Leading The Way With Environmental Sustainability

This week Virgin Islands Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy (VIMSIA) welcomed Changing Tides Foundation volunteer Sarah Brady, who was led on a campus tour by seniors Candice LaPlace, T'Leah Serieux, VerNele Callwood and Nalani Figueroa to better understand VIMSIA’s environmentally sustainable initiatives. Brady was shown why our school is considered a leader in renewable energy and shown the usage of solar panels, pit drains to catch water, retention ponds, gardening efforts, recycling systems and much more!

Originally from California, Sarah –a junior at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Cognitive Science- decided to take a quarter off to assist with relief efforts by volunteering with Changing Tides Foundation. Being that a mutual interest in renewable energy and building sustainable infrastructure existed, a partnership between Changing Tides Foundation and VIMSIA was a no-brainer.

Having learned that PGIA students often sell water bottles from coolers as a way to fundraise, the foundation generously donated four SoulR Cart solar powered coolers. In celebration of this donation, head of school Michael Bornn organized an ice-cream party for the entire school to educate students on solar energy. Students enjoyed a tasty treat chilled by the sun!

VIMSIA Soccer Team Travels to Las Vegas

The Peter Gruber International Academy (PGIA) Varsity Soccer Team is delighted to be participating in the Las Vegas Mayor's Cup and International Showcase.  There are over 600 teams from 70 countries/5 continents at the event.  In addition, over 400 college coaches will be in attendance.  The Volts will play a friendly match vs. Preston Lodge School (Scotland) on Thursday night before starting tournament play on Saturday.  They will have up to 5 games in three days against teams from across the United States and around the world.  International schools and amateur/professional clubs are represented, including a youth team from Borussia Monchengladbach, a team in the German Bundesliga.  The Volts, defending I-AA Champions, are looking forward to the opportunity for growth provided by a tournament of this caliber.  They are thankful for all the community members who bought t-shirts and water to support their fundraising efforts.

#spreadthelove

Virgin Islands Montessori and Peter Gruber International Academy students were seen throughout campus today spreading love! In celebration of Valentine's Day, students and staff members were encouraged to wear red, pink or white and #spreadthelove. Students from toddler to grade twelve were seen participating in this celebration of love and friendship by preparing crafts, singing songs, reading stories, making decorations and exchanging sweet valentine treats. Happy Valentine’s Day!

PTA Hosts Staff Appreciation Event

Thank You!

"The PTA thanks Haley Goodson for the crowd-pleasing music, Jessica Hume and the St. Thomas Restaurant group for the wonderful venue and service, and all the parents who donated the amazing food!" - VIMSIA PTA

Flu Vaccines Administered at VIMSIA

The Department of Health Immunization Division in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Montessori and Peter Gruber International Academy (VIMSIA) led a community-wide flu vaccination clinic at VIMSIA.

With the assistance of Shane Degannes, school nurse at VIMSIA, the Department of Health (DOH) was able to set up shop at VIMISA’s car deck and successfully administer flu vaccinations to over twenty-two men, women and children. Degannes explained how this idea was sparked one afternoon by staff member Ms. Diana Woods.

Ms. Woods, a Casa teacher for over 20 years, was casually conversing with parent and DOH Medical Director Dr. Tai Camille Hunte-Ceasar. Ms. Woods expressed her desire to get the flu vaccine and the difficulties scheduling an appointment with work and everyday life commitments. When Dr. Hunte-Ceasar heard Ms. Woods' story she immediately reached out to the Department of Health’s Immunization Division and sparked a community outreach initiative.

On behalf of all the VIMSIA parents, staff and community members we would like to thank the Department of Health Immunization Division, Mr. Shane Degannes, Dr. Hunte-Ceasar and Ms. Woods for reminding us how important and essential it is to prioritize our health and well-being.

Beauty and the Beast - Drama Production Coming Soon!

Beauty & the Beast is coming! Mr. Passarella's Drama Club are busily rehearsing and preparing for the upcoming production of the musical Beauty & the Beast – the tale of a bright, beautiful and independent young woman, taken prisoner by a beast in a castle. Performances are only a couple months away, in the brand new black box theater. Tickets will sell fast so make sure to stay tuned for ticket information!

