PGIA Students Heading to Madrid for 6 Weeks

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Marissa Bornn and Caleb Potter_ Photo by Gloria Zakers-271x190.jpg

The final tally is in and 10 PGIA students will be spending six weeks in Madrid for our first international exchange program.  PGIA students Marissa Bornn and Caleb Potter are highlighted on the front page of the St. Thomas source this morning after being interviewed about this exciting opportunity.  Please see the article.  Thanks to the St. Thomas source for your recognition of this international and academic accomplishment!

Spotlight: Grant Farrell & Axel Bartsch

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The USVI Department of Sports, Parks & Recreation held their 1st Annual Children’s Recognition Awards Ceremony at Government House October 30, 2015.  Seventy-three athletes who participated in non-scholastic sports programs and camps were recognized for their outstanding sportsmanship and conduct.  PGIA students Grant Farrell and Axel Bartsch earned awards for their positive teamwork with LaRaza VI soccer club.

Kudos to Grant and Axel - who have been excelling in athletics and amazing ambassadors of good  sportsmanship since they put on their first soccer shoes with Señor in Primary.  We are so proud of you both!

Behind the Curtain of College Admissions

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On Thursday, October 22, the PGIA College Counseling Department of Chris Teare and Elizabeth Elger held an informative and engaging evening giving parents and students a view behind the curtain of college admissions.  Attendees were split into five different sub-admission committees for a fictional university.  Everyone read four students' applications and were tasked with admitting two, wait-listing one, and denying one.  A lively and spirited discussion ensued about the true tenants of a solid college application and how one determines the "best fit" for an institution.  Interestingly enough, the student with the highest standardized test scores and highest grade point average wasn't among the ones accepted!  Chris and Elizabeth would like to thank all of the attendees, and they look forward to another mock admission session in the spring!  Any and all questions about college counseling, please direct to Elizabeth Elger at eelger@vimsia.org.

 

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Volts: International Soccer Competition

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Center - Vice Minister of sports for Dominican republic Soterio Ramirez, Mr. Bornn, Señor plus other representatives from the D.R.

Center - Vice Minister of sports for Dominican republic Soterio Ramirez, Mr. Bornn, Señor plus other representatives from the D.R.

Our Elementary soccer team and Coach Adalio Araujo (Señor) had the fabulous opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic and face-off against several DR soccer teams.  Mr. Bornn, Head of School, was able to coordinate the international soccer event with Dr. Jaime-David Fernandez and Soterio Ramirez, the Minister and Vice Minister of Sports for the DR.

"Montessori Soccer Players Take to the Field in the Dominican Republic" - St. Thomas Source

“Our team returns home today with two wins and two losses to a very talented DR soccer program.

They have had a tremendous growth mindset experience where they encountered serious defeat, major challenges and learned there are better players out there than each and every one of them.

The test will now be do they have the grit to learn from this potentially life affecting experience. Please help them with the growth mindset and the development of grit.

Our school is better off for their journey. They made me and VIMSIA proud.”
— Mr. Michael Bornn, Head of School, VIMSIA

Volts: Cross Country Update

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Coach Nurse (Shane DeGannes) has all of his Cross Country teams in great shape this year.  Here are the results from the first meet.  Meets are held at UVI every Tuesday at 4:00.  Volts field Elementary, JV and Varsity teams.

All runners are looking great, with many reaching personal bests during the first meets. Talisse Thompson continues to excel as the number 1 female varsity cross country runner for STT/STJ.  Ali Bartsch is currently the third place female varsity runner.    Maya Ethridge and Taber Helton are currently placed in the top three for JV.  The elementary teams are sitting first and second for girls and boys respectively.  

Go Volts!

Spotlight: Marcus Norkaitis - Lead for "Rock of Ages"

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PGIA senior Marcus Norkaitis and actress & TV2 reporter April Knight in "Rock of Ages"   Photo credit Noelle Olive Photography

PGIA senior Marcus Norkaitis and actress & TV2 reporter April Knight in "Rock of Ages"   Photo credit Noelle Olive Photography

Marcus Norkaitis as "Drew" -  Photo Credit Noelle Olive Photography

Marcus Norkaitis as "Drew" -  Photo Credit Noelle Olive Photography

PGIA Senior Marcus Norkaitis plays the lead role of Drew in Pistarckle Theater's production of "Rock of Ages."  The play is a smash hit and will be adding extra shows to cover audience demands.  Marcus, by far the youngest performer, is a big hit with the fans as he portrays a rock star wannabe trying to win the girl.  Belting out rock classics including "I Wanna Rock" by Dee Snider and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Mick Jones - Marcus and the entire cast are bringing the audience to their feet.  Congratulations to Marcus, Director Frank Bartalucci, the entire cast and crew and to Pistarckle Theater.  

Bravo!

Karen Gauriloff - Lighting Technician,

Karen Gauriloff - Lighting Technician,

Kudos also to PGIA 9th grader Karen Gauriloff, lighting technician for the production.  

PGIA Reef Bay Field Trip

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Juniors and Seniors were sponsored for a scientific field trip to Reef Bay by Friends of Virgin Islands National Park.  National Park Ranger and great friend of the school, Laurel Brannick was their guide for the day.  Juniors and Biology Teacher Ms. Silva did a clean-up as a part of UVI's Coastweeks Cleanup.  Ms. Zakers and her 12th grade Environmental Systems and Societies class did individual directed research in areas including biodiversity, soil toxicity and endangered species.  Thanks to UVI, Friends of the National Park and Ranger Brannick.  This was a great experience for our students.

Montessori Students Take Home Free Books!

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The St. Thomas and St. John Rotary Clubs recently brought in thousands of gently used books to put into the hands of Virgin Islands children.  These were distributed through the schools. Here at VIMSIA, toddlers through Upper Elementary students selected their own books to take home and keep forever. Ms. Schlesinger’s PGIA Library Mania Enrichment students assisted the younger students. Coming soon: Distribution of free books to the Middle Schoolers!

Spotlight: Ali Bartsch and Alum Isis Collier and Ariel Stolz

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The USVI U20 girls national soccer team played an international friendly match consisting of two games vs. the Turks & Caicos Women's National team last Friday and Saturday on St. Croix.  USVI won both games, with scores of 1-0 and 2-0.

VIMSIA girls competing were junior Alison Bartsch and alumnae Isis Collier and Ariel Stolz.

Volts: Varsity Girls Volleyball Tiebreaker with CAHS

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Nalani Figueroa

The Volts defied the odds on  Tuesday by pushing the competition with CAHS to the extreme.  A Volts win in the first match, followed by back and forth tight victories for each team left the game to a tie-breaker in the 5th set.  CAHS took the tie-breaker, but no-one watching that game could question the powerhouse that is Volts Varsity Girls Volleyball.

I've done the math.  VIMSIA female population for varsity age sports is 25.  Yep - we have a pool of about 25 girls with which to build a team.  CAHS - well, I can't be sure, but a quick calculation and I am pretty confident that 600 is about right - or close enough to prove my point.  Our girls from this little bitty school rocked!  They were professional, supportive of each other and a force to be reckoned with.  I could not have been prouder.  As I watched the game, I realized that the 11th grade girls are the first students to have had the advantage of starting to play volleyball as 4th graders when our program first began.  Goes to show how important it is to build your teams starting at a young age.

Kudos to the team and Coach Figueroa.  A special shout-out to former Volt Volleyball powerhouse, Ms. Kendall Hebert for helping out this season.    Go Volts!  (I guess we're not just the smart school anymore.)

IB Learner Profile - Maya Ethridge

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Congratulations to 9th grader Maya Ethridge, this month's IB Learner Profile winner.  The IB Learner Profile Award is given to a student who embodies IB Learner traits on a daily basis.  

Maya Ethridge and Ms. Elger

Maya Ethridge and Ms. Elger

“Maya is bright, engaging, perceptive, inquisitive, judicious, thoughtful, spirited, and caring. She is a conscientious student, balancing academic and social commitments beautifully. Maya is reflective; she is mindful of her own actions, and she is mindful of how the actions of others impact her classmates. She sees the best in everyone, and she wants to do just in the world. In fact, one day, I am convinced Maya will make the world a much better place - she already has at the PGIA!”
— Mrs. Elger, MYP Math Coordinator & College Counselor

VOLTS Volleyball Weekend!

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Lots of Volts volleyball happening this weekend.  Today at 4:00 our JV girls play against Julia Sprauve at BCB followed by our Varsity girls' match against Kean at BCB with a scheduled start time of 4:45.  Then over to Antilles MCM for our Varsity boys' game against Antilles at 5:30.  Tomorrow afternoon our JV boys play Kean at Antilles at 1:00.

JV Girls after their win against Kean on Tuesday.

JV Girls after their win against Kean on Tuesday.

Congratulations to our teams thus far.  The JV boys had a tournament last Saturday with CAHS and tied.  Our JV girls are 1 and 0 with a win in their first outing against Kean on Tuesday. Our Varsity boys had a win yesterday against 7th Day.  Varsity girls are also in  a winning season thus far.  Stay tuned!  

Go Volts.

Thoughts from the Head of School: Education Reform

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The United States once had a highly ranked education system. Today depending on the measure, the US ranks at best in the top 12 at worst 32nd in global education. Finland is universally acknowledged as the leader in education. Since the early 1980s the US has been undertaking various efforts to improve its education system. Three principles that are now widely being adopted are:

Cognitive Learning, Self-Discipline and Collaboration.

1.     Cognitive Learning:

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Jean Piaget (1896-1980), a French scientist, is credited with first identifying the concept of cognitive learning. He wrote about stages of development: assimilation, equilibrium, new situation, disequilibrium, and accommodation. He identified that children learn at different rates as they progress through the above stages.  Jean Piaget taught about discovery learning; the idea that children learn best through doing and actively exploring. He emphasized “individual learning, flexibility in curriculum [and] the centrality of play in children’s learning, [as well as] the use of the environment, learning from discovery and the importance of the evaluation of children’s progress.  Teachers should not assume that only what is measurable is valuable.”(McLeod)

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Go Volts: Varsity Boys Volleyball, Great Season Start Against Kean

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I was so pleased to watch VIMSIA's first varsity boys volleyball game in at least 4 years!  For some reason, we have had many years without enough interest to field a team, but this year we are coming on strong with both JV and Varsity Boys teams.

Coach Figueroa has done a fine job of getting these great athletes prepared.  While they did not pull out a full win, they were very competitive against a seasoned - very big -  public high school team, that took the division last year.  They lost the first two sets by narrow margins (28-26; 25-17), won the third (23-25) but gave up the fourth (25-6).

This young team is athletic - they are coordinated and quick, they work well together on the court.  They will quickly improve throughout the season and be a contender.  My prediction.  Guess we'll see!