October 2018
Northern County Community Newspapers
Rosarian Academy recently partnered with Carnegie Science Center as the first Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway partner in the state of Florida.
“As we look to the future of Rosarian and set curricular objectives, I am thrilled that we have partnered with Carnegie Science Center. We have taken a big step to move our STEM program out of its infancy,” said Head of School Linda Trethewey.
Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway is designed to help schools adopt best practices in STEM education.
“We are infusing STEM into all areas of the curriculum at all grade levels. We have conducted professional development workshops with Science Center STEM experts to help us develop a tailored plan to strengthen our STEM curriculum,” added Mrs. Trethewey.
The Pathway is a process of continuous improvement that provides guidance to schools on how best to address the challenge of strengthening their STEM programming. The Pathway has attracted over4,600 participating schools or districts in 22 states and the District of Columbia and serves over 1.5 million students.
In tandem with Rosarian’s partnership with Carnegie Science Center, the school opened its newly constructed hands-on learning environment, the Freitas STEM Innovation Center, on the first day of school, August 27, 2018. The STEM lab offers 1,840 square feet of cutting-edge space for students to think, create, design, and problem solve. Stocked with a video green screen wall, 3-D printer, laser cutter, EV3 kits, BeeBots and much more, students and faculty are ready to embark on an innovative school year.
All kindergarten through 8th grade STEM activities are coordinated by dedicated STEM teacher Gabriele St. Martin. Ms. St. Martin is in her first year teaching at Rosarian Academy but 24th year teaching in her career, the vast majority of which has been in middle school science. She incorporates project-based and problem-based learning into her classes and gives all students the opportunity to work with robotics and engage in the engineering process.
This shared learning process and continuous curricular improvement is the school’s commitment to preparing its students for any career path in the 21st century.
According to Trethewey, “We continue to fulfill our mission of educating the whole person for life and providing a foundation for life.”
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. STEM, coding, art, drama, music theory, and Spanish classes begin in kindergarten. 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, including stops at Donald Ross & US1 and the North Palm Beach Country Club. For more information, visit www.rosarian.org or call 561.345.3106.
