Get to Know Adelphi’s February 2022 Students of the Month
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s February 2022 Students of the Month (clockwise from top): Nicole (Lower School), Sarah (Middle School), Nicole (Upper School), Daniel (Scholar-Athlete) and Leonardo (Student-Artist).
BAY RIDGE – Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program continued in early March as five outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of February. Nicole (Lower School), Sarah (Middle School), Nicole (Upper School), Daniel (Scholar-Athlete) and Leonardo (Student-Artist) received their official pins, congratulatory letters and certificates signed by Head of School Ms. Iphigenia Romanos during a very special assembly inside the John Lockwood Auditorium Theatre. 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 Nicole has a special place at home for all of the accolades she has earned during her time at Adelphi. “My whole entire closet is filled with awards,” she smiled. “I’m so proud!” The ambitious Lower Schooler excels in her studies of mathematics and science, and is extremely interested in astronomy. When she grows up she hopes to see the stars up close. “I want to be an astronaut,” she said. Nicole also loves to draw and is especially proud of one piece in particular. “I drew a UFO!” she exclaimed. Her favorite aspect of Adelphian life is being able to perform in front of parents and classmates during assembly. “I like when we practice songs to sing for our families,” she said. Nicole’s advice for her fellow Adelphians who seek to attain success is threefold. “Raise your hand, don’t talk in class and be kind to others,” she said.
Lower School faculty member Ms. Mejia said, “Nicole is a wonderful student. She is a great listener and is always happy to participate in class activities. She is hard-working, responsible and respectful to her teachers and peers. I am very proud of Nicole for receiving this Student of the Month recognition!”
Middle School Student of the Month Sarah has been at Adelphi for 7 years and has enjoyed her time at school immensely. “I like the students, how kind they are,” she said. Sarah has always wanted to enter the medical field with the goal of helping others. “I want to be an eye doctor,” she said. “Sight is so important to learning. If you can’t see, it’s harder to understand.” While she excels at science, Sarah is also a talented artist and writer who enjoys English class. “I enjoy learning new things,” she said. Given her years of experience at Adelphi, Sarah has some sound advice for students who aspire to be achieve “Of the Month” honors. “Work hard for it and always do your best,” she said. “And don’t misbehave!”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Wong said, “Sarah is a kindhearted and respectful student. She comes to school every day with a positive attitude. Her efforts, kind attitude and respect for others make her a great student. I am so proud of Sarah!”
Upper School Student of the Month Nicole, known affectionately by her classmates and teachers as Nika, has been enrolled at Adelphi since Pre-K. This is her 12th year as an Adelphian and she is proud to be a part of such a warm and friendly community. She was excited to learn that she had been selected to receive this prestigious honor and offered some important advice to her fellow Adelphians. “Listen to your teachers, give in your homework on time and always help your friends,” she said. Nika is a member of Adelphi’s Performing Chorus and enjoys art and science. She aspires to become a doctor when she grows up. “My mom inspired me to become a doctor,” she said. “I want to help people.”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Foronda said, “Nika is the perfect example of what it means to be an Adelphian. She has been here for her entire academic career and has continued to demonstrate growth and leadership each year. She is kind, helpful and responsible and she truly deserves this recognition. Great job, Nika!”
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s February 2022 “Of the Month” award recipients welcomed parents and guests for a special congratulatory celebration.
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Daniel prides himself on staying fit and active. “I always practice jumping and running. I have really good speed,” he said. As part of his rigorous training regimen, Daniel performs a number of exercises. “I do pushups, squats and sit-ups,” he said. Daniel is a huge fan of soccer and has played on a team for 5 years. He excels as striker and emulates his favorite player, Lionel Messi. “I like the moves he does and how he shuffles the ball,” he said. When he grows up, Daniel envisions a successful career as a soccer player, but that’s not all. “I want to play soccer until I’m 45 and then coach until I’m 70,” he said. “Then I will write books about my life.” At Adelphi, Daniel enjoys participating in hands-on activities and group projects. He excels in science and aspires to build his own computer one day. “I’m a big tech person,” he smiled. Daniel also enjoys trivia and memorizing facts about his favorite musicians, especially from the 1960s and 1970s. “I can name every artist from that time,” he said. Daniel attends school with his two older siblings, Jake and Keira, and said that he feels comfortable in the environment. “I like making friends and having my family here,” he said. “It feels like home.”
Faculty member Mr. Alvarracin of the Academy’s Athletics and Physical Education Department said, “Daniel takes his physical fitness seriously and is a great teammate. He remains focused on the goals set out before him and works hard to make those around him feel comfortable on and off the field. I congratulate him for being named Scholar-Athlete of the Month!”
Student-Artist of the Month Leonardo was surprised to learn that he had been selected to receive this honor. “It was crazy,” he exclaimed. “I didn’t expect it at all!” Nevertheless, Leonardo is a talented artist who has created a number of memorable pieces during his time at Adelphi. “I enjoy making cartoon drawings and video game characters,” he said. Leonardo particularly enjoys drawing in pencil, but he doesn’t rush the creative process. “I always think it out first before I start to draw,” he explained. His favorite piece is a pencil sketch he drew of Homer Simpson. The best thing about attending Adelphi, he said, is the environment. “I like that it’s quieter and calmer than other schools because it’s more comfortable and the students are well-behaved,” he said. When he gets older, Leonardo said he would like to own a business suited to his interests. “I want to own a comic and action figure store,” he smiled. In order to be considered for “Of the Month” honors, Leonardo said students should maintain strong effort inside the classroom. “Work harder and focus more instead of talking over the teacher,” he advised. “Be sure to study at home also.” To be a strong artist, he said the key is to keep practicing and not give up. “If you mess up, it’s okay,” he said. “Just keep going.”
Adelphi Art Instructor Ms. Fregara noted, “Art is where anyone can take risks and that is exactly what Leonardo does each time. Leonardo has a great imagination, which makes it easy for him to take artistic risks. Congratulations to Leonardo on a job well done!”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding Students of the Month for February: Nicole, Sarah, Nicole, Daniel and Leonardo!
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