Article by Phoenix writer Ryleigh O’Neill ’28:

Latest News
Article by Phoenix writer Caitlin Hanratty ’25:
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25,
Article by Phoenix writer Grace Andino ’25:
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

Boy’s Winter Track Dominates St. Anthony’s Tracks
Article by Phoenix writer Caitlin Hanratty ’25: Over the Christmas break, the boys track and field team tore up the Armory and St. Anthony’s tracks with amazing performances. At the Christmas Classic, Daniel Carsey and Kevin O’Keefe took home gold and bronze medals respectively in the 55 meter hurdles. Evans

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
Activities News

Famous Meteorologist Visits KMHS
Article by Phoenix writer Ryleigh O’Neill ’28: Bill Korbel, a weatherman from News 12 Long Island, spoke to the Aviation Club at Kellenberg. There was a turnout of very dedicated future possible meteorologists. Bill Korbel had many inspiring topics to speak on, such as meteorology, predicting weather, and the importance

Culinary Club Visits CFN
Article by Phoenix writer Kylie Mummendey ’25: On March 20th, juniors in the Culinary Club had an amazing opportunity to visit the Catholic Faith Network for a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio and a personal cooking demo from Monsignor Jim Vlaun, CEO of The Catholic Faith Network and host of

Business, Finance, and History Clubs Visit Financial District
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: Kellenberg students visited Manhattan’s famous financial district on March 13. This trip included members of the History, Business, and Finance Clubs to learn more about their fields. The day began with a tour of Trinity Church located opposite Wall Street. The church is

Celebrando Lingua Semaine!
Article by Phoenix writer Kailyn Kelly ’26: During the week of March 2, Kellenberg Memorial celebrated Language Week, a worldwide initiative recognizing and promoting the importance of languages and cultural diversity. Language week consists of parades, cultural performances, and international potlucks held across the globe. Kellenberg celebrates language week by
Apostolic News

Kellenberg Students Put Faith First
Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25: The 11:18 bell rings, signaling the end of fourth period. Students shove materials in their bags to hurry to their next class. My friends and I rush to our lockers that are conveniently located next to the Maria Regina Chapel downstairs, where most

Freshman F.A.I.T.H. Day Encourages Students to Ascend Socially and Spiritually
Article by Phoenix writer Eva McLaughlin ’26: On Wednesday, October 23rd, the freshman class participated in Kellenberg’s annual Freshman F.A.I.T.H. Day. The freshman F.A.I.T.H. Day is an opportunity for students to get to know the people in their homeroom on a social and spiritual level. The acronym “F.A.I.T.H.” stands for

Lourdes Pilgrimage: The Power of Peace
Article by Jenna McQuaid ’25: This past summer, I went on a ten-day mission trip to Lourdes, France, a small southwestern town that attracts approximately 5,000 people daily. Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, the Virgin Mary appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 and asked her to return

Kellenberg’s LIFE Team Travels to Catholic Underground
Article by Phoenix writer Sophia Kelly ’26: On Thursday October 3rd, 2024, Kellenberg and Chaminade’s Marianist LIFE teams journeyed into New York City where they experienced Catholic Underground. Hosted by the Franciscan Friars, Catholic Underground is held in response to Pope John Paul II’s call for youth evangelization. The LIFE
Last Week at Mass

Last Week At Mass: A Therapeutic Lord
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
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

Last Week at Mass: A Mass and a Meet for Season’s End
Article by Phoenix writer Amir Jeudy ’22: At 9am in the middle of Sunken Meadow Park, hundreds of runners, middle school and high school alike, come together with their parents and coaches to pray before the races. The Mass, celebrated by Kellenberg’s Fr. Albert Bertoni, S.M., might be an odd

Last Week At Mass: Birthday Sunday
Article by Phoenix writer Isabel Connolly ’23: It was a 73º sunny day, perfect weather for a birthday. The sixteenth birthday has been heralded as some important stepping stone in an adolescent’s life. It’s this wonderful year where everything is supposed to happen. With it comes the idea of sweet
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

Students Dominate the Courtroom at Yale Invitational
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
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

Poetry Week Celebration Lifts Up Student Body
Article by Phoenix writer Michelle Paszek ’24: Kellenberg celebrated Poetry Week from April 15-19 as part of National Poetry Month. As the halls bustled, students scribbled lines from their favorite poems and penciled in finishing touches to their original pieces. The English department hosted an Open Mic on Thursday, April

Students Offered Construction and Project Management Course
Article by Phoenix writer Cassandra Odudukudu ’24: From the construction of the Firebird Center of the Arts & Athletics, an innovative idea emerged: the Construction and Project Management Course. This course, run by Mr. Kenneth Conrade, is a fairly new elective at Kellenberg that started last summer with the beginning
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, Poetry: “Lilies” by Aren Saraydarian ’26
Lilies by Aren Saraydarian ’26 I see the sun arising high, A cloud not known in all the sky. Awaiting me a journey lies, A
The Renaissance, Poetry: “Death isn’t Soft, Oscar” by Erin O’Connor ‘25
I’ve heard that Death is soft so that when we hold it, it does not callous our hands. But when I play the guitar you

The Renaissance, Photography: “Soft Glowing Lamp” by Sophia Sontag ’27
“Soft Glowing Lamp” by Sophia Sontag ’27

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
Good sir! When I behold thee proud and tall, Full of thyself, commanding, seeking praise, Withholding all advance, all kindly phrase, Thy sullen mouth

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