John F. Kennedy Intermediate School and May Moore Primary School recently installed Snoezelen Multi-Sensory Environment rooms for student use. Utilizing music, lighting effects, gentle vibrations, soothing sounds, tactile sensations and invigorating textures, the sensory room is a therapeutic space designed to promote self-organization and positive change. They contain specific sensory equipment for self-regulation activities designed to alleviate sensory processing difficulties.

Some of the benefits of sensory rooms include promoting cognitive development, improving interaction and social skills, and enhancing communication for people with specific disabilities such as cognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy, brain injuries, visual impairment and learning difficulties. They can also benefit students with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and ALS. Multisensory environments have been found to be especially beneficial for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly when the student has control over the multisensory environment, which is a specific feature of the Snoezelen room. Safe and engaging experiences in a sensory room have been shown to help students successfully integrate back into the least restrictive environment.

School staff were trained on implementation and usage, and students have been successfully utilizing and exploring the rooms.

“We have seen an amazing outcome and look forward to adding more to our district,” JFK Associate Principal Jenny Dixon said.  

Date Added: 7/23/2024

The fifth graders at Deer Park’s John F. Kennedy Intermediate School took a big leap forward on June 21, celebrating their moving up and onward to Robert Frost Middle School in a memorable outdoor ceremony in the school’s courtyard.

After a stirring performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the fifth grade chorus sang and a warm welcome from Principal Kelly Benson, citizenship awards and other student achievement awards were given out, and each class rose to be acknowledged as soon-to-be sixth graders this fall.

Date Added: 6/25/2024

The Deer Park School District introduced a new event to its spring events, hosting Music Awards Night in the Deer Park High School auditorium on June 3. Fine and Performing Arts Director Bradley Murphy presented students with NYSCAME and NYSSMA All-State, LISFA, SCMEA and NYSSMA All-County awards.

Stellar performances were enjoyed from the Robert Frost Middle School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Maria Wingert; the Robert Frost Middle School Chamber Choir, directed by Grace Donofrio; the Deer Park High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Louis Nicolosi; and the Deer Park High School Phoenix Club vocal ensemble, directed by Catherine Singer.

Date Added: 6/17/2024

At the May 30 Board of Education meeting, Deer Park personnel were honored for their years of dedicated service, and retiring and newly tenured administrators, teachers and staff were recognized.

“This is the time that we recognize people who define why Deer Park is the best place to be,” Board of Education President Donna Marie Elliott said. “Tonight, we will be honoring not only our retirees, but also honoring staff members serving 25 years, 30 years and 35 years. No matter what has gone on around us in this crazy world that we live in, we have a certain gift here in Deer Park. We support, we champion and we concentrate on what is good for our students, our staff and our entire community. We stay in our lane doing what is best for Deer Park, and we continue to be successful. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall, because we do things together as a Deer Park family. Deer Park is a special place to be, as we all know, and we want to thank all of you for making that way.”

“We have people that hit milestones for their service to the district, teachers who have spent the last four years working really hard to get tenure and spend their careers with Deer Park, and we have some people in the audience who are just starting their careers and are going to be appointed tonight,” Superintendent James Cummings said. “So, we’re kind of hitting all spectrums of the staff today.”

“When people retire, I think it’s a really good opportunity to say, thank you for your service and for what you’ve done for the children of Deer Park,” Cummings said. “Thank you for making Deer Park the best school district around. We are going to miss all of you. I know that your friends in the audience and the buildings are going to miss you, but the impact that you made will last. You’ve had an impact on your colleagues, and you’ve certainly had an impact on kids, and they will take that with them forever.”

Regarding the newly tenured staff, Cummings said, “I think it’s really important to know that for those that reach this point in the tenure process, it’s not a rubber stamp in this district. These teachers really do work hard. They get feedback, they make changes, they grow. For those of you getting tenure, I want to thank you for accepting feedback and putting time into your craft. You know, we can teach people how to be good teachers and we can teach people how to ask better questions and write better lesson plans, but what I’m looking for is good people. That’s really the number one thing that I look for when we decide to tenure people. When you are committing to a 30-year career of standing in front of kids that we love so much, you want to make sure that these are the right people, and I would say that without a doubt, the people that are getting tenure tonight passed that most important test. These are good people, they have become really good teachers and they are going to have a wonderful career here. I feel really confident that the teachers that we are leaving behind are going to continue this legacy of great education in Deer Park.”

The following were recognized for their service to the district:

35 YEARS
Jack Lovascio

30 YEARS
Steven Jaklitsch
Deanna LaPlaca
Frank Piazza
Rosanna Shooshtary

25 YEARS
John Andria
Ryan Argenziano
David Arkow
Steven Borkofsky
Barbara Colby
Philip Cortese
Christine Curran
Vivian D’Agostaro
Melisssa Gieck Hayes
Susan Grabhorn
Dana Grafstein
Dana Hagan
Diana Lang
Emilia Napolitano
Stanley Patch
Edward Phelan
Keri Schumacher
Kimberly Shea
Marie Valerio


The following were recognized for their retirement and service to the district:

35 YEARS
Laurie Schwartz

30 YEARS
Krista Militello

25 YEARS
Nancy Connolly
Linda Esposito


The following were recognized for their retirement from the district:

INSTRUCTIONAL – TEACHERS
Lauren Corcoran
Tammy Cotrone
Christine Garcett
Maria Giglio
Caryn Kaplan
Salvatore Mascolo
Susan Mehr
Krista Militello
Louis Nicolosi
Laurie Schwartz
Phyllis Senia
Patricia Skjoldahl

INSTRUCTIONAL – TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Angela Baker
Nancy Connolly
Linda Esposito
Gina Vogler
Maryann Zeblisky

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL – BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
Andre Vitucci

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL – CLERICAL
Theresa Sepe
Darlene Signa

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL – NURSE
Eilis Savettiere

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL – TEACHER AIDE
Lisa Depre
Tammie Negri

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL – TRANSPORTATION
James Shinnick


This year’s tenure recipients are:

MAY MOORE PRIMARY SCHOOL            
Melissa Greenfield (elementary teacher)
Alexandra Tucholski (elementary teacher)    

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS PRIMARY SCHOOL            
Marcella Biordi (elementary teacher)
Heather Cirola (ENL teacher)
Kasey Kephart (elementary teacher)

JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL        
Ricardo Carter (ENL teacher)
Ashley Maune (elementary teacher)

ROBERT FROST MIDDLE SCHOOL        
Anne Lotito-Schuh (librarian)
Kevin Quirk (associate principal)
Angeline Ramos (guidance)

DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL            
Michael Chin (social studies teacher)
Aleisha Forbes (social studies teacher)    
Nicole Passaretti (science teacher)
Derek Schmelter (music teacher)