The single biggest thrill for me as an administrator at Friends Academy has been hiring, supporting and mentoring the faculty and staff with whom I have been fortunate to work. I'm very proud of the team assembled at Friends over the years, as every success that I have had as an administrator has essentially been theirs. 

In recent years, we have seen the English teachers dramatically improve the quality of literacy through the Reading and Writing Workshop sponsored by Columbia University. Work that originally began in our Lower School was quickly adopted in the Middle School to form a perfect continuum. In addition to being able to better support struggling readers and writers, writing has now been integrated much more vibrantly into all of the other core subject areas. 
 
The History teachers have been busy aligning curriculum within a three divisional sequence and dramatically changing the way they teach their classes through the use of technology. We've been very progressive in our approach to educational technology. When our iPad initiative was launched four years ago, it breathed new life into a system that was lagging behind. The addition of robotics, programming and digital media have all shifted the spirit of a program once anchored in basic keyboarding skills. Our newly formed Lego Robotics team recently took first place in the "Most Innovative Solution" category of the regional championship round. 
 
The Math and Science teachers have also been busy doing what they do best, implementing brain-based practices into their lessons in order to develop a deep, rigorous curriculum that essentially focuses on process over product. Our students ability to think analytically, make and record observations, formulate theory based on facts, and ask appropriate questions are all skills our teachers work to improve. 
 

All of these disciplines are enhanced through the arts and athletics. In recent years, we've dramatically improved the quality of our jazz band (performing at Disney in two weeks!), choir and orchestra. All 6th-8th graders are required to play an instrument and participate in chorus. We have implemented an annual Arts Week where we take time out of our regular class schedule to focus on intensive arts instruction. In addition, I am happy to announce that I just secured my role as King Duncan in the Macbeth segment of our upcoming school play...only one line but, needless to say, I am thrilled to be a part of it! 

 We also have a required interscholastic sports program for 7th and 8th grade students. A wide variety of sports are offered with the goal for students to feel increasing personal satisfaction and to understand the values of team, school and community. 

 
Outside of the classroom, we have worked hard to develop a well-defined advisory system that focuses on our students social, emotional and spiritual development. Faculty are extremely involved in yearly outdoor education trips for all students and community service, engaging in hands-on experiences both near and far. This year, we will do work with our local Men's Shelter and engage in a service trip to Costa Rica over our spring break. Starting last year, we worked with the INDEX group (a nationwide sampling of about 100 Middle Schools) on the Mission Skills Assessment as well as the Caring Schools Initiative from Harvard University. Both of these projects were undertaken to gauge the emotional intelligence of our children, how they live the mission of our school, and how they are developing the skills necessary to become responsible citizens of the twenty-first century. 
 
As an administrative team, we've also worked to develop elective classes in Diversity and Multiculturalism and a set of "Core Competencies"--essential skills needed for success as a student transitions between Lower School and Middle School, and Middle School and Upper School. 

 Fourteen years at Friends Academy has certainly gone quickly. The credit for this work belongs to those teachers and staff members who made it all happen through their diligence and vision for what the learning experience should look like. Their enthusiasm, initiative and excitement have all made learning come alive for our students.  

 I see the very same qualities of enthusiasm and drive in the faculty at Rosarian Academy. I'm very much looking forward to supporting Rosarian's teachers and staff; creating another atmosphere where they dream big about their work, grow into the leaders that they are, and make their students' experience an incredible one. 

Mr. Rubenacker will be contributing monthly to our e-newsletters until the end of this school year. In the meantime, you can read his blog and find out about some of his work at the Friends Academy by clicking here.

Rosarian students shared the school they love with the people they love, grandparents and special friends, on February 19th and 20th. In two separate performances, the Lower School and Middle School performed songs that brought tears of joy to many eyes. Following the performances in Rosarian's theater, children took grandparents to the school book fair and back to their classrooms to show and share what they are learning in school.

 Grandparents also visited the Toddler House and Children's House where they were welcomed with a few songs and participation in daily lessons. 

 This year's book fair sold the most books to date. The proceeds will benefit our Media Center and technology resources.  

Rosarian Academy eighth grade student, Will Keen, was honored as the school's February Kiwanis Club Student of the Month on February 17th at the Chesterfield Hotel.

Will was recognized by the Kiwanis Club of Palm Beach for his excellence, character and leadership potential. He was accompanied by his mother, grandmother, and math teacher Mrs. Mary Edmonson at the luncheon. 

