Get to Know Adelphi’s October 2022 Students of the Month
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s October 2022 Students of the Month: Timothy (Lower School), Edward (Middle School), Souraya (Upper School, not pictured), Jason (Scholar-Athlete) and Jake (Student-Artist).
BAY RIDGE – Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program continued in early November as five outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of October. Timothy (Lower School), Edward (Middle School), Souraya (Upper School), Jason (Scholar-Athlete) and Jake (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 Timothy has a variety of interests, but chief among them is doing his homework. “My favorite is math — I’m learning to multiply!” he said. “If you don’t know you math you can’t do much. It’s very important.” He also enjoys computer games like Minecraft and staying active in physical education class. When he grows up, Timothy would like to be a firefighter. “I want to help people. I’m not afraid!” he smiled. At Adelphi, Timothy serves a positive example to his classmates. “I help them clean up after we play and I make sure the rug is clean.”
Musical Director Mr. Bates said, “Timothy is a great help to his classmates and his teachers. He has a natural enthusiasm for learning and he always participates. I am proud of Timothy for receiving this honor!”
Middle School Student of the Month Edward is an accomplished amateur wrestler who regularly participates in tournaments against other teams. “When I was 4 years old, my dad got me into it,” he said. “I really enjoy it.” He has won a number of medals already and will look to add to his total when he competes again in December. For now, he is undergoing extensive training. “I train myself to get ready,” he said. “I usually do 20 minutes on the treadmill, then pushups and sit-ups. It makes me feel light on my feet and healthy.” Edward’s most effective maneuver on the mat is the cradle — grabbing his opponent and flipping him for the pin. “I also like to get behind my opponent and suplex him,” he smiled. One of his more challenging matches involved an opponent who trapped him in a hold. “I got stuck in a sprawl,” he said. “It was hard because his legs were long and he had an advantage. But I was able to escape.” Though he hopes to continue wrestling in college, Edward plans to become a dentist like his uncle when he gets older. At Adelphi, Edward enjoys studying math, science and history. “Adelphi has an amazing history and I’m honored to have been here for 8 years of it!” he smiled. He has some important advice for his fellow Adelphians who aspire to receive “Of the Month” honors. “Just work hard and you will achieve your goals. Always push yourself to be the best!”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Berios said, “Edward has been a wonderful student and friend to his peers. He gives a helping hand to anyone in need and is an amazing role model. He is a polite, honest and kind student of whom I am very proud for receiving Student of the Month honors! He deserves this recognition, as he has been a vital part of our Adelphi community!”
Upper School Student of the Month Souraya was pleasantly surprised to learn that she had been selected to receive this prestigious award. “It was a nice surprise!” she said. “It’s a nice reward for your hard work. We have a lot of privileges here at Adelphi.” Souraya is making the most of her time at Adelphi, already becoming involved in several extracurricular activities like Brain Society and The Adelphi Oracle. She’s still exploring her options as pertains to her career, but since she was little she’s always said she’d like to become a veterinarian. “My grandfather and my uncle are both veterinarians and I look up to them,” she explained. “Plus I like animals. I have cats and dogs at home.” Souraya enjoys the Spirit Day program at Adelphi and the sense of family that exists. “It’s different and very interesting. I like how it boosts school spirit because we all come together and have fun.” As a new Adelphian, Souraya said it is important to ask for help when it’s needed. “The students and faculty are so nice and they are willing to help, so ask questions,” she advised. “And always give yourself enough time in advance to study.”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Wong said, “Souraya is an excellent student who takes her schoolwork very seriously. She always participates in class and is kind and helpful to her classmates. She truly deserves recognition as a Student of the Month.”
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s October 2022 “Of the Month” award recipients welcomed parents and guests for a special congratulatory celebration.
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Jason enjoys playing basketball and soccer, and he recognizes the importance of teamwork on the court. “You can’t get anywhere without your teammates,” he said. That said, he also knows that each player must do his or her individual part to achieve success. “There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team,’ but there is an ‘I’ in ‘win’ and each player needs to do everything they can to win,” he explained. Jason has exhibited strong leadership skills and has become a trusted photographer for The Adelphi Oracle. “I came to Journalism Club, I started with the small camera and worked my way up to using the professional camera; I learned a lot about responsibility,” he said. His goal is to become lead photographer for the paper. For his career, Jason aspires to become a cardiac surgeon. “I want to work with my hands and help people,” he said.
Ms. Berios said, “Jason is a wonderful athlete who embraces physical education class. He shows enthusiasm for athletics and academics. I enjoy having Jason in my class and I congratulate him on receiving this prestigious award.”
Student-Artist of the Month Jake is constantly creating. “I’m an artist. It’s what I do,” he said. He enjoys creating beautiful landscapes and aims to present them in a realistic manner. “I try to make things as realistic as possible while taking inspiration from other artists,” he said. Jake cites Swedish artist Simon Stalenhag as a major source of inspiration. When creating his masterpieces, Jake prefers to draw them on paper. “Pencils are my expertise,” he said. Each work of art takes him approximately 20 minutes to complete, he estimated. “I try to create two or three per day,” he said. Though he is undecided about his future plans, Jake said he is considering a career in graphic arts. He appreciates technology and enjoys spending time inside Adelphi’s Technology & Design Laboratory. His advice to his fellow Adelphians is insightful. “It may be difficult to find out what you’re good at, at first, but keep working at it and you will find your calling.”
Ms. Wong noted, “Jake is a talented artist who is always creating. He takes a strong interest in the artists he studies and works hard to draw inspiration from them that he can then use in his own work. I congratulate Jake for receiving this prestigious honor!”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding Students of the Month for October: Timothy, Edward, Souraya, Jason and Jake!
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