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
Varsity Wrestlers Make History
March 20, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: The Kellenberg Wrestling team made Firebird history from February 28 to March 1, having two wrestlers place top six in the New York State Federation Championship for the first time in program history. Seniors “Juggernaut” Jonathan Hoffman and Elijah “Conquering” Carrington traveled to
Dancers Finish Winter Strong at Nationals
March 20, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: Over the February Break, Kellenberg’s Varsity Dance Team traveled down to Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, February 12 to compete in the NDA (National Dance Alliance) High School National Competition from February 13 to February 17. The team made it to finals in all
Von Receives Coach of the Year Honor
March 13, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Sophia Kelly ’26: This winter, our very own Mrs. Catherine vonSchoenermarck was named Coach of the Year for Region 1 by the AVCA. The American Volleyball Coaches Association awards the top High School Girls Volleyball Coaches for their unwavering commitment to their respective teams. This award
Bowling Team Dominates State Tournament
March 12, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: In a string of athletic victories, three Firebird bowlers travelled up to Buffalo for the state tournament. Outstanding athletes Juniors Chloe Horstmann and Kerri Callahan and Senior Emma Dolan all qualified for the tournament based on their regular season average. The girls not
Activities News
Array of Hope Rocks
April 15, 2026
Article by PhoenixOnline writer Mallory Renz ’29 Kellenberg welcomed back a Christian worship group, Array of Hope, to inspire students with the spirit of the Lenten season on Thursday, March 5. Merriment and joy enveloped the Kellenberg community as news about the mystery guest spread. Curiosity wandered the halls as
Aviation Club Hosts Women in Aviation Events
February 26, 2026
Article by PhoenixOnline writer Mallory Renz ’29 Kellenberg Aviation Club featured two events for students interested in aviation careers: each hosted by a woman aviator! On November 20, Captain Paige Reiger, Firebird Class of 2017, hosted a discussion of “Women in Aviation” at the FCAA where she addressed the unique
Haitian Independence Celebrated by Cultures Club
February 25, 2026
Article by PhoenixOnline writer Zoe Argenziano ’27
Laissez les bons temps rouler! The One Heart, One Mind Many Cultures Club surely let the good times roll at the Haitian Independence Day celebration on January 13, 2026.
Core Robotic Arms Coming to Campus
February 12, 2026
Article by PhoenixOnline Writer Kailyn Kelly ’26 Two Core robotic arms will be on site at Kellenberg Memorial beginning on March 30. Developed by Standard Bots, Core, a six-axis robot equipped with 3D vision, is engineered to handle tasks with ease and precision. Core can locate and pick objects from
Apostolic News
Students Renew Faith at XLT
December 10, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Kailyn Kelly ’26: On December 4, 2024, Kellenberg celebrated XLT and had the pleasure of hearing Mrs. Robinson speak. XLT is held once a month on Wednesdays to spend time with God in adoration among the Kellenberg family. It is a wonderful opportunity to surrender to
GIC Teaches Students the Joy of Giving
December 10, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26: For high school students across the country, the “season of giving” was taken to a new level. This year, twenty-four Catholic high schools participated in the annual Great Ignatian Challenge, including our very own Kellenberg Memorial. For eight years, Great Ignatian Challenge (GIC)
Junior/Senior Evening of Recollection Renewed for 2024-25 School Year
November 26, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Margaret Nitkewitcz ’26: Numerous upperclassmen gathered together in faith for the Junior/Senior Evening of Recollection on Friday, November 15. Kicking off the night, the students in attendance were served dinner, after saying grace. “I chose to come to this event to spend time with my Kellenberg
Latin School Students Participate in Annual Witness Day
November 14, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Molly Driscoll ’26: The Latin School’s annual Witness Day took place on All Saints Day, November 1st. This event was an excellent way for students to bond with their peers through engaging activities centered around faith, food, and fun. Each grade received different colored shirts that
Last Week at Mass
Last Week at Mass: Feeling Alone, I Went to Mass
October 26, 2022
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
April 1, 2022
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,
Last Week At Mass: A Therapeutic Lord
February 9, 2022
Article by Phoenix writer Nick Cortese ’23: As of late, I have been reflecting on myself quite a bit. People tend to downplay the idea of junior year being stressful until they get to junior year. Now, I’ve been having bad days here and there, one of such being this
Last Week At Mass: It’s Been A While
January 12, 2022
Article by Phoenix writer Angelo Tsassis ’22: Honestly, I was a bit nervous to come back after such a long time. Each Sunday, I thought to myself, I should really get back to Church this week. But no, there was always some obligation I had that was more important at
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
Quizlet Plus Subscription Made Available to Students
November 21, 2025
The best part about this program is that it’s completely free for 2,000+ students.
Poetry Is Alive and Well at Kellenberg
June 4, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Keira Quigley ’26: Poetry Week, an annual week-long event sponsored by the English department, was held from April 28 to May 2 this year. During Poetry Week multiple events were hosted by various English Department teachers after school. Mrs. Tochelli hosted an event called Rhyming Rendezvous,
Senior Writers Focus on Journaling
February 27, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Michaela Dennean ’25: “Staring at the blank page before you…” Above is easily one of the most instantly recognizable lyrics of the 2000s. “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield acted as a powerful ballad for young and old, and it continues to be a hit today, over twenty
Junior History Trip Sparks Appreciation for the U.S.
October 30, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Mary O’Brien ’27: From Washington’s Headquarters to West Point Academy: On October 18th, the class of 2026 made their own trip down the Hudson on an academic journey to broaden their knowledge of American History. Leaving Kellenberg at 6:15, the 42 sleepy juniors made their first
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