Stories Come to Life: A Celebration of Writing in 4th & 5th Grade! (PHOTOS)

Our 4th and 5th-grade students recently completed their first writing unit, focusing on narrative writing. They practiced crafting true stories from their own lives, learning to capture small, meaningful moments with vivid action, dialogue, thoughts, and emotions. To make their stories come alive, they slowed down and added rich details to the most important parts. After drafting multiple stories, each student selected one to revise and edit with care. They put in impressive effort throughout this process, aiming to make their stories shine!

Once polished, students published their work as books and concluded the unit with a Celebration of Writing. Families were invited to see the students' journey from start to finish, celebrating their hard work and accomplishments. It was a wonderful learning experience and a joyful celebration! Take a look at our photos below.

Carni-Fall 2024 a Vibrant Success! (PHOTOS)

Over 375 Guests Enjoy a Night of Celebration, Community, and Support

October 23, 2024 – St. Thomas, VI

The Virgin Islands Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy (VIMSIA) celebrated its highly anticipated annual Carni-Fall fundraiser on October 19, 2024, at the stunning Coral World Ocean Park. The event brought together a vibrant crowd of 375 guests for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, community spirit, and support for VIMSIA’s mission.

View all photos from Carni-Fall here.

Led by Marketing Director Vernon Araujo and Assistant Marketing Director Leah Trotman, this year’s Carni-Fall exceeded all expectations, raising essential funds for VIMSIA’s Annual Fund. These contributions will help sustain the school’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education for students in the Virgin Islands.

The evening featured live performances from Top Notch Band and JUCE, along with culinary delights from Island Edge Culinary. Families were thrilled by the school's own mocko jumbies and enjoyed browsing a lively selection of vendor booths, which added to the festive atmosphere.

“We are deeply grateful to Coral World for generously hosting our event at such a beautiful venue,” said Vernon Araujo, VIMSIA’s Marketing Director. “The overwhelming support we received at this year’s Carni-Fall was heartwarming. It was a fantastic way to kick off the year, and the success of this event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers, generous sponsors, and the invaluable partnership we have with Coral World. These funds will directly support our mission, furthering the impact we make on our students and the greater community."

A special thank you goes to the event’s sponsors: The Anasetti Family, 340 Real Estate Company, First Bank, Lime Out, E & J Trucking, Coral World Ocean Park, Island Edge Culinary, CC1, Mandahl Market, West Indies Company, Leatherback Brewing Company, Margaritaville, and Ricky James Sr. Taxi Service, whose support was instrumental in the event’s success.

Proceeds from Carni-Fall will directly fund teacher training, maintain VIMSIA’s high standards of academic excellence, and enhance community outreach initiatives, ensuring that the school continues to provide its renowned “Education for Life” programs. These efforts make independent school education more accessible and affordable for families across the Virgin Islands.

Building on this year’s success, the VIMSIA team is already planning next year’s Carni-Fall, with exciting plans to expand vendor offerings and introduce more engaging activities for an even more memorable experience.

For more information about VIMSIA, the Annual Fund, or how to get involved in future events, please visit https://givebutter.com/VIMSIA or contact Vernon at vernon@vimsia.org.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our next major event, Las Vegas Night, on December 7, 2024, at Sapphire Beach Club from 7 PM to midnight. Tickets can be purchased at https://givebutter.com/LVN2024.

About VIMSIA

The Virgin Islands Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy (VIMSIA) is a non-profit, independent school located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. VIMSIA offers an inclusive, innovative, and globally focused education for students from preschool through high school. The school’s mission is to nurture global citizens through a Montessori-based curriculum that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.

Montessori Honors Hispanic Heritage Month in Style

In a beautiful presentation given by our Upper Elementary students, Montessori celebrated the closing of Hispanic Heritage Month.

With the guidance of Señora Cruz and Señor Araujo, each student studied and presented themselves as a Hispanic "Pionero del Cambio,” or "Pioneer of Change". Parents and peers had the opportunity to meet Lionel Messi, Celia Cruz, Soñia Sotomayor, Cantinflas, Tito Puentes, and many others! Check out the gallery below.

Along with Ms. Sloan (of Colombian heritage), two Lower Elementary students, Salome (of Uruguayan and Colombian heritage) and Sawyer (of Argentinian heritage) served as MCs. As a community we discussed what the word heritage means. We envisioned a tree—our family, sisters, brothers, mothers, aunts, and uncles comfortably seated in the leaves—then we moved down the trunk of the tree, and envisioned its roots, our heritage, traditions, foods, and celebrations.

We talked about how we honor this history, and the heritage that each of us have. As a community, we honored those of Hispanic heritage that have been influential to us all. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Heads Up for Head Lice!

September marks Head Lice Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shedding light on a common yet often misunderstood problem affecting people of all ages. Head lice, tiny parasitic insects that thrive on the scalp and hair, can cause itching, discomfort, and embarrassment. This month aims to educate individuals about the causes, prevention, and effective treatment options for head lice infestations. 

How Head Lice Spreads 

Head lice infestations are commonly found among children aged 3 to 11, but anyone can get them. These insects spread through direct head-to-head contact, which can occur during playtime, sleepovers, or close interactions. Contrary to popular belief, head lice do not jump or fly; they crawl from one person’s hair to another’s. Sharing personal items like hats, combs, or headphones can also facilitate transmission. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Head lice survive less than 1–2 days if they fall off a person and cannot feed; nits cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they are not kept at the same temperature as that found close to the scalp.”

