Imani Sidiropoulos - Off to Johnson and Wales!

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Our 2015 graduates are off to college and we wish them all success this year.  

One PGIA student is off to Johnson and Wales University to finish her high school career!  Ms. Imani Sidiropoulos continues to set herself apart and demonstrate her independence.  A lifelong VIMSIA student, she completed 11th grade in June, 2015 and was accepted into an early admissions program at Johnson and Wales that will allow her to finish 12th grade and her freshman year of college in one year.    

We've asked her to tell us a little about it, and in pure Imani fashion, she has done an excellent job.  Please enjoy the letter she has shared with our VIMSIA community.

Hi my name is Imani and I’ve been at the VI Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy since 2001.  I was three years old then and enrolled in the Montessori Primary Level Program. I am now 17 years old and am happy to announce that I have been honored with the opportunity to start college a year early, beginning this Fall. Due to my exemplar transcript and academic performance, I have been accepted to the Early Enrollment Program at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

In my first year at Johnson and Wales University, I will be completing both my senior year of high school plus my first year in college. This is a very rigorous program.  While being interviewed, the recruiter asked me how I thought I would be able to manage the intensity of the first year of a combined curriculum. I told him that “at the Peter Gruber International Academy Diploma Program, we are training at a higher level of education and this experience has given me the tools I need to succeed”. It is also because of these tools that I have been awarded $25,000 in scholarship funds for my first year at the university. I received the Presidential Academic Scholarship along with 2 other locally granted awards.

I will be attending the Culinary Arts Program, hoping to master the art and achieve a Bachelors Degree. With the skills that I acquire, I can then return to our lovely island home, with ample professionalism eager to help bring something new to the community.

It is my belief that the true physicians of the world are culinary alchemists. Those who prepare foods that keep the nutritional value at its optimal level, those who combine herbs and spices to help alleviate ailments, and those who simply prepare healthy meals are those who I think are some of the greatest champions in our society. Food is the most intimate experience. We consume it, it becomes a part of us; a part of our molecular composition. As the old adage says… “We are what we eat!”. In today’s society it is very important that we are mindful of what we put inside our bodies. I want to be part of the movement for healthy lifestyles and I strongly believe that food preparation is a major component.

I am so excited to be able to jump start my life and I think that VIMS & PGIA provided both a solid foundation and a wonderful springboard for me to leap and soar into my next journey.

Thank you to all the educators and supporting staff that helped shape my life and inspired and influenced me along the way.

Sincerely,

Imani Sidiropoulos

VIMSIA: A Look Ahead for 2015- 2016

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We at VIMSIA are so excited about this coming school year.  The Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs, which provide the foundation of our school, are internationally acclaimed.  Each year we re-dedicate ourselves to improving on the year before and are doggedly persistent in our efforts to raise the bar of education in the VI.   We are pleased to share with you some of our plans for the coming year.

 

Exciting New Initiatives!

College Counseling Workshop

We welcome Chris Teare to our staff as College Placement Director.  He and Ms. Elizabeth Elger, our College Counselor, are collaborating to ensure that our students gain the attention of the top schools in the country and internationally.  They are dedicated to providing exceptional guidance and support to our students as they move on to their next educational adventure.  In October, VIMSIA is conducting an evening college seminar for parents and students to help support families with the college selection, application and enrollment processes. Our hands-on approach walks families every step of the way through this experience and makes sure that our students are able to apply to their best fit, top tier schools. Chris Teare and Elizabeth Elger will be running this interactive and informational evening event. Other college placement events will be held throughout the school year to help support families during this most exciting but nerve-racking time.

 

Planetarium

View the sky, stars and planets. We are very excited to begin an astronomy partnership with UVI and the Etelman Observatory.  We will host our first "Astronomy Night" right here on VIMSIA’s campus, using our new inflatable Starlab Planetarium (you won’t want to miss this!)  Dr. David Morris, Director of the Etelman Observatory, and PGIA science teacher Mr. Andy Palmer will be presenting short 15-20 minute talks about constellations and mythology inside the planetarium while others view celestial objects from telescopes placed on the soccer field. Date yet to be confirmed, but we will post it on our school calendar and facebook. 

Exchange Program Abroad 

To further enhance our international education and Spanish programs, we are finalizing the details on a 6-8 week exchange program with an IB school in Madrid, Spain. Students from VIMSIA will travel to Spain for a Spanish immersion education and students from Madrid will travel to St. Thomas for an English immersion education. This is merely another element of our commitment to internationalism and language proficiency. In years past we have travelled to numerous other Spanish destinations for immersion trips, such as Peru, Colombia and Argentina, and have been fortunate to host students from Argentina here at VIMSIA. 

