Get to Know Adelphi’s November 2020 Students of the Month!
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s November 2020 Students of the Month (clockwise from top): David (Lower School), Nikolozi (Middle School), Jonathan (Upper School), Boris (Scholar-Athlete) and Nicole (Student-Artist).
BAY RIDGE — Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program continued in early December as five outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of November. David (Lower School), Nikolozi (Middle School), Jonathan (Upper School), Boris (Scholar-Athlete) and Nicole (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 David said it feels great to be named a Student of the Month and understands what it takes to earn accolades at Adelphi. “You have to be good in class, do all your homework and it’s good to give people a hand,” he explained. David has a wide variety of interests and enjoys exploring them all in class. “I enjoy every kind of subject!” he exclaimed. The ambitious Lower Schooler is already debating between two very different but exciting careers when he gets older. “I want to be an actor or a physicist,” he said. His familiarity with classic science fiction films like “The Twilight Zone” has certainly sparked an interest in both fields. David is fascinated by outer space and the solar system and thinks there is a lot left to be discovered. “Maybe Pluto can become a planet again,” he suggested. “It’s only a dwarf planet right now.” David is thrilled to be an Adelphian and is thankful for the efforts of the faculty and staff. “The teachers are friendly here and they always help,” he smiled.
Lower School faculty member Ms. R. Baalbaki said, “David comes to class every day with a smile on his face and a desire to learn. He is dedicated to being the best version of himself and puts a great amount of effort into everything he does. David’s compassion makes others feel so appreciated and acknowledged. I am very proud of David for receiving this honor!”
Middle School Student of the Month Nikolozi was ecstatic to learn that his hard work had paid off in the form of “Of the Month” honors. “It feels amazing!” he exclaimed. “I always wanted to be a Student of the Month. I’m so proud that I set a goal and achieved it.” He remembers exactly how he found out about the honor, too. “I looked up at the board and was like, ‘There’s no way…wait, it says my name!’” he recalled. Nikolozi already has another goal he hopes to achieve in the future. “I want to be a professional basketball player,” he said. “My goal is to make it to the NBA.” The talented Middle Schooler said he can already hit free throws and three-pointers with ease and is always working on improving his game. Should he achieve his dream, he said he already knows what he’s going to do with his first million dollars. “I’d give it to my parents. They do everything for me,” he said. “My dad is my star. He works so hard.” Nikolozi is proud to be an Adelphian and hopes to attend Adelphi University one day. “It’s amazing to be an Adelphian,” he said. “It was my dream to be in a great school and I’m so happy here.”
Homeroom teacher Mr. Rehberg said, “Nikolozi always has a sharp focus with everything in which he is involved. Whether he is in class or participating in school activities, he always puts in substantial effort. His upbeat and can-do attitude inspires both students and teachers alike.”
Upper School Student of the Month Jonathan contributed a lot of canned goods to the Annual Holiday Food Drive, which certainly played a role in his selection for this prestigious honor. “I wanted to participate and give back,” he said. The technology whiz enjoys studying science and math and wants to pursue a career in either computer science or engineering. He is very comfortable with computer components and is constantly modifying his gaming PC. “I can take it apart and put it back together,” he said. He attributes his interest in computers to his cousin, who gave him a custom PC as a gift. “He showed me how he built it and it was interesting,” he said. Jonathan has some sound advice for his fellow Adelphians who are looking to attain success. “Try and you’ll succeed no matter the circumstances,” he said. “We’re family!”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Alvarracin said, “Jonathan is a very sweet student who always works very hard. One of the greatest qualities that he has is that he never gives up. He continues to work diligently to stay on top of all his assignments. I am very proud of him for receiving this Student of the Month Award.”
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Boris was excited to be named Scholar-Athlete of the Month. “It feels good,” he said. The Class of 2021 member is an avid and knowledgeable sports fan who enjoys watching basketball the most. “I like the intensity and the passion plays,” he said. Boris is a longtime fan of the Brooklyn Nets. “I liked them when they were the New Jersey Nets,” he said. He recognizes and admires the leadership qualities in a point guard especially. “They have the pressure to control the ball and to make good decisions,” he explained. Boris got to play the sport he loves many times during his career at Adelphi as a member of the Basketball Club and as a player in the Annual Faculty vs. Students Basketball Game. “I will miss those athletic activities,” he said. “It was fun to rally with my classmates to beat the faculty.” For his future plans, Boris is interested in pursuing a career in cyber security and envisions himself in a high-level government position. His advice to younger Adelphians is simple. “Try your best, stay humble and learn from your mistakes,” he said.
Homeroom teacher Mr. DeCrescenzo said, “Boris loves sports. He is often writing about basketball and the philosophies behind it. His love of basketball branches out toward his efforts with teamwork and support within the class and it has been showing. Great job! I am proud of Boris for his accomplishment in receiving Scholar-Athlete of the Month honors!”
Student-Artist of the Month Nicole has already created a number of masterpieces at Adelphi this year. “I used a blotter to make a reindeer and we made bats for Halloween,” she said. The bat project in particular required students to follow several important steps. First, they colored a coffee filter using spooky colors, then they sprayed the filters with water to create a creepy smeared look. Next, they pasted googly plastic eyes onto black clothespins. When they clipped the filters with the pins, the bats took shape. It was a long process, but Nicole was pleased with her final product. “You have to do all the steps and never give up,” she said. Though a talented artist by nature, Nicole said she also enjoys math and wants to become a doctor when she gets older. Still, she said she will continue to create art, especially in her favorite color, light blue. “I like to draw,” she smiled.
Art Instructor Ms. Fregara said, “Nicole is an artist who always shows full effort in all her work. She always uses bright colors and fills the whole space when drawing a picture. Nicole enjoys showing details in her drawings and she is very observant. Salvador Dalí once said, ‘A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.’ Nicole is a true artist. Congratulations, Nicole!”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding “Students of the Month” for November: David, Nikolozi, Jonathan, Boris and Nicole!
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.
* * *
Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn