The 6th year students of the Upper Elementary headed off to New York City today to participate in the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN). This year our students represent, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, and Italy. Stay tuned for more updates from NYC!
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.
MMUN Students holding the flags of the countries to be represented. Left to right: Italy, Burkina Faso, Ecuador.
MMUN students have spent the first part of the year studying the United Nations, what the UN does and how the UN makes a difference in the world. Students will be representing Burkina Faso, Ecuador and Italy at the Montessori Model UN conference that is being held in New York City in March. In the coming weeks students will be researching these countries in preparation to write position papers on the assigned topics (to be announced soon!).
Each 6th year student spent a week researching 3 different counties, in the MMUN meeting they shared what they learned with each other.
The 6th grade class have just come back from the annual MMUN trip, full of stories and news. MMUN stands for Model Montessori United Nations, and it is the experience of a lifetime in which our 6th graders go to New York to participate in this amazing event. According to the students, this year was a huge success and everybody had lots of fun. “ My favorite part was meeting new people at the UN and being able to help solve problems that need to be solved. I also really enjoyed doing some fun activities NYC has to offer; skating at Rockefeller, visiting museums; and walking around New York, because New York is an awesome city.” said one sixth grade student.
The sixth grade students wrapped up their model U.N. experience March 11 with a final assembly at the United Nations Headquarters. Their delegate finery is hidden under their winter coats – it was 19 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside!
This message just in from Ms. Schlesinger and Ms. Morrison:
Wednesday was our day for sight seeing. We split into groups to explore different parts of New York City, including Top of the Rock, The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York Public Library...The kids are loving popping into stores such as Lego, NBA, Forever 21, Barnes and Noble, Whole Foods. We’ve sampled world famous pizza and cheesecakes. Wednesday night as the kids were putting finishing touches on their poster displays, one said “I can’t believe we just got here last night!”
Today/ Thursday was the first day of conferences. Everyone was a little nervous in the morning, but by lunch feeling a lot more confident about the MMUN committee process.
Tomorrow we are supposed to get snow!!!!
Montessori Model United Nations trip is underway with 17 of our sixth year students. This is our 10th year attending this amazing conference in New York City. This year our students are representing the nations of Fiji, Finland, Portugal, Morocco, and Pakistan. The students research actual UN topics as if they were speaking from their represented country. They spend all year doing their research and writing the papers and referendums required as UN ambassadors. There will be thousands of Montessori students from around the country (and the world) at the conference. We have had several of our students over the years that have actually been chosen to speak on the floor of the UN General Assembly. So exciting for these young students!
Arrived safe and sound! Ready to start their adventure.
Two of our VIMSIA students were called upon to speak at Montessori Model United Nations last week.
“Emotionally supercharged by a an ocean of kids, teachers, and chaperones working together for world peace at the opening and tenth anniversary of the Montessori Model United Nations, New York. Kids were told that their voice can make a difference, that their light can change the darkness of war, fear, discrimination, hunger, and the negative changes affecting our global climate . They were each given a light to shine in the darkness of the room as they were told with emblazoned passion they can make a difference ! Wow wow wow !!!”
Bon voyage to our sixth graders from Ms. Batten and Ms. Morrison's classes that are attending the Montessori Model United Nations Conference in New York City this week. This will be VIMSIA 7th (at least??) year attending the conference.
“On my way to the Montessori Model United Nations, New York, where my daughter Maia will be addressing the topic of Cyber Security in Viet Nam !!!”
Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization’s agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student “delegates” make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure – all in the interest of mobilizing “international cooperation” to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world.
Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their committee will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation when the role playing gets under way. The delegates’ in-depth knowledge of their countries guarantees a lively and memorable experience.
We have been attending the Montessori Model United Nations in New York City since its inception in 2007. This year, our students represented the United Arab Emirates, Romania and Namibia. After much research and preparation (not to mention fund raising!), 18 sixth graders were able to step into the shoes of delegates from each of these countries to discuss their proposed referendums. From global warming to poverty and hunger, the students learned how the United Nations deals with issues relating to Global Peace and Social Consciousness. Jessica Paiewonsky accepted the honor of presenting her committee's resolution to over 1600 student delegates on the floor of the UN General Assembly. Very brave - Kudos to all. Well done.
Virgin Islands Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy - a Montessori and International Baccalaureate Toddler through grade twelve private school in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands. Ask for Admissions 340-775-6360.
VIMSIA 6936 Vessup Lane, St. Thomas USVI 00802 info@vimsia.org Phone: 340.775.6360 Maps and Directions Staff Portal
