Get to Know Adelphi’s January 2021 Students of the Month!
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s January 2021 Students of the Month (clockwise from top): Daniel (Lower School), Kenn (Middle School), Warren (Upper School), Bella (Scholar-Athlete) and Ella (Student-Artist).
BAY RIDGE — Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program continued in February as five outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of January. Daniel (Lower School), Kenn (Middle School), Warren (Upper School), Bella (Scholar-Athlete) and Ella (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 Daniel has a pretty good idea why he was chosen to receive “Of the Month” honors. “I did all my homework, I did well in class and I helped out all my friends,” he smiled. “I was very excited when I found out.” The energetic youngster dreams of one day becoming a professional wrestler like his idol “Flyin’” Brian Pillman Jr. If his pro wrestling career doesn’t quite pan out, however, Daniel has a backup plan in place. “I want to be a rock star!” he said. An aspiring drummer and a member of the Academy’s Adelphi Rocks! Music Enrichment Program, Daniel works hard at his craft in the hopes of becoming the next John Bonham — the legendary late drummer for Led Zeppelin, Daniel’s favorite band. “I practice all the time,” Daniel said proudly. At Adelphi, Daniel most enjoys his afterschool jam sessions through the enrichment program as well as his financial literacy class, during which he learns to create products and sell them to customers. His advice for his fellow Adelphians who hope to attain success is simple. “Work hard, go to sleep early at night, do your homework on time, be nice to everyone and raise your hand in class,” he said.
House Ellinwood House Master Mr. Rragami said, “Daniel is always very enthusiastic and excited to learn. He loves to participate and will always contribute new ideas and thoughts to the topics that we cover in class. He is very friendly and always makes sure to greet all of his teachers. I am very proud of Daniel for receiving ‘Student of the Month’ honors.”
Middle School Student of the Month Kenn was thrilled to learn that he had been selected as a Student of the Month. “It feels great. I feel so honored and proud, like I accomplished something special,” he said. He takes the honor seriously, he said, because he knows what it takes to earn this accolade. “You need to show leadership, have good behavior and school spirit, and go out of your way to help others. That’s what I try to do,” he said. When he gets older, Kenn hopes to pursue a career in international business like his uncle. “My uncle just finished school with a business degree. I learned a lot about it from him,” he said. Kenn’s preferred areas of concentration include engineering, architecture and technology, he said. “I love math. It makes my brain work out and it helps me with any subject,” he said. A longtime Adelphian, Kenn has developed a special affinity for his school. “I like how this school is different from the others. There’s a lot of school spirit and there are lots of activities,” he smiled. “We are one humongous happy family!”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Wong said, “Kenn is a wonderful student who enjoys helping his peers. He is very studious and strives to do his best in class. I am very proud of Kenn for receiving this honor.”
Upper School Student of the Month Warren admitted that he was surprised when he first learned that he had been selected for the prestigious honor. “I was surprised because there are so many students who deserve it,” he said. “But I do work hard so it feels good.” Warren is extremely knowledgeable about prehistoric creatures and hopes to become a famous paleontologist one day. “You need to know a lot about history,” he said. “It’s a rich field with a lot of depth.” Of course, he has a favorite dinosaur. “I like the Acrocanthosaurus. It means ‘high-spined lizard.’ It feels and looks so basic but it’s a very skilled hunter,” he explained. Warren believes a new species of dinosaur will be discovered in the future and when it is, he cannot wait to study it. At Adelphi, Warren writes for the student newspaper, The Adelphi Oracle, and is a valuable member of the Journalism Club, through which he sharpens his writing skills after school. “I feel a lot more confident at Adelphi,” he said. “I’m getting involved more.”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Alvarracin said, “Warren is kind, respectful, and always contributes to the class in a positive way. He turns his work in on time with a high level of quality and effort. I am very proud of Warren for being named a Student of the Month!”
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Bella was happy to learn that she had been selected for such a prestigious honor. “It feels good,” she said. “I was very excited.” Bella is an avid sports fan and roots for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. “I like hockey,” she smiled. She also roots for the New York Yankees during baseball season. At Adelphi, Bella enjoys her Activities Day electives, particularly her art classes, as well as House meetings and projects she can work on with her classmates. When she gets older, she hopes to become a pediatrician. “I love babies,” she smiled. “I want to take care of them.” When it comes to attaining success at Adelphi, she has one important piece of advice for her peers. “Work hard,” she said. “That’s it!”
House Morrill House Master Ms. Alvarracin said, “Bella is a dedicated student to all aspects of physical education. She completes her assignments on time. I am very proud of Bella for receiving this Scholar-Athlete Award.”
Student-Artist of the Month Ella knows what it means to have been named a Student of the Month. “It means that I was being very good for the month and doing all the things I am supposed to do,” she said. “You need to be a good listener and be the best person you can be.” She added that she was excited to receive her award. “It feels good. My family was happy for me,” she said. The creative Lower Schooler enjoys studying both art and math at Adelphi. “Art is fun and math is the best!” she smiled. Ella enjoys drawing and said her favorite art project thus far involved creating snowflakes in class. Her favorite part of being a student at Adelphi, she said, is interacting with her teacher and her friends. When she gets older, Ella hopes to pursue a career that will allow her to continue being the best person she can be. “I want to be a police officer because they help others,” she said.
Art Instructor Ms. Fregara said, “Ella is always so eager to create just about anything during art class. She participates in class discussions and when working on her own work she is always amazed at what she accomplishes. When I think of Ella as an artist, I think about this quote by Henri Matisse: ‘Creativity takes courage.’ Ella always has the courage to lose herself in her own work. Congratulations to Ella on a job well done!”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding “Students of the Month” for January: Daniel, Kenn, Warren, Bella and Ella!
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