Rosarian Academy E-News

Volume 3: Issue 4                                                                                                               November 1-30, 2015
Alumni Connect

Dear Rosarian Community,

With Advent upon us, let us rejoice as a community as we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ.  We are truly blessed to be immersed in a school culture that lives its mission through our interactions with one another and how we work to make our world a better place. Witnessed through the food drive, fundraisers and thanksgiving activities in the past few weeks, our faith calls us to be the vehicle of change we wish to see in the world. Our children will learn from these efforts, developing into the civic-minded, socially-responsible citizens that speak to us through the Adrian Dominican spirit. 

Blessings to you and yours as we enter this exciting time,

Steve Rubenacker, Head of School
Alumni News
Congratulations to the following Rosarian alumni who now attend Cardinal Newman High School and achieved Honor Roll for the 1st Quarter of 2015-16.

Principal's List: Gabriella Coffield, Lillian Cooney, Madeleine Landers, Chloe Mikus, Grace O'Connell

First Honors: Michelle Agnello, Antonio Azqueta, Stefan Bartl, Kayla Becerra, Lyda Brown, Marjorie Burnside, Georgia Forconi, Leonardo Forconi, Sophie Fountain, Emily Geary, Patrick Hopkins, Ashley Howard-Smith, Daniel Iscoe, Nicholas Jones, Tomasso Keogh, Hillary Malone, Juliet Mikus, Charles Mordente, Grant Quattlebaum, Chase White, Isabel Winn

Second Honors: Christopher Curtis, Erin Hennessey, Kris Magtibay, Trevor Olds, Tyler Porter, 
Bailey Skiles
4th Grade Saint Speeches

In celebration of All Saints' Day, the fourth graders chose saints to research and then wrote speeches about their saints. Dressed in costume, the students delivered their memorized speeches in the Rosarian Chapel on November 2nd.
Liam Groth Honored as November Student of the Month

Eighth-grader Liam Groth was honored as Rosarian's November Kiwanis Club Student of the Month on November 3rd at the Chesterfield Hotel. Liam, along with a few other students from local schools, was recognized for his excellence, character and leadership potential. Students received a check and a certificate.
 
Accompanied by his parents and science teacher, Mrs. Janet Galati, Liam thanked his mother andfather for shaping him into who is today and expressed appreciation of Mrs. Galati for being an inspiration to his science studies, "You have inspired me to dig deeper into the world of science." 

Liam mentioned he is grateful for for the opportunity to attend Rosarian and for the privilege of being selected to see Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. in September. For high school, he hopes to attend American Heritage, Oxbridge Academy or The Pine School. 
The Lion King KIDS is a Roaring Success

The school's cast of 50 first-through-fourth-grade actors performed Disney's The Lion King KIDS in front of a packed house for both performances on November 7th and 8th. 

In just under an hour, the musical featured young talent who kept the audience entertained and wanting the African adventure to continue. The cast was anchored by Molly Lanahan (grade 4), Mufasa; Nicholas Stewart (grade 4), Scar; Joseph Walsh (grade 2), young Simba; Jack Johnston (grade 4), adult Simba; Cate Frerichs (grade 3), young Nala; Natalie Acosta (grade 4), adult Nala; Harper Throop (grade 4), Zazu; Kaitlin Koch (grade 4), Timon; Layna Steele (grade 4), Pumbaa. 

Robert Sherman produced and directed the play with musical direction by Gay Dedo, choreography by Jeanne Bennet, and costume assistance by alumnus William Linn (Class of 2001). 

According to Mr. Sherman, "This Lower School production was notable with more than a few 'firsts.' First production for our Head of School Steve Rubenacker and Lower School Director Terry Keny; first school in South Florida to perform Lion King for KIDS; most students ever in a Lower School musical (50); first time Lower School had three performances."

He added, "Our cast raised the bar for the future. Our community of colleagues, friends, and parents supported the cast to be able to give their best."
Students Help Set New Guinness World Record in Sport Stacking

170 Rosarian Academy Lower School students participated in 2015 STACK UP! to set a new Guinness Book of World Records in Sport Stacking on November 12, 2015. Over 3,100 schools from across the United States and around the world in countries such as Hungry, Germany, Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, Columbia, and Taiwan worked together to beat last year's number of 592,292 stackers. With a tally of 618,394 verified participants, this year's goal of 610,000 stackers was surpassed!
 
For three consecutive years, Rosarian Academy Lower School students have helped break the World Record for "Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day!" The entire Rosarian Lower School, kindergarten through grade four, participated in the 2013, 2014, and 2015 STACK UP!
 
Sport stacking has been termed a "track meet for your hands at warp speed." It's an exciting sport where students up stack and down stack 12 specially designed cups called Speed Stacks in predetermined sequences as fast as they can. Stackers race against the clock, compete in relays and often combine sport stacking with fitness challenges as part of physical education classes.
Kindergarten Plants Garden

In celebration of World Kindness Day on November 13th, the kindergarten classes planted an herb and vegetable garden on their playground. The produce will eventually be given to a local soup kitchen.
2,600 lbs Collected for Food for Families

Coordinated by the 8th grade, Rosarian Academy continued its annual community food drive in conjunction with News Channel 5 Bill Brooks Food for Families from October 28 -November 20. 2,600 lbs of non-perishable food was collected to provide needy families with a plentiful Thanksgiving. Once again, the school worked with St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church and donated the canned food collection to their van ministry and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
7th Graders 'Explain Everything' to 4th Graders

Recently, the seventh graders met with the fourth graders to teach the younger students how to use the Explain Everything app on the iPad. Explain Everything is a tool for students to demonstrate their understanding of a topic across all subject areas. To explore using the app, the students worked together during Language Arts classes to create a short story. This activity of students teaching students allowed for the older seventh-grade students to demonstrate their mastery of the use of the iPad application and generated even more excitement from the younger students to learn about a tool that will enhance their learning and understanding. In the coming weeks, the fourth graders will use Explain Everything to demonstrate their learning on several topics of study. 
Arts Integration in Math Class

In late October, arts integration consultant Sean Layne presented a workshop to students and faculty, Living Pictures: Comprehension and Assessment Through Drama. Mr. Layne's in-depth work focuses on a creative, low-risk drama technique that is designed to help students apply and expand their knowledge and understanding across the curriculum. This theatrical strategy can deepen comprehension, help differentiate instruction, and motivate all types of learners.

Eighth-grade students recently applied Mr. Layne's arts integration techniques in math class. Students presented mathematical concepts learned within the last year through artistic mediums such as songs, poems, and games. In the above video, the students made up a song and dance related to square roots and mental math. They used their creativity to tell a story.
5th Graders Write Letters to Bring Science into Their Study of The Secret Garden

The 5th grade Language Arts class brought  'a bit of earth' into their literary study and analysis of The Secret Garden. 
Students were introduced to the friendly letter format. Having recently read the chapter where character Mary Lennox asks her uncle for a bit of earth to plant a garden, the students wrote a friendly letter to Ms. Reader asking for permission to have a bit of earth in their classroom.

In response to their letters, Ms. Reader provided a table in the classroom for the newly planted seeds to grow. The students are now learning how to write entries for an observation log. As they check on the growth of their seeds daily, they record their observations and thoughts as their little plants begin to sprout.
Paradise Found at Caribbean Nights Auction & Ball

Tropical and elegant, Rosarian Academy's 37th Annual Auction & Ball, Caribbean Nights, was 'paradise found.' The school's largest fundraiser, including silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing, and raffles, was held at The Breakers on Saturday, November 21st in the Venetian and Mediterranean Ballrooms.  With Caribbean flair, Auction Chairs Marian Macias and Adrianne Sanchez transformed The Breakers into a tropical paradise. 

The over 265 attendees helped the school surpass its goal of raising $350,000. Guests used smart phones and iPads to bid for silent auction items through BidPal for the third consecutive year. Auctioneer and long-time supporter of Rosarian Academy, Jim Arrigo, lead the live auction for the fifteenth year. Joan and Brian O'Connell, were recognized as honorary chairpersons. The O'Connell's have generously given their support, time and love to Rosarian academy since 1983 when Brian helped establish a charitable trust for the school. 

Some of the underwriters who made the Auction possible include: Mr. & Mrs. Jim Arrigo, Mr. Mark Cook, Mr. & Mrs. Steve Duncker, Mrs. Danielle Hickox Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Jordan, Mr. & Mrs. William Koch, Mrs. and Mrs. Don Landrum, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Brian O'Connell, and Cooperstown Brewing Company.
Hop Aboard the Bus to the North

Rosarian Academy is now offering bus service from the northern Palm Beach County communities free of charge. Service to and from Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Northwood began Monday, November 30th.  
 
Rosarian has been offering complimentary bus service to the western communities since August 2013. As the number of families attending Rosarian from the north continues to increase, the school's leadership team and Board announced this new route to better serve the 40+ families driving from northern communities.
 
"It is our hope that the convenience of this service at no charge will be an added benefit to current parents and continue to attract families who share our pursuit of excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, community service, and spiritual development." said Stephen Rubenacker, Head of School.
 
Service will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis and is available to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade eight. For more information regarding the bus route and schedule for the 2015-2016 school year, please contact Mary Raich: 561.345.3106 or maryr@rosarian.org. 
Mrs. Ferguson Serves Poor in Haiti

Middle School Language Arts teacher Chrissie Ferguson traveled to Haiti the weekend before Thanksgiving to serve the people there. Mrs. Ferguson along with seven other young women and two leaders from Food for the Poor spent two days visiting children at a Catholic school and home for mentally and physically challenged, feeding families, and spending time in the impoverished villages.

When reflecting on the many people who lined up at the Food for the Poor complex to receive their family's one meal of rice for the day, Mrs. Ferguson said:

As I filled the buckets for these people who walk miles to stand in line on a daily basis to obtain their entire family's one meal for the day, I felt more thankful than ever to have food to eat whenever I am hungry. When I spilled a few grains of rice, I felt guilt, as those few grains were a part of a very important meal. I will never look at a grain of rice in the same way.

Since returning from Haiti, Mrs. Ferguson has vowed to take action and to be a part of Food for the Poor in whatever way she can. 

She commented, "It is difficult to understand how we could all be so blessed in our own lives when our neighbors in Haiti are living in such terrible conditions." 

"Yet, when you meet the people of Haiti, you realize that they are blessed in other ways. They are blessed with happiness--in the midst of their strife--and a faith that could move mountains. How blessed so many of us would be if we could be full of happiness and great faith without possessions."

Thanks to Rosarian students, parents, faculty and staff, Mrs. Ferguson brought with her stuffed animals, toys, toiletries, flip flops, clothes, and underwear to distribute to the people in Haiti. 
Statue of St. Dominic Donated to School

The Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse recently donated a statue of St. Dominic to Rosarian. The beautiful statue which was blessed by Fr. Brian King during Mass on November 24th now adorns a wall in the Rosary Chapel.
Rosarian Academy, founded in 1925, is an independent, 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. 

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Rosarian Academy | 807 N. Flagler Dr. | West Palm Beach, FL 33401 | 561.832.5131 | www.Rosarian.org