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Latest News
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Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25,
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Article by Phoenix writer Eva McLaughlin ’26:
The PhoenixOnline is the school newspaper, published by the students of Kellenberg Memorial High School. Articles are posted throughout the school week to PhoenixOnline at kellenberg.org/phoenix. PhoenixOnline covers various Faith, Academic, Extra-Curricular, and Athletic stories and features at Kellenberg Memorial. PhoenixOnline staff contribute to the school journalism publication by conceiving stories, attending school events, conducting interviews, and writing and editing articles. Membership on the PhoenixOnline staff is open to all students in grades 6 through 12. Editorship positions are available by application.
PhoenixOnline Surveys
Throughout the year, we run open surveys polling our student body on some general interest topics.
PhoenixOnline Video Segments
Athletics News

Firebirds Take Gold at League Tournament
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: The Firebird wrestling team soared to victory at the NSCHSAA League Tournament on Sunday, February 9th. The team wrestled hard earning a total of 434 team points, 71.5 points ahead of runner-up and league rival Chaminade, to secure the title of League Champions.

Kellenberg Athletes Honored at Hofstra
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: Hofstra University celebrated accomplished Kellenberg student-athletes at the January 25 Hofstra vs. Delaware Men’s basketball game. Hofstra has been looking to become more engaged with Kellenberg Memorial in the form of student recognition over the past few years. At the end of last

Firebird Wrestlers Dominate at Battle at the Beach
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: On Saturday, December 7, 26 Firebird wrestlers competed in the prestigious Varsity Battle at the Beach Tournament in Long Beach. Senior Elijah “Conquering” Carrington dominated his weight class pinning the second ranked wrestler in Nassau County and beating the fifth ranked wrestler in

FCAA Celebration Honors Benefactors
Article by Phoenix writer Caitlin Hanratty ’25: On November 16, the Firebird Center Completion Celebration was hosted in the FCAA for its major benefactors to celebrate the official opening of the new building on the 1400 Glenn Curtiss property. More than 500 benefactors, faculty, staff, and additional guests attended the
Activities News

Junior Musician performs with Prestigious Ensemble
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: This past weekend Zach traveled to Syracuse New York to take part in the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Band. As a participant, Zachary was identified as one of the top musicians in all of New York State. The weekend was

Cultures Club Promotes Black History Month
Article by Phoenix writer Karim Adetayo ’25: The KMHS One Heart One Mind Many Cultures Club celebrated Black History Month with presentations on fashion, dances, HBCUs, food, music, and a fun Family Feud event to end the celebration. These events that took place throughout the month showcased the vast, rich,

Kellenberg Students Write to Pen Pals Overseas
Article by Phoenix writer Sophia Venturino ’26: Forty-three students spent their evening on January 30th bringing joy to school children in Kenya. Each year, Kellenberg invites students to respond to letters from Kenya. Bro. Michael McAward started the event by giving attendees an insightful presentation on the lives and conditions

Alum Guides Health Science in Suture Workshop
Article by Phoenix writer Kevin Kirley ’25: On January 29, 20 members of the Health Science Club participated in a suturing class taught by Dr. Robert Bacigalupo. After Dr. Bacigalupo introduced the instruments used in suturing, students were able to learn the specific technique to create interrupted sutures and square
Apostolic News

Kellenberg Welcomes the Jubilee Year
Article by Phoenix writer Michaela Dennean ’25: On Thursday, January 16, Kellenberg celebrated its first Mass of the New Year. This year is particularly special in the Church, as it is a Jubilee Year. The jubilee takes place every twenty-five years, with this year’s focus being Hope. When Pope Francis

Students Grow Closer to Jesus at XLT
Article by Phoenix writer Keira Quigley ’26: On January 8, 2025, the Kellenberg family came together in prayer for this year’s first XLT. But this XLT wasn’t any ordinary New Year XLT, it was the first XLT of the Jubilee Year, the Year of Hope. This XLT was extra special

Aquinas League Pilgrimage
Article by Phoenix writer Mika-Ella Accardi ’25: On Saturday, December 14, the Aquinas League traveled to St. Barnabas Church in Bellmore to visit the relics of their patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas. The pilgrimage included 12 Juniors and Seniors of the Aquinas League along with Mr. John Ruhl and Mrs.

Kellenberg Celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: On Monday, December 9, the Kellenberg family celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The day was made a solemnity in 1708 by Pope Clement XI and commemorates the conception of Mary without original sin. The celebrants for the three masses were Father
Last Week at Mass

Last Week at Mass: My Name, My Calling, My Purpose From God
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: Towards the end of my sophomore year, feelings of unproductivity and concern lingered in my mind. Distracted by the upcoming junior year, I questioned if I followed God’s plan for my life efficiently. Throughout my five years at Kellenberg, I’ve had the unique

Last Week at Mass: A Lady’s Lesson on Grief and Love
Article by Phoenix writer Amely Nuñez ’23: Serving as an altar server has granted me the opportunity to view the Mass in a very intimate and personal light. I have a perfect view of both the altar and the parishioners in the pews. Having seen thousands of congregants, one person

Last Week at Mass: Feeling Alone, I Went to Mass
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Garcia ’23: Recently, the future and what it holds has been on my mind. I thought once I turned in some of my college applications, my stress would be gone. I realized very quickly that it does not work that way. If anything, I felt

Last Week At Mass: A New Normal
Article by Phoenix writer Michelle Paszek ’24: Everybody tends to have the same idea of what Mass is: going to a Church building on Sunday, sitting in a pew, and listening to a priest say prayers and preach his homily before receiving the Eucharist and going home. This past Sunday,
But What Do I Know?

