Col. Bradley and the Rosarian Academy

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Rosarian Academy is an independent Catholic school in West Palm Beach, Florida that was founded in 1925. The school is owned and operated by the Adrian Dominican Sisters and is the only independent Catholic school in Palm Beach County. The mascot of Rosarian Academy is Rowdie Raider who wears the Rosarian Shield on his hat, carries the shield on one arm, and holds the Rosarian 'Torch of Truth'.

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Rosarian Academy's academics in grades K-8 are centered around the Core Knowledge Curriculum, a consensus-based model of specific content guide-lines developed by the Core Knowledge Founda-tion.  Rosarian Academy currently has a student population of approximately 400, along with 44 teachers, 6 teaching assistants, and 10 support staff. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  Since 1974 Rosarian Academy has been home to an early childhood Montessori educational program. The program currently admits children up to 5 years old.

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Originally known as St. Ann-on-the-Lake, Rosarian Academy was first established by St. Ann's Church in conjunction with the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan. The Jesuits established St. Ann's Church in West Palm Beach in 1895. Henry Flagler later contributed to the development of St. Ann's by building a rectory and financing the relocation of the chapel from the corner of Rosemary and Datura to Olive Avenue and Second Street.

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In 1923 Patrick Barry, fifth bishop of St. Augustine, invited the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan to West Palm Beach to establish a school for Catholic children. By the time the sisters arrived, 126 students were already registered and there was insufficient housing for all of them. Colonel Edward R. Bradley, a wealthy businessman and racing horse breeder, gifted the sisters with a 7 ¼ acre plot for the construction of a combined dormitory and school for female students. The building, named Bradley Hall, opened in 1925. At the time the school was named St. Ann-on-the-Lake Academy in honor of Colonel Bradley's mother. A school building was opened downtown the same year and students traveled from one to the other for classes.

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In 1926 Florida was hit by the first of two historically devastating hurricanes and the Bradley Hall building began to deteriorate. On the night of September 16, 1928, the second hurricane, with winds gusting up to 130 mph, struck Palm Beach and moved inland, causing widespread devastation and killing as many as 2,000 people. The grounds of St. Ann-on-the-Lake Academy were a scene of devastation. Two original towers on the building were ripped off and the roof was blown away. The roof was replaced, but the towers were not.

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The first students graduated from St. Ann-on-the-Lake Academy in 1934. This was also the first year that the girls attended all classes at the school's property, separating entirely from the St. Ann's Parish school. The 1930s were lean times and the sisters supplemented their incomes by tutoring students of all ages and both genders.  In 1939, to avoid confusion between St. Ann-on-the-Lake and St. Ann's parochial school, the name of the former was changed to Rosarian Academy.

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In September 1941 the school purchased the adjacent property, La Casa Hermosa, for use as dormi-tories. The property was thereafter referred to as Casa Maria and was used to house elementary students until elementary boarding was ended in 1967.After Bishop Gallagher of Detroit recovered from a winter cold there, the guest quarters at the Academy became a popular destination for mem-bers of the church hierarchy, including Archbishop McNicholas of Cincinnati; Bishop Karl Albers of Lansing; Archbishop Amleto Cicognani; Archbishop Edward Hoban of Cleveland; Archbishop Ryan of Hamilton, Ontario; and Father Coughlin, the "radio priest". For the blessing of the newly opened Casa Maria, Cardinal Dougherty of Philadelphia, Cardinal Mooney of Detroit, Archbishop Stritch of Chi-cago, Archbishop Hurley of St. Augustine, and Bishop Muench of Fargo were all in attendance.

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The outbreak of World War II saw Rosarian Academy students and staff getting involved with the war effort. Students and Sisters took First Aid courses and raised money for Polish refugees. Choral programs were performed for wounded soldiers at Reams Hospital (the current Biltmore Hospital in Palm Beach) and the students performed a Christmas play for the local USO club. In 1944 the students participated in an all-out bond drive which raised $48,000, earning the Academy a US Department of Treasury medal in recognition of its service.The 1940s brought Rosarian Academy increased recog-nition for its academic program. In 1943 it was accredited by the Florida State Board of Education and in 1946 it was given accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The Academy was accepted as a charter member of the National Honor Society in April 1947, and the first students were inducted into the Chi Tokos Rho Chapter during the Honors Assembly in May of that year. In 1947 the school also graduated twenty students for the first time. The number of students graduated would not fall below twenty again until 1991 with the exit of the final graduating class.

