CONGRATULATIONS TO ANUSHKA CHANDIRAMANI!
Anushka competed against 17 other school champions in the St. Thomas/St. John District Spelling Bee on Friday, February 12. She was poised and very well prepared. Anushka won second place, and qualified to compete in the Territory Spelling Bee in March! Her coach, Melissa Bump shared, “Anushka is a very studious young lady, and her hard work really paid off today. I’m so proud of her!”
Last week was a busy time for all of the hard working students in the PGIA. While grade 7-10 were engaged in the Iowa Tests of Educational Development and the grade 12 students were finishing their IBDP Mock Exams, the grade 11 students were completing their "Group 4 Projects", an integral part of the IB Diploma Program.
“The group 4 project is a collaborative activity where students from different group 4 subjects work together on a scientific or technological topic, allowing for concepts and perceptions from across the disciplines to be shared. Its aim is to develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines, their influence on other areas of knowledge and to appreciate the environmental, social and ethical implications of science and technology.”
“This year’s Group 4 project took the form of an interdisciplinary, collaborative investigation into epidemics. Through research and presentations, students demonstrated how biology, physics, chemistry, and environmental systems and societies are required for a full understanding of infectious diseases, including those afflicting both human and animal populations. The final presentations covered viral hemorrhagic fevers (i.e. ebola and dengue fever), HIV/AIDS, polio, and colony collapse disorder. ”
“I knew before that Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies were connected but it amazed me nonetheless. It just further showed me that science is related to many, if not all, aspects of life and it is so crucially important that we understand it because it so important to the way in which we live our lives. The value of the project was much larger than I expected. Collaborating with others and then learning more about the topics presented definitely solidified my decision to minor in a field related to the sciences while in college.”
“Through completing the G4 project I began to better understand that each of the G4 subjects are like puzzle pieces, interconnected to look at through what are similar yet different perspectives to better understand and formulate a whole picture. Physics, Chemistry and Biology are subjects all used to investigate science-related topics in great detail through experiments and calculated data and ES&S interconnects these findings to look at their implications on the environmental systems within a society. Though execution of this project results in an array of learning opportunities, most importantly it further reinforced lessons of the importance of accountability, developing communication skills, remaining open-minded and having the ability to self motivate and independently execute a project.”
While PGIA students took the Iowa Standards on Wednesday, our foreign exchange students from Eurocolegio Casvi Villaviciosa in Madrid were guests of the St. Thomas Historical Trust. Muchas gracias to Vince "Doc" Palancia of the Historic Trust who met with these students on campus last week and then guided their tour around downtown Wednesday.
Ms. Ferguson's Thursday Art Club started off with a bang last week. Her students did beautiful leaf rubbings and paintings - they look so proud, don't they!
The Thursday Art Club is for Full Day Primary and Lower Elementary students. Wednesday Art Club is for Upper El and PGIA. Anyone that may still be interested in joining either of Ms. Ferguson's Art Clubs, please let Ms. Hunt know.
From Michael Bornn: The students are immersed in science. Today we started at 9:00 am with our first lab, it's now 9:25 pm and they are still in a lab. And no one is complaining. In fact I have had to pull students out of labs to go to the next lab. One of our talented students asked the professor " if I could come back later". Each student is finding their interests. They are interacting with each other more and more. Mr. Palmer is observing their interests and adding more lessons over breakfast and dinner breaks. All I have to do is listen, watch and try and recall my science knowledge to follow the topics. They are also observing and learning about the Israeli way of life.
Six PGIA students are at the Weizmann Institute this week further igniting their passions for science. "Each student seems to be passionate about a different area of science. This is amazing to watch and will be life-altering for these students. We are seeing science right now that will change the world," from Head of School Michael Bornn, who is chaperoning the trip.
The Weizmann Institute of Science is one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary basic research institutions in the natural and exact sciences. It is located in Rehovot, Israel, just south of Tel Aviv. The Institute has a long history of investigation and discovery rooted in a mission of advancing science for the benefit of humanity.
Six PGIA students are traveling to Israel to visit the world renowned Weizmann Institute of Science. The PGIA has been collaborating with the Weizmann Institute online for the past several years as a part of our End Session STEM programs. This year we were invited to send students to a specially created Science Camp just for us! Mr. Bornn, Andy Palmer - Physics and Science Teacher, and Mr. Kevin Williams are chaperoning the group. PGIA 12th grader Marcus, 11th grader Aneesh, 10th graders Darby, Hannah and Vanshika and 9th grader Karen head out today and will return next Sunday.
The trip will begin with a three day science camp at the institute with some of the most accomplished scientific minds in the world! The group will also visit the Masada Desert, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. What an amazing opportunity for these young minds!
This year alone, VIMSIA students will have traveled to Santa Domingo, Madrid, Israel, China, New York, Amsterdam and the Yucatan. Incroyable!
Eagle scouts: chaperones Andy and Kevin with student marcus
So here's a tip. If you are sending your child to the middle of the desert, send them with three Eagle Scouts!
“Life isn’t meant to be lived caged within walls and mindsets. The only way to break free from the shackles of monotony is to travel. Bon voyage.”
“I throw my glass, that others might throw their jade.”
A huge thank you to all of the donors that made this trip possible!
As part of her MYP Personal Project, a culminating event in year 10, Darby entertained an enthralled audience Wednesday evening with a Shakespeare performance including pieces from As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew and Othello.