Weizmann Institute, UVI, Gruber Foundation and PGIA Collaboration

We continue to strengthen the collaboration between the Weizmann Institute of Israel, University of the Virgin Islands, The Gruber Foundation, and our own Peter Gruber International Academy.  Our students are provided the exceptional opportunity of working with the Weizmann Institute and UVI Faculty during PGIA STEM End Sessions each year.  We are also working to add an Israel travel component to this initiative.  The collaboration will also provide our students strong standing for graduate studies through The Weizmann Institute. Each year we continue to send our senior students to the annual Gruber Scientific Awards Ceremony at UVI.

MSA Presentation

VIMSIA is hosting a Middle States Association workshop on “How to Conduct the Mid-Term Review” on Tuesday, October 20th. Educators from all over the territory will be invited and in attendance. MSA is the accrediting agency for most of the schools in the VI.  Over the years, VIMSIA has developed a very pro-active and mutually respectful relationship with this highly influential educational organization.  

Metric Infusion

Only three countries in the world are not on the metric system, isn't it time Americans learn the metric system?  VIMSIA believes the answer is yes. We have begun a metric infusion program to develop metric thinking in our students. Interactive metric activities and signs are all over campus.

PGIA Radio Station

In October, we unveil our new PGIA student-run radio program.  It will be accessible through our school website or as an app on your personal devices.   WUVI AM1090 will also air the show on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.  Students will develop their own programming including music, weather, public announcements, interviews and more.  This initiative is driven by PGIA’s Radio and Film 4H Club.  Our main sponsor is UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service 4H.  Ms. Erika Gomez and Mr. Scott Williams are the advisors.  Senior student CJ Fahie is the club president and we are looking for members within the PGIA student body.  Contact CJ if you are interested!

International Soccer Games

VIMSIA soccer teams will be competing against international teams this year. Look out for schedule of games.

Indoor Tennis

Too hot to play Tennis? Come join us under our awning for a match in the shade. Come by and see the court and get information on availability.

Head of School Social Thursday 9/3

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The Head of School Social has been postponed until Thursday, 9/3 at 5:30. Concession will open at 5:00 for complimentary light fare and beverages.  Mr. Bornn hosts Thursday evening's Parent Orientation to help get our 2015/2016 school year off to a great start and ensure lines of communication are open and flowing!  We want to provide this opportunity to meet new families, as well as ensure everyone has a clear understanding of what to expect during this school year and years to come.  This meeting is open to the whole school and will feature vocal and piano performances by Ms. Luba Dolgopolsky, who will be teaching individual vocal and piano lessons on campus throughout the school year.

Luba was born in St.Petersburg, Russia and raised in the United States. First trained as a Classical pianist, and later as a Jazz pianist as well, she comes from a family of several prominent Classical musicians.  She earned her Master's Degree in Music Education from Teacher's College at Columbia University and currently makes her home in St. John, where she performs regularly with her own band, as a solo act,  and as a guest artist with other groups.  LUBA is on faculty at the University of Virgin Islands as a Vocal Instructor, as well as Vocal/Piano Instructor at the St. John School of the Arts and we are so excited to welcome her to VIMSIA as a vocal and piano instructor.   For more information and to hear Luba perform, visit her website.

Alumni Update: Michael Emanuel

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Michael Emanuel - PGIA Graduate Class of 2015

Michael stopped by today to say hi and bye as he gets ready to head off to the University of Rochester on Sunday.   Michael is planning to study Physics and Psychology.  He was lucky enough to spend a month over the summer in an orientation program so is ready to rock and roll.  He is such a great kid!  Best of luck Michael!

 

Spotlight - Alex McFarlane

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MVP LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Alex McFarlane, who will be entering 9th grade in the PGIA, was honored as MVP of the Latin America/Caribbean Regional Intermediate Baseball Championships in July.  Alex's St. Thomas All Star Team, coached by Geary Smith and Kwodwo Brannigan, won the tournament and now proceed as the Latin America representatives to the Intermediate World Series in Livermore, CA beginning August 2.   This is only the second time St. Thomas has made it to the World Series level!  Huge kudos to Alex and the rest of the team.  We wish them luck.  ALEX, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!  (I predicted this when he was eight months old spinning quarters on my kitchen table - ever the athlete!)

Alumni Update - Zane Birnie

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Zane Birnie is home for the summer after finishing his first year at Rider University.  Zane is studying Arts Administration and  hosted a Caribbean Music Hour on Rider's radio station, WRRC-FM The Bronc. Next year he plans to also host an Open Mic Night.  Many of us have seen Zane perform Standup Comedy, right here on St. Thomas.  He is indeed an LOL entertaining young man!  Best of luck, Zane.  Thanks for stopping by - we missed seeing your smiling face around campus this past year.  Ahh, they grow up so fast!

