NEWS RELEASE
April 13, 2018
For immediate release
Media contact: Cara Scarola Hansen, Marketing Director
561-345-3103
PHOTO ID:
0828: (L-R) Thomas Murray and Rocco Marcello sit inside a tractor and feel how the seats move up and down with hydraulics.
0848: John Scott Hundley shows the Rosarian Academy fourth grade class how to harvest corn.
0873: (L-R) Grace Molina and Alex Rionda carry the corn they harvest
1408: Rosarian students place grown sugar sprouts into soil to be placed in the greenhouse to grow. (L-R) Front: FJ Bahl, Charlotte Jordan; Middle: Beau Kimler; Back: Heidi Alcime
Florida crystals Makes Learning Come Alive for Rosarian 4th graders
Rosarian Academy’s fourth-grade students recently had the opportunity to apply their studies across various disciplines to real-life experiences at Florida Crystals in Belle Glade.
South Florida External Affairs Manager for Florida Crystals Corporation and Rosarian parent, Caroline Villanueva, helped organize and provide the entire experience for the students. The day began in the conference room with a brief overview of Florida Crystals and the process of harvesting sugarcane. The 33 students then divided into four groups for a variety of hands-on experiences : the students saw how the team uses drones to take pictures of the fields to find the exact locations where crops are not growing properly in order to increase production; each student had the chance to climb inside a tractor and feel how the seats move up and down with hydraulics; the students transplanted sugar seedlings into new gel nutrients in a real science lab; and students placed grown sugar sprouts into soil to grow in the greenhouse.
The field trip concluded with an excursion to the corn fields, led by John Scott Hundley of Hundley Farms. Mr. Hundley showed the student-farmers how to harvest corn. The students were then allowed to run through the corn fields and harvest as much sweet corn as they could carry.
The fourth graders have been studying Florida history and agriculture and using various pieces of literature to accompany what they are learning in Social Studies. They also recently completed a science unit about types of energy. This out-of-classroom experience added tremendous value to making learning come alive.
Rosarian Academy, founded in 1925, educates students from early childhood through eighth grade and offers an exceptionally strong academic program enriched by athletics, visual and performing arts, and community service opportunities. The independent, Catholic school is located on Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach and is sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Complimentary bus service is available throughout Palm Beach County. For more information, visit www.rosarian.org or call 561.345.3106.
