Article by Phoenix writer Sophia Kelly ’26:
Latest News
Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26:
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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
Kellenberg’s Varsity Hockey Team Celebrates Ambitious Win Against Xaverian
January 11, 2024
Article by Phoenix writers Caitlin Hanratty ’25 & Paulina Barnjak ’24: Kellenberg Varsity Hockey won against Xaverian by a score of 6-4 on Monday, December 4th. The boys went down early in the first period, giving up 3 goals. However, the second period was dominated by the Firebirds, coming back
Coach Conrade Inducted into the Coaching HOF
January 10, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: Kellenberg Memorials’ very own Mr. Kenneth Conrade has been inducted into the CHSAA Coaching Hall of Fame. Mr. Conrade has been coaching the Girls Varsity Softball team for 32 years, and has been head coach for 30. He has since then brought the
Macie’s Mission Raises Awareness For Rare Disease At Kellenberg
January 8, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: Cameras, Computers and Lights. For Mr. Jeff Harris ’03, Director of Photography and Video, these technologies are very familiar to him, aiding his role in the behind-the-scenes element at Kellenberg. It wasn’t until his daughter, Macie Harris, was diagnosed with a rare disease
Varsity and JV Wrestling Opens Season Strong
December 7, 2023
Article by Phoenix writer Michelle Paszek ’24: On Saturday, December 2nd, the Varsity Wrestling Team competed in the Battle at the Beach tournament at Long Beach High School, which is one of the toughest tournaments in New York State. The 19 Firebirds faced off against wrestlers from All Hallows High
Activities News
Alum Guides Health Science in Suture Workshop
February 27, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Kevin Kelly ’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
Fashion Club Learns About Clothing in Different Cultures
February 13, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Ryleigh O’Neill ’28: On Monday, February 3, the Fashion club got together in the millennium room for a meeting with guest speaker Isy Odiaka. Isy Odiaka is a Kellenberg graduate from the class of 2019 who has an extensive knowledge of Nigerian culture, which was the
Student Musicians Commemorated at Recognition Breakfast
February 4, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: On January 27, students who have excelled musically at Kellenberg were recognized for their commitment and accolades at the Music Awards Recognition Breakfast. New York is nationally known as one of the best places for an aspiring musician to thrive. Nassau Country, in
Kellenberg by Land, Sea, and Air
January 29, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26: Our planet is one big, complex, and interconnected system made up of myriad elements and environments. However, it seems that the most fundamental wonders and beauties of Earth can be placed into three iconic categories: land, air, and sea. Kellenberg provides its students
Apostolic News
Students Gather in Prayer for Rosary Prayer Service
October 8, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Brianna Duroseau ’26: In honor of the Virgin Mary, Kellenberg held its annual Rosary Prayer Service on Friday, October 4. October is designated as a month to pay tribute to Our Lady of the Rosary. Kellenberg embraced this tradition as students and faculty united in prayer.
Kellenberg Celebrates Mrs. Dougherty’s Centennial
September 26, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Caitlin Hanratty ’25: Kellenberg celebrated a very special 100th birthday earlier this month on September 11th. Mrs. Dougherty, a long time friend of Kellenberg, turned 100 this past September 11th. To celebrate, Bro. Kenneth Hoagland, S.M., planned a special birthday event for her. Early that morning,
Kellenberg Missionaries Serve Overseas
September 25, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26: This past summer, two groups of missionaries were chosen to go to Lourdes, France to help the pilgrims who traveled there in hopes of not only physical but spiritual miracles. The trips left on June 26 and July 10, and for two weeks
Students Celebrate Salvation with the Triumph of the Cross
September 19, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26: Singing the entrance hymn, the Gregorian Consortium opened this year’s Triumph of the Cross prayer service. Members of the student body joined in prayer and exaltation as they watched the service from their classrooms. The familiar and beautiful song “At the Cross” initiated
Last Week at Mass
Last Week at Mass: A Russian Orthodox Girl at Liturgy
March 12, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages!” With these words the lights came on, the choir sang a majestic “Amen,” and the Orthodox Divine Liturgy began. March
Last Week At Mass: Faith from a Child’s Eyes – St. Patrick’s Glen Cove
March 6, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: On the first Sunday of March, I found myself everywhere but with God. I was organizing arrangements for the Senior Trip, stressing over college admission decisions I hadn’t even received yet, and any other thing that was on my mind. I piled clothes
LWAM: The Opportunity of a Lifetime
January 9, 2025
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25: “Are you interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister?” The bolded letters on the front of St. Thomas the Apostle’s Church bulletin made my heart jump. Though an 8-year-old me who received her Sacraments of Initiation and altar served for St. Thomas would have
LWAM: Trusting What I Can’t Change
December 3, 2024
Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26: On Sunday, November 17, I decided to end my weekend with my home parish’s evening mass. This is the first mass I’ve attended fully in a while. As the priest started talking, it seemed like a normal mass, but as he continued it
But What Do I Know?
