At the Deer Park School District’s Dec. 17 Board of Education meeting, four Deer Park High School students attending the Wilson Tech program at BOCES who participated in the annual holiday dinner – Bryana Aguilar, Ramon Zapeta, Tyler Maliszewski and Mahaak Maqsood – were recognized by Superintendent James Cummings.

As part of a partnership between the district and Western Suffolk BOCES, Deer Park juniors spend half of their school day at the high school and the other half learning trades at Wilson Tech. Every winter, Wilson Tech’s culinary students treat WSBOCES superintendents and boards of education to a special appreciation dinner and demonstrate the skills they have learned.  
    
“It’s always nice to see the kids from Deer Park at the dinner, and the things they are doing in a program that we invest money and time into,” Cummings said. “The trades are really important, and seeing these kids so excited about their career path is great.”

Date Added: 12/20/2024

Christine DiProperzio’s Mindfulness Matters class recently took part in an hour-long yoga, meditation and sound bath class at Dazzled Utopia Studio in North Babylon. Students in this elective course embarked on a transformative field trip that combined the calming practices of yoga and meditation with valuable lessons in mindfulness and wellness. Led by Deer Park High School alumna Roseanna Napolitano Zahralban, the participants journaled, practiced holding yoga poses and practiced being mindful while being immersed in different meditative sounds. The class emphasized simple poses designed to improve flexibility, balance and strength, and was tailored to accommodate participants of all experience levels. Students practiced being present in the moment, quieting their minds and alleviating stress and anxiety.

Date Added: 12/17/2024

Deer Park High School students attended Adelphi University’s informative College Awareness Day on Dec. 11, held on the university’s Garden City campus. The event introduced Deer Park’s students to college life through a day packed with workshops, presentations and immersive experiences designed to prepare them for their academic futures.

Students began the day with a College Readiness Presentation, offering key insights into navigating the college admissions process. They then participated in three workshops, chosen from a diverse lineup covering topics like financial aid, college essay writing, campus involvement, mentorship, studying abroad and living on campus. These sessions, led by expert facilitators, equipped students with practical knowledge and tips for succeeding in higher education. The day also included a campus tour to showcase Adelphi’s facilities and a chance to enjoy lunch at the Ruth S. Harley University Center.

“Adelphi’s College Awareness Day was an outstanding success,” said Associate Principal Dr. Dina Pannone. “Our students left with a deeper understanding of the college process, greater confidence in their readiness for this next step and a clear vision of the opportunities available to them. We are grateful to Adelphi University for providing such an enriching experience.”

Date Added: 12/16/2024

Deer Park High School recently hosted its first-ever Book Fair in the school library, making for a few days of enthusiasm centered around reading. Partnering with local Huntington bookstore The Next Chapter, students had the opportunity to visit the library, browse through a wide selection of new and popular titles, and discuss their choices with librarian Evan DeNaro and ELA teachers. Many students discovered new favorite authors and titles, and some selected books as gifts for their families.

“A Book Fair really builds a buzz around reading, and helps us with our growing BookLove initiative,” Director of ELA, Reading and Library Justin Uliano said. “Students embraced the days, and we were much more successful than we anticipated.”

Date Added: 12/16/2024

The Deer Park School District recognized Deer Park High School junior Kayla Tyson at the Nov. 26 Board of Education meeting for winning a gold medal at the 2024 Taekwondo Dracula Open, held Oct. 27-28 in Bucharest, Romania. A second-degree black belt Tyson has been studying taekwondo since age 3 and was ranked No. 2 in the  nation. Prior to a recent injury, she had been scheduled to travel to Portland, Oregon in January to compete for a spot on the 2025 U.S. National Team.

“For those of you who don’t know anything about martial arts, the dedication that it takes to get to this level is something that I’m not sure you can really wrap your head around unless you’ve been part of it,” Superintendent James Cummings said. “What martial arts does is that it teaches you lessons about discipline, perseverance and overcoming fear.”

“She has achieved so much in her young life,” Board President Donna Marie Elliott said. “We are so proud of you, Kayla.”

“Kayla represents the very best of the best,” said Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, who was on hand to congratulate Tyson. “I think it’s a testament to her family, to her and also a testament to our community that we raise such wonderful kids.”

Also in attendance was Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, who presented Tyson with a proclamation, and revealed that Nov. 26, 2024 had been declared as Kayla Tyson Day in the Town of Babylon.

Date Added: 12/12/2024