Get to Know Adelphi’s February 2023 Students of the Month
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s February 2023 Students of the Month (clockwise from left): Avery (Lower School), Annamaria (Middle School), Meleny (Upper School), Gregory (Scholar-Athlete) and Lucas (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. Avery (Lower School), Annamaria (Middle School), Meleny (Upper School), Gregory (Scholar-Athlete) and Lucas (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 Avery was excited to receive this prestigious honor. “It felt good,” she smiled. “Plus, I got a cookie!” The talented young Adelphian already knows what she wants to be when she grows up. “I want to be an artist,” she said. “I like to draw stars. They are great because all of the points connect!” Avery enjoys practicing her art in school, but is constantly creating masterpieces at home too. At Adelphi, Avery enjoys the many Spirit Days that take place throughout the year, especially Superhero Day. “If I was a superhero I would make rainbows everywhere,” she giggled. Her advice to her fellow students can be useful to all age groups. “Be very, very good and always do all of your homework,” she said.
Lower School faculty member Ms. Kadamani said, “Avery is a great student who always behaves in class. She is kind to her peers and it is a pleasure to have her in the classroom. I am so proud that Avery has received the Lower School Student of the Month award!”
Middle School Student of the Month Annamaria enjoys her time at Adelphi, both during and after regular school hours. “I like doing afterschool activities,” she said. “I’m in Brain Society and Table Tennis Club!” Annamaria also attended the Academy’s annual Fright Fest trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. “I enjoyed it. It wasn’t too scary,” she said. A skilled artist, Annamaria enjoys sketching in pencil. Her favorite piece from this year is a still life drawing of a pear. Annamaria also excels at the performing arts, as a member of Adelphi’s Theater Arts Program and as an accomplished pianist. “I’m still playing the piano. I learned ‘Fur Elise’ by Beethoven,” she smiled. Another one of Annamaria’s passions is baking, and she enjoys being creative in the kitchen. “My favorite thing to bake is brownies with sugar on top,” she said. Annamaria also enjoys photography and sees herself one day becoming a professional photographer. “I would like to go to Paris and take photos of the Eiffel Tower!” she said. Her advice to her fellow Adelphians is simple yet inspiring. “Follow your heart!” she said.
Musical Director Mr. Bates said, “Annamaria puts a lot of effort into her studies. She is a creative, sweet and kind classmate. Congratulations to Annamaria for being named Middle School Student of the Month!”
Upper School Student of the Month Meleny embodies the saying that hard work pays off. A member of Adelphi’s Class of 2023, she has become a leader among her classmates and an active member of several after-school activities, including Weight Training & Fitness, Journalism Club and Brain Society. “I want to have a fun year and make lots of memories to look back on,” she said. Each of the clubs she belongs to offers her an opportunity to grow and learn. “I like creating layouts and building the paper in Journalism Club,” she said. “Then in Weight Training I learned how to use machines to target specific parts of the body. And I like trivia and learning new things in Brain Society.” Her career goal is to become a market analyst, so she is looking forward to pursuing her business degree in college. “Calculus — and Mathematics in general — is my favorite subject,” she said. “It is very useful in business and in life.” As she prepares to graduate in June, Meleny would like to leave behind some sage words of advice for the next generation of Adelphians. “Always keep a positive mindset,” she said. “Be a leader, not a follower, and definitely become active in the Adelphi community.”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Foronda said, “Meleny is an amazing student with a heart of gold. She continues to show her value in how she portrays herself in and out of the classroom. She shows her own worth as a senior who is kind, helpful, compassionate and hardworking. I am truly proud that she was selected as this month’s Upper School Student of the Month and hope she continues to be a guiding light for her peers.”
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s February 2023 “Of the Month” award recipients welcomed parents and guests for a special congratulatory celebration.
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Gregory likes to stay active and is already skilled in several sports, including baseball and golf. “I play third base for my team,” he said. “And I always practice swinging.” While he is learning the game of golf on the professional course, Gregory said he enjoys playing mini golf in his spare time. “It’s fun and good practice,” he smiled. He was thrilled to learn that he had been chosen to receive “Of the Month” honors. “I worked so hard and did all my work,” he said. “This is great! My mom and dad said congratulations.” When he gets older, Gregory hopes to own his very own hibachi restaurant modeled after his favorite spot. “It’s going to be like Arirang. It’s so fun!” he said.
Homeroom teacher Ms. Tina Wong said, “Gregory is a top performer and he always cheers his team on. He is an excellent teammate who always strives to do his best, both in the classroom and on the field!”
Student-Artist of the Month Lucas said he was proud to be selected for this special award. “It feels very satisfying because I feel like I’ve worked very hard over the years on my artwork,” he said. “I am happy to receive recognition for my hard work.” Lucas has never been afraid to try new artistic methods or mediums. “When I first started, I mainly did still life, but now I am doing more portraits, focusing on capturing facial features and shading,” he explained. Lucas aspires to become a professional artist one day, and hopes that he can create art that carries a meaningful message. At Adelphi, Lucas enjoys reporting on current events for the Academy’s newspaper, The Adelphi Oracle. “I like covering the current events within the school,” he said. His advice to other aspiring artists is to always put in extra work. “Work hard for it. Don’t just rely on school time,” he said. “Even 10 extra minutes a day can make a difference.”
Ms. Wong noted, “Lucas is focused and detailed. He is witty and eager when creating his work. He is a joy to have in my class.”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding Students of the Month for February: Avery, Annamaria, Meleny, Gregory and Lucas!
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