoming parade, marching from John F. Kennedy Intermediate School to Deer Park High School. Serving as grand marshal was longtime Deer Park resident and district custodian Tony Santoro, a proud member of the Deer Park High School Class of 1977 and dedicated Deer Park Fire Department.

Once everyone gathered at Al Centamore Football Field Football Field for the pregame ceremony, Student Council President Ava Bush led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by the Phoenix Club. The celebration continued with recognition of the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, and County Legislator Tom Donnelly presented Santoro with a special commendation.

“Tony lives his life as a great example of what it means to be a valued community member,” Board of Education President Donna Marie Elliott said. “For all that you do, Tony, here at Deer Park High School, for all the happiness you bring to our beautiful town, and especially for what you mean to Deer Park and all of us, we celebrate and honor you today.”

The crowd was then treated to energetic performances by the Robert Frost Middle School and varsity kickline teams, as well as the PAL, Frost, JV, and varsity cheerleaders. Adding a royal highlight to the ceremony, Kerwin Bartholomew and Alexis Borowski were crowned homecoming king and queen and took their ceremonial ride around the track as the Phoenix Club performed the school’s alma mater. Members of the homecoming court included Ilayda Avcu, Pearse Boylan, Heidy Gonzalez Morales, Thomas Luscardi, Jaheim McCallum and Mischa Rose.

While awaiting the big game kickoff, the Student Council hosted a festive Fall Festival behind the stands, featuring pumpkin decorating, face painting with the Art Club, and a food drive to support local families.

Deer Park’s Falcons came out fast and furious, with wide receiver/defensive back Christian Myrick returning a 71-yard punt for the game’s first touchdown. Myrick added two more exciting TDs before the second quarter ended, but Newfield’s Wolverines ultimately prevailed, 42-21. 

At halftime, the Marching Falcons electrified the crowd with a rousing performance, and the winners of the high school’s float contest were announced – the seniors captured first place, followed by the juniors in second, sophomores in third and freshmen in fourth.

Date Added: 10/21/2025

The Deer Park School District has named Richard Santoro as an associate principal at Robert Frost Middle School, effective Sept. 26. He replaces James Henry, now the district’s director of math and business.

Santoro comes to Deer Park from the West Hempstead School District, where he served for the past two years as assistant principal at West Hempstead Secondary School. He previously worked as dean of students at Islip Middle School and as a sixth-grade special education teacher, junior varsity girls soccer head coach and varsity baseball assistant coach in the South Huntington School District.

A Massapequa resident, Santoro obtained his bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Farmingdale, his master’s degree in childhood education from Dowling College, his special education certificate from Touro College and his school leadership advanced graduate certificate from Stony Brook University.

“As a middle school assistant principal, my goal is to create a safe, supportive and engaging environment where every student feels valued, challenged and inspired to reach their full potential,” Santoro said.

Date Added: 9/26/2025

The first day of school in Deer Park was filled with sunshine and smiles as students from prekindergartners to seniors arrived on Aug. 2 to begin a busy new year of learning and friendship in the district’s five buildings.

“Our first day was filled with excitement as JQA welcomed our students back to school,” JQA Principal Chris Molinelli said. “It was so nice to see our hallways and classrooms full of students’ smiles and laughter.”

“Behind every great first day is the tireless effort of our staff, who work year-round to prepare for our students’ success,” High School Principal Charlie Cobb said.

“What an incredible first day back,” May Moore Principal Tammy Alcalde said. “It was a joy to welcome our students, staff and families at May Moore as we began a new school year together. The energy in our classrooms and hallways sets the tone for a year filled with learning, growth and community. Thank you to our dedicated staff and supportive families for helping make today such a successful and positive start.”

Date Added: 9/3/2025

The district has appointed James Henry as the new director of math and business, effective Aug. 11. Henry had served as an associate principal at Robert Frost Middle School since 2018. He previously worked as Deer Park’s curriculum associate for math and business in grades 6-12. Before that, he taught math at Deer Park High School for a dozen years, including algebra pre-calculus and pre-AP calculus, and served as a mentor to new teachers, lead teacher for Algebra Common Core and a member of the model classroom, as well as director of the high school’s winter play and musical, and as a class and National Honor Society adviser.

A Hauppauge resident, Henry earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from St. Josephs College in Patchogue, his master’s degree in arts and liberal sciences at Stony Brook University, and his school building and school district leadership certificates from the College of Saint Rose.

“I’m truly excited to begin my new role as director of math and business,” Henry said. “My goal is to spark curiosity, build confidence, and help both students and teachers see how what we learn connects to the real world. By encouraging collaboration and fresh ideas, I hope to promote our current programs, and also create new programs that not only support academic growth but also prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges ahead.” 

Date Added: 8/27/2025