News at Rossman

Rossman School Excels in National Geography Challenge

Students at Rossman School earned three impressive finishes in the National Geography Challenge this spring. Rossman School earned fifth place among fourth graders in the 2009-2010 National Geography Challenge.

The fifth grade team finished third in the nation. The sixth grade team, which won the national championship in 2007-2008, finished eighth in the nation.

In the challenge, the scores of the top 10 students are combined to determine the team score. Provisions are made for ties, so more than 10 students may be recognized with a certificate for contributing to the team score. In the fourth grade, 13 students were recognized. In the fifth grade, 12 students were recognized. In the sixth grade, 13 students were recognized.

Mary Jane Carissimi teaches Upper School Social Studies at Rossman School.

The National Geography Challenge is administered by the National Social Studies League, and is sponsored by the National Council for Geographic Education. The challenge provides standardized testing for children in grades 2-12. At Rossman School, students take the test in grades 4-6. The written exam tests general knowledge of geography, map skills, interpreting charts and graphs and reading comprehension.

"Help for Haiti" Raises More than $2,200 for Red Cross

Rossman School's Fourth Grade Girl Scouts recently held a fund raiser to aid earthquake victims in Haiti. The Girl Scouts held a bake sale and performed in the "Help For Haiti Variety Show." The efforts raised more than $2,200, which was presented to the American Red Cross at the Monday Morning Gathering on May 3. See pictures from the variety show here.

Rossman Players Have Triumphant Run

After months of hard work, the Rossman Players presented three performances of "Willy Wonka" to appreciative students, faculty, family and friends at the Pratt Performing Arts Center. See pictures from two of the performances here and here.

Rossman Participates in Teacher Hiring Fair to Promote Diversity

Rossman School participated in the 2010 Teacher Hiring Fair to Promote Diversity on Saturday, March 6, at Harris-Stowe State University. The job fair, which was sponsored by the Independent Schools of St. Louis (ISSL), provided prospective teaching candidates opportunities to meet representatives from the St. Louis area’s independent schools to discuss life at their schools.

Set Sail with Rossman

It was anchors aweigh and full speed ahead toward a night of philanthropy and fun at Rossman School’s biennial dinner auction, which was held March 6 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac.

More than 30 ice sculpture centerpieces and a nautical theme helped the Rossman School Parents’ Club transform the Ambassadeur Ballroom into a cruiseliner for “Set Sail with Rossman.” The event allowed parents of current students at Rossman School to gather with friends, faculty and alumni, bid in silent and live auctions, and enjoy an exquisite dinner.

“It was a successful evening that will benefit the children of Rossman School,” said Rossman School Head of School Pat Shipley.

The dazzling array of items up for grabs in the silent and live auctions, including sensational jewelry, rare sports memorabilia, vacations, Rossman Rarities and much more, helped the Rossman School Parents’ Club raise money for the children of Rossman School. The auction brought in more than $160,000. Five dedicated parents — Marci Bluestone, Colleen Geller, Melissa Kantrovitz, Lisa Mella and Jody Rodeheaver — chaired the event and received help from many members of the Parents’ Club, including Parents’ Club President Linda Smith. Rossman parent and alum Julie (Buck) Brooks served as the evening’s emcee.

New Developments in the Tech Center

The new calendar year has brought some new additions to Rossman School's Technology Center.

MacBooks
Students are now using 16 MacBooks, all with Snow Leopard — the latest operating system from Apple. The MacBooks have mice that have been specially designed for our students, in Rossman colors!

SMART Document Camera and Cabinet
As part of the Schwaner Award presented in November to Librarian Lin Edmonston and Technology Coordinator Becky Taylor, the School now has a SMART Document Camera and cabinet that can be used by all teachers. The camera’s optical and digital zoom allows sharp images of any object placed under it. It zooms in to show even the smallest details on the SMARTBoard.

Rossman School Students Raise $7,816 for American Heart Association

Rossman School students raised more than $7,800 for the American Heart Association by participating in two events. Seventy-seven Rossman School students in grades 3-6 participated in Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart on February 5, raising $7,816 overall for the American Heart Association. Students participating in the Jump Rope for Heart raised $7,070. Students participating in Hoops for Heart raised $746.

During the Jump Rope for Heart, students supplemented their rope jumping with special contests, including a double dutch contest and a speed jumping competition. This was the first year Rossman School added Hoops for Heart to the event. Participants in Hoops for Heart participated in basketball skills competitions.

In addition to being fun, the event helped raise awareness of the importance of incorporating cardiovascular activity into the students’ daily routine.

Click here to see pictures from the Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart.

Schnuck Family Honored as Citizens of the Year

The Schnuck Family (Craig, Scott, Terry, Mark, Todd and Nancy (Diemer) — and their cousin Stephanie Schnuck Sterkel) was featured in the January 24, 2010, St. Louis Post-Dispatch as Citizens of the Year. Todd is a former president of the Rossman Board of Trustees. Todd and his wife Julie's four children, Todd Jr. ('01), Liesl ('03), Margaret ('05) and Peter ('07), are Rossman alumni. Craig and his wife Connie's sons, Brian ('84) and Jeffrey ('86), also attended Rossman School.

Exciting News About Early Childhood Playground

The Cotswold Foundation has generously donated $200,000 for our new Early Childhood playground and the revamping of our driveway. This wonderful donation will cover all the expenses associated with a new playground and a good deal of the funds necessary to move the road in order to place the playground in close proximity to the kindergarten rooms. Having a separate playground for the youngest children will actually benefit the whole school because we will be able to schedule recess for all of our students at times that are more appropriate than at present.

This new playground has been on our wish list for Rossman since 2005 when we asked architects to draw up a design for a new playground and outdoor classroom. The playground and road revamping are the first phase of a plan for an outdoor classroom on the Conway Gardens Property that is owned by our school.

Right now we are scheduling preliminary discussion meetings with the architects who designed the playground. Our hope is to complete the playground and roadwork by the opening of the 2010-2011 school year. The Cotswold Foundation has made a gift that will delight Rossman children for many years to come.

Schwaner Awards Presented

At the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon, which was held on November 9, 2009, the Schwaner Award for Faculty Professional Development was presented by Michael Cummings, the grand nephew of Helen Schwaner, one of the founders of the School. Both an alumnus and a former member of the Board of Trustees, he gave two awards this year, one to Lin Edmonston and Becky Taylor for document cameras to be used by all the teachers, and the other to Jim Holmes and Annie Menees for special balls that will replace the chairs currently used by sixth graders.

Sixth Grade Service Project Featured in St. Louis Kids Magazine

The Class of 2010’s recent service project was the subject of a feature story in a recent issue of the St. Louis Kids Magazine. Download a PDF of the story by clicking here.

Board Adopts Strategic Plan

At its October meeting, the Board of Trustees adopted the Strategic Plan, VISION:2014. The process that led to this moment has been inclusive, collaborative and research-based. It has produced the vision, goals, strategies and initiatives that will guide us incredibly well during the next five years and will ensure that Rossman School continues to be the finest elementary school possible.