February NJSOC Spotlight
Rosa International Middle School
"Be Your Best, Do Your Best"
Even before our school opened in 1998, creating a culture of character was a shared vision. The cornerstones of the International Baccalaureate Program, holistic view of knowledge, communication and intercultural awareness, inspired community and service opportunities, respect for and connection to our immediate and global environment and responsibility as global citizens. Over the past ten years, Rosa’s dedication to our students has expanded and our commitment to character education has deepened. We truly believe that we inspire our students to be their best and do their best daily.
Advisory, the Heart of Rosa
in collaboration with Dr. Marcia Ruberg, school guidance counselor and Alicia Lomba and Karen Barry, teachers
Advisory Mission Statement:
We, the Rosa International Middle School, believe that a successful learning environment embraces collaboration, promotes individual responsibility, and fosters acceptance and respect for all members of the school and global community. We have made a commitment to an Advisory Program that provides advocacy, community, and life-skills for all members. Each learner will have an adult advisor who is particularly attentive to the adolescent learner’s academic, social and personal well-being. The advisory group will serve as a “home place” and/or family within the school. Forming relationships will be the catalyst for the development of a culture categorized by warmth, concern, openness and understanding.
Rosa’s advisory program is supported by established curriculum to promote the well-being of each student. Every student participates in the Lions’ Quest program which fosters social and emotional development for middle school students. Character education units and lessons embracing values of family, respect, responsibility, citizenship and caring are infused not only in our advisory program but also integrated fully throughout our curriculum. In addition, students become aware of service learning and volunteering opportunities. Resources such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey help students live a principled, balanced life-a life of character.
Service Learning in the Global Classroom
Jennifer Parks, teacher
When it comes to service-learning in any subject area, the possibilities are endless. However, foreign language instruction lends itself particularly well to international service and the development of intercultural awareness. Guest speakers are an excellent way to bring authentic learning and knowledge to your students.
The seventh graders on Learning Community Four recently had the opportunity to participate in one example of this type of project. Following extensive student research of living conditions in the Dominican Republic and a particular orphanage in Santo Domingo, students enjoyed meeting a girl whose father works there and is now here in New Jersey on a college scholarship from the Pennsville Rotary Club. She sat down with the students and answered their questions about her country. The amazement on their faces at some of her answers demonstrated the fact that it is still hard for them to grasp at times that life everywhere is not just like Cherry Hill. These moments, that bring students out of their immediate surroundings are ones that truly shape their character.
Service-learning is born through this awareness. When students begin to see how fortunate they are, they are then moved to reach out and help. Every student participated in the creation of “boxes of love” to be sent down to the children in the orphanage and given out on Three Kings Day (their day of celebration and gift- giving, January sixth). Boxes were decorated with caring messages in Spanish and
filled with little toys and other useful items like hair ties and headbands. The culmination of this service-learning project was featured on December and January’s NJN Classroom Close-Up series. A pen-pal exchange has also been initiated to deepen the connection and further the students’ awareness of another culture, learning that even though there are differences, children around the world share a tremendous number of similarities.
In our increasingly global society this type of learning is more important than ever. Many local organizations can provide guest speakers on international topics including Rotary International (go to www.rotary.org and contact your local club). For more information on service-learning go to www.servicelearning.org or feel free to contact Jennifer Parks at jparks@chclc.org.
Bowling for Bears- Jenny Silver, student
For each of the past four years, I have organized an annual fundraiser called Bowling for Bears. Bowling for Bears is a bowling event that raises money to purchase teddy bears for children in need during the holidays. In total, I have raised over $23,000, enough to purchase 3,218 new teddy bears for children in need, including 1,635 bears this year alone. These teddy bears have been given to children at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher’s Hospital and other hospitals, shelters and many other children in need during the holiday season. I have received incredible support for Bowling for Bears from the Rosa school community. In fact, this year Bowling for Bears became a non-profit corporation, and a Rosa teacher is one of the board members. Many other Rosa students and faculty have participated in Bowling for Bears, inspired to help others by the strong values of character education taught at Rosa.Language Arts Enhancement
Jennifer Aristone and Diane Zeltner, teachers
Rosa International Middle School curriculum and instruction is not only aligned with New Jersey State Core Standards but is rooted in a developmental approach to education. Rosa’s curriculum and instruction utilizes the three Cornerstones of the International Baccalaureate program: Holistic Education, Communication, and Intercultural Awareness. This allows the educators to be committed to the holistic needs of all the adolescent learners and the demands of a rigorous curriculum.
