Volts Culinary Team wins VI Ultimate Flavors Culinary Competition

On Saturday May 21st, three of our students competed in the VI Ultimate Flavors Culinary Competition:  Eyad Hamed, Aneesh Chandiramani and Anna Lola Williams.  They were given a list of ingredients and expected to prepare a hot appetizer that would impress the judges.  Just before cooking time a secret ingredient was announced and the students were expected to incorporate this secret ingredient into their already decided appetizer. The secret ingredient was bok choy.  

       Our team prepared fried shrimp with a curry-cilantro sauce accompanied by a bok choy salad topped with toasted peanuts.  Not only did they wow the judges, but the judges commented that their dish was very "grown-up" for their age level and they were impressed at how well they communicated with each other and worked together.  

        As the results rolled in we did not hear our name called for 3rd place, we did not hear our name called for 2nd place but we did hear our name called for 1st place!  Out of six schools that have actual culinary arts programs at their institutions we came out on top! Congrats to these three students! It was an honor to coach and mentor them. Go Volts! 

Submitted by Ms. Weichman - way to go Coach Weichman!

Spring Magic Recital - Brava, Bravo, Bravi!

The Spring Magic Production: a Celebration of Music and Dance was a true success. Ballerinas, tap dancers and jazz dancers dazzled the crowd.  Piano players also performed melodiously and were a wonderful addition to this year's celebration. 

Our programs begin in September and continue through May.  The students meet once a week to learn a specific dance genre and work towards creating a showcase at the end of the year to share their newfound skills.  

We have an amazing group of talented performing artists sharing their gifts with our VIMSIA youth.  A special thank you to our instructors: Jessica Alvarado, Mary Capellas, Katie Zaytoun, Luba Dolgopolsky and Artistic Director Helen Sidiropoulos for putting this magical production together. The instructors would also like to thank all administrative staff for supporting the programs, teachers and students throughout the school year.  It takes a village!

NASA Visits VIMSIA - Join us Tonight at 5:00

NASA's Community Outreach event is tonight under the awning at VIMSIA.  The event starts at 5:00 and should wrap up by 8:00.  What a great opportunity to have a photo op with an astronaut and chat with NASA engineers.  All are welcome to attend - no admission fee.

Our six NASA guests arrived on island Saturday and have been busy preparing for the week ahead.  They spent the day with us here at VIMSIA today.  MIddle and High School students from around the island joined our PGIA students for a full day of NASA Science.  In addition to these NASA engineers, Dr. David Morris and Andy Watts brought solar telescopes so that the students could see the transit of Mercury across the sun.

While the older students were busy going through their NASA rotations throughout the day, a NASA astronaut made his way to visit the elementary students.

Visit the school website for information on the week's schedule for NASA.

Ms. Hess's Class gets a visitor!

VIMSIA Joins Open eBooks Inititative!

Screenshot of open ebooks app

Open eBooks is a new nationwide program with the goal of putting popular and award winning digital books into the hands of in-need children for free.  Because the USVI is considered a rural territory under federal guidelines, our students qualify for this program.

Every student will receive a note with instructions and access codes.  This program is currently accessible only through android or apple apps used on tablets and phones.

Ms. Schlesinger has gone to elementary and PGIA classrooms to introduce the program to the students.  Younger students will also have access to encourage family reading.

For more information, go to openeBooks.net.

Please email kschlesinger@vimsia.org with any questions.

Happy Reading!

Bon Voyage as Ms. Keating heads back to Ireland

Ms. Keating displays the gift her students made for her as part of their going away party on Tuesday.

It has been so lovely having Ms. Keating, who retired a few years back after 35 years in the Lower Elementary classroom, back on campus for the past several months.  We are so grateful that she was able to help us out by heading up Ms. Serje's classroom during her leave.  We love you Ms. Keating.  You are forever woven into the fabric of VIMSIA.  

Art is a Verb! This Friday evening - Join us!!

Are YOU ready for Art is a Verb?!  Any guess what this student is cutting out of wood?  Come to Art is a Verb THIS FRIDAY @ 6pm to see if your guess is correct!  

Ms. Ferguson and her PGIA Art students cordially invite you all to our 3rd Annual "Art is a Verb" interdisciplinary art show.  

All proceeds go to the PGIA Arts Department for productions, costumes and art projects.  Feel free to share this poster with friends, family & our community.

Concession stand will be open for light refreshments.  

A "Going out" with Ms. Keating, Ms. Hess and Ms. Santiago

On Friday, April 15, our lower elementary students from Ms. Keating and Ms. Hess’ class had a “Going Out” trip to Vessup Beach. After hiking down to their final location, they enjoyed lunch under the shade of the National Park trees, spying objects in the water from the dock, and participating in individual and team-building activities. From the joy on the student’s faces when they returned and from the photos below, it was a fun afternoon for all!

NASA Visits VIMSIA May 9

VIMSIA is proud to host a group of six NASA scientists and engineers for a Student Science Day during our regular school hours.  Students will see and experience great science and tech throughout the day courtesy of our NASA guests.  Topics to be covered include: Environmental Engineering, Applied Physics, Medical Science, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Development and Computer Science.

Register for events and/or read more about NASA's visit and how they will be reaching out to USVI students and educators during the first week of May.

