Sponsored Institutions - Stories

West Palm Beach, Florida – Accreditation with the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and some very special and creative academic programs were among the many ways that Rosarian Academy rounded out the end of their 2015-2016 school year.

To become an accredited member of SAIS, Rosarian complied with quality standards, was evaluated by an outside group of peer professionals, and implemented a school plan focused on strategic improvement and student performance in accordance with the school’s mission, “to educate the whole person for life in a global community in the light of Gospel values.”

A team representing SAIS conducted an on-site visit in April to review Rosarian’s self-study and standards compliance and its adherence to its mission. The team was composed of diverse educational leaders from some of the finest institutions in the Southeast. The visiting team sought the answers to critical questions the school asked of itself.  

SAIS-accredited member schools are part of an international network of accredited schools that have demonstrated success in educating children. As such, SAIS accreditation is recognized throughout the world as a symbol of quality in education for students and teachers. 

“SAIS accreditation aligns Rosarian Academy with the top-tier institutions in the country,” stated Stephen Rubenacker, Head of School. “By receiving it, we have been affirmed as one of those schools. In addition, this opens countless opportunities for professional development, peer mentoring and collaboration with other similarly-achieving schools in our cohort. The extensive process gives us a road map for self improvement while strengthening our identity as a Catholic, independent school.” 

SAIS accreditation provides schools access to an integrated network of services and technical assistance that supports every school’s ability to identify and meet its goals for improving the teaching and learning process and mission-focused outcomes for students.

In addition to working towards accreditation, Rosarian focused its closing months of the school year on a number of creative academic programs to enhance the students’ love of learning.  

Lower and Middle School students celebrated Foreign Language Week the last week of April. Second- through fourth-grade students researched a country in each class and presented to other Lower School classes. The Lower School students also learned about passports and why they are needed. Each child made a passport and received a stamp at the "customs desk" for the country being presented. 

Throughout the week, Middle School classes explored Hispanic art; wrote about the theme "Language Links Us Together”; enjoyed a culinary experience; listened to and identified various languages spoken; and went on a virtual field trip. Using the app Google Street View, the students explored the world -- everywhere from Machu Picchu to the Sydney Opera House.

Mrs. Ferguson’s creative writing class spent the third trimester writing a class blog. As a creative team, the class brainstormed to decide the name of their blog, “What’s Trending,” and assigned students to write particular columns. The students came up with their own ideas of “what’s trending” among their peers and put together the copy, in addition to videos, to share with their peers. 

Each week, the students worked on a deadline – just like they would in the world of journalism – to provide Mrs. Ferguson with new copy to edit and post for them on the class blog.

Feature photo: Second-grader Grace Molina has her passport stamped by her classmate, Katherine Ward, at the “customs desk.” Both are wearing traditional dresses from Spain and celebrating Foreign Language Week.