Poem by Aren Saraydarian ’26 O Ararat,Read
Latest News
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
Spotlight on Gregorian Consortium
Spotlight on Woodworking Club
Spotlight on Culinary Club
Athletics News
Boys’ JV Football Dominates at NYCHSFL Championship
January 14, 2026
On November 15 in a true show of skill and unwavering determination, the Boys’ JV Football Team fought hard against St. Joseph by the Sea and claimed the NYCHSFL AA Championship title.
Firebird Wrestling Team hosts 15th Annual Ed Solosky Memorial Tournament
January 8, 2026
Over the break, the Firebird Wrestling Team hosted their 15th Annual Ed Solosky Memorial Tournament, proving they are a force to be reckoned with.
Girl’s JV Basketball accomplishes Dual Victories
January 8, 2026
The Girls JV Basketball Team earned two league victories this week, continuing an immensely successful start to the season.
JV Wins Volleyball Championship
November 14, 2025
Article written by Phoenix writer Ryleigh O’Neill ’28 Inside a packed St. Dom’s gym, the Girls’ JV Volleyball team wrote a championship story worthy of the big screen, defeating Sacred Heart for their third league championship in a row. The Firebirds stepped onto the court to face league rival Sacred
Activities News
Eco-Friendly, Budget-Friendly: Entrepreneurship Club Invests in Hydroponic Tower
March 20, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26: For two months now, the Entrepreneurship Club has been in the process of growing its own garden right in room 203. Where did they place the plots with all the soil? They didn’t need any! The plants, which include basil, arugula, kale, rainbow
Honor Society Seniors Change Lives
March 20, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Keira Quigley ’26: This year, the National Honor Society seniors went through the Red Blanket Project, an organization that builds water tanks in Kenya, for their service mission. NHS set a goal to raise enough money to build 2 tanks and fill them with water. Thousands
Kellenberg SMART Program: “The Greatest of these is Love”
March 18, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Mary O’Brien ’27: It’s 2:52 PM, and the final bell has just rung, signifying the end of another school day. Students are at their lockers, putting their blazers and ties away, many of them getting ready to go home, go to practice, or another after school
Whodunit Hit Thrills Audience
March 12, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Margaret Nitkewicz ’26: This past weekend, Kellenberg’s very own Drama Club put on two outstanding performances of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder Is Announced.” After countless hours spent rehearsing in the Kellenberg Auditorium (and occasionally Room 240), the small but mighty cast finally got to share their
Apostolic News
ETV Produces Coverage on Pope Leo XIV
June 2, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Natalie Lezcano ’26: On May 8, Kellenberg Memorial High School students and faculty buzzed with excitement as the papal conclave announced the name of the new pope, Pope Leo XIV. In the hour leading up to the announcement, a few faculty members were granted the opportunity
Students Travel to Spain for Project Understanding
March 25, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: Kellenberg students traveled to Spain as a part of Project Understanding over February Break. Project Understanding is a Long Island based program that facilitates interfaith dialogue between Catholic and Jewish students on a shared pilgrimage. Students are nominated by their church or synagogue
Family XLT Serves As A Reminder of Hope
March 11, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: To begin the Lenten Season, Kellenberg’s ARK hosted Family XLT on Ash Wednesday, March 25. Unlike the other XLTs offered throughout the school year, the annual Family XLT (exalt, praise, and worship) gives students and their families a spiritual opportunity that transcends the
St. Joseph’s Mission Inspires A Spirit of Service
March 11, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Olivia Iorio ’25: During the week of February break, fourteen Kellenberg students demonstrated their Marianist commitment to service when they helped improve the Stella Maris retreat house and the motherhouse of the Sisters of Life in Montebello, New York. St. Joseph’s Mission has been going strong
Last Week at Mass
LAST WEEK AT MASS: “Ja te volim.”