The Peter Gruber International Academy (PGIA) is looking for parent volunteers to help make this fairy tale come true. Volunteers are needed for things such as make-up, backgrounds, costumes and selling concessions. If you would be interested, please contact PGIA student Caroline Ethen at carolinee@students.vimsia.org. Thank you in advance for all your support and assistance.

Community members are invited to join us and “be our guest!”

Sixth Graders Visit PGIA in Preparation for Next Fall

Today marks the completion of yet another successful transition program for our sixth grade students - both anxious and nervous to enter the seventh grade next Fall. Over the course of the last several days, sixth grade students were matched with a "host" seventh grader to show them the ropes - an opportunity they have been dying to experience! Today we had a chance to interview Gavin, Leah and Selena and hear their thoughts about this right of passage.

Peter Gruber International Academy (PGIA) Director of twelve years, Ms. Gloria Zakers claims this six year tradition is "extremely beneficial and proven to have a high success rate." There are a series of different components that combined provide both parents and students better insight as to what to expect in seventh grade and better understand that this transition is not to be taken for granted. Following a full day visitation with the seventh graders, sixth grade students are visited by PGIA teachers and assigned a spring project to get them accustomed to homework, good work ethic and responsibility. Lastly, prior to entering seventh grade students are required to take a math placement test.

PGIA is known for it's strict rules, high expectations and most of all, quality education; however, we are confident that with the values and norms instilled through our Montessori program these students will triumph and achieve their goals. Congratulations class of 2024!

DOE Donates Collapsible Water Bottles

United Way has donated collapsible water bottles to the VI.  Department of Education brought us 360 (Yowser!) of them.  The good news is that we are allowed to spread the wealth.  So, if you think you could use one, please pick one up at school!

After School Program Registration Open

After School Program Registration for the second semester is now open.  Classes begin our first week back and run through the end of the year (January 8 through June 8).

First Place VOLTS - Undefeated Season JV Girls!

Huge kudos to our JV Volts Girls Volleyball team for taking the title with an undefeated 8 and 0 season.  These Volts started strong and stayed strong. 

Huge congratulations to our 2017 girls volleyball teams.  Briefly, our JV girls team went undefeated 8-0. They won the JV league with that perfect record. Our Varsity girls team took 4th place in the league with a record of 4-4.  Great job ladies and way to work. 

I would like to thank Coach Ivan Figueroa, Coach Nalani Figueroa and Coach Ronald Blyden for their efforts this season.  VIMSIA could not have executed this successful season without your hard work and dedication.  VIMSIA's volleyball program has come along quite well.  I see nothing but success at the varsity level in the very near future.  The foundation our past teams have laid will be built upon and VIMSIA will soon claim the girls varsity volleyball championship too. 

GO VOLTS!   

 Shane DeGannes R.N., VOLTS Athletic Director

Special recognition to our Seniors:  Vanshika, Kobe (Captain), Nalani (Coach) and Candice.

Home for the Holidays - PGIA Alumni Luncheon

From left to right: Kendal Benjamin '17 Duquesne University, Ali Bartsch '17 Stanford University, Kayla Rivers '17 Seton Hall University, CJ Fahie '16 Indiana Tech University, Kiyalyn Bump Dalhousie University '16, Aneesh Chandiramani '17 Clark University and Leah Trotman '17 Agnes Scott College

Not pictured: Abraham Hamed '16 Valencia College, Christina Brett '17 University of Tampa and Eyad Hamed '17 Valencia College

The PGIA College Counseling office hosted the fourth annual Alumni Luncheon on Wednesday, December 20th.  Our alumni were full of energy and excitement as they returned to campus to share experiences, insights and goals with our current juniors and seniors.  Many of our returning alums have only completed their first semesters of college but are well of their way to blazing some amazing trails.  

Some notable pieces of advice from our former Volts: 

"Be an advocate for yourself and what you believe in."

"All of your hard work (in the DP program) is totally worth it."

"Follow your passion."

"Keep an open mind."

"Go to class!"  :)

Thank you Alumni!  We wish you the best!  

Day 107 - Power Finally!

Drum roll please!  Yes - we got WAPA power to most of campus yesterday!  We are still on generator for the PGIA House and Hibiscus, but the rest of campus is running on WAPA.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support as we have made this journey.  Day one of post hurricanes school, we had only one small generator running in lower campus that provided running water to a limited number of areas.  Lots of exercise for everyone to get to a bathroom that worked!  Over the next few weeks, when the supply of generators on island was nil and in the country was not much better - Mr. Bornn and a handful of private funders managed to find and transport a shipment of high power generators to island for the school.  September and October were definitely challenge filled.  These efforts were critical to keeping school open. 

We now have five major generators around campus and have been running the whole school pretty smoothly on generator power.  And now, though we are VERY happy to have WAPA available to us, we are also well on our way to our off-grid power goal.  

So thanks to all of our families, students and staff for hanging in there when a fan belt broke, diesel didn't show up, our loads were not balanced and oh so many other issues.  And special thank you to Mark Hume, Shane DeGannes and Matt Enright for becoming fast on-staff generator experts.   So many of our parents with electric, diesel and generator knowledge stepped up, our donors,  and Mr. Bornn for taking charge immediately and pulling it all together - we couldn't have done this without all hands on deck.  

Alumni Update: Ali Bartsch, Aneesh Chandiramani, Leah Trotman

We love, love, love when our students come back to visit.  Today we had a visit from PGIA Class of 2017 graduates:  Ali, Aneesh and Leah.  What a treat!

They have all just finished their first semester at college.  Ali is in engineering at Stanford, Aneesh is focusing on sciences, with a specific interest in biology at Clark University and Leah is deciding whether to major in International Studies or Public Health (possibly both) at Agnes Scott College.

I tried to interview them with a few simple questions - What do you like best about college life - Were there any huge surprises - Did you feel prepared -  but honestly they were going a mile a minute with each other and me about their experiences and how amazing things are.  I was totally blown away by them and couldn't stop smiling.  So, I'm definitely giving the cliff notes version of their conversations and am sure I will not be able to convey their enthusiasm - so please assume all of the following is written in caps with tons of emojis and exclamation points.

"What do you like best?"  All three hit on the same theme.  The people they are engaging with.  Whether their peers, professors or guest lecturers they all say they are meeting very interesting, diverse and accomplished people.  Ali met the woman that discovered carbon dioxide contributes to global warming and has a chance to interact with the COO of SpaceX "soon come". She spoke of these ladies with such reverence and awe - I am just waiting for the day that some young woman feels the same way about her chance to meet the prominent Alison Bartsch.  Leah is involved with Campus government and continues her strong interest in service with a plethora of activities - I must admit I lost count.  In the wee hours of the Hurricane Irma's pounding of our island, this bold freshman wrote to the president of her college (and quite possibly the Danish government) to initiate a movement for relief efforts.  Aneesh (in a quieter very Aneesh-ish way) is also really excited about the people his is meeting - "They all have such great stories about how they came to be at this point in their lives".   

"Do you feel that you were well prepared?"  This was easy.  They all said "yes".  And they recognize that many of their peers are not nearly so well-prepared.  Writing and citations were a big topic.   Leah and Aneesh felt like the class experts and were a little bored with the basic reviews they had to sit through.  Apparently everyone at Stanford falls in the "very well prepared" category.  They all felt that the study habits they developed in high school are serving them well at this level.  Leah was able to credit out of three Spanish semesters and an Anthro semester based on her PGIA IB Transcript.  

So nice to see them.  I'm still beaming.  Our students are "glowing" up (Aneesh's term - I like it).

Small but mighty!

Everyone plays a role in recovering our VIMSIA campus!  Our La Casa toddlers were hard at work to beautify and clean up the courtyard area.  Thank you!  

Back to School Monday

Hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected after enduring two category 5 hurricanes back to back. For the island to get back to some state of normal, we must all as individuals and institutions strive to put things back together - step by step.  Opening school is critical to getting that sense of security and normalcy back for all of us.  

This from Tommy Brunt, Board President:

"Getting the school opened and functional asap is one of the most important pieces of having a populated and functioning VI by year end."

Monday (9/25) will be our first day back.  Staff will report to school 45 after curfew lifts.  Students AND parents please report 2 hours after curfew lifts.  Everyone is to meet at that time under the solar awning.  Students will meet with their teachers and then proceed with their day, parents will have a brief meeting with school Administration.  VIMSIA Board memeber Lori Thompson, from Insight Psychology, will be available during this time if any one would like to have some time with her.

The school day will end at 3:30 until further notice.  No after school hours for PGIA study hall or BEC initially.  Of course there will be no bus service, so please be sure you, or someone authorized by you, picks up your child by 3:30.

Regular parking is available in the upper and lower lots.  Upper lot, you may have to walk through the basketball court to get to the awning.  IA House is off limits for a few days.  The shade cover over the IA driveway needs to be reinforced.

The campus has come a remarkable way since the devastation that began with Irma. Mr. Bornn has been in overdrive ensuring progress is made every day.  However, there are still repair efforts underway and quite a bit of debris and general mess still being cleaned up from the storms.  Students must wear close toed shoes!  They should also spray up with bug spray - we will have additional at school.  If you do NOT want your child sprayed with bug spray, be sure to let their teacher know that.  Bring their lunch as usual and please be sure they bring a full water bottle.  We have not had time to get the school water tested and do not want to risk it.  We will have bottled water available as well, but do please bring a full water bottle to start the day.  

PGIA students do not need to bring their laptops.  

See you Monday.  And so begins our trek up the hill as a functioning educational institution in the midst of a national disaster site - The Little School that Could!

Peace,

Peggy

Bracing for Another Hurricane Impact - Maria

Crown Weather image from Sunday 11:00am update.

With many of the storm tracks forecasting Maria to hit us as a Hurricane mid-week, we have opted to hold off of re-opening school until after Maria has passed and we can assess her impact.

Please everyone stay safe.  If any of our families feel that they do not have a safe place to ride out the potential impact of Maria, please contact Mr. Bornn at (340) 626-0047.

So Happy to See our Friends Safe!

VIMSIA staff met at school on Friday - it was great to see the reunions all around.  Everyone was so happy to see their friends, co-workers, students, teachers safe and sound.  #VIStrong

Anisley and Mr. Music - life is good and its the people in our lives that matter most.

Karen and Ms. Pass - so happy to see each other after the hurricane.

Doing our best to get things figured out.

Admin meeting's new venue.

VIMSIA Post Irma Update

VI Montessori school and Peter Gruber International Academy (VIMSIA) will reopen next week.

On Monday September 18th at 11:00am teachers will report for training on teaching in an environment with unusual stress factors such as we have gone through with hurricane Irma.

On Tuesday at 11:00am parents are invited to a meeting under the solar awning to discuss all aspects of the school in the post Irma environment. As many items as possible will be discussed relative to school practices and expectations relative to their students learning. The parent meeting is for all present students and others contemplating enrolling at VIMSIA. Insight psychology Services will be on hand both days for counseling Services.

Head of School, Michael Bornn anticipates students will attend classes on Wednesday September 20th with the day to begin at 10:45 assuming a curfew is still in place until 10:00am. 

Vimsia suffered some damage from hurricane Irma, but we have cleaned up and made repairs and other improvements are being made post Irma.

VImsia will continue to offer its two globally recognized curriculums of Montessori and International Baccalaureate from ages 2 to 12th grade.

Hurricane Irma Relief

VIMontessoriHurricaneIrmaRelief  Please share this funding site to help recover from Hurricane Irma.

Wednesday September 6, 2017 our island took a direct hit from Category 5 Hurricane Irma and has been declared a national disaster. The aftermath of the storm is devastating to our school and our island. The island will be without power for months. The population of our Montessori and IB school is made of mainly rural middle income families.  Half of our students are provided financial aid in order to attend. Many of our families own and run their own small businesses. As our island attempts to rebuild, we will have families without power and many who have physically lost their homes or businesses.  It is essential that our school remain viable and continue to serve the island's youth as it has for the past 53 years.  Please share this funding site and consider making a donation to enable us to keep our doors open for education and our island's future.  

BLAST FROM THE PAST

As a new staff member, I am lucky to discover and learn about VIMSIA's rich history! Check out these wonderful photos from years past...

Ms. Shournagh McWeeney teaching a Primary class, circa 1970. Over 45 years later, her legacy as a key educator, leader, and friend of the VIMSIA family is stronger than ever.  

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All School Group Photo, 2010. Taken at what is now our solar awning space, this shot includes VIMSIA's first high school graduate. Since then we have sent graduating classes of up to 17 students off to take on the world!

Time flies when you're having fun!