Get to Know Adelphi’s September 2021 Students of the Month!
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s September 2021 Students of the Month (clockwise from top): Isabella (Lower School), Rebecca (Middle School), Warren (Upper School), Elan (Scholar-Athlete) and Lucas (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. Isabella (Lower School), Rebecca (Middle School), Warren (Upper School), Elan (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 Isabella takes her schoolwork very seriously and is always looking to learn new things. The more she learns, the more she enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. “I already know what two times two is,” she smiled. “It’s four! And three times three is nine!” The young math whiz is also a talented artist who likes to draw houses and whose favorite color is dark blue. “I know how to draw a very good house,” she said. At Adelphi, Isabella enjoys helping others whenever they need assistance. “It feels like a family,” she said. When she grows up, she sees herself continuing to help others through her profession. “I’m going to be a nurse!” she exclaimed.
Lower School faculty member Ms. N. Baalbaki said, “Isabella is a remarkable student. She is always eager and ready to learn. Isabella is a wonderful friend to all of her classmates and works very well with others. She has been showing excellent progress and I am so proud of all her hard work!”
Middle School Student of the Month Rebecca has always wanted to work in the medical field. “I knew I wanted to be a doctor since I was very little,” she said. “I want to be a general surgeon or a doctor that helps women.” The ambitious Middle Schooler is also exploring the possibility of becoming a veterinarian. “I love cats and would like to help all animals,” she said. Rebecca is enjoying her seventh year at Adelphi and is always excited to experience new activities and programs. For instance, this year marks her first as a member of The Adelphi Oracle — Adelphi’s student newspaper. “I’m excited to be a part of it,” she smiled. She has some sound advice for her fellow Adelphians who seek to attain “Of the Month” honors. “Try hard, don’t give up and keep working at it and you will complete any task,” she said.
Homeroom teacher Ms. Wong said, “Rebecca is a wonderful student who always does well in her studies. She is always helping her peers. I am very proud of her. Keep up the great work!”
Upper School Student of the Month Warren came into this school year refocused and determined to make the most of his Adelphi experience. “Something just clicked, and I decided I want to become more involved,” he said. Among his goals is to apply for a position on the Academy’s prestigious Student Advisory Board. “I’ve grown so much as a leader and this seems like the next logical step for me to take,” he explained. Warren said he still aspires to pursue a career in archaeology, but he is keeping his options open for now. “I’m actually considering a career in aeronautical engineering,” he said. “I understand how hard it is, but I’m fascinated by airplanes.” Warren enjoys writing about science and technology for The Adelphi Oracle and is a member of the Quill and Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists. He has some advice for his fellow Adelphians. “Just know what you need to do and do it well,” he said. “Follow through and make sure your work is complete.”
Homeroom teacher Mr. DeCrescenzo said, “Warren has always been a critical thinker. He has shown great individual thinking in many ways while also working well within a group. He has also welcomed new students into his circle and is always willing to help others. I am very proud of Warren for receiving this Student of the Month recognition.”
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s September 2021 “Of the Month” award recipients welcomed parents and guests for a special congratulatory celebration in their honor.
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Elan has a good idea about how he earned this prestigious honor. “I’m fast and I really like sports,” he smiled. His favorite sports to play are soccer and basketball, but his favorite sport to watch is Formula 1 racing. The adventurous Lower Schooler said his family’s interest in Formula 1 has inspired him to one day sit behind the wheel and hit the track competitively. “I’m going to be a race car driver,” he said. “If I raced one of those cars I would definitely floor it, but they brake very well so I’m not worried.” At Adelphi, Elan enjoys participating in athletics because he said he learns a lot. “I learn how to be a good teammate and to show kindness to others,” he said. “But the most important thing is to have fun!”
Faculty member Mr. Alvarracin of the Academy’s Athletics and Physical Education Department said, “Elan is a great sport! He shows excellent sportsmanship and enthusiasm in class. Elan also works well on a team and always encourages others to try their best. I am very proud of Elan’s hard work and dedication!”
Student-Artist of the Month Lucas was extremely excited to learn that he had earned this honor. “It’s a good feeling,” he said. “It kind of shows that I am a true artist and that people appreciate my work. It makes me feel proud of my work when people react to it.” The ambitious Middle Schooler continued to perfect his craft over the summer, sketching and drawing regularly. His favorite material to work with is charcoal, he said. Given his prowess, it makes sense that Lucas aspires to become a professional artist when he grows up. “It would be pretty cool to have my own gallery,” he smiled. He remembers how he first became interested in art. “I tried to do a self-portrait in pencil when I was 8 years old,” he recalled. “It came out pretty well so I stuck with it.” He has continued to create portraits over the years, and has sketched everything from police officers to comic book heroes. Lucas said he is proud to attend Adelphi and knows what it means to be an Adelphian. “It means you are smart and capable of doing well in a lot of different activities,” he explained. Now in his second year at Adelphi, Lucas has developed a quiet confidence that comes from his positive experiences. “I definitely feel more comfortable and more prepared for what’s to come,” he said. “I like new challenges and I’m ready for anything!”
Art Instructor Ms. Fregara noted, “Lucas is a dedicated and well-rounded artist who is always willing to learn about everything related to art. When thinking about Lucas as an artist, I think about a quote from famous artist Wassily Kandinsky: ‘There is no must in art because art is free.’ Lucas understands the meaning of art, which is that art has no right answers.”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding Students of the Month for September: Isabella, Rebecca, Warren, Elan 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.
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Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn