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Latest News
Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26:
Article by Phoenix writer Griffin Strauss ’25:
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
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
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
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
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

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 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
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
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
Apostolic News

May Crowning Ceremony Honors the Blessed Mother
Article by Phoenix writer Caitlin Hanratty ’25: Students and faculty gathered outside to celebrate Kellenberg’s annual May Crowning on May 23. Every year, the statue of Mary outside the main entrance is adorned with flowers by a selected member of the Kellenberg staff. This year, Mrs. Neeson did the honors

May XLT Closes Off School Year
Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26: The last XLT of the school year was held on Wednesday, May 22. Each XLT welcomes students to come together, have fun, and celebrate in the Adoration of Christ. After a dinner in the school cafeteria, students and faculty moved into the auditorium

Queen of Peace Drive Provides Elderly with Year’s Worth of Supplies
Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26: This month Kellenberg hosted their annual Little Sisters of the Poor Drive and Rockathon which commenced on May 3 and continued collecting donations until May 10 for the elderly at Queen of Peace Residence in Queens Village. For over 30 years Kellenberg has

Kellenberg Celebrates Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Article by Phoenix writer Delaney Clark ’25: Kellenberg held a schoolwide Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, May 9. Fr. James Donovan of St. Anthony’s Church in Oceanside and Fr. Matt Browne of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre made the trip to
Last Week at Mass

Last Week at Mass: A Russian Orthodox Girl at Liturgy
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
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
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
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: 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, Art: “Memory of a Boat Trip” by Lauren Reyes ’26
“Memory of a Boat Trip” by Lauren Reyes, ’26
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

The Renaissance: Artwork: “Overgrown” by Rosann Passalacqua
“Overgrown” by Rosann Passalacqua An impressionist painting of the memory of my grandparents’ backyard garden.
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
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

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