Get Moving for your Brain

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We all know we need to move our bodies to be fit and in shape, but did you know that physical activity also contributes to brain development, emotional state, learning and focus, which can increase school performance? 
Our bodies are designed to move and be active.  According to Ben Medder, Movement Coach, in the U.S. physical activity has dropped by 32% in less than two decades.  When we are stagnant, all of the complex biological processes that are carried out by our body become stagnant too. 
Go run on the beach, play soccer with your kids, or have a water fight outside to increase family bonding while being physically active.  Your body, and your kids, will thank you for it.  Oh, and have FUN while doing it!  Those feel good hormones are pretty important too ;-)

Exercise and School Performance: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201410/8-ways-exercise-can-help-your-child-do-better-in-school

All About Movement: https://www.benmedder.com/movement

Study on Exercise Improving Attention in Individuals with ADHD: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6333702/

The “Green Body & Home” blog posts are brought to you by the PTA. They provide general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

"Brain character large set" by Oksana Grivina is licensed under CC BY 4.0

"Brain character large set" by Oksana Grivina is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Senior Support during Mock Exams

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Our 12th graders have spent the last two weeks taking their MOCK IB exams, as preparation for the real exams at the end of this year.  This is a nerve-wracking time for these kiddos, and it has become tradition at VIMSIA for teachers to bring in small, but meaningful treats to the exam room, as a sign of support and care.

Pictured are seniors enjoying homemade breakfast waffles.

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MSA Planning Commitee

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The VIMSIA community has begun the process of our MSA Self Study.  The Middle States Association (MSA) is an accrediting body that provides schools with a framework to evaluate areas in which they are successful, and where there is room for growth.  The Self Study Planning Team had a successful first meeting this week.  The Planning Team is responsible for creating a plan to respond to the findings from our self-study, and acts as a champion for the work of our school community as we implement the plan for the next seven years until our next re-accreditation.  An ideal Planning Team has about 15 rotating members, so there are still opportunities to get involved!  If you enjoy collaborative work and affecting positive change, please contact Gloria Arpasi or Jess Di Francesco.

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Green Body & Home - How much should my kid be eating?

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How much should my kid be eating?

Rule of Thumb:

Children should be eating about 1000 calories per day plus 100 for each year of age.  So a 4 year old should be eating about 1400 calories per day, and an 8 year old should be eating 1800 calories per day, and a 16 year old about 2,600 calories per day.  They should also be eating about 1g of protein for every two pounds of body weight. So a 60lb child needs about 30g of protein per day.

To get ideas about things to feed your kids to equal that in calories visit www.eatthismuch.com and plug in your #'s. 

Children who don't get enough total calories show irritability, anxiety, lethargy, crying easily, difficulty focusing/inattention, behavioral rigidity and/or insomnia.    

Adapted from Judy Converse's book "Special-Needs Kids Eat Right"

Here's another link to great recipes that are yummy and can be adapted to food allergies/sensitivites/intolerances:

https://www.facebook.com/mykidslickthebowl/posts/

The “Green Body & Home” blog posts are brought to you by the PTA. They provide general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

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Danish Student Exchange - An Adventure Packed Week

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The visiting Danes have had an action packed week after arriving last Friday. The visitors, along with Bennett Ott and other VIMSIA community members spent Saturday hiking at Perseverance Bay and and discussing Botanical Colonization. On Sunday they went to Neltjeberg Beach to hike the Dorthea trail and explore reef damage and human impact upon those particular reefs. On Monday, Virgin Islands culture bearer Kwabeena Davis and local educator and writer Willie Wilson lead them on a journey through VI history, culture, story-telling traditions and musical forms. 

This Saturday, February 1st will the last full day of the exchange! Please join us at Magens to send our visitors off with VIMSIA community love. Mr. Ott will secure a spot on the far left side of the beach - please bring your own food and beverages.

PTA GREEN BODY AND HOME - Food Allergies, Intolerances & Sensitivities

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Did you know that many kids (and adults) suffer from food intolerances or sensitivities, which are different than food allergies?  Since they are often harder to pinpoint than a food allergy, they are easily missed and overlooked.  Reactions to food intolerances/sensitivities can take days to show up and are quite varied. Some of the potential reactions include digestive issues (bloating, constipation), behavioral challenges (aggression, attention), pain (headaches, restless legs) skin issues (acne, eczema), picky eating, potty training issues, sensory processing challenges, shiners at eyes, frequent illness and sleep problems, we could go on and on.  

"Hmmm, Tasty!" by Mr. Dtb is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

"Hmmm, Tasty!" by Mr. Dtb is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Judy Converse, a renowned registered dietitian who has worked with suffering kids for decades, says that removing ALL gluten and dairy (lactose and casein) from most kids' diets who have food sensitivity symptoms will usually produce substantial results. Also for picky eaters, once you remove the sensitive foods their taste buds often change and they eat more of a variety of foods!