Prevention Tips 

• Minimize close contact with others, whether during play or daily activities at home, school, or social gatherings such as sports events, playground sessions, sleepovers, or camp. 

• Avoid sharing personal grooming tools like combs, brushes, or towels. Sanitize combs and brushes used by an infested individual by immersing them in hot water (maintained at a temperature of at least 130°F) for a duration of 5 to 10 minutes. 

• Refrain from lounging or resting on surfaces like beds, sofas, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have been in recent contact with someone carrying a lice infestation. 

• Launder clothing, bedding, and other washable items worn or used by an infected person during the 48 hours leading up to treatment. Utilize the hot water (at a temperature of 130°F) laundry cycle followed by the high heat drying cycle. If items cannot be washed, consider dry-cleaning them or securely sealing them in a plastic bag for two weeks. 

• Perform thorough vacuuming of both flooring and furniture, particularly focusing on areas where the infested individual spent time.  

• Avoid the usage of fumigant sprays or fogging products. 

Getting Rid of Head Lice 

If head lice do manage to find a home on your scalp, do not panic. Effective treatment  involves patience and diligence. Comb, comb, comb! 

• Use Medicated Shampoo after Consulting with your Healthcare Provider: Over-the-counter or prescription shampoos containing pyrethrins or permethrin can be used to kill lice. Follow the instructions carefully and repeat the treatment as recommended.

• Manual Removal: Manually remove dead lice and nits (eggs) using a fine-toothed metal nit comb every day or 2, this is crucial for complete eradication. 

• Wash and Dry: Wash all clothing, bedding, and personal items in hot water and dry them in the hottest setting to kill any remaining lice. 

• Bag Non-Washable Items: Items that cannot be washed can be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. Lice cannot survive without a host for this long. 

• Notify Close Contacts: Inform friends, family, and school personnel if you discover a lice infestation. This helps prevent further spread. 

Head Lice Awareness Month serves as a timely reminder of the importance of vigilance and proper education when it comes to preventing and treating head lice infestations. Understanding how head lice spread, taking preventative measures, and following effective treatment protocols can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the discomfort and inconvenience associated with these tiny yet persistent pests.

Students Take the Lead on Volts Wednesdays

This week, we had an amazing first Volts Wednesday in the PGIA. Every Student Life course and club in the IA house was student-led! Our Volts Wednesday program is designed to meet students’ individual needs, both academically and socially/emotionally.  Additionally, it allows students to explore activities and topics they would not typically encounter in school.

Volts Wednesdays occur 10 times each semester, on the Wednesday of five-day school weeks.  All dates can be found on the school calendar.

Photos by Natasha Webster, Lexi Harris, and Dr. Fisher

Mu Alpha Theta A national math honor society led by Zia Zucker and Keighsana Southwell and focused on service.  This group already sent a sign up to other PGIA students offering math tutoring for free.

Cooking Club (led by Kaden Fisher and Micah Auchincloss) Menu planning for upcoming meals!

Girls Club (led by Ve'Niya Callwood, Aysia Frett, A'Mrii Jones) This group is developing a comprehensive proposal and lesson plan, building up an incredible group of young women spanning grades 8-12.

Criminology and Moot Court (led by Alessa Carty) Alessa is teaching a collaborative course for aspiring lawyers where they research and "retry" past and current legal cases. 

Student Media Team (led by Natasha Webster and Lexi Harris) This team contributes to writing and photography for social media and the VOLT newsletter, as well as the school yearbook and support for other communication vehicles.  On Wednesday, they met with Joe, our Communications Coordinator to game plan for the year.

Dungeons and Dragons (led by Miles Broomes).  This interactive fantasy genre game requires students to develop their own scenarios as they compete together.  This eclectic group of students spans grades 6-12.

Photos: Montessori Hands-On Parent Night (Elementary)

An enormous thank you to all Montessori families who attended our ‘Hands On’ Parent Nights over the past two weeks. This special event allowed children to demonstrate what they’ve been learning and working on to a parent. On both nights, the children were overjoyed to share.

Photos from Lower Elementary demonstrations are below. In this week’s gallery, we have also added new Primary photos from Ms. Bollinger’s classroom during last week’s presentations. Enjoy!

Photos from Primary Night are here.

Presenting the Class of 2024

It’s graduation week! All are invited to join us under the Solar Awning this Sunday, May 26th at 1pm for the official ceremony.

The Class of 2024 has very exciting and diverse post-secondary plans. Collectively, their pursuits will take them to both domestic and international universities, into the trades and to exploration through travel. From service projects to athletic accomplishments to excellence in academics, everyone in this class has contributed to our island community in unique and impactful ways. Half of this class has been a part of VIMSIA since a level of Montessori, and many of them participated in the Turkey End Session during their junior year.

In addition to their individual accomplishments, this graduating class has been instrumental in building and fostering a strong sense of community at VIMSIA and in St. Thomas. This class has developed a special sense of unity, having persevered through IrMaria and the pandemic during their time in the PGIA. Their impact will be felt for many years to come and the legacy they are leaving behind is deeply inspiring.

Class of 2024 - We love you and are so proud of you!

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson