We had the opportunity last week to celebrate the 18 wonderful 6th year students with VIMSIA's first even Virtual Graduation. Please click here to enjoy the video that is filled with teacher tributes, student presentations and a special musical tribute from the 4th and 5th year students.
Prior to the Virtual ceremony we had the opportunity to see the graduates briefly when they came to campus to pick up the much treasured Montessori Medallions.
Virgin Islands Montessori School - Class of 2019
Thursday, June 13 was filled with celebration as our 6th year students graduated from the Montessori Program!
Norma Bolinger, Montessori Director and former teacher of a few graduates, commended this group of 17 for their hard work, leadership and resilience. She highlighted a variety of highs and lows for these students including survival in the face of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, welcoming new teaching staff, success on the annual MMUN trip or, for some, transitioning to a new school.
Zia Gibbs and Santiago Brunt were the two student speakers. Both having been at VIMSIA for their entire Montessori careers, Gibbs and Brunt shared their best memories and passion for the program. Gibbs said, “I will always love Montessori, even when I am 100 years old! Right now I feel as though I have shifted from a student to a person, finding my way.” Brunt noted that the Montessori program gives him hope for “Resolutions for peace around the world.”
Zia Gibbs addresses the graduates
Ms. Mandy Boyle was the keynote speaker. This year marked Ms. Boyle’s 25th year of teaching here at VIMSIA. She urged students to enjoy each day, live in the moment, not to grow up too fast and to find a way to make next year better.
Ms. Alexandra Silva, PGIA Middle Years Program Coordinator, welcomed the group to the PGIA. She offered words of encouragement and excitement for the students’ next chapter as they move on to middle school.
Ms. Kate Ludick addresses the graduates
Upper Elementary teachers, Petra Satter and Kate Ludick, gave heartfelt speeches as well. Ms. Satter sited the students’ impact on her development and Ms. Ludick read Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning”, a poem that focuses on change, responsibility and inclusion.
The VIMSIA community is so proud of these young people. Best of luck as they make there way “up the hill” and beyond!
Riddhi N. Atmaramani, Kinze Simuel Brown, Cassidy Alexis Caines, Gavin P. Johnson, Brianna Joan Jordan, Joniah J. Julien, Divina M. Kamra, Matthew Harold, Dietrich Meyer, Leah Mitzi Parker, Selena Grace Webster, Amelie Kiera Zucker
Twelve sixth year Montessori students walked the stage and graduated from Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy’s (VIMSIA) accredited Montessori Program. Graduating from one of only two available Montessori schools in the US Virgin Islands is a game-changer for these students and a life decision supported by their friends and family. VIMSIA’s graduation included remarks from keynote speaker, Brad Wilson, CEO of Brad’s Deals LLC, current parent and member of the VIMSIA board of trustees.
Montessori Director, Norma Bollinger opened the 41st annual graduation ceremony by welcoming twelve eager graduates ready to take on life and move up to VIMSIA’s International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program next fall. There have been over six-hundred Montessori graduates in St. Thomas since the school was established in 1964. Bollinger explained that a noted difference between a Montessori graduate and one that graduates from traditional school is their “love for learning, our children from the minute they begin in a Montessori program are motivated through intrinsic motivation.”
The ceremony included speeches from both Upper Elementary Montessori Directresses Caroline Morrison and Kate Ludick. Morrison highlighted how important the role of the teacher is stating “Dr. Maria Montessori believed that it is the role of the teacher to walk alongside you, challenging your imagination whenever possible to help you see through the obstacles in the way.” Ludick was thrilled to see such a beautiful ceremony to mark the end of another successful school year. “The children now are going into the third plane of development and becoming adolescents. It was a very positive way to end the year for them and do something special, because they gave us –the teachers- hope” said Ludick.
Successful entrepreneur Brad Wilson –also a Montessori graduate- took the opportunity to share with the graduates three things he wished he knew as a teenager, during his keynote address. “First, be aware of your life and if it’s one of inertia or activity” commented Wilson, commending the Montessori graduates for already living a life of activity by choosing a Montessori education. “Second have a practical framework for success and lastly be open to your instincts and the wisdom of your unconscious mind” stated Wilson. He stressed how “the importance of independence, curiosity and discovery will only grow in the future.”
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics there are 132,656 schools in the US (2008 numbers), 4,000 of them are Montessori Accredited schools with only two located in the US Virgin Islands.
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