Kudos, Darby. Very well done!
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
Congratulations to our VIMSIA chess players and Coach Allen. We had several students participate in the interscholastic chess tournament held January 16. Kudos to Amir, who took first place in the 12 and under category, Kinze who took second place in the 9 and under category and Keo who took third place in the 12 and under category. Go chess!
Bienvenido to the eleven 7th and 8th grade Spanish exchange students that joined us from Madrid last week. We are so excited that we have embarked on an exchange program with the Eurocolegio Casvi School just outside of Madrid, Spain. These 7th and 8th graders will be here at the PGIA for six weeks. In February, 13 of our PGIA 7th and 8th graders will travel to their school in Madrid for six weeks. The Madrid students are being hosted by the VIMSIA families whose children will travel in February.
What an amazing opportunity for these students to improve their foreign language development, immerse themselves in cultural interaction, and make international friends for a lifetime! As our Head of School often states...
“We don’t live on simply an island, we don’t live in simply the United States - we live in the world, and our students must become conscientious global citizens. ”
The weekends for these students and their hosts are filled with great island and Caribbean excursions, we are so proud to show off our island to these friends from Spain. Thanks to Mr. Williams for putting together this video of their trip to Coral World. Spanish friends, share this with your friends at home so they can see what you're up to!!
Students in Ms. Ferguson's Thursday Art Club experimented with mixing the primary colors, creating patterns and painting between the lines on canvas! Looks like they had fun creating these beautiful works.
VI Culture with Ms. Francis, Coding Plus Plus with Ms. Schlesinger and Mr. Fong, Organic Gardening with Mr. Berry, Shakespeare with Ms. New, Photography with Clay Jones, Yearbook with Ms. Tess, Martial Arts with Master Scott - Huge thanks to all of our enrichment instructors and to Ms. Helen for putting together such a great enrichment schedule!
Today we welcomed back graduates from our very first IB graduating class to last year's class. Huge thanks to Mrs. Elger for organizing an alumni luncheon today to bring our graduates back. The PGIA Juniors and Seniors were invited for a round table discussion about life after PGIA. We are so proud of all of our students and so appreciative to these alumni for taking time to share their stories. GO GRADS!
Visiting PGIA IB Alumni
L to R on top:
L to R on bottom:
The current 6th graders are working with Mrs. Elger, Mrs. Bump, Mrs. Morrison and Mrs. Batten to discuss their MYP expectations and homework packets for the spring.
Way to go UE-PGIA transition team!!
Carter had a very successful swim meet this weekend in Puerto Rico. She qualified to represent St. Thomas at the CARIFTA games as part of the USVI National Swim Team. Such a huge honor! Her time on the 50m free was 31.18 and the 200m free was 2.32.26. She dropped a total of 17 seconds from her personal best this weekend. Congratulations also goes to Max who won first place overall in his age-group. We are so proud of both of you.
Dive site Kennedy barge(1976)
PGIA students Skyler Anspacher and Andy Maccio, along with teachers Andy Palmer, Caroline Morrison, and Marc Corbeil (photographer) dove the Kennedy barge on Saturday.
Duane Hausch of Admiralty dive center pointed out some rare invertebrates. What a great physics and biology lab - right?!
Students at VIMSIA observed a moment of silence at 11:11 yesterday to honor our U.S. Military veterans. Staff members Barbara LaRonde and Kandeah Brooks, who are veterans of the Army and Air Force respectively, shared their thoughts with Montessori students and answered student questions about what being a veteran means and why it is so important for us to take time to honor those who have served.
Ms. Boyle's classroom made thank you cards for Ms. Brooks, and for Zian and Azaera's dad, Staff Sgt. Lazarus Toussaint.
PGIA students honored veterans by sending letters, poems and artwork to Private 2nd Class David Ortega and his unit, now stationed in Qatar. Ms. Weichman corresponds with Private Ortega through the Adopt a U.S. Soldier organization.
Librarian Kathy Schlesinger found a great video about Veteran's Day from PBS Learning which many of the teachers shared with their students.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day-in, day-out. Not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. And working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Congratulations to all of the M2M runners. 64 PGIA students completed the 8 mile road-race from Montessori to Magens. Your hard work and tenacity in preparing for and running the race will be present in you always. M2M is not just a race.
PGIA 10th Grader Silas Wisehart about to cross the finish line at M2M
On Thursday, October 22, the PGIA College Counseling Department of Chris Teare and Elizabeth Elger held an informative and engaging evening giving parents and students a view behind the curtain of college admissions. Attendees were split into five different sub-admission committees for a fictional university. Everyone read four students' applications and were tasked with admitting two, wait-listing one, and denying one. A lively and spirited discussion ensued about the true tenants of a solid college application and how one determines the "best fit" for an institution. Interestingly enough, the student with the highest standardized test scores and highest grade point average wasn't among the ones accepted! Chris and Elizabeth would like to thank all of the attendees, and they look forward to another mock admission session in the spring! Any and all questions about college counseling, please direct to Elizabeth Elger at eelger@vimsia.org.
Virgin Islands Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy - a Montessori and International Baccalaureate Toddler through grade twelve private school in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands. Ask for Admissions 340-775-6360.
VIMSIA 6936 Vessup Lane, St. Thomas USVI 00802 info@vimsia.org Phone: 340.775.6360 Maps and Directions Staff Portal