Our Language Arts intervention program, Language Arts Enhancement, was designed to support our students in reading and writing. The goal of the program is to refine the skills taught throughout their three years here at Rosa; however, it is also meant to develop test confidence for the NJ ASK standardized testing. All Rosa students are included in the program, whether they have been proficient or not in previous years. Through an inclusionary approach, all learners are given the tools to successfully demonstrate their knowledge of the English language.
Because of the support offered to the Rosa students, we have seen wonderful results. Specifically, the 8th graders have benefited the most from the Language Arts Enhancement program. Our 8th grade students are particularly invested as they prepare for their transition to high school and the rigorous academic demands they will meet next year. The skills taught in Language Arts Enhancement are carried with our students even after they walk out our doors into their future.
T.O.P.S. (Together Opportunities Promote Success)
George Zogrofos, teacher
The TOPS program is a voluntary after school math enhancement program which meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00pm – 4:30 pm. It is designed to increase student motivation, teach test taking strategies, and reward positive behavior while doing math. This program is intended to combine mathematical reasoning skills, test/problem solving strategies, motivational techniques, calculator manipulation, and high level social activities which will assist students in becoming Proficient/Advanced Proficient on the NJ/ASK 8 (New Jersey Assessment of Grade 8 Skills and Knowledge for Mathematics); which was formerly known as the GEPA (Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment).
The students who participate in TOPS seem to like the program, and many have been successful on the NJASK 8 / GEPA. The students who attend TOPS on a regular basis report that math is now more fun, that they are doing better in their math class, their fear of math is lessened, and that they are better in math than they thought they were. In TOPS, we instill confidence in the students, give test taking strategies, design engaging lessons teach positive thinking, and increase student motivation. Some students have called the TOPS program a “math support group” where everyone involved cares about the students, and their math progress.
Rosa’s Most Fit Physical Education Program
Norma Kensinger, NJ P.E. Teacher of the Year, 2003-2004
Rosa’s Physical Education program emphasizes and encourages character development, offering numerous opportunities for students to exhibit what we call the “Rosa Culture”. From the first day in September students hear the words “respect, “responsibility,” and “resourcefulness.” In every activity students are expected to do everything with all of their hearts. To tangibly help students do this, they wear heart rate monitors that measure their physical effort during class. Students record their own data and evaluate whether they worked hard enough. Our students exhibit integrity and honesty in doing this.
Another opportunity to show integrity is in our fitness work. A big part of our program is health-related fitness development. We teach our students the Fitnessgram tests. Our students self-test or test each other, keeping track of their own scores, entering them in a computer program and using the resulting data to develop personal fitness plans. Students can do “Activity Calendars” to show what they are doing to progress towards their goals. This invites students to take personal responsibility for their health by maintaining or improving their fitness.
Lastly, our students participate in an annual school-wide service project not only to raise money for the American Heart Association but also to raise awareness of the hazards of inactivity and poor diet, which can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and some kinds of cancer. It has always been a huge success and Rosa has been recognized nationally for what our students have accomplished by doing their best in this venture.
Inclusion in Athletics
Ed Canzanese, Principal
During the 1998 – 1999 school year seventeen percent of the total number of students who tried out for sports in the Cherry Hill Middle Schools actually played on a team. Looking at this from the perspective of eighty-three percent of the kids being cut from teams, led us to see the need for real change in our athletic programs.
When our doors opened in 1999, Rosa International Middle School adopted a “no-cut policy” for all sports except for basketball and baseball. Every student who wanted to play would be given that opportunity. Founded on solid adolescent research and led by youth sports experts such as Mr. Robert Bigelow, we developed an athletic program that reflected the culture of our school, that being one of inclusion rather than exclusion. Mr. Bigelow authored the book “Just Let the Kids Play,” which cited our efforts to introduce this program to our school and district. “Participation is Winning” became our motto as we moved in a direction many within our community opposed.
In our first year, two hundred and seventy students participated on our athletic teams. This number represented forty-five percent of the total school population of six hundred students. Now, with eight hundred students, Rosa continues to maintain that same percentage of student participation.
