Mimi Boumedine Accepted Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence 4 All Program

Mimi Boumedine, PGIA 9th grade student, has been accepted into Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence 4 All Program this summer! This three week program allows students to study artificial intelligence with Stanford faculty and graduate students as well as take field trips to local companies involved in Artificial Intelligence. Students also complete a research project to round out the program. Congratulations Mimi!  Stay tuned for more updates on where our students are heading this summer!  Please contact Ms. Ebe with any questions or to share details on your upcoming summer experience. 

Alick Letang Guest Speaker College Seminar

Alick Letang, Admissions Director of Randolph College, spoke to our DP1 students during college seminar this week! Originally from the Virgin Islands, Mr. Letang has over 20 years of admissions and enrollment management experience. He shared many insights with students including keeping an open mind during the college search, the importance of academic success and always looking for ways to create options for the future. Thank you for supporting our students Mr. Letang!

Positive Lifestyles Promgram

The PGIA would like to thank all community presenters that donated their time to talk to our students yesterday during the Positive Lifestyle Program Health Fair; Dr. Jessica Wilson, Meg Sheahan, Bianca McClammy, Michael Fogle, Justin Kurtz, Ashley Smith, and our staff members Shane DeGannes, Mara Brownell, and Kelly Butler. 

Kira Mitchell Accepted to Oxford Scholastica Academy, England

Kira Mitchell, PGIA 10th grade student, will participate in the Oxford Scholastica Academy in England this summer! She will participate in the Medicine Preparation Academy and experience many types of university teaching and learning styles. Students will learn more about how the body works, interact with patients, conduct clinical examinations and develop medical knowledge and research skills. Student also have the opportunity to publish an article in a scholastic medical journal. Congratulations Kira! Stay tuned for more updates on where our students are heading this summer! Please contact Ms. Ebe with any questions or to share details on your upcoming summer experience.

Marissa Bornn Accepted John Hopkins University Summer Program

Marissa Bornn, PGIA 10th grade student, has been accepted to a summer program at Johns Hopkins University! The Discover Hopkins Medical School Intensive program allows students to focus on techniques related to surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and biomedical science. Students participate in lectures, labs and hands on medical training at John Hopkins Medical Simulation Center, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Congratulations Marissa! Stay tuned for more updates on where our students are heading this summer! Please contact Ms. Ebe with any questions or to share details on your upcoming summer experience.

VIMSIA Players on USVI U-17 Boys

The members of the U.S. Virgin Islands under-17 boys national team playing in the CONCACAF U-17 Championships in Bradenton, Fla.: front row from left, Connor Querrard, Kareem Sealey, Hasani Edgar, Selah Mathurin, Jimson St. Louis, Devonte Duncan, Thomiah Williams, Orion Mills and Mahari Cortijo; back row from left, Elton Richards Jr., Axel Bartsch, Destin Thompson Jr., Kyle Willis, Dalton Parr, Isaiah Jarvis, Nyon Maynard, Whelan Joseph and Gidal Williams.

The U.S. Virgin Islands under-17 boys national team was shut out in its first two matches at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, being played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

The USVI National Team, playing in Group A in the 19-team qualifying stage, lost to St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1-0 on March 16, then fell 3-0 to the Cayman Islands on Sunday.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are now 0-2-0 in group play, with two matches remaining against Nicaragua, and Sunday, March 24, against Grenada.

Congratulations to the four VIMSIA students who made it onto the team: Devonte Duncan, Jimson St. Louis, Isaish Jarvis and Axel Bartsch.

Elementary Girls Soccer Champs

St. Thomas Elementary Girls Soccer Champs

Virgin Islands Montessori School’s elementary girls soccer team won the St. Thomas-St. John Interscholastic Athletic Association league title this season. The Lady Volts finished the season with a 5-0-1 record. Team members are, front row from left, Ellis Wisehart, Arielle Shackell, Natasha Webster, Zia Gibbs, Tanya Khemlani and Arimei Miller; back row from left, coach Adalio Araujo, Cadence Canes, Aurora Rodriguez, Devin DeGannes, Aysia Frett, Abella Maynard, Sofia Kappel and Mariana Brunt. DeGannes was the league’s leading scorer with six goals.

VIMSIA Recognized as Daily News Best After School Activities Program

Congratulations VI Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy for winning the Daily News best After School Activities Program award voted by readers! #best #ThanksDailyNews #qualityprograms #afterschoolfun

Ricky James Winner of 2019 Youth Role Model University Bound Program at UVI

Well don't we just need some good news today? As you all knew from earlier in the year, Mr. Axel Bartsch, was the winner from our school as the 2019 Youth Role Model for the University Bound Program at UVI.  We are so proud of him!

The University Bound Program selected their own winner for the 2019 Youth Role Model Award and that young man is also a PGIA student.  Mr. Ricky James will also receive this award this spring!