Camp: International Summer Academy at VIMSIA

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The International Summer Academy (ISA) is well underway and continues through most of the summer.  Please check out the fabulous offerings week by week for ages 3 through 16 on the ISA Website.  Enjoy the photos below and see what's been happening so far.  Thanks Ms. Helen and Ms. Barbara for getting together some fabulous offerings! 

Discovery campers, ages 8 to 14, enjoyed making a variety of foods from different cultures around the globe.  Tony Romano, who is a world renowned chef, was a guest at the camp and worked with the students to make pasta pomodoro, pasta ali-olio, caprese salad, blueberries with chantilly sauce - yum!

Imagination campers, ages 3 and 4, along with the Adventure campers created beautiful chalk murals under the Solar Awning, then headed up to the Pirate Ship for some good outdoor play - Aargh, Matey!

Adventure campers, ages 5-7, visited the Aviation Control Tower at Cyril King International Airport, and later enjoyed a nature walk at UVI.  

Media-Smart Youth Video: Eat, Think, and Be Active!

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Media-Smart Youth is an after school program that focuses on building skills in media analysis and media production to help young people ages 11 to 13  understand the complex media world and how this influences their health and decision making in regards to nutrition and physical activity. 

This video is our school's Big Production.   The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a part of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, created Media-Smart Youth to help empower young people to think critically about media and make thoughtful decisions about nutrition and physical activity.

This partnership was made possible by our sponsor WUVI AM 1090 Radio Station.  Huge thanks to our VIMSIA Teen Leaders Harsha Ramchand and Ca-Jani Fahie;  VIMSIA Staff Scott Williams and Erika Gomez; WUVI Radio Manager Christina Chanes.

Alumni Update - Kai Bartlette

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Kai Bartlette stopped by campus today.  It was so good to see her, I love when Alumni stop by to visit us!  Kai was in our first IB graduating class, in 2011.  She went on to Providence College and has just graduated with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Spanish.  Kai is home for the summer, but will begin work on her PhD in Applied Mathematics this fall at Colorado School of Mines.  

VIMSIA End Session - Latin Dance

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The purpose of the Latin Dance end session was to give students an overview of different Latin dances, their origin and cultural interconnection. The Latin dances explored in this course, included: Salsa, Bachata, Argentine Tango, Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Flamenco, and Bolero. Students gained a better understanding of Latin-American culture by exploring different dances and rhythms, unique to specific countries and regions within Latin America and the Spanish Speaking Caribbean. Participants also learned to dance and practiced these dances, along with exploring Latin Culture in our local environment by going to lunch to Cafe Amalia and Melt Mexican Grill. Team building activities and outings to the beach also helped students engage in this end session.

Montessori Graduation

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Twenty two very grown up looking pre-teens took center stage on Friday, June 12 for the Montessori Graduation Ceremony.  This marks the completion of these students' Montessori years and signals the "Move up the Hill" to the IB program next year.

Speakers Soren Gibbs and Haley Rogers spoke eloquently and articulately, citing special memories of their Montessori years and giving special thanks to all of their Montessori teachers.

Special recognition to Ms. Jeanette Feracho in honor of her 46 years of passion and dedication to the students of VI Montessori School.  A "Ms. Boyle and Ms. Feracho Child" from each grade level plus her youngest son Malik, representing the Alums,  presented Ms. Feracho with a red rose, ultimately creating a lovely full bouquet - and hopefully a nice start to her retirement. 

Drama End Session Presents "Peter Pan"

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Click to view photo slideshow of peter pan, created by karen gauriloff

Click to view photo slideshow of peter pan, created by karen gauriloff

The Drama End Session put on their performance of Peter Pan on Friday.  This was the first play to be done on our Solar Awning Stage.  It was a great venue!  We had over 200 people attend - there was plenty of space, the concession stand was open and worked well.   I sat in the first row of chairs behind all of the younger children, who decided to sit cross legged front and center.  While up and running about during set changes, they were quick to pop back in their seats when the curtain went up - and seemed mesmerized throughout.

Kudos to Ms. Bump and the cast and crew!   

Canada End Session - Women's World Cup

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End Sessions are just swimming along.  Here is an email just received from Ms. Elger.  She and Mr. Elger have the Women's World Cup - Canadian Cultural Experience End Session.  Sounds like all is well and kids are happy!  

“Good afternoon, everyone,

I hope this finds you well. I apologize I haven’t sent an update. The WiFi at our hotel was a bit spotty the last two nights. We are currently on the train from Quebec to Montreal.

