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Learning punctuation has never been more delicious! This week, Mrs. Murphy brought creativity—and a touch of Italy, into her middle school classroom by transforming a traditional grammar lesson into an immersive, Italian-themed experience using pasta to teach punctuation. From the moment students walked in, they were greeted by an atmosphere inspired by all things Italian. But the real magic happened when Mrs. Murphy introduced an innovative, hands-on way to understand punctuation marks, using a variety of pasta shapes as visual and tactile tools. Elbow macaroni, spaghetti, shells, and more became commas, periods, quotation marks, and question marks right before students’ eyes. By connecting each punctuation mark to a pasta shape, students were able to see and build sentences in a new way. The lesson encouraged active participation, collaboration, and plenty of curiosity as students constructed sentences, corrected errors, and explained their punctuation choices, all while engaging multiple senses. What might normally feel like a dry grammar topic quickly turned into an energetic, memorable learning experience. This creative approach not only helped reinforce punctuation rules, but it also made learning fun and accessible for different learning styles. Students laughed, asked thoughtful questions, and walked away with a stronger understanding of how punctuation shapes meaning, plus a lesson they won’t soon forget. Mrs. Murphy’s pasta-powered punctuation lesson is a wonderful example of how imaginative teaching can bring curriculum to life. Bravo to Mrs. Murphy for serving up a lesson that was equal parts educational and inspiring!
This fall, our 7th and 8th grade students stepped into the exciting world of finance through the Stock Market Game, an immersive simulation that gives students a virtual $100,000 to invest in real-time markets. Guided by Mrs. Cicarelli, students learned firsthand how global markets operate and how investors make informed decisions. Throughout the club, students explored how to research companies using tools like Yahoo Finance, studied trendlines, analyzed graphs, and followed major brands to understand how real-world events can influence stock performance. They practiced identifying ticker symbols, monitored market fluctuations, and discussed the importance of timing and observation—recognizing how noticing trends in everyday life can translate into investment insights. Their diligence and teamwork led to remarkable success. On multiple dates in November, St. Rose School achieved the #1 Advisor Ranking among all schools in the region with five or more participating teams—a significant achievement in a competitive field. Several teams reached impressive standing in the overall competition, including top rankings of 2nd, 3rd, and 5th place out of 275 participating teams. These groups built portfolios exceeding $100,000 in value through thoughtful research and strategic investing. Their excitement and pride were evident as they presented their certificates and reflected on their accomplishments. In addition, the class collaborated to create a combined portfolio featuring one favorite stock from each team. This collective effort earned an outstanding 6th place ranking out of 275 teams, demonstrating the power of shared decision-making and diverse perspectives. Beyond rankings and portfolio growth, the Stock Market Game offered students a meaningful opportunity to build financial literacy, strengthen analytical thinking, and experience the rewards of teamwork. The enthusiasm and engagement shown by our middle schoolers highlight the impact of hands-on learning experiences at St. Rose School. We are incredibly proud of our students for their efforts, curiosity, and leadership throughout the program. Their success is a testament to the vibrant, engaging, and future-focused education we strive to provide every day at St. Rose.