Coaches Jon Payne and Lindsey Beylo spent a few days participating in SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Education) America Southern District Convention in Atlanta, GA. While there, they gained useful, relevant knowledge to improve our Physical Education and Athletic programs. In addition, they co-taught a couple of sessions to other teachers around the country. Congratulations Coach Payne and Coach Beylo on this honor!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! 1964 marked the year that number one hits included I Feel Fine by The Beatles, Leader of the Pack by The Shangri-Las, and Come See About Me by The Supremes; police arrested 800 sit-in students at University of California at Berkeley; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first aired on TV; the Nobel Peace Prize was presented to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; and Palm Beach's Rosarian Academy opened its theater!

Rosarian celebrated the 50th anniversary of its magnificent 485-person professional theater with the Royal Rosarian Talent Showcase on Saturday, February 28th. Current students, teachers and staff and alumni--including internationally acclaimed tenor John Matz (Class of 1992); singers Francesca Coniglio (Class of 2004) and Felipe Alou (Class of 2006); and dancers Lauren Carey (Class of 2003 and graduate of Julliard) and Lyndsey Carey (Class of 2008)--showcased their talents in the performance.

Rosarian Academy has infused dramatic excellence into the daily lives of students since its inception in 1925. Thanks to a generous gift from Mr. Frederick Machlin, the Margaret Tighe Machlin Fine Arts Center opened its doors to generations of young hearts on December 14, 1964. The theater has been an iconic landmark in Palm Beach County ever since.

Over the last fifty years, the Rosarian Academy Theater has been enjoyed by thousands of patrons. Legends-Judy Garland, Perry Como & Peter Lawford-performed on stage. The community has relished in the talents of Ballet Florida, Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Greater Palm Beach Symphony. Most importantly, the theater has set the scene for countless drama productions, school-wide Masses, character assemblies, awards presentations, and graduations.

The Machlin family has generously returned the naming rights of the Theater to Rosarian Academy. For more information on celebrating our local arts, please contact the Development Office at Rosarian Academy: 561.832.5131.

Congratulations Rosarian on 50 years of the Theater! Click above to watch this video.

The 2015 Annual Fund runs March 1st through May 1st! Students at Rosarian are READY for the next steps in their lives with a Foundation for Life.  They are SET up with the best teachers, clean facilities and all the tools required to succeed academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally.  And...they GLOW!   

 Fundraising efforts make up over 10% of the operating budget. Your gift to the Annual Fund helps to ensure that Rosarian Academy can continue give students the best possible education at the best PK - 8th grade school in Florida.   Speaking of the best, Rosarian also has the best faculty & staff--each and every one of whom has already given to the Annual Fund!

 For more information about the Annual Fund or to make a gift, please visit  www.rosarian.org/glow.  Contact the Development Office with any questions: sheena@rosarian.org or 561-832-5131 x 239.

Sixth grade religion focuses primarily on the Old Testament of the Bible. In February, Miss Coniglio's students learned about Moses delivering God's people, the Israelites, out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. It was also at this time that God gave Moses and His people the law, or Ten Commandments, to keep them safe. In acknowledgement of the law's sacredness, an ark of the covenant was built. An ark of the covenant is similar to a church's tabernacle--a beautifully crafted box in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept. 

The students created their own ark of the covenant out of shoe boxes. The sixth graders' tabernacle contained items he/she finds most sacred or meaningful to them. They then wrote essays about their personal ark of the covenant and gave a presentation to the class. 

The Math Video Challenge is an innovative program that empowers students to be math teachers, video producers, actors and artists - all at the same time! Working together in teams, students created their own videos about math problems and their associated concepts.  The Math Video Challenge is designed to get students excited about math while giving them the opportunity to hone their creativity and communication skills. Each team created a video that teaches the solution to one of the problems from the 2014-2015 MATHCOUNTS School Handbook and also demonstrates the real-world application of the math concept used in the problem. 

Fifth and sixth grade students kicked off the St. Jude Math-A-Thon the last week in February and will conclude the drive on March 9th. Sponsored by family and friends, each student has a special workbook with math problem. Sponsors have the option to donate per problem or give a flat donation. This year is Rosarian's 10th year participating, and it is the school's goal to raise $10,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To date, Rosarian has raised $110,000 over the last ten years.