Honoring Our VI Historymakers, Montessori Style

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Over the course of February and March, the Montessori school has been buzzing with outside speakers and interactive cultural activities to celebrate Black History Month, Women’s History Month, AND VI History Month. The events kicked off in February when Montessori had its first all-school assembly with a presentation from the Echo People, an Afro Caribbean percussion group. Alongside the opportunity to dance to their incredible music, Mr. Anthony Delray, the leader of the Echo people, gave children lessons on VI local flora and fauna. Mr. Delray spoke about our national flower and birds and what is good for the heart and skin. We also spoke of the origins of the Moko Jumbie and how they influence VI culture and experience today. This wonderful presentation set the stage for a multitude of additional presentations throughout March.

View our gallery of photos and video below. 

Interactive Storytelling in Primary
To honor VI History, parent Simone Moore graced us with a wonderful interactive storytelling experience. Ms. Moore read "Kallaloo: A Caribbean Soup" dressed as the main character, Granny. She presented children with different paper ingredients of the soup and invited them to add them to the pot she had on stage as she read! The storytelling ended with a surprise MoKo Jumbie coming out from behind a curtain and leading the students in dance.

Black History Art Gallery  
Grades 4 and 5 students researched notable Black individuals in our history and used the research, character traits, and inferences to create a piece of art to represent the person. The Art Gallery was then opened for an afternoon for all students and teachers to come peruse. It was a beautiful display of emotion, color and history! 

Notable community members visit Lower Elementary

Lt. Governor Roach asks student Miles Gardner to autograph his drawing

The Lower Elementary class put together a beautiful welcome banner for our Lt. Governor’s visit. He was so impressed with the portrait Miles drew of him that he requested Miles autograph it.

On Thursday, U.S. Virgin Islands Lieutenant Governor Tregenza A. Roach arrived to school on Thursday morning to share his life stories and read a book to the children. He also recognized and previewed a book authored by one of our very own Elementary students, Bea Sewer! It was a beautiful morning. Upon his entry, Ms. Rebecca and Mr. Ben’s class had prepared to sing the VI anthem to welcome the Lt. Governor in. He was overwhelmed with joy and by the end of the morning had a hard time leaving the children.

On Monday, Lower Elementary took a moment to honor the women of VI. Ms. Thomas arranged to have a group of distinguished women speak with the children about their lives and their experience as strong VI community members. The following people received a certificate honoring their contributions to our community and shared some life lessons with students on behalf of VIMSIA and the Lower Elementary level: 

  • Mrs. Olvia Carty, 101 years old

  • Dr. Tai Hunt-Caesar, VIDOH Medical Director (also a Montessori parent!)

  • Daphne Thomas, St. Thomas Rescue Chief

  • Stacy Scotland, (St. Thomas Rescue Deputy Chief)

  • Sally F. Petty, Brigadier General 

  • Maj. Anna Scott, Air Force Attorney and VI National Women's Soccer Team (also Montessori parent!)

Last but not least, on Monday Senator-at-Large Angel Bolques speaks with our Primary children in Ms. Burkett’s room. Photos to come!

Our children have had the pleasure of getting to know and experience a multitude of important and wonderful people throughout these celebratory months.

Head of school Mr. MCLEAN WITH LT. GOVERNOR ROACH.