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In the early years of the school male students had been admitted as day students, however in 1943 this practice was discontinued and the school would enroll girls exclusively until the creation of the Montessori Program in 1974.  The tradition of Rosarian Week was first begun in 1945. The first Student Council was organized during the first Rosarian Week. Patricia Collier was elected the first student body president.  Due to the school's rapid growth, the need for more schooling, chapel, and dormitory space was recognized. Ground on two new buildings was broken in March 1949 and in 1950 a new chapel and a new school building were dedicated.  Recognizing the need to raise public aware-ness of Rosarian Academy, the school initiated a lively public relations program with the aid of Mrs. Frank J. Lewis whose culmination was the Red, White and Blue Ball at the Biltmore Hotel. In 1948 ground was broken on the new Rosary Chapel and the Angelicum, a new wing of the school.

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In May 1951 Rosarian Academy Home Association (RAHA) was founded to promote cordial parent-teacher relationships and aid in raising funding support for the school. Mrs. Francis H. Sprankle, whose daughter was in grade school, served as the first chair. The first effort of the association was a theater benefit at the Paramount in Palm Beach which succeeded in raising $27,000. RAHA would later become RAFA.  In 1952, Rosarian Academy purchased the Palm Beach Yacht Club for $75,000. The main floor was converted into an auditorium and eight music rooms. The basement was remo-deled to provide a shower room, lockers for day students, and a large classroom.  To raise money for the remodel the school put together a fundraising drive with the motto Have a Heart for Rosarian. The highlight of the fundraiser was a showing of [The African Queen] at the Paramount Theatre, with Judy Garland and Peter Lawford among the guests. Door prizes included a donated Jaguar.  Several school traditions were begun during this period, including the annual Spaghetti Dinner, which was first held in 1953. Other regular events that were established included the Reception Tea and the Spring Lun-cheon. The May Day Cake Social and benefit card parties that began at this time eventually evolved into golf tournaments, the Anniversary Ball, the Rosarian Roundup, and the fundraising auction.  In 1956 Rosarian Academy acquired the Aiello property and in December of that year ground was broken for Lewis Hall, named for Academy supporter Frank J. Lewis. The new hall contained a large student dining room, a kitchen, a library, an art room, and an audio-visual room. For Christmas in 1958 Count and Mrs. Frank J. Lewis gifted the Harrington Apartments to the school. Later renamed Regina hall, initially it was used as the senior dormitory and lay faculty residence. Today it houses the Montessori Little School.  The swimming pool and bathhouse were a gift from Bertha K. Evans in 1959.

During the late fifties the students of Rosarian Academy staged several high production-value musical shows directed by Paul Crabtree and financed by Frank J. Hale, first at the Palm Beach Playhouse, and later at the Royal Poinciana. Crabtree taught weekly classes in voice, acting, and stage construction, and was also managing director at the Playhouse and later the producer-director at the Royal Poin-ciana. The shows staged included Chonita in 1956, The Wizard of Oz in 1957, and Cinderella in 1958. Two original productions, The Perils of Pinocchio and Dreamland, U.S.A., were staged in 1959 and 1960.  Rosarian Academy's traditional Christmas pageant got its start in 1958 under Paul Crabtree's direction, and the students designed the scenery and costumes themselves. This become a long-running annual tradition.

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In 1961, Rosarian Academy's accreditation was renewed "unanimously and without reservation."  In 1962, Rosarian Academy stopped taking boarders before the seventh grade, although day students were still accepted from younger grades. The kindergarten program was phased out in 1963.  In December 1963, ground was broken for the Margaret Tighe Michlin Fine Arts Center in place of the old yacht club, which was removed by barge to Palm Beach Gardens. The Center was completed the following year.  To inaugurate the building and dedicate the magnificent Allen organ (a gift from Perry Como and his wife) Berj Zamkochian, organist for the Boston Pops and Symphony Orchestras, was invited to play a concert in March 1965. That same year Perry Como and Ray Charles both visited the campus to hear the Rosarian Choral perform, and the Choral were later invited to be guests on Perry Como's nationwide television show, broadcast from Miami Beach Auditorium.

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In 1966, trumpet player Al Hirt performed with the Rosarian Choral in a program called "Al Hirt Swings at Rosarian". Perry Como attended the program and sang during the intermission.  In 1964 Sister John Virginia formed the Little Players of Palm Beaches for children in grades one through six. They performed productions including The Pied Piper, The Selfish Giant, and The Velveteen Rab-bit.  In September 1964 Rosarian Academy inaugurated a nongraded program in mathematics and reading for grades one through four, extending it to grades five and six the following year. In 1966, team teaching became an integral part of the fifth and sixth grades' language arts, social studies and science programs.  In November 1966 the Guidance Office, an area added to the second floor between the old and new sections of the school, was officially opened. In 1967 a study was undertaken that showed that Rosarian Academy's grade school was not a feeder for its upper level classes. The decision was made to phase out the grade school classes one grade level at a time.  Father Gregory Durkin arrived in December 1966 from Springfield, Massachusetts to recover from a heart attack and became Rosarian's first resident chaplain, serving in that capacity until 1977.  Organist Berj Zamkochian returned in February 1967 with a male choral called the Edmundites who performed in a joint recital with the Rosarian Choral. The Rosarian Choral then traveled to Boston to perform with the boys in their hometown. More joint concerts would follow in 1973 and 1975.  A film studies program was introduced in 1967 by Sister Margaret Ryan (William Paul), head of the English department. The program focused on the technical aspects of filmmaking. The first student films to be presented to the public would be at the 1970 Rosarian Academy Awards, with trophies presented by Mrs. Perry Como.

