Clinton Global Initiative Visiting VIMSIA

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Two of the hot buttons for the Clinton Global Initiative include Montessori Education and Renewable Energy. Both, of course, are on the top of our priority list here at VIMSIA as well. Representatives from the Clinton Global Initiative will be visiting our campus next Wednesday to get a firsthand look at our Montessori Program and our renewable energy efforts. We are hoping to gain their support in our efforts on each of these fronts.

Huge Props to the Livacz Family for their Commencement Ceremony Support

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Many thanks to David and Leslie Livacz who made and donated the “Class of 2019” banners and the blue skirts that were hung along the back of the bleachers. They also provided a VERY large punch bowl! The picture shows it, but if you were there, we are sure you will agree that the venue looked wonderful..

Over the years the Livacz family has done so much for the school from canvas shade clothes to organizing LVN admissions, Fall Fest arcade games, concession cookery and more. Congratulations to Richie and thanks to this lovely VIMSIA family.

Summer Camps or Clinics

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Interest survey. We are looking into some of our staff providing camps or clinics this summer held here on campus. Ms. LeDee is considering a camp for 3 - 12 year olds to be held in BEC. Profe Ott is planning to offer a Summer Tech and Coding Workshop. Señor is putting the flyer together for his soccer clinic. In order to help them plan, please complete the quick survey below if you have an interest in some summer program for your child this summer. Include the age or ages of the children and what weeks during the summer you would like to have them attend. We will finalize the details next week to get information out to you.

Livingston Music Festival

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LIVINGSTON Music Festival to be held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at VIMSIA. A music festival benefiting Dr. Mark Livingston's recovery! Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy an afternoon with incredible music featuring seven bands, delicious food and drinks! Kid activities available until 8PM (moon bounce, face painting and crafts). Sponsored by ProSolar and Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, all proceeds will help get Mark the highly specialized therapy he needs - six hours of rehabilitation per day. Our goal is to raise $150,000 and we need YOUR help! $35 adults, $10 children. Entry fee includes one food item and fun for the whole family! vimsia.org/events

Event Flyer

Note from HOS: New Building this Summer and Sustainability

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Sprung Building

Sprung Building

I am managing numerous priorities at this time of year.  Here is a quick update on a few of them.

We will commence construction on June 1 of a Sprung building to serve as a multipurpose temporary facility on the site of the old Art Trailer.  In addition, over the summer we will be replacing the existing Hibiscus Dance Studio (west end of the soccer field) with a permanent building.

Lithium phosphate battery

Lithium phosphate battery

We have also started the process of installing a new lithium phosphate battery storage system to facilitate the conversion of the entire school to “off-grid” status with no WAPA connection.  Presently 15% of the campus is off grid.  Over the next several weeks, these new batteries will be installed to give us a total of 30% campus off-grid. We are hoping to have the entire school off-grid by 12/31/2019.

Along the same lines of sustainability, we have just received a donation of four Nissan Leaf Electric Cars.  These cars will be made available to staff members along with the ability to charge them during the day from our solar energy system. 

Have a great weekend!

Yours in Education,

Michael Bornn, Head of School

International Museum Day Observance - Great Activities Planned

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International Museum Day will be celebrated on Saturday, May 18, 2018.  The chosen theme for 2019 is ‘Museums as Cultural Hubs:  The Future of Tradition’.  The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that, ‘Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of culture and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.’

Both Fort Frederik Museum National Historic Landmark site (FFM) and Fort Christian Museum National Historic Landmark site (FCM) will be part of this global celebration.  FCM has planned a week long observance, which includes extended hours with several activities and presentations to include:

  • Storytelling by Glenn “Kwabena” Davis’ mentees

  • Presentation by Poetry Out Loud finalists

  • Music by local schools to include Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School’s Flambo Combo and Aben Marrero on the steel pan

  • Cultural presentations by Culture Shock, Enchantment Dancers, Mungo Niles Cultural Dancers, Pan In Motion, and St. Thomas Heritage Dancers

There will be extended hours on Wednesday, May 15th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Saturday, May 18th from 10:00am – 2:00pm and Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.  During these extended hours, there would be free admission for locals.

Kindly refer to the attached flyer for additional information.  Feel free to share and see you there!

Respectfully,

Arlene L. Pinney-Benjamin

Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums (DLAM)
Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR)

Bat Night at VIMSIA with Renata Platenberg - The "Bat Lady"

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Renata Platenberg and Ms. Silva have bee working to host a “Bat Night” here at VIMSIA. We are looking at a Tuesday, either May 28 or June 4 - likely to start about 5:30, but has to go until dark when the bats come out. Any feedback from families that would be interested in the best date, email right away so we can let Dr. Plantenberg know.

Here is an article about Dr. Platenberg which gives you some background. She has hosted these at Magens in the past, and I have personally heard great things! Also pop a quick email back if you are interested in attending, it will be nice to get a feel for numbers.

VIMSIA Welcomes Ms. Hess Back and Wishes Ms. Ludick Well

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It’s that time of year when we say good bye to some of our teachers as they venture off on their next chapter and welcome in any new staff. Ms. Ludick will be moving on after this year to spend more time with her family in Ohio - we wish her all the best and thank her for her time with us. She moved on island about two weeks before the hurricanes hit us in 2017 - so we certainly welcomed her in with flair! Good luck Ms. Ludick! Enjoy this appreciation note from Erica…..

Ms. Neysa Hess will be coming back to VIMSIA to replace Ms. Ludick. Ms. Hess was with us for two years in Lower Elementary and was forced to leave island due to the storms. We welcome Ms. Hess and her children back to VIMSIA!

Yearbook Committee Advisor Needed for Next Year

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We are looking for next year's Yearbook committee advisor.

Mrs. Ethen was our advisor for the last 2 years and is ready to step down. Thank you, Mrs. Ethen, so much for all you’ve done these past 2 years!

We need an adult who will be able to motivate the students each week during Enrichment to take photos and complete necessary tasks, using the software provided by the school.

Enrichment is on Wednesdays from 1:25pm to 3:15pm.

In addition to Yearbook Committee Advisor, we are looking for anyone from the greater community that would be interested in volunteering their time and sharing their expertise with the students for the 2019-2020 Enrichment classes.

Volunteers can offer any type of classes from cooking, jewelry making & yoga to astrophysics, marine biology & robotics!!

Ideally, we'd love someone to replace our previous volunteer gardener, since our garden is looking kinda shabby these days.

Lastly, I am looking for anyone who can sew. Our Bhangra costumes need a little TLC after many years of use.

Please contact Ms. Helen, hsidiropoulos@vimsia.org, if you are interested.