By Nick Cortese ’23:
A new beginning is about to commence for the Kellenberg class of 2023. Every day for the past four to seven years, 485 students have gathered in the same building with the same goals: to grow spiritually, academically and familially. PhoenixOnline asked the Class of ‘23 what they will remember most.
The place that best captivated the Class of 2023 was the ARK. The ARK is home to the religion department and the spiritual life at KMHS. And members of the graduating class decided to make it their home too. Take a stroll through the ARK and you will be greeted with smiles and welcomed with open arms.
“The ARK is located at the center of our school, which is a beautiful representation of the community the Marianist Brothers have created,” says graduating senior, Angela Paxos. “The ARK is one of my favorite places in the building because my friends and I often spent time around the table talking, laughing and playing ping pong, which helped forge the love that made us a lifelong family.”
ARK is short for Apostolic Response at Kellenberg, which portrays our calling as Firebirds. Kellenberg calls us to walk in the shadow of Jesus and His apostles, and we do so by uniting with our peers in the spirit of God.
The Firebird effect is so powerful that it spreads past the main campus. Many students have grown together at the retreat houses, Stella Maris and Founders Hollow. Located in Islip and Accord, NY, respectively, attendees quickly realize they are not as far from home as a map would claim. The unity seen on apostolic retreats creates a ‘home away from home’ type bond between students. Countless memories are formed at retreat houses, one of which comes from Mary Moore.
“Adoration in the chapel at Founders on the senior Latin retreat was unforgettable,” she says. “All of us were trying to enjoy the calm moment together, knowing that the year was almost over and we would all be moving on soon.”
(Sophomore Cohorts on Retreat at Stella Maris)
Graduates are often able to recall moments from their favorite classes as if they were living in the moment. The class of 2023 will certainly continue this trend, as over the last four years, students demonstrated great enthusiasm towards the religious curriculum. Both the Christian Existence and Morality courses were viewed as the class’ favorites. The lectures for both courses covered how to apply the Christian teachings to our goals and lifestyles. Thought-provoking stories like “A Man’s Search for Meaning” and “Because God is Real” granted students new religious perspectives that will stick with them forever.
“Brother Michael’s unique teaching style in my junior year Morality class stands out from any I have ever seen in my academic career,” reflects Brian Kennedy. “He was able to instill vocabulary terms in my mind, and therefore providing information that has given me a new form of review that I can use in college.”
The other courses that fascinated the senior class were those of the history program. Composed of European, World, and United States history, the courses provided a timeline of major events occurring from Ancient Mesopotamia to the Civil Rights period in the United States. The knowledge was implemented into many facets in the graduating students’ lives. Graduate Sarah Rao, for example, used what she learned in Model UN. “Members of the history department not only taught me the rules of debate and legislation, but they taught me to gain a greater appreciation for cultures around the world, and how we can analyze history to solve the problems we face today.”
(Model UN Participants Shine at University of Connecticut Conference )
When the clock strikes 3:00 PM, most schools conclude for the day. Kellenberg, however, is the school that never sleeps. Crowds of people pack the halls with the anticipation of their extracurricular activities. The dominant clubs were ones of religious and service intents. The class of 2023 was the one that made St. Thomas Aquinas League one of the most attended after school activities.
Aquinas League President, Colin Reese shares that “Aquinas League was one of my favorite clubs in my Kellenberg experience. Spending time every week having philosophical discussions with Mr. Ruhl, Mr. Barbier and the other Aquinas league members surely played a huge role in shaping who I am today.”
When discussing the club, Colin reflects, “In Aquinas League we talked about everything from the existence of a God and heaven to the existence of aliens and conspiracy theories. Most days we would leave with more questions than we came in with. It felt like every meeting we were learning some deep truth about the nature of the world around us.”
Likewise, the most popular service club was S.A.L.T., which stands for service, allegiance, leadership, and teamwork. Member Megan Furlong stated in regards to what the club means to her, “Not only has S.A.L.T. taught me little things like how to set a table properly, but the program also taught me to have the confidence to be a leader for the younger students.”
( Juniors celebrated at Ring Banquet and Recognition Ceremony )
In addition to the multitude of clubs Kellenberg offers, many students found themselves participating in sports. The overwhelming favorite among the graduating class was Blue and Gold, where girls spend 3 months toiling towards team victory in their annual dance showcase. Many Lady Firebirds took on senior leadership roles, collaborating on choreography, music and costumes for their team. One officer for the gold team was Erica Boehrer. Following the third straight GTV in this year’s event, Erica noted “I know that all the hard work and dedication is worth it. I realized that the best part of blue and gold is the journey that you and your team go through to get to the day of the show.”
Athletic participation was so prevalent among the class of 2023 that a large group of students will continue their respective careers for the foreseeable future. Students every year divide throughout the map, but it is rare to see athletes travel far overseas to continue playing a sport. This year, Sebastian Jean-Paul is doing just that, as he committed to the University of Chester in England for soccer.
“I chose Chester because soccer is a game that means a lot to me,” he said. “While at Kellenberg I’ve learned different things regarding the beauty of the game and became closer to God as I came closer with my team.”
Sebastian is one of the nearly 500 students who will be creating a unique story in their upcoming life chapters. Another compelling decision that stood out among the graduating class was that of Chris Moore. Like Sebastian, Chris will continue to pursue an athletic career. But, on top of the decision to play lacrosse in college, Chris will be serving in the military.
“The United States Merchant Marine Academy offers me the opportunity to get a next level education, play collegiate lacrosse at a very competitive level, and serve the greatest country in the world.”
( 2022 Varsity Fall Athletic Awards )
As the class of 2023 prepares to disperse, it is important for them to hold onto their greatest memories from their time at Kellenberg. While the closing moments of the careers are often the most bittersweet moments, the last month of the students’ time at Kellenberg held two of the most heartwarming events the school had to offer. The first was Senior Sendoff, which is the graduating classes’ annual boat ride around New York City. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed their experience sailing on the Hudson River. Miles Francisque recounted, “I not only made some new memories at Senior Sendoff, but I also remembered all the past ones that helped me grow as a person.”
The final Kellenberg memory that each senior can look back and smile at was graduation. Students gathered at Hofstra to share their final moment as high school seniors together. While it signaled the end of a beautiful four-year tenure, it meant new beginnings that are worth celebrating. Samantha Vitale commemorated both her accomplishments and those of her fellow graduates, stating, “Being fortunate enough to graduate from Kellenberg means that I am fully prepared for whatever life throws at me.”
Just because high school is over does not mean it is over in our hearts. Each and every graduate was, is, and forever will be a member of Kellenberg. The memories will last a lifetime, and they will continue to be key factors in forming the character’s of the students. As the class of 2023 advances into the next part of their life, they will surely maintain the ideology, “once a Firebird, always a Firebird.”