How long have you been teaching at Rosarian? What do you currently teach?  

Mr. C: I am completing my tenth year at Rosarian. I've been teaching 7th and 8th grade English for the past five years. Prior to that, I taught English and 6th grade Literature.

Mrs. C: This is my seventh year teaching first grade at Rosarian. 

Why did you decide to become a teacher?  

Mr. C: Between 1968 and 1999, I worked predominantly in advertising, sales promotion, and public relations for corporations in and around New York City, but I had always thought that I would love to teach English. In 1999, I was an Associate Professor at FAU in Jupiter teaching Business Writing at night. Patti and I were hired as full-time teachers as St. Joseph's Catholic School in Stuart in 2000. I came to Rosarian in 2003.

Mrs. C: Growing up in Miami where my dad taught American History, I knew from an early age I wanted to teach. With an elementary education degree from UF-Go Gators!-I taught for five years. For the next quarter century, I pursued additional career paths including real estate, writing, and developing gift industry and travel writing workshops/seminars as a public speaker throughout the country, but I will always be a teacher at heart.

Pete and I left our business careers to become teachers 13 years ago. I've taught Kindergarten, 4th, and 5th grades in my 18 years of teaching.

What is your fondest memory of the school?

Mr. C: Not one, really, but rather every day when I would close the door of room #304 and teach. 

Teaching kids to write with clarity, unity, and coherence

Mrs. C: I treasure the WONDER-full Rosarian students and their families whom I've come to know over these past years...you'll always be in my heart. An annual class highlight has been our Walking Field Trip to the Palm Beach County History Museum where we literally go back in time...much to the amazement of our delighted first graders. The docents annually exclaim what incredible questions the children ask, and they have a hard time believing they're only in first grade!

What will you miss most about Rosarian?

Mr. C: Hot dogs on Tuesday! Naturally, it will always come down to the kids. I care more for them than they might ever believe, especially when they see me growling at some dress code violator in the hallway or when they first have me in class. But with time, most have come to know that their intellectual and ethical growth truly matter to me, and that I care for them as individuals.

Mrs. C: I'll miss greeting my first graders at our classroom door every school day morning, just as my first grade teacher did, and praying with them every day. I love inspiring students to fall in love with reading, knowing that their steps now will take them along the joyous journey of becoming lifetime 

learners. My aim is to encourage curiosity, believe in yourself and all you can do...practice might not make us perfect, but it always makes us better! I guide on the Golden Rule, and believe, "Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, your better's best!" Every year, the children and I experienced the amazing process of metamorphosis in our classroom as caterpillars created their chrysalises and with time emerged as butterflies.

What do you plan to do in your retirement?

Mr. C: The prevailing response to that question is to spend time with my best friend, my bride of over 30 years. Within that context, I expect to travel some, write some, play guitar some, do some woodworking in my garage, fish some, and teach/tutor some. I also plan to smile a whole lot!

Mrs. C: Pete and I plan to plunge into retirement with four weeks in Southwest Ireleand...Our Irish roots are nestled in this lovely area. After spending time in CT with our four children and four grandkids, we'll return home to Jupiter in early fall where we plan to pursue additional revenue streams including substituting, tutoring, writing, photography, and perhaps discovering additional untapped talents in our Golden Years.

Any final words you wish to share with the Rosarian community?  

Mr. C: On the wall of the Catholic school I attended as a boy hung a sign. It read, "St. Paul says, 'Learn to be grateful.'" I love its simple wisdom. To the faculty who have become my friends; the administration which has empowered me to teach English in my own fashion; to parents who have been so generous and supportive; but mostly to those hundreds of young men and women who have both graced and trusted me with their intellect, aspirations, and affections, I am deeply and forever grateful. 

The Lower School's annual May Crowning Liturgy took place on Tuesday, May 21st in the Rosary Chapel.  Our First Communicants who have already received the sacrament in their parish church had the opportunity to receive communion with their classmates for the first time.  Dressed in their First Communion finery, second graders delivered the readings and crowned the Blessed Mother. A reception for second graders and their parents followed the Mass. 

Click here to view photos of the Mass. >>>

This month, grade five studied weather, including tornadoes, hurricanes and various cloud formations. As an enriching activity, they combined sound, lights and wind to simulate a real thunderstorm in the classroom. Singing the song from the Wizard of Oz was not only fun but was also an integration of drama into the science curriculum.

Click on this link to watch 5e's thunderstorm. >>>

Rosarian Academy competed in the annual Catholic Schools Math Tournament  and won three trophies, including: MacCrea Murphy-1st place, 6th grade; Will Keen-2nd place, 6th grade; Nicholas Signori-3rd place, 8th grade. Other participants from the school were Tara O'Brien, Lillian Cooney and Finn Kennedy.

The tournament took place at All Saints on Tuesday, May 7th, and included representatives from All Saints, St. Clare, St. Joan of Arc, St. Jude, St. Juliana, St. Anastasia, and Rosarian. All of the participating schools brought two students from each sixth, seventh and eighth grades to take three timed tests. Each student's scores of the tests were combined and the three highest scorers in each grade level won trophies.

Rosarian has participated in this yearly competition for over ten years.

The eighth grade class celebrated their graduation day with the Baccalaureate Mass at St. Edward Church on Thursday, May 23rd. As a faith community, all Middle School students, faculty and families of the graduates gathered to witness and participate in the beautiful liturgy presided by Fr. Brian King. Following the Mass, the eighth graders and families returned to school for a brunch traditionally hosted by sixth and seventh grade mothers with the help of RAFA. 

The graduation ceremony took place later that day in the Theater. In addition to an awards presentation and reflections from some of the graduates, the highlight of the ceremony included an address to the students from Rosarian Academy Class of 1984 alum, Lt.Col. Heather Posey. Lt.Col. Posey spoke of the strong foundation she received as a Rosarian student that provided her with the internal strength and determination to achieve her goal of becoming a pilot in the United States Air Force. She motivated our graduates to believe in themselves and their dreams.

Eighth grade student, Paige Adams, was honored as the school's 2012-2013 Kiwanis Club Student of the Year. Continuing its tradition of honoring excellence, character and leadership potential, The Kiwanis Club of Palm Beach recognizes Students of the Month from local schools at a monthly luncheon. Selected students are honored with a check and a certificate. At the end of the year, one student from each attending school is chosen as the Student of the Year.

As a Student of the Year honoree, Paige delivered a speech at the May 14th Kiwanis Club of Palm Beach luncheon, where she stated, "My leadership abilities show how I like to be unique, to do what I think is right, and to be a positive influence on other people, no matter what age. My school has taken an active role in me, and in turn, I have taken an active role within my school, accepting the many leadership positions that I am offered."

Paige attended the luncheon at the Chesterfield Hotel accompanied by her Guidance Counselor, Sharyn Ayres, English teacher, Pete Cohane, her parents and brother, Mason, a fifth grader at Rosarian. Paige said, "Receiving this award out of many other great students reminds me to continue to work hard and strive to be the best that I can be."

Click here to view Paige's entire speech. >>>

President / Vice President: Lilly Cooney & Chloe Mikus (upcoming 8th Graders)

Secretary: Waverley Lim (upcoming 8th Grader)

Treasurer: Tara O'Brien (upcoming 8th Grader)

The offices of President and Vice President were open to rising eighth grade students only. Secretary and Treasurer were open independently to rising seventh and eighth grade students. Student Council classroom representative elections will be held the beginning of next school year.

Click on the video to the right to watch some highlights from the speeches.>>>

"We look for degreed and certified staff who bring enthusiasm and motivation to the school." Although new-hire Jodi fits this description found on the "Employment Opportunities" section of our website, she is not your typical employee. Jodi is a three-year-old Golden Retriever who recently joined Rosarian Academy full-time.

Assisting the school's principal, guidance counselor, resource specialist and various classroom teachers, Jodi works as a therapeutic partner to the students and faculty through her unconditional love, understanding and acceptance. Her loving and gentle demeanor match the culture of Rosarian. Jodi seems to have a "sixth sense" and seeks out people who need a "doggie hug"-a perfect enhancement to an environment that fosters each student's emotional and intellectual needs at every developmental stage.

After finishing her career as a show-dog and International Champion, Jodi was generously donated to Genesis Assistance Dogs to be trained as a facility dog. During her initial training Jodi visited nursing homes, children's homes, schools and multiple public programs. "It was during these outings her career path became very apparent. Wherever there was a need for a hug, Jodi was right there being very quiet, patient and gentle, simply waiting for the person to make the first contact...she was the perfect facility dog," said Norma Jean Ross, Training Director for Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc.

To greater enhance Rosarian's strong academic program, teachers and administration spent the past few months researching best educational practices for the increased use of technology in the curriculum and decided to begin integrating iPads into our classrooms.

The school leaders recognize the necessity to embrace our ever-changing technological world within our classrooms to better prepare our students with a foundation for life. Through research, the technology committee found iPads support 21st century skills, new media literacy, self-directed learning, creativity, varied learning activities, and increased student engagement in learning. An iPad program will provide Rosarian the opportunity for a transformative shift in education from a teacher-centered to a more active student-centered learning environment that empowers students by giving them more control over how they learn.

Sixth grader, Joey Rouijel, recently wrote a persuasive essay in English Class on "Why Students Should Use iPads Versus Textbooks," including the following reasons: more convenient than textbooks; less to carry to each class and lighter loads; extremely eco-friendly as iPads reduce the use of paper; teach kids about current technology.  He turned the essay into a presentation that he did for his class and Ms. Devine.  Click here to view Joey's PowerPoint.>>>

Leave a lasting legacy for your graduate on the beautiful Tree of Life in the beloved Rosary Chapel. The Tree of Life tribute and memorial gifts are the perfect way to honor a loved one for many occasions, including graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, first communions, confirmations, weddings, memorials and congratulations. For more information, please visit www.rosarian.org/chapel.

For the 2013-2014 school year, we are launching a Parent Ambassador Program. Parents are vital in representing the school during the admission process and at external functions. The purpose of this program is two-fold:

1. For parents to help recruit more wonderful students and families to our school. Rosarian Academy provides an unparalleled foundation of academics, faith, service and community.  We need to successfully spread this message.  
2. To serve as a welcoming committee and mentors to our new students and families. We want all to feel as a welcomed member of the Rosarian Family. 

cara@rosarian.org or 561.832.5131 x223

Rosarian Academy, founded in 1925, is a private, coeducational, Catholic school sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Its mission is to educate the whole person for life in a global community in the light of Gospel values.