Short story, everyone is fine. A few of us are getting a little sick, but we’re managing it with Advil Sinus, EmergenC, fluids and rest. We think it has a lot to do with the temperature change. It’s been cold and we had rain today, so we’re all adjusting to Canada from our sunny STT. Since the last email, we have seen sights, shopped, ate, went to a hockey game, and ridden buses and trains.

Long story, your students are just amazing! Joey and I have been inspired by their abilities to take risks. Each of you would be very proud. On Sunday, we started our day with discovering a beautiful bakery. The food was just delicious! It was an inspiring way to begin our glorious day. We took the bus to Old Town, and students had a few hours to explore and shop on their own. We then took the funicular to a plaza where we were entertained by a street performer. We had breath-taking views of the St. Lawrence River and got to see the Chateau Frontenac, one of the most photographed hotels in the world and where Churchill and Roosevelt planned the D-Day invasion. We then ate poutine for lunch, while a few students went to a Creperie. We ventured back to the hotel, had some downtime, and left for the hockey game. The Memorial Cup was amazing! The students really enjoyed their first live hockey game. It went into overtime, and the ending was very dramatic! It was a great game. We had lights out when we returned to the hotel, and everyone was tucked safely and soundly in their beds. The following day, the group went to an amazing market. Many of the students enjoyed the fresh tomatoes! Our plan was to go to a museum about the French/Indian War, but the restoration that should have finished in April was still on-going. So, we just enjoyed playing in a huge field. A few students rolled all the way to the bottom. We got some great videos of this! Afternoon naps and downtime at the hotel followed. We then left for our “fancy” dinner. What fun!! Everyone looked so precious all dressed up. Our waiter was fantastic, and the food was out of this world. Our party ordered everything from steaks to pate to rabbit to liver to truffles to homemade sodas and several things in between. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and each other. We then returned to the hotel for downtime before lights out at midnight. We knew today would be cold and rainy, so we planned a day inside at a local mall. Students shopped to their hearts content and ate from all the options at the food court. Mr. Elger and I saw an IMAX film in French and gave the students Krispy Kreme doughnuts. We took a bus back to the hotel, grabbed our bags, took a bus to the train station, and boarded the train. We will arrive in Montreal around 6:00 and check into our hotel. Tonight will be an easy and relaxing one. Tomorrow, we will be sight-seeing and spectators at an MLS game. The next day, we will be at an amusement park.

Again, I cannot tell you how fantastic your children are being. They are so polite when we are on any form of public transportation, always offering their seats to locals. They open doors for each other. They’re just really great young people. I know y’all miss them, but thank you for letting us have this experience with them.

Please text or email if you need us.

Take Care,
Elizabeth”

Peru End Session - Spanish Immersion - Update from Mr. Gever

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This is an update that was received from Mr. Gever, who is traveling is Peru with Ms. Weichman and the Spanish Immersion End Session Group.  Enjoy!  Hopefully more good pictures to follow.

We have done tons of walking at very high altitude, 11,000+ feet, and it's freezing cold (for us) but there has not been any significant grumbling. 

We met a lady the other day on one of the tours and asked her if her hotel had heating, as our apartment doesn't.  (You have to muster up all your courage just to go to the bathroom.)  She said she wasn't sure if there was heat or not in her hotel and added, "Why would you need it?".  She's from London.  

This is really an amazing place to visit.  The natural landscapes are amazing.  We went through the Sacred Valley yesterday, a long, narrow valley boxed in by steep mountains on both sides and occasional towering peaks, some permanently covered in snow.  Blending in in a very organic way, ancient Incan agricultural terraces and ruined cities.  It's also fascinating to think that the rushing rivers draining to the east feed into the Amazon jungle.  We are just at the edge between the Andes altiplano and the Amazon rainforest.  Next week we are going to Machu Picchu, which I think actually lies within the rainforest.  

We went to a village yesterday where we were shown how traditional weaving and dying is done.  All the Quechua-speaking ladies were dressed in their traditional garb (but not just for the tourists).  One of them had actually learned enough English to explain everything to us in English.  (Unfortunately, the tour was not in Spanish.)  She had a really cute accent, and even made jokes.  It was amazing to see the variety of colors they can extract from different plants and the cochineal insect.  They showed us how pure cochineal gives a black color, but when mixed with lemon juice it produces an orange color.  

I also learned in a private discussion with our tour guide, that all those hand-made alpaca sweaters us tourists love to buy are not really alpaca wool.  She said a pure alpaca sweater would cost about $100, which is why most Peruvians don't wear it.  If it's "baby alpaca" (first cut), double the price   The best quality wool is from the vicuña, which is what the Incan emperors used.  These days a sweater made of this type of wool would cost upwards of $500! The guide also told me that cochineal is extremely expensive and is not used for dying any ordinary garments.