But What Do I Know: Crush the Evil Social Media
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: Voltaire said “Crush the evil thing.” It sounds cooler in French, but I don’t know French. Voltaire wickedly ridiculed all of the corruptions and evils of his time. No doubt, social media would be on his radar if he lived today. Since its beginnings, social media has ingrained itself into society. There has been a lasting obsession with constantly posting updates about our lives on some sort of platform, whether it be a relationship status on Facebook or a picture of your last vacation on Instagram. However, there has been a decline in this obsession. With Twitter on a fast decline and TikTok’s existence being in jeopardy, there has been a rising conversation about social media’s impact on society within the last ten years. While some might mourn the loss of their favorite apps, I will honestly be relieved with social media’s downfall.

But What Do I Know: The “Importance” of Sleep
Article by Phoenix writer Michelle Paszek ’24: Photo by Bruce Mars on Unsplash Sleep – the one thing that everyone agrees they can never get enough of. Recently, all I’ve been hearing about is sleep. With the last trimester of the school year coming to a close and final exams creeping just around the corner, the one recurring topic of conversation that I hear is how nobody is getting enough sleep to be considered healthy. Science always tells us teenagers that we need 7-9 hours of interrupted sleep a night, with some studies going even further to suggest that this number isn’t enough. Anything less than the recommended amount is said to lead to definitive negative side effects, which can include difficulty concentrating on everyday events, reduced academic performance, and trouble remembering things. And yet, I, a sixteen year old teenager, feel fine with a very much less-than-recommended average of

But What Do I Know: An Animal Sanctuary Made Me A Vegetarian
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Garcia ’23: Plant-based. It’s the new popular phrase in the media utilized to avoid a negative connotation of the V-word. Yes, I mean vegetarian or vegan. The two words are not synonymous and have important differences; however, both involve moral, religious, or health reasons. A vegetarian is a person who does not consume meat. In contrast, a vegan is an individual who does not eat any food derived from animals and does not purchase nor utilize products made from animals, like leather. For my eighteenth birthday this past February, I chose to celebrate my birthday at a 360-acre animal sanctuary located immediately outside of New York called Tamerlaine Farm. Tamerlaine is owned by close family friends Peter and Gabrielle. They were motivated to become vegan as they became educated about the horrors of the food industry, such as veal crates, forced molting, and debeaking. These

But What Do I Know: The Case for Senioritis
Article by Phoenix writer Isabel Connolly ’23: As the first snow falls, so do seniors’ test scores. It’s inevitable. As we drudge our way through the late winter slump, high school seniors lose interest. It is a phenomenon colloquially termed ‘senioritis.’ The word is the bogeyman, waiting in the shadows of a senior’s first semester, ready to antagonize teacher and student alike. Senioritis is an all too real reality for myself and my classmates. There comes a moment where every senior has the epiphany that what they are doing now is simply a prelude to their future. It shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out why we seniors become disengaged. Especially for the class of 2023, high school has been turbulent. We have had to deal with the mundane in never-before-seen circumstances. We worked through it all with an end goal in mind, which, for my peers and myself, was
Academics News

Academic Achievement Recognized At Annual Awards Assembly
Article by Phoenix writer Keira Quigley ’26: On Tuesday, October 24th, sophomores, juniors, and seniors with outstanding academic achievements were honored at the annual Academic Awards Assembly. This assembly included students receiving pins for being on the Honor Roll, badges for having perfect attendance, and inducting new students into the

Students Shine In Advanced Labs Program
Article by Phoenix writer Michelle Paszek ’24: The Advanced Labs Program is an after-school STEM group at Kellenberg where any high schooler in grades 9-12 can join in on college level labs that prepare them for what they will experience in college. “It made me appreciate science and all that
Firebird Crosswords
The Renaissance
An important extra facet of the academic life at Kellenberg Memorial is the literary magazine, Renaissance. Published twice a year in Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer issues, it contains the creative writings and artistic talents of students from grades six through twelve.
The creative voice heard in the poems, short stories, essays, and art is often unheard in the day-to-day work within the classroom.

The Renaissance Challenge Winner: “Energy Doll” by Brandi Licato ’24
“Energy Doll” Illustration by Brandi Licato ’24
The Renaissance Challenge Winner: The Energy of The Mind by Veronica Belanger ’24
The Energy of The Mind By Veronica Belanger ’24 Today and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, tired I find myself running on the hamster
Poem “Distance” by Elena Brutus ’24
Distance By Elena Brutus ‘24 As I crossed the border I knew This was the last time I would see you She told
“Love’s No Streaming Service” by Katelin Lopez ’25
Love’s No Streaming Service Feeling blue lately without you but looking at this screen reminds me of you. It’s 3 A.M. The distance between
“Real Things” by Riley Fallon ’26
“Real Things” by Riley Fallon ’26 Real things take time Like the flower that grows From a seed In the ground It won’t sprout overnight

“Freshman in the Courtyard” by Lauren Reyes ’26
“Freshman in the Courtyard” by Lauren Reyes ’26