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In the 1972, Rosarian formally became a Middle School including sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, and a high school encompassing ninth through twelfth grade. At the same time the school transitioned to a strictly academic curriculum intended to prepare students for college.  New electives were added to the coursework with the input of the students and Senior Projects, which often involved some form of community service project became a part of the senior year. During the spring Rosarian began offering week-long 'mini courses' as varied as yoga, decoupage, modeling, karate, computer program-ming, and gourmet cooking that students could voluntarily participate in.  In 1973 interscholastic sports opened up a new area in which Rosarian Academy students in grades six through twelve could participate. Rosarian joined the Palm Beach County Junior High School Activities Association for grades six through eight and Florida High School Activities Association for grades nine through twelve. This gave Rosarian students access to competitive interscholastic sports such as volleyball, bowling, swimming, softball, tennis, and golf.  In September 1974 the Montessori Little School opened under the directorship of Sister Jean Durrer. The program was for pre-kindergarten children 2 ½ to 4 ½ years of age and was located on the first floor of Regina Hall. Sister Anthonita Porta, an Adrian Dominican internationally recognized as a Montessori consultant, supervised the establishment of the program.

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The Sophomore Religion Program also began in 1975. Students spent at least two hours a week in the community, comforting, helping, and teaching as needed.  In 1976 Rosarian held its Golden Anni-versary Ball to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The event was held at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. Mrs. Victor W. Farris (Celia Lipton) was General Chairperson of the event and [Gordon MacRae] and [Milton Berle] were the featured entertainers.  In 1976 Rosarian Academy acquired Myer's House on Eighth Street, which would later be known as French House. Over time it would serve as a faculty residence, Barry University Office, kindergarten, and classroom.  Sister Eileen Sullivan and Sister Medeleine Sophie McLeod became co-principals in 1977.  Glenn and Joy Evans continued the Rosarian tradition of annual musicals when they arrived in 1978 by directing Once Upon A Mattress, Bye, Bye, Birdie, and Hello Dolly. They also directed several dramas including David and Lisa and The Impor-tance of Being Earnest.  That same year a photography lab was added to the campus in a section of the laundry area and classes were taught by Timothy Sanders.

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In 1982 Eugene C. Mildon took over the theater department at Rosarian Academy and began to direct elaborately staged Broadway shows, including The King and I, Carousel, and Annie. The latter's performance included the original Broadway dog, Sandy, who spent ten days on the campus with his trainer and understudy.  Former Rosarian teacher Sister Thomas James Burns became principal of Rosarian in 1983. During her tenure, kindergarten through second grade classes were reinstated at Rosarian. Sister Phyllis Kreiner, O.P., was the consultant for the formation of the new elementary school. One grade was added each year and in June 1992 the first coed eighth grade graduating class received their certificates.  In 1983 Rosarian Academy acquired its own yellow bus to transport students to and from the campus, as well as to aid with field trips and athletic events.  By 1988 the service had expanded to three busses and a sports van, which served the areas south to  oynton/Delray, north to Jupiter, and west to Military Trail, accommodating over sixty students.  In early 1986 a fire burned the garage apartments used as a faculty residence behind Myer's House and the building was torn down.  In September 1988 Sister Mary Rose Hochanadel, O.P., joined the staff as Elementary Principal for the expanding grade school. Sister Margaret Exworthy became director and High School Principal in 1989. By that year registration for grade school classes had ballooned to the point that there were two classrooms for each grade and the school's facilities were at maximum capacity.

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In 1990 an after-school athletics program was organized for the students in grades one through six, which included basketball, soccer, flag football, and swimming.  1991 saw a momentous change as it was determined that Rosarian's all-girl's high school program needed to close. There were fewer students interested in attending an all-girls school and it was believed that male students would not be interested in attending a school that had formerly been known to be girls only. In May 1991 the high school graduated its last class of nineteen seniors, while the kindergarten through eighth grade programs continued.  In 1994, Regina Hall was razed and the construction of new offices for the Adrian Dominicans begun in its place. The new Regina Hall was completed in 1996.  In December 1996, Bradley Hall was razed in preparation for the new, larger Mary Alice Fortin Building. Because this building would require more space, Casa Maria was also razed to make room for it.  In 1998 cons-truction of the Fortin Building was completed. The new structure replaced Bradley Hall. Its cons-truction was funded in part by wealthy philanthropist Mary Alice Fortin, widow of late oilman Philip Fortin.  The school also purchased two neighboring houses on 8th street, which were converted for the use of office and maintenance personnel.

