Get to Know Adelphi’s September 2020 Students of the Month!
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s September 2020 Students of the Month: Laith (Lower School), Rebecca (Middle School), Reena (Upper School) and Isabella (Student-Artist).
BAY RIDGE – Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program kicked off in early October as four outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of September. Laith (Lower School), Rebecca (Middle School), Reena (Upper School) and Isabella (Student-Artist) each received official certificates signed by Head of School Ms. Iphigenia Romanos, who congratulated each recipient during a special Zoom call. These exceptional Adelphians recently sat down with the Panther Press Room for an exclusive interview, during which they shared some details about themselves and their experiences at Adelphi.
Lower School Student of the Month Laith said he was thrilled to be recognized for his effort. “It feels great!” he said, while giving a thumbs up. Laith enjoys expressing himself through his schoolwork, especially through coloring. “I like to color in school,” he said. “I like to draw and color animals!” Laith is not yet sure what he wants to be when he grows up, but he is determined to work hard throughout his time at Adelphi. He advises his fellow Adelphians to do the same if they hope to attain “Of the Month” honors. “Be nice, make friends and always do your work,” he said.
Lower School faculty member Ms. R. Baalbaki said, “Laith is supportive and collaborative with his peers, which makes him a great role model in class. Laith is a positive influence on others and is always willing to lend a helping hand to a classmate. He is a wonderful student and truly deserves to be the Lower School Student of the Month. Keep up the great work!”
Middle School Student of the Month Rebecca is happy to finally be back inside the classroom after a long period of distance learning. “It feels great to be back!” she smiled. “I think it’s easier to learn inside the classroom, and it’s better for taking notes.” Rebecca, who aspires to become a doctor one day, always works hard in class and has a suggestion for students who may need extra help during the year. “Always ask the teachers because they can help you do better,” she said.
Homeroom teacher Ms. Wong said, “Rebecca a creative student who shows her imagination in class and enjoys helping others during a lesson. She shows great spirit when we are discussing a topic that piques her interest. She is always a pleasure to have in class and I am so proud of Rebecca for starting the year off as our Middle School Student of the Month!”
Upper School Student of the Month Reena couldn’t believe her good fortune when she learned that she had been selected for this prestigious honor. “It felt pretty amazing!” she exclaimed. “I wondered how I got this lucky!” Of course, luck had little to do with it, as Reena always puts forth extraordinary effort in class. “Yes, I did try my hardest,” she acknowledged. Reena is glad to be back inside the building and is especially happy to see all her teachers in person again. “I was a little nervous at first, but I’m adjusting very well,” she smiled. The highly creative Upper Schooler aspires to become a famous artist one day. She especially enjoys sketching scenery. Her advice to students who are looking to make an impression at Adelphi is simple: “Just do your best and see where you go from there!”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Foronda said, “Reena is a wonderful student who cares for her peers and teachers. She loves to read and continues to show that she wants to be the best student she can be, both in and out of the classroom. She continues to show her school spirit through her good deeds and playing a major part in the everyday lives of her classmates. I am proud that Reena is September’s Upper School Student of the Month and hope that she can serve as a great example for other Adelphians.”
Student-Artist of the Month Isabella looks forward to channeling her creativity into a successful career as a pizza chef. “My mom makes pizza at home and I help her,” she giggled. “It’s so much fun!” The aspiring foodie said she also enjoys other delicacies — especially candy and chocolate. But it’s not all guilty pleasures for Isabella, who also enjoys healthy snacks. “I love watermelon too!” she smiled. At Adelphi, Isabella enjoys coloring and drawing during art class. “We made monsters in art class,” she said. “I made a crazy red monster. It had 1,000 eyeballs on it.” In addition to creating exceptional artwork, Isabella knows what else it takes to receive “Of the Month” honors. “You have to do all your schoolwork, follow instructions and behave,” she said.
Art Instructor Ms. Fregara noted, “Isabella shows enthusiasm during every art class. She is always so eager to participate in all art discussions. Her artwork is full of bright colors, just like her personality. She has a great imagination and I always know there’s a story to the art she creates. George Bernard Shaw said, ‘Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and, at last, you create what you will.’ That quote applies perfectly to Isabella!”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding “Students of the Month” for September: Laith, Rebecca, Reena and Isabella!
As the oldest private, independent, continuing, coeducational, college-preparatory day school in the borough and one of the oldest in the nation, Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, “the little school of big dreams” has been “effectively preparing young people for college, career, and life, one day at a time” for over 150 years. Founded in 1863 and located in the historic Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, Adelphi enrolls students from three years of age through twelfth grade. A strong emphasis is placed on small class size, individualized attention, self-expression, critical thinking and challenging hands-on learning through Adelphi’s founding philosophy and dedication to the education of the “total child.” Adelphi students excel within a small, intimate, safe, caring, nurturing, and secure environment through Adelphi’s core values and founding principles of pride, tradition, spirit, and excellence. The student-teacher ratio is 8 to 1 and Adelphi is a New York State Regents Exempt Program with a 100% college application, acceptance and attendance rate. A founding member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, Adelphi receives its charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and has been a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools since 1928. Ms. Iphigenia Romanos serves as Head of School.
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Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn