The in-flight entertainment on board RosAIRian Airlines on February 22, 2014, was spectacular. Over 55 students from kindergarten to eighth grade performed and produced the annual Talent Showcase at Rosarian Academy. The theme, "Talent Takes Flight," was prominent throughout the show with the great humor and acting of co-pilots/co-hosts Bob Sherman and George Kaplanidis. A special thank you to our Rosarian Academy Family Association for providing an outstanding flight crew: Nicole Millar, Ali Rehm, Sandra Saladrigas, Kathy Steele, Celeste Cassidy and Nicole Guari. Ticket proceeds benefit the Rosarian theater.  

The First Grade heard an exciting presentation on February 21, given by James Gabler, grandfather of First Grader EJ Waldman. James Gabler has written eight books about Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. The children learned about some of the life and accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson. Each child was given a never been used nickel with the face of Thomas Jefferson on the coin. They also enjoyed a special treat of puff pastry and ice cream.--what Thomas Jefferson brought to the USA from France! Mr. Gabler entertained many of the children's questions regarding his own life as an author and Thomas Jefferson's life. The presentation culminated with everyone singing The National Anthem. Mr. Gabler's presentation was a great introduction for the first grade's upcoming social studies unit, The Birth of Our Nation.

The Lord's Place provided the third through eighth grades with a greater understanding of the plight of the homeless in Palm Beach County on Friday, February 28. Students learned about the mission of The Lord's Place which is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness with innovative, compassionate and effective services to men, women and children in our community. They also heard the true-life story of a former homeless person who has turned his life around through his faith in God and the help of many dedicated individuals at The Lord's Place. 

 Jeremy Morse and Scott Eckle's presentation not only broadened our understanding of the causes of homelessness, but also helped us recognize the dignity and respect that every single human being deserves. Their motivating words were an inspiration for us to continue our service to others and helped foster an awareness of the continual need for social change.

Albert Einstein said, "You become what you think about." On February 26, the seventh grade class at Rosarian Academy celebrated Core Knowledge scientists throughout history and the major contributions they made to the scientific community. Dressed as Leonardo DaVinci, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and others, the students let go of their own identity as they engaged in conversation with one another at a scientific luncheon. The students "stepped inside" their scientists, actually becoming them with costume, role-playing and conversation.

This idea of seeing with new eyes is crucial to deeply understanding scientific situations, concepts, and topics from the simple to the complex. Living in a social world requires that we adopt different perspectives in order to empathize, negotiate, and resolve conflicts. 

In the character of their scientists, the students shared conversations with the important scientists that came before them and influenced their work, as well as the scientists that followed them after their death. This opportunity to reflect on science through the lens of history will lay a strong foundation for the comprehension of the major scientific events that have shaped our world. Taking on the perspective of a scientist will support our students as they begin to see themselves as players in this great game of history and science that we call life. 

On January 1, 2013, Paul Salopek started walking in the footsteps of our earliest ancestors in the Great Rift Valley of Africa. Sixty thousand years ago, the first anatomically modern humans walked out of Africa and explored the unknown world. Over the course of seven years, Paul's 21,000-mile global migration will take him on foot from Africa, across the Middle East, through Central Asia to the tundra of Siberia, eventually hopping a boat across the Bering Strait to North America, and trudging from there down the entire length of the New World.  

Rosarian seventh and eighth grade students, along with other students from around the globe, are following Paul's walk through time and sharing in the original spirit of wonder, curiosity, and innovation of our ancestors. Through this journey with Paul in his Out of Eden Walk, the students are enhancing their studies of science, current events, and history in conjunction with observing and reflecting on their environment and history, and their place within it. 

Our students have the chance to experience the "walk" by reading about Paul's experiences and then participating in online blog discussions with other students from different parts of the world. Rosarian seventh and eighth graders complete research and writing activities on shared topics that correspond with Paul Salopek's journey. Then they post their work on a website designed to link together groups of students from various locations. The eighth grade is walking with a group of students from Istanbul, Canada, California, Texas and Naples. The seventh grade is walking with students from various regions of Canada and the United States. These activities are a collaborative effort in science and English class. One main goal is for students from very different cultural and geographical backgrounds to make connections through the walk that will help them be better informed global citizens.

The 2014 Auction & Ball will take place on November 22, 2014 at The Breakers. Co-chairs and Rosarian mothers, Cindy Osborne and Laura Herlong, have already started planning another fabulous evening.  

Wrapping up the 2013 Auction & Ball, congratulations to Bill Falconio, winner of the 2014 Fiat Raffle! Thank you to everyone who participated and supported our great school.  We are forever grateful to the Arrigo Family for their generosity and kindness to RA.

At Rosarian Academy, the Annual Fund supports our mission of providing a strong Foundation for Life for our students.  It provides unrestricted gifts which may be used for classroom materials, arts or athletic equipment, library equipment, professional development, facility or technology maintenance or upgrades and more.  Like all independent schools, there is a gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of operating Rosarian Academy.  The Annual Fund helps close that gap and enables us to provide an exceptional learning environment for our students.  This year, the Annual Fund will focus on our RA Superheroes.  Students at RA are learning to be Strong4Life, academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally.  The Annual Fund runs from March 1 through May 1, 2014. To donate or find out more about RA Superheroes, visit  www.rosarian.org/superheroes. 

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.