But What Do I Know
But What Do I Know: The Musings of a Margin Scribbler
Article by Phoenix writer Paulina Barnjak ’24: Many students dread summer reading, especially when they have to annotate and highlight in the books. But let me tell you a secret – I LOVE writing in the margins of books. Some people may view this as a destruction of property or a waste of time. If they see an annotated book on the shelf or a hand me down book from a relative, they might choose a neater, nicer book to read. The annotations might get in the way of your perception of the book. But in my eyes, that’s good – a new perspective is great, sometimes even life changing. Billy Collins writes about these annotations in his poem, “Marginalia.” I can picture myself as the people within the lines of this poem, especially in the following excerpt: “One scrawls ‘Metaphor’ next to a stanza of Eliot’s. Another notes the
December 7, 2023
But What Do I Know
But What Do I Know: Vinyl is Final
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: Photo by Ryan Arnst on Unsplash Listening to music has always been a favorite pastime of mine where I can express myself. Many people share this hobby with me. In recent years, cultivating playlists or mixtapes has become very popular. Personally, my Spotify account has close to one hundred playlists with songs spanning countless genres and time periods. As much as I love being able to access my favorite songs at the click of a button, something about listening to an album on a vinyl record cannot be topped by digital listening. One reason I prefer records over a playlist is the storytelling aspect of an album. While this may not be true for all albums, some of them, such as David Bowie’s “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,” are meant to be listened to as a
November 2, 2023
But What Do I Know
But What Do I Know: CheatGPT Is Cheating Humanity
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: In our rapidly changing world, technology often outpaces our ability to adapt or even transform. This is profoundly evident in the case of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that has recently taken over the world of writing. It enables people to cheat the system and create new works of writing with minimal input. The dangers of this are great, and yet we continue to misuse it. ChatGPT presents a plethora of issues for writers, foremost is the question of authenticity. Writers of all walks of life from academics to employees can use the software of ChatGPT to formulate reports and essays easier than ever. They simply tell ChatGPT what they want to accomplish and it executes it in minutes. When utilizing ChatGPT, the user is tapping into a database teeming with information that the user has never known. If the use of ChatGPT becomes
September 28, 2023
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.
June 6, 2023
Academics News
Academic Achievement Recognized At Annual Awards Assembly
November 2, 2023
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
September 22, 2021
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, Art: “Memory of a Boat Trip” by Lauren Reyes ’26
“Memory of a Boat Trip” by Lauren Reyes, ’26
March 14, 2025
The Renaissance (Poem) “In response to ‘Woman! when I behold thee flippant, vain'” by Victoria Vakser ’26
In response to “Woman! when I behold thee flippant, vain” by Victoria Vakser ’26 Good sir! When I behold thee proud and tall, Full of
March 14, 2025
The Renaissance: Artwork: “Overgrown” by Rosann Passalacqua
“Overgrown” by Rosann Passalacqua An impressionist painting of the memory of my grandparents’ backyard garden.
March 10, 2025
The Renaissance: Poetry: “A Glimpse of 2013” by Danielle Kercy
“A Glimpse of 2013” by Danielle Kercy Winner of The Renaissance Challenge: “Memory” The specific scent of sanitizer stings my nose, and I am only
March 10, 2025
Prose: “Childhood Christmas” by Ciara Bice ’25
“Childhood Christmas” by Ciara Bice ’25 Waking up on December 1 to find the Elf on the Shelf and open the Advent Calendar there is
January 20, 2025
Renaissance Views Powerful Documentary
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25: Photo credit: Mary O’Brien The Renaissance gathered together to view the 2015 documentary “I Come From,” a film
January 9, 2025