VIMSIA's Chess Team takes 9th Place at National Tournament

VIMSIA students Amir, Aidan, Kinze and Chris competed at the U.S. Chess Federation National Championships over the weekend.  As a team, these two 4th years and two 6th years were competing against Middle and High School teams from around the country.  There were 1,460 players at the event. The VIMSIA team competed against about 30 teams that were in their section.  They came in with a solid 9th place - with trophies awarded up to the top ten finishers.  Looks like we are going to need that big  trophy case!  Way to go Volts.  Interesting factoid - these four students are also USVI Territorial Soccer Champs.  IB Learning trait = "Well Balanced", and so many more!  

 Kudos to our Chess-letes and thanks to Mr. Allen, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Gever for being there for them.

Shout out to 5th year Annabelle , who was also to attend but was unable to make the event due to travel difficulties - you'll get 'em next time Annabelle!

Chess Tournament Update

The St. Thomas/St. John Chess Club members are in the midst of their first day of competition at the U.S. Chess Federation Scholastic Nationals in Atlanta.  

Mr. Gever is sending us updates as they come in.  Looks like a good first round for Chris.

There are 38 states with close to 1500 students participating!  

One more round today, 3 rounds tomorrow and 2 on Sunday.  We will try to keep you posted!  

Bon Voyage - Chess Athletes Off to Atlanta

Bon voyage and bon chance to our St. Thomas - St. John Youth Scholastic Chess Club members that are off to Atlanta Georgia this morning for the U.S. Chess Federation National Championships.  

17 V.I. students, five of whom are VIMSIA students, will be participating in the event.  VIMSIA will also be representing the V.I. in the team competition.  Kinze, Amir, Aiden, Chris and Annabelle - Upper Elementary students, will be testing their skills against other chess players from around the country.  Huge kudos to Sinclair Wilkinson and VIMSIA Coach Darryl Allen for mentoring these students and providing this great opportunity.  We will keep you posted on results! 

Daily News Post

"It Takes a Village" - Thank You Enrichment Volunteers

PGIA Enrichment happens every Wednesday afternoon.  Ms. Helen is able to coordinate talented volunteers from our community to work with our students' doing something they can all feel passionate about.  

"It takes a village to raise a child"    and we are so blessed here at VIMSIA with our amazing village!  Thank you so much to our volunteers.

Mr. Richard Berry who runs the PGIA Organic Garden

Ms. Pamela New from UVI - Reader's Theater / Shakespeare

Mr. Clay Jones of sevenminusseven -Photography

Master Edward Scott - Martial Arts

Mr. Fong and Ms. Schlesinger - Coding Plus Plus

Ms. Tess - Yearbook

Ms. Francis - VI Culture

Thank you and we love you all!

Montessori Students Speak in United Nations General Assembly

Two of our VIMSIA students were called upon to speak at Montessori Model United Nations last week.

Some Spanish Exchange Students See Snow for the First Time!

Lots of great new experiences for our PGIA students abroad at the Casvi School in Madrid.  One of which, at least for Kira and Aviella, was seeing snow for the first time!

PGIA Exchange Students Visit Spain's Ministry of Education

At the Ministry of education

The center of Villaviciosa de Odon

The Royal Palace

From our chaperone, Ms. Brigitte Bornn ~

Good afternoon, parents.  We had a great excursion today! We were invited to visit for awhile at Spain's Ministry of Education department.  We had a meeting in the legislature with the Ministress herself that was very delightful.  She spoke with our students in Spanish only and our students did very well, asking and answering articulately in Español.  I was so very proud of them! 

MMUN Opening Day!

“Emotionally supercharged by a an ocean of kids, teachers, and chaperones working together for world peace at the opening and tenth anniversary of the Montessori Model United Nations, New York. Kids were told that their voice can make a difference, that their light can change the darkness of war, fear, discrimination, hunger, and the negative changes affecting our global climate . They were each given a light to shine in the darkness of the room as they were told with emblazoned passion they can make a difference ! Wow wow wow !!!”

— Lawrence Aqui, parent and chaperone

Bon Voyage to Our MMUN Delegates!

Bon voyage to our sixth graders from Ms. Batten and Ms. Morrison's classes that are attending the Montessori Model United Nations Conference in New York City this week.  This will be VIMSIA 7th (at least??) year attending the conference.

“On my way to the Montessori Model United Nations, New York, where my daughter Maia will be addressing the topic of Cyber Security in Viet Nam !!!”

— Lawrence Aqui, Parent and Chaperone

From the MMUN Website:

Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization’s agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student “delegates” make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure – all in the interest of mobilizing “international cooperation” to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world.

Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their committee will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation when the role playing gets under way. The delegates’ in-depth knowledge of their countries guarantees a lively and memorable experience.

- Read more

Elementary students hear beloved “wimpy kid” author speak

To celebrate Read Across America Day, elementary students were invited to participate in a webinar with Jeff Kinney, author of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.  Viewings were held in Ms. Batten's and Ms. Huber's classrooms. Kinney spoke about his beginnings as a cartoonist, how he became an author, and showed his virtual visitors around his studio. Participants were able to submit questions, and although none of our students’ questions were chosen, students had a great time thinking up good ones to ask!  All twenty copies of Kinney's books are currently checked out of our library.

Read Across America Day annually takes place on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2.  Many classes also read his books aloud to remember and honor his important contribution to children’s literature.

Bon Voyage PGIA Students to Madrid!

Last week we bid farewell to the Spanish exchange students that were here at VIMSIA for six weeks, and this week we send off our own PGIA contingent to visit their school in Madrid for six weeks.  

Qué increíble oportunidad !  We are so proud of you all for being IB risk-takers and for paving the way for future PGIA language exchange students!  Felicitaciones - que son increíbles !