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In 2001, ground was broken on the Margaret and Michael Picotte Center for Athletics and Fine Arts. The building was officially dedicated in May 2009.  In 2010, the Garvy Gym was opened and the Rosary Chapel was re-dedicated with a Mass led by Bishop Gerald Barbarito. In 2012, the school reopened the theater and the Machlin family returned the naming rights of the Theater to Rosarian Academy.  In 2012, Rosarian Academy reopened the theater and the Machlin family returned the naming rights to the school.

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The Rosarian Academy campus sits on the edge of Lake Worth in West Palm Beach. It consists of nine buildings, most of which exist thanks to the generosity of the school's benefactors, including the Margaret Tighe Machlin Theatre, Lewis Hall, Victor W. Farris Library, and the Mary Alice Fortin Building.  Until 1927 the campus extended to the water's edge, until the city of West Palm Beach paid the Rosarian Academy $1,650 for a sixty-foot right of way to build Flagler Drive. The Adrian Domi-nican Sisters retained riparian rights and the city also agreed to install a seawall and maintain it for forty years. In 1954 the State Road Department purchased another parcel of land for the purpose of widening the road, creating the present limits on the property frontage.  The school's original building, which came to be known as Bradley Hall, was a three-story structure with a basement. The basement contained a lobby, gymnasium, furnace and laundry. The first floor contained a chapel, a dining hall, a community room for the sisters, a kitchen, offices, and a guest room with a bath. The second floor contained classrooms, a library, a study hall, three music rooms, an infirmary, and a large bathroom. The third floor contained the dormitories for the sisters and the students, bathrooms and changing rooms. The building featured two towers on the roof, as well as a rooftop garden, but these were destroyed during the 1928 hurricane. Today the structure has been replaced by the Mary Alice Fortin building.  The Rosary Chapel was constructed in 1949. The interior design of the Rosary Chapel was the work of Sister Helene O'Connor, a former head of the Studio Angelico Art Department of Siena Heights College. The chapel contained fifteen rosettes surrounding the mahogany cross in the sanc-tuary. It also contained statues of St. Dominic, the Blessed Mother, and the Stations of the Cross. In the 1990s the chapel was converted into a physical education building and chapel services were held in the Margaret Tighe Machlin Theatre. In 2010, with the opening of Garvy Gym, the Rosary Chapel was rededicated as a chapel once more in a mass led by Bishop Gerald Barbarito.  The original painting ""Our Lady of the Rosary" by C. Bosseron Chambers was donated by Frank J. Hale and still hangs in the student's dining hall.  The Picotte Center Athletics and Fine Arts is a 49,000 square foot complex completed in 2009 which includes a dining area, health classrooms, a technology suite, a gymnasium, drama lab, music room, and after school classrooms.

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Rosarian Week is a celebration of the Feast of the Holy Rosary and Rosarian Academy's patron which occurs the first week of October. First started in 1945, it was originally only a day long celebration. It began with a "Missa Cantata" sung by the students, continued with the debut of the whole student body in which they were presented to the faculty, parents, and friends around 4 pm in Our Lady's Garden, and came to its completion with an evening banquet. By 1957 the celebration had expanded to fill an entire school week with a special event on each of the five days. Special days often include Spirit Day, Color Day, Alumnae Day, Open House, and a Family Barbeque.  Award ceremonies are held at the conclusion of each scholastic trimester. Students are recognized for achievement in academics, ath-letics, and community service. The highest award, the St. Dominic Award, is bestowed at graduation to a student who exemplifies qualities of joy, service, leadership, and achievement.  A number of clubs have been organized on the Rosarian Academy campus, including an Art club, a Society of Creative Writers, a Spanish Club, a Drama Club, a Show Choir, and a National Math Club. Most clubs meet once or twice a week after school.  The National Junior Honors Society at Rosarian Academy is a chartered member and affiliate of the national office of NJHS.  Students in the 5th through 8th grades elect a student council each year who set standards for peer behavior and take leadership roles at school dances and social functions. A president and vice president are also elected. Officers are required to have a C average for the current school year and no failing marks, no less than a "2” in each class in effort and conduct, and no record of school suspension or chronic disciplinary problems.

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Students in kindergarten through fourth grade participate in intramural school sports including soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, and space and movement.  Students in grades five through eight may try out for the interscholastic sports teams. Sports include flag football, volleyball, cheerleading, swimming, basketball, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, and golf.  In the 1986–1987 school year the Rosarian golf team became state champions, and the following year they earned the title of state runner-up.