Get to Know Adelphi’s April 2023 Students of the Month

Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s March 2023 Students of the Month (clockwise from left): Vanessa (Lower School), Eliam (Middle School), Bella (Upper School), Ahadbir (Scholar-Athlete) and Diana (Student-Artist).

BAY RIDGE – Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program continued in early May as five outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of April. Vanessa (Lower School), Eliam (Middle School), Bella (Upper School), Anhadbir (Scholar-Athlete) and Diana (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 Vanessa was pleased to learn that she had been selected to receive this prestigious honor. “Yes, I was happy,” she smiled. Vanessa enjoys spending time with her friends at Adelphi and dressing up for the various Spirit Days that occur throughout the year. “There’s always something fun to do!” she said. An aspiring pizza chef, Vanessa is always thinking of new recipes to try. “You have to be creative,” she said. “My favorite pizza right now is buffalo chicken.” Vanessa studies the piano and is always looking to improve her skills. “I go for lessons two days a week,” she said. Her advice to her fellow Adelphians is simple, yet effective. “Always get better and always do your homework,” she said.

House Master Ms. Wong said, “Vanessa is a perfect choice to receive this award. She is kind, helpful and caring. She always gives maximum effort and turns in her assignments on time. I am extremely proud of her!”

Middle School Student of the Month Eliam was surprised and delighted when he found out that he had been selected as a Student of the Month. “It felt good. I wasn’t expecting it at all, but it’s nice to be recognized,” he said. Eliam already knows what he wants to be when he grows up. “I’m going to be a veterinarian,” he said. Interestingly, Eliam said he does not own any pets, but was drawn to the field through his genuine love of animals. “I just want to help animals of all kinds,” he said. At Adelphi, Eliam enjoys working as a member of The Adelphi Oracle, the Academy’s student newspaper. “We get to learn how to write in an interesting way and it’s fun to be a part of something bigger,” he said.

Homeroom teacher Ms. Berios said, “I am so proud of Eliam for earning Student of the Month honors! He is a good friend and classmate who always does his best. Keep up the great work, Eliam!”

Upper School Student of the Month Bella has an idea about why she was selected to receive this honor. “I did really well and I helped others,” she smiled. Indeed, Bella’s recent donation of 70 goodie baskets to the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry drew praise from Adelphi as well as the community at large, including Councilman Justin Brannan, who met and thanked her as she was delivering the baskets. “I like to help people,” she said. It’s not doubt then that Bella intends to study nursing and aspires to one day become a pediatrician. “I want to help little children and to make sure they’re comfortable,” she said. “It’s important for doctors to be gentle.” At Adelphi, Bella enjoys the Spirit Day activities. “I like all the events, especially Pajama Day,” she said.

Homeroom teacher Ms. Foronda said, “I have seen immense growth from Bella over the years. She has shown her kindness and compassion through her community service and through her interaction with her peers at Adelphi Academy. She embodies the Adelphi spirit!”

Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s April 2023 “Of the Month” award recipients welcomed parents and guests for a special congratulatory celebration.

Scholar-Athlete of the Month Anhad is an excellent reader and mathematician who always looks forward to a new challenge. “I like learning,” he smiled. Being recognized in front of his peers by Ms. Romanos meant a lot to Anhad. “It feels so good to be a Student of the Month!” he said. One of Anhad’s favorite moments from this past year was the school’s trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. “I saw tropical plants and cacti,” he said. “I even saw a Venus fly trap and a bonzai tree!” As an athlete, Anhad excels at golf and soccer. “I like to watch and play,” he said.

Lower School faculty member Ms. Shcheblykina said, “Anhad knows the meaning of sportsmanship and works well with others in athletic and academic environments. He is a joy to have in class and truly deserving of this honor!”

Student-Artist of the Month Diana attributes her artistic ability to her father. “I got it from him. He’s very artistic,” she said. Diana enjoys creating artwork that elicits a reaction from others. “I like to inspire others to improve their art,” she said. “I think everyone has their own form of creativity to share.” Diana prefers working with pencils when she sits down to create a masterpiece. As for what she creates, that depends. “I’m inspired by my mood,” she explained. “What I’m feeling at a particular time dictates my artwork.” Diana said she is extremely grateful for receiving this prestigious honor. “I feel so appreciated,” she said. “I’m going to use this award as motivation to stay creative!”

Ms. Foronda noted, “Diana is a brilliant artist whose creativity knows no bounds. Her pencil sketches are incredibly detailed and capture the true essence of what she is trying to express. She is more than deserving of this honor and I look forward to seeing what she creates next!

Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding Students of the Month for April: Vanessa, Eliam, Bella, Anhadbir and Diana!

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