Get to Know September 2024’s Students of the Month!
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s September 2024 Students of the Month (Clockwise from top): Yahya (Lower School), Annamaria (Middle School), Rebecca (Upper School), Tiffany (Scholar-Athlete) and Alexander (Student-Artist).
BAY RIDGE – Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program kicked off in early October as five outstanding students were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary effort during the month of September. Yahya (Lower School), Annamaria (Middle School), Rebecca (Upper School), Tiffany (Scholar-Athlete) and Alexander (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 Yahya was proud to be named the first recipient of this prestigious honor for the 2024-2025 academic year. “It feels very good,” he smiled. “I’m very proud because I’ve been so good this year.” Yahya is a caring classmate and friend to his fellow Adelphians. “When somebody is struggling, I try to help them,” he explained. The ambitious Lower Schooler already sees three potential career paths in his future — a firefighter, an artist, or a video game developer specializing in creating new “Minecraft” worlds. “I’m always looking for new challenges,” he said. Yahya enjoys creating video game characters and bringing his creative visions to life through art. “I’m always using paper because I love art,” he said. He has some important advice for his fellow Adelphians who seek to attain success. “Always be nice and always do your best,” he said.
Lower School faculty member Ms. Holman said, “Yahya has done an incredible job so far this year, both academically and as a friend to all of his classmates. I am very proud of his effort and look forward to seeing him continue to grow and thrive!”
Middle School Student of the Month Annamaria said she knows exactly what it takes to earn this honor. “Studying and listening are very important,” she said. “You have to pay attention and do your homework every night.” As she continues to evolve as an Adelphian, Annamaria has set an important goal for herself this year. “I want to get an A in all my classes this year,” she said. She particularly enjoys studying science and the hands-on nature of laboratory sessions. “I like experiments and seeing how things happen,” she said. Annamaria hopes to pursue a career as either an aesthetician or a fashion designer. “I’ve always liked to do makeup, and I watch influencers doing tutorials online,” she said. At Adelphi, Annamaria enjoys the opportunities she has been given to attend school trips, especially Fright Fest. “I love going on all the rides, especially the high swings!” she smiled. She takes her schoolwork very seriously and has some wise advice for her fellow Adelphians. “Focus on yourself and get your work done,” she said.
Homeroom teacher Mr. Cook said, “Annamaria always shows strong effort in class and takes her work very seriously. She enjoys learning and sets a good example for her classmates. I am proud of her for earning this prestigious honor to start the school year.”
Upper School Student of the Month Rebecca has been enrolled at Adelphi Academy since the second grade. “This is my 10th year here,” she said proudly. “It feels like home. You feel welcome all the time.” Rebecca has so many wonderful memories at Adelphi, but one event stands out to her each year for sure. “I’ve always liked the awards banquet because you get to get honored for all your achievements throughout the year, and it’s great to share it with family and friends,” she said. “It shows that hard work pays off.” During her time at Adelphi, Rebecca has seen definite improvement in her communication skills. “It brought me out of my shell,” she said. “I’m not afraid to have a voice and I’m much more social.” One of her favorite activities at Adelphi is her involvement in The Adelphi Oracle, for which she serves as co-managing editor. “It’s been a long journey,” she said. “Each year gets more serious but also more fun. It’s taught me a lot.” Her favorite part of working on the Oracle is creating the framework for each edition, called the dummy. “You need strong organizational skills to create the dummy,” she explained. “It’s like a puzzle.” Rebecca is looking forward to pursuing a career in the medical field as an obstetrician-gynecologist. She enjoys studying science and math. “I like to know the reason for things,” she said. Given her years of experience, Rebecca has developed some unique and insightful advice for her peers. “You always need to be a leader and help others in need,” she said. “Also, it’s important to stay focused and do the job right, but remember that mistakes are improvable.”
Homeroom teacher Ms. Wong said, “Rebecca is an excellent student who wants to know more while helping those around her who may not fully understand the content. She is respectful to her peers and teachers. Congratulations to Rebecca on receiving the Upper School Student of the Month Award for September!”
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s September 2024 “Of the Month” award recipients welcomed parents and guests for a special congratulatory celebration hosted by Head of School Ms. Romanos.
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Tiffany is a well-rounded student who excels in academics, athletics and the arts. She was delighted to receive this prestigious honor for her effort in physical education. “I was so surprised,” she smiled. Tiffany has enjoyed her time in physical education class so far this trimester and has made a conscious effort to excel on the court. “We’ve been playing volleyball and I have an interest in the sport, so I definitely gave extra effort,” she said. Outside of school Tiffany is an accomplished figure skater who has shined in competitions and exhibitions since the age of 10. “I have a test coming up, actually,” she said. “It’s a moves test, so I have to land a bunch of moves correctly. It’s been a good experience and I’ve shown progress.” Tiffany is also a talented artist whose work was recently selected to be featured in Adelphi’s Fall Auction of Fine Art. “It was a really good experience. I was overwhelmed!” she said. Tiffany enjoys painting and prefers to create still-life images. She is also interested in beauty and makeup and would like to open a cosmetic/dermatology clinic in the future. “I want to own a medical spa and create my own cosmetic product line. I can sell my products to clients,” she explained. Tiffany enjoys writing about beauty and makeup as a member of The Adelphi Oracle and explores her interest in graphic design in Adelphi’s Journalism Club. “I really enjoy learning to use Photoshop,” she smiled. “I was looking forward to using it since last year.” Tiffany’s advice for her fellow Adelphians is helpful at any age. “It’s ok to make mistakes,” she said. “Success is about improvements and there is always room to improve.”
Physical Education instructor Mr. Biale said, “Tiffany has done an amazing job in class this trimester. She has shined on the volleyball court and has given maximum effort at every opportunity. She works to make her teammates better and to always achieve success. I am so proud of her for earning this award. Keep up the great work!”
Student-Artist of the Month Alexander was grateful to be recognized for his work so early on into the new academic year. “It feels great,” he said. “The year just started and already I got this great feedback.” Alexander is a talented artist who takes tremendous pride in his work and hopes to one day create art professionally. “I would like to make a living selling art,” he said. “I will be able to earn more once people know me and my work.” Alexander specializes in creating still-life images and cartoon characters. He said the key to creating meaningful art is time. “Creativity requires time to think and be inspired,” he explained. “Give me time and I will figure something out.” His advice to aspiring artists is to stay committed to the craft. “If you like art, then focus on it with all your energy,” he said. A member of Adelphi’s Class of 2025, Alexander said he is looking forward to the next chapter of his life but will forever remember his time as an Adelphian. “I’m going to miss everyone, especially the friends I’ve made,” he said.
Adelphi’s Art instructor Ms. Squadron said, “Alexander puts tremendous effort into each one of his pieces. He is extremely creative and detail-oriented, and he takes great pride in his work. I am proud of him for earning ‘Of the Month’ honors.”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding Students of the Month for September: Yahya, Annamaria, Rebecca, Tiffany and Alexander!
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 learners for college, career, and life, one day at a time” for more than 160 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