November 30, 2023
Article by Phoenix writer Paulina Barnjak ’24: “Ja te volim.” With those three words, I am assured that I am loved, in this world and the next. I think it’s universal that society does not know how to handle the loss of a loved one. Even as Catholics, as we
Last Week at Mass: With Eucharist in Hand, I Knew God’s Plan
November 1, 2023
Article by Phoenix writer Caitlin Hanratty ’25: While many of my peers struggle to know what they are meant to do with their lives, my problem was that I naively assumed I had it all figured out. That was until my junior year of high school. In the past few
Last Week at Mass: My Name, My Calling, My Purpose From God
October 17, 2023
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
January 18, 2023
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
How Will They Know Us
How Will They Know Us
How Will They Know Us: My Trip to Israel, My Prayers for Peace
Article by Phoenix Writer Mary O’Brien ’27 Less than a week after I had flown home from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, missiles were being fired by the United States, Israel and Iran across the Middle East. Over the Winter Break, I journeyed to Israel with five other Catholic students from Kellenberg and four Jewish students, with the intention of gaining a deeper knowledge and understanding of my own faith and that of others. A sacred place rich in both Christian and Jewish traditions, we spent 10 days in the Holy Land together, four of which were in Jerusalem, which is divided into the Jewish quarter, the Christian quarter, the Muslim quarter, and the Armenian quarter. Unlike the news and media might make us believe, this city does not live in constant conflict. Instead, these people’s daily lives are spent in community with one another through peace and acceptance. While
April 16, 2026
Catholicism
How Will They Know Us: Love is Punk
The two groups seem so different when viewed only at the surface level, but once the words “love” and “punk” are stripped down to their core principles, the similarities are overwhelming. Catholicism is super punk.
November 19, 2025
How Will They Know Us
PhoenixOnline Initiates New Lifestyle Section
Article by Phoenix writer Mary O’Brien ’27: On October 1st, 2025, the Editorial Staff of PhoenixOnline made a groundbreaking decision. After much thinking and debating, PhoenixOnline has chosen to discontinue our opinion-based articles, “But What do I Know?” In our ever divided world, it is difficult to share opinions without offense. Unfortunately, it is challenging for us young journalists to write opinions that interest people without contributing to that divide. The truth is that we as the school newspaper for a Catholic high school really only have one perspective. Even though we are all different as people, we are united under one central identity: Catholicism. In John 13:35, Jesus tells us, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.” In this passage Jesus’ disciples are wondering how they will be recognized as Christians. He explains to them that Love is what distinguishes us.
October 2, 2025
Academics News
Students Send Shivers Down Your Spine at Fright Club
October 22, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: On October 22, Bro. Peter Sennett, S.M., held a meeting for the creative writing contest Fright Club in room 122. Middle and high school students alike joined to share their ideas for horror short stories and get assistance from Bro. Peter to make
Kellenberg Seniors Attend Molloy Common Read
October 15, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Mika Accardi ’25: On Wednesday, October 9, ten Kellenberg seniors had the opportunity to visit Molloy University for Molloy’s annual freshman Common Read. Each year, Molloy assigns a book to their incoming freshmen class, after which the author of that book is invited to give a
Students Dominate the Courtroom at Yale Invitational
September 25, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Sophia Kelly ’26: On September 13, the Kellenberg Mock Trial team set out on their first invitational of the year, the Yale Bulldog Invitational. The team skillfully delivered examinations of the witnesses, presented their case, and introduced evidence in their greatest attempt to prevail in the
Sophomores Attend Yearly Trip to Holocaust Museum
April 29, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Sophia Kelly ’26: On April 19, many of our sophomores attended the Holocaust Museum in Glen Cove to learn about the history, experience, and persecution of Jewish people during World War II. The students got a tour of the museum and heard the story of Arnie
Firebird Crosswords
Firebird Crossword #7: All Saints!
November 18, 2025
PhoenixOnline’s FirebirdCrossword is a monthly puzzle produced by PhoenixOnline Editorial Staff. The FirebirdCrossword is designed for puzzle-lovers of all ages. Feel free to share the link or print the puzzle and do it the good-old-fashioned way!
Firebird Crossword #6: Movie Night
October 23, 2025
PhoenixOnline’s FirebirdCrossword is a monthly puzzle produced by PhoenixOnline Editorial Staff. The FirebirdCrossword is designed for puzzle-lovers of all ages. Feel free to share the link or print the puzzle and do it the good-old-fashioned way!
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.
Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge Co-Winner: Ararat
Poem by Aren Saraydarian ’26 O Ararat, thy pure and snow capped peak Shines brighter than the sun that beams above, Where Noah sent the
April 17, 2026
Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge Co-Winner: The Fallen Angel
Poem by Danielle Kercy ’26 Look at yourself: Your fiery hair, heated with passion, matted from your fight, one-graceful, dancing curls now- interlocked threads of
April 17, 2026
In a Friendship
Poem by Elizabeth Califano ’28 in a friendship there are days where alone grows colder and darker throughout the day my mind gets busier like
March 13, 2026
“Hollow Tears”
by Anthony Custodio-Pena ’26 One drop, one single torrent of water that lasts for a second, That’s all it takes, so simple, so small, yet
January 16, 2026
“Munchkins”
by Danielle Kercy ’26 “Bring back sprinkle munchkins!” I say to anyone who will listen. Dunkin’ Donuts used to sell plain munchkins covered in rainbow
January 9, 2026