Off to Madrid

PGIA students in Madrid, Spain just got back from their second fabulous excursion of the week. They went to El Escorial-the royal palace of Phillip II-with the entire 8th grade class on Tuesday and later on also visited Toledo. The group plans to visit Madrid and the Prado Museum on Monday.

Spanish Immersion Exchange Program

Our students with their host brothers/sisters.

Andy Yu in his new bedroom at his host family’s house.

Zack with the Spanish students at the Boadilla School.

Last week Tuesday six of our 7th & 8th graders left on a jet plane for a six week Spanish Immersion Exchange Program.  Andy Yu, Joaquin Hawkes, Noah Ballas, Zachary Edwards, Nathaniel Levine and Lindsay Barr will be attending classes at another IB school, Boadilla, in Madrid. They will also be living with host families. Ms. Bonnie Barr & Ms. Amy Ballas will be the chaperones during the six weeks.  Ms. Barr will be there for the first three weeks and Ms. Ballas will be there for the final three weeks.  Ms. Barr has reported that the students are settling in and having a great time thus far.  They have already been skiing and have plans to go to amusement parks with their host families.  They will be going on field trips to museums such as El Prado, Reina Sofia & Alcala de Henares with the school.  There are also day trips planned by Ms. Barr to travel to neighboring cities such as Segovia, Toledo & Avila. I will keep you updated weekly on the adventures that our students are having in Spain!  ¡VIVA España! ¡VIVA PGIA!

Noah, Joaquin & Lindsay getting ready for class.

Some Spanish Exchange Students See Snow for the First Time!

Lots of great new experiences for our PGIA students abroad at the Casvi School in Madrid.  One of which, at least for Kira and Aviella, was seeing snow for the first time!

PGIA Exchange Students Visit Spain's Ministry of Education

At the Ministry of education

The center of Villaviciosa de Odon

The Royal Palace

From our chaperone, Ms. Brigitte Bornn ~

Good afternoon, parents.  We had a great excursion today! We were invited to visit for awhile at Spain's Ministry of Education department.  We had a meeting in the legislature with the Ministress herself that was very delightful.  She spoke with our students in Spanish only and our students did very well, asking and answering articulately in Español.  I was so very proud of them! 

Bon Voyage PGIA Students to Madrid!

Last week we bid farewell to the Spanish exchange students that were here at VIMSIA for six weeks, and this week we send off our own PGIA contingent to visit their school in Madrid for six weeks.  

Qué increíble oportunidad !  We are so proud of you all for being IB risk-takers and for paving the way for future PGIA language exchange students!  Felicitaciones - que son increíbles !