Deer Park Middle School Writers Capture First Place Honors

DEER PARK, NY — Two Robert Frost Middle School students were recently recognized for their outstanding writing in local and national competitions.

Seventh grader Jacob Kissoon was selected as the overall first-place All-Long Island winner of the Kenneth F. Gambone Writing Contest. The Long Island Language Arts Council honored Kissoon and other finalists with a luncheon and reading at Captain Bill’s restaurant in Bay Shore.

Contestants were nominated at the school level and then judged on two of their best pieces of writing. Kissoon was nominated by his teacher, Brittany Skrypek, who also helped him prepare his portfolio.

Robert Frost Middle School eighth grader Sukaina Hassan was also recognized for her writing. Hassan was awarded “First Class” by judges in the National Council of Teachers of English’s Promising Young Writers Contest. Her ELA teacher, Teri Vieira, nominated her for her outstanding writing throughout the school year.

Seven other Deer Park students were also honored by judges in NCTE competitions, which highlight outstanding eighth and 11th grade writers from around the country.

Robert Frost Middle School eighth graders Paige Gomez, Ava Grandner and Zaniah Jackson were recognized in the Promising Young Writers Contest. Deer Park High School juniors Ummul Afifa, Alisson Guevara, Anabella Lindsay and Brooke Washington were honored in the Achievement Awards in Writing Contest.

“We are exceedingly proud of the creativity and thoughtfulness of these young writers and the moving work they produced,” Director of ELA, Reading and Library Justin Uliano said. “It was outstanding.”