Picotte Center for Athletics & Fine Arts Project
A crowd of over 800 Rosarian Academy students and their families, Board members, faculty, alumni and loyal supporters gathered on May 2, 2009 to celebrate an emotional grand opening of the campus’s new three-story Picotte Center for Athletics and Fine Arts. Michael and Margi Picotte, joined by their three Rosarian alumni, Nicole, Joseph and Michelle, cut the ceremonial ribbon and welcomed everyone inside for the first-look at the 58,480 square foot building. 
Guests entered through the impressive Arrigo Family Grand Gallery that showcases the Wall of Fame recognizing all the benefactors who brought this 
project from a dream to a reality. The crowd was then welcomed into the spectacular, 17,000 square foot Garvy Gymnasium. The ceremonies opened with an invocation by Sister Corinne 
Sanders, Principal, followed by remarks from Mark Cook, Chairman of the Rosarian Academy Board; Sister Judy Rimbey, General Councilor of the Adrian Dominican Sisters; and Greg Quattlebaum, co-chair of the capital campaign.
Each recognized the many individual and collective efforts that
were dedicated to funding, designing and constructing the new state-of-the-art building.
The event was the culmination of eight years of planning and one and a half years of co nstruction. In May, 2001, Rosarian’s Board of Directors and the Adrian Dominican Sisters Board of Trustees approved a strategic, long-term master campus plan to address key improvements to the campus and launched the Rosarian Academy Campaign for Excellence (R.A.C.E.). Due to the overwhelmin g support from friends, parents, alumni, and grandparents, the campaign funded a new Montessori Preschool, the build-out of the Fortin Summit in the Mary Alice Fortin Building, modernization of the Lewis Building, and the construction of the Picotte Center for Athletic and Fine Arts.
The Picotte Center features visual and performing arts studios with the latest in technologies, physical education and health classrooms, new locker rooms, a versatile multi-purpose room and a full-size gymnasium with a regulation size basketball and volleyball court.
Mrs. Lesly Smith, mother of alumnae, Danielle Hickox Moore, underwrote the Lester N. Stockard Athletic Building, named in memory of Smith’s father.
This building in now affectionately known as “The Stock.” The Garvy Gymnamisum, bears the name of benefactors Bob and Carol Garvy along with their two alumni children, Kelly and Kevin. It seats 400 in the bleachers for basketball and volleyball games. Athletic Director, Cathy Reader, had been dreaming about a facility like this for over thirty years. She had this to say about what the campus improvements will bring to the physical 
education and athletic programs, “Rosarian’s intramural program begins in kindergarten teaching basic skills related to a broad spectrum of sports including golf, t-ball, tennis, basketball, swimming and soccer. As a result of the new gymnasium, outside tennis and basketball courts, and our new Jake Rubin Field, we’ll be able to broaden our physical education curriculum and sports programs including such things as tumbling and track and field.” Ms. Reader is eagerly making the move to the new Rooney Family Athletic Offices that overlook the gym.
In addition to the standards-based physical education and athletics, the students at Rosarian will have the use of the Guerrieri Family Physical Training Room. This room boasts physical fitness equipment acquired through a “PE for Life” grant and will also be available for faculty and parents. Step into the Sam Frankino Boy’s Locker Room and Connie Frankino Girl’s Locker Room and you’ll feel like you’ve entered one of the local health clubs boasting individual tiled shower stalls. 
Rosarian has a long history of excellent arts programs. The east side of the new facility is the arts area. Inspiration is tangible as you enter the Mark & Paula Cook Visual Arts Suite with its high, exposed pipe ceiling, natural lighting, resin speckled kid-friendly floor, built-in kiln and lots and lots of workspace.
Across the hall, the Mark & Paula Cook Music Suite has perfect acoustics made possible by resonance panels resembling works of art. Two sound-proof practice rooms equipped with pianos allow for private lessons or practicing during the day and after school. After the academic day, Rosarian Academy’s Show Choir and students engaged in private lessons for piano and guitar will make use of this space as they further pursue their musical aspirations. Rosarian’s band will also use this beautiful suite.
Down the hall, and completely black from floor to ceiling, is the Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Henry Drama Suite. It’s just a few feet shy of the dimensions of a full black-box theater. Drama Teacher, Bob Sherman, has developed a curriculum for his new space that will teach all components of drama including sound, lighting and staging for the middle school, and will begin with drama instruction starting in second grade. This space will assist students as they develop theatrical skills that will eventually find their expression in the school’s 500 seat theater, currently being refurbished.
The third floor is called “The Neighborhood” designed around the philosophy of the famous Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood – “In every neighborhood, all across our country, there are good people insistin
g on a good start for the young, and doing something about it.” It houses the Raese Family Academic Center for Enrichment, the W. Bradford Ingalls Technology Suite, the Meeting Room, several classrooms and a delightful Reading Lounge for students and teachers.
Future planning for the use of this facility is being explored and will most likely include expanded summer programs, alumni gatherings, and open gym nights. Tours of the Picotte Center for Athletics and Fine Arts will be open to families wishing to apply to the school. A community celebration day including tours will take place in August. 
To support the outstanding education this facility will provide for Rosarian students, you can become part of the Rosarian Academy Neighborhood by making a donation to this project. Simply visit our online giving page or contact Peg Martorella to discuss the remaining naming opportunities at the 561-832-5131 ext. 240 or email peg@rosarian.org. You may also make your gift by printing the Gift Card below and mailing it.
Click on the Gift Card to choose your gift
