Aaron “Ari” Rosenthal is Santa Rosa City Schools middle school student of the month for November.

Rosenthal, a straight-A student at Rincon Valley Middle School, is taking a rigorous course load while also leading campus clubs, volunteering and earning a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do.

“Aaron Rosenthal, better known as ‘Big Ari,’ is the type of student every teacher loves to have in class,” history teacher Ola King-Claye said in support of Rosenthal. “He has a great thirst for knowledge, a powerful drive to achieve his goals, and above all, a warm sense of humor.”

Rosenthal established the new Santa Rosa Leo Club effort EyeCanHelp to coordinate projects such as collecting and sorting eye glasses to help those in Mexico and Peru who need them. He is member of the RVMS Interact club and volunteers at the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

“Ari is an excellent student,” said physical education teacher Donna Wade. “He is focused, always follows directions to perfection, and consistently put forth his best effort in all exercises and activities.”