Take the quiz below to see where your kid(s) lines up.

Food Sensitivity Quiz:

https://healthynestnutrition.com/food-intolerance-quiz/

The “Green Body & Home” blog posts are brought to you by the PTA. They provide general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

VIMSIA Carnival 2020 - I Love You So

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Final deadline is Monday, March 2nd for students interested in participating in the VIMSIA Carnival children’s parade entry.

If you or your child would would like to get involved, please email the PTA at PTA@VIMSIA.ORG using “Carnival 2020” in the subject line.

We are accepting volunteers for the planning, grounds and costumes/design committee. The Carnival Committee Chairperson position is also available.

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PTA GREEN BODY AND HOME - SMOOTHIES

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Hey parents, last week we sent out a link with 20 different energy ball recipes to sneak tasty nutrition into your kids bellies... so this week we had to include smoothies, another amazing way to sneak in some amazing ingredients.  These are not just for toddlers, in fact kids of any ages and even us adults LOVE a good smoothie.  This link will show you how to make them nutritious without making the mistakes that leave your healthy smoothies tasking like sludge.  If you make them right, your kids (and YOU) may not be able to get enough.

https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/recipes/breakfast/toddler-smoothies-with-hidden-veggies/

The “Green Body & Home” blog posts are brought to you by the PTA. They provide general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

The Danes are Coming!

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VIMSIA families, friends and students we are pleased to welcome our visiting Danish students, teachers and Head of School this Friday, January 24th.  They will arrive at 4:15pm.  We welcome and encourage anyone who would like to come to the airport to greet them to please come.  Contact Mr. Ott, Mrs. Arpasi or Mr. Bornn if you need more details.  

The visitors will be with us until the following Sunday, February 2nd.  Saturday, February 1st will be a Magens Beach and community day.  We encourage all to come and spend the last day with our visiting friends.  Mr. Ott will arrive early at Magens to secure a good shaded spot on the far left end of the beach.  Families please bring your own food and snacks, and as always Magens has food and drink options.  

Please feel free to contact Mr. Ott by email or phone (816-672-9036) if you have any questions or concerns.

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Mimi Boumedine named a National Winner of NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

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Congratulations to Mimi Boumedine who has been selected as a national recipient of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. This year, she is among the just 40 high school students to be honored as a National Winner. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

Mimi’s achievement has been featured here in the VI Consortium

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Visiting Artists Trés and Helene Taylor

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Trés and Helene Taylor are visiting artists from Alabama who joined us this week. They are also friends of Mrs. Stephanie George (an after school instructor and parent). These three have teamed up with the VIMSIA Art Department to create a mural on the soccer field, the back of the stage. To read more about Trés and his art, check out his website. https://www.trestaylor.com/

MONTESSORI GIRL SCOUT TROOP GOES ON CAMP OUT

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This past weekend, the Montessori Girl Scout Troop went on their first camp out! The troop went to Magen’s Bay and camped under a beautiful full moon. The scouts worked on outdoor skills such as, building a campfire, pitching a tent, and going on hikes. The girls earned badges, cooking each meal, learning to tie knots, and making sure to leave no trace. The troop played camp games, sang camp songs, and loved roasting marshmallows! The scouts had fun getting outdoors and into nature. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at girlscouts44511@gmail.com.

PGIA attends Junior Achievement USVI Innovation Camp

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Junior Achievement USVI hosted their annual Innovation Camp this week!  High school students from across St. Thomas came together to learn about business and entrepreneurship. This year, students created and presented a business plan for alternative use of reusable materials.  Kamden Benjamin, Sakari Clendinen, Isaiah Jarvis, Leah Smith, Brianna Whyte and Diego Zakers represented the PGIA!  

Montessori Model United Nations - Position Papers Complete!

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MMUN Delegate's position papers are complete and turned into the MMUN bureau! Delegates are now focusing on their one minute speeches that they will give at the conference in New York City. The speeches are a brief overview of their topic, why the global community should be concerned about it, and how their represented country plans to solve the problem. 

CARNIVAL! ALL EYES ON VIMSIA (WE) for 2020

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Its that time of the year - Carnival is around the corner and we want you to meet us on the road.
The PTA is looking for interested parents and individuals to contribute to VIMSIA’s Carnival presentation for the Children’s Parade. Students in Lower Elementary up through PGIA are encouraged to join in.

Please email pta@vimsia.org if you or your child are interested in carnival!

From the Archives VIMSIA’s 2010 Carnival Presentation - courtesy of Celestina Carey

From the Archives VIMSIA’s 2010 Carnival Presentation - courtesy of Celestina Carey