Coaches have attended professional development opportunities focused on character. Parent meetings, prior to the beginning of each season, focus on Principle 10, engaging families and community members as partners in the character building effort (Character Education Partnership - Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education). These meetings engage parents as our partners in the character-building effort. Each athlete and parent must sign a contract reinforcing their commitment to sportsmanship, teamwork and character.
As a result of Rosa’s commitment to the inclusion of students in all programs, the Board of Education adopted a policy for middle school athletics that reflects these ideals. All three middle schools now have no-cut athletic programs.
Rosa Drama Club
Jack Murtha, teacher and drama director
Imagine a river that starts out on a journey to the sea, but along the way it meets some animals. Some animals need a drink. Some would like to bathe. Others just want to splash and swim. Each time the river is asked for water to meet the sea. Thus is the story behind Rosa’s self-written production of “Okavango.” It is based on the Okavango River in Africa. Before the river dies out, it forms a beautiful delta within the Kalahari Desert, offering life to many other plants and animals.
The drama department at Rosa believes in helping others. In addition to performing this musical for friends and parents, the Rosa Drama Club collected and donated hundreds of pairs of sneakers for children in Africa as a community service project. Character education-the moral of the story-is important and is always a part of the process for selecting works to perform here at Rosa.
National History Day
Christy Marrella, teacher and NHD coordinator
They say that curious questions can transform a mind, and that is truly what happens o the students who participated in New Jersey’s History Day competition from both Rosa International Middle School and Cherry Hill High School East. Over the last two years, hundreds of students from across the state have been transformed into explorers, investigators, leaders and most importantly, historians when they present their research.
Encouraged to present their historical findings in a paper, website, documentary, performance or exhibit, this national contest is designed to challenge students to see history through a unique lens. Rosa International Middle School, for the third year in a row, will enter in this year’s State Competition with twenty groups. All of the of the budding historians spend countless hours at lunch, after school and on weekends to learn, analyze and create presentations that interpret and analyze key historical events.
Judged by historians, archivists, deans and museum curators, Rosa’s Team over the past two years has demonstrated great success. Both Junior Group Documentaries ‘Inventing America’ and ‘We, These United States’ advanced to the National Competition at the University of Maryland in June, 2008. In addition, Rosa’s Individual Documentary “To Vote or Not To Vote: The 19th Amendment” was awarded an alternate position on the state team.
Although the competition is for one day, National History Day is an experience. It is a chance for students to not only explore history, but also act as mentors. Working closely with peers and an academic advisor, National History Day allows students to learn something about themselves. It not only takes a keen intellect and excellent research skills to complete a project; it also takes good character, cooperation and a sense of community to embark on a yearlong project with four friends. It is more than just a day- it is a true, life altering, experience.
Chess Club: It's Your Move
Chris Lind, teacher and Chess Club moderator
Where can you go if you want to set your own level of competition? If you are a student at Rosa you might want to try Rosa’s Chess Club. Nearly thirty students are enrolled in this club that meets after school, once a week. On average, the group size varies from fifteen to twenty five students and is always changing. Many of the students also participate in music, karate, sports and drama, so Chess Club is like a pick-up game with regulars and drop-ins. The number one reason students come is for the fun of being with their friends. But there are other reasons too! Some like the challenge of playing someone better or equal to their skill sets as they try out new strategies. Others want to learn how to play.
At the beginning of each session, advisor Chris Lind, asks the students if they want to learn a "new move" from one of their schoolmates. These "volunteer teachers" are often one of Rosa's ranked middle school players who participate in the open competitions sponsored by High School Chess Club Advisor, Dan Herman.
Once those students have been matched, others set themselves up with a competitor. Within minutes, the room is bustling with noise as the competition can get pretty intense. At times, students just enjoy watching others play or challenging the advisor (an easy mark). The Rosa's Chess Club advisor's role is more of a facilitator, seeing that everyone is having fun and participating. The students enjoy the snacks she serves too!
Given the popularity of Chess Club, it's no surprise that there are three large trophies in the school showcase. For those that want the thrill of victory, Rosa's Chess Club provides the practice and chance to teach others which makes for a stronger team. Regardless of your goal, playing chess is a great way to challenge your mind, learn patience and meet new friends. It's your move!
Mr. Edward Canzanese is principal of Rosa International Middle School
Rosa International Middle School
485 Browning Lane
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08003-3160
Contact telephone number: (856) 616-8787
Fax: (856) 616-0904
http://rosaweb.chclc.org