VIMSIA creates great young people, and these students are fully deserving of this accolade.  Sharp, strong, reflective young men who have led by example in staying committed to academics and strong character.

Today is a proud day for VIMSIA.  Congrats Axel and Ricky!

Rugby in MYP PE Class

Two years ago the local USVI Privateers Rugby Club teamed up with our school in an effort to be involved with the community and grow the sport of rugby. At the time we welcomed a few college teams in our PE classes. This year we were excited to welcome back the Babson United Rugby Club from Babson College, located in Boston. The students had an awesome time running drills and playing fun rugby games with the players! Thanks to Coach Carrick Pell and the Babson team!

Diego Zakers Accepted to Frontiers Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

PGIA 11th grade student, Diego Zakers, has been accepted to the Frontiers Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute this summer!  Diego will explore Interactive Media and Game Development as well as Entrepreneurship.  Congratulations Diego!  Stay tuned for more updates on where our students are heading this summer!  Please contact Ms. Ebe with any questions or to share details on your upcoming summer experience.   

Caroline Gaskin Accepted to Harvard University's Secondary School Program

PGIA 11th grade student, Caroline Gaskin, has been accepted to Harvard University's Secondary School Program this summer!  Students get the opportunity to experience course work and life as a college student while developing independence and learning about the world around them.  Caroline's course options include Creative Writing, Biochemistry, Japanese and many more.  Congratulations Caroline!  Stay tuned for more updates on where our students are heading this summer!  Please contact Ms. Ebe with any questions or to share details on your upcoming summer experience.    

"Taste the Nations" from a Student’s Perspective

“Taste the Nations” preparation begins months before the event. The grades choose a country to represent in a dance- these almost always tie in with end session or some other event that has inspired us during the year. For example, the seventh grade represented Iceland, which is a travel option during end session this year. They then go to work practicing and perfectecting the dance. “For two months, we rehearsed every Tuesday for two hours. As ‘Taste the Nations’ drew closer, we rehearsed a few Thursdays as well.” said a grade seven student. “Not only is there the dance practice, but the writing and rehearsing of the introduction speech.”

It’s a lot of work, but we, the students, recognize the importance of it. Firstly, it is for a grade. Secondly, we care about our school, and so we do our best to represent it. Not only do we care about our school, but the opportunities of the people in it. The money raised from “ Taste the Nations” goes toward end session scholarships- because the end session traveling options cost a lot, the school makes an effort to have all the students travel once throughout their period at school. It is an amazing experience- one every student deserves to try.

Babson Rugby Team Visits the PGIA

The Babson Rugby team visited our school this past week. They led our students through a fun PE full of rugby drills and a game at the end, one which included all of the students and Babson team members! Thank you so much to the Babson Rugby team for sharing their knowledge and rugby skills with us!

Kindness Tree

In our effort to spread kindness and love, VIMSIA PTA is focusing this year on a Kindness Campaign “Cool to be Kind”. Under PTA’s mentorship, the students have created a kindness tree. Each of these leaves is a piece of paper belonging to a student, on which they drew a picture or wrote something that they think demonstrates and expresses kindness. “ Every time I pass the kindness tree, it makes me feel happy. It also makes me glad that I go to Montessori.” said a student. Here are a few examples on the leaves; some say a good deed they had done, such as “ I picked up the trash at the beach on Sunday”, or a good deed you could do “ Compliment the first three people you see today”. Others say encouraging things such as “ One smile can change everything. BE KIND” or simple words such as “ Love”.

Coming Soon, Wizard of Oz

After last semester’s production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama club is preparing for a second play fast approaching- the Wizard of Oz! Mrs. Bump and her team of theater students are hard at work. This time, the lower and upper elementary classrooms will be participating as well, as munchkins and monkeys. Be sure to come watch and support the PGIA drama club! The dates of the performances will be May 10 and 11, which will land on a Friday and Saturday.

Photo Credit to Tams-Witmark

MasterChef Finalist Visits VIMSIA

Bri Kozior, a finalist on the popular cooking show MasterChef , visited our school this past month. Here to visit long-time family friends Pam Engle (our very own Advancement Director) and her family, Chef Kozior kindly agreed to visit our school and talk to the students about pursuing their dreams.

Bri Kozior, MasterChef finalist

Girls Elementary Soccer having a great 2nd Season

2019 ELEMENTARY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

For the second-ever season of the girls’ elementary soccer league, our girls are having a great season. Having played four games already ( all victories!), these young soccer players are setting a standard for the other competition, Antilles and All Saints. Keep it up girls!

8th Grade Students set Sail on a Roseway Adventure

Photo Credit to Roseway Ship’s Log

Many thanks to the Gifft Hill School for inviting our students on their latest adventure… James, Paschal, Preston, and Malcolm are spending this week at the World Ocean School aboard the Roseway. They will be visiting St. John, Puerto Rico, and other outlying islands. Feel free to follow along on the Roseway Ship’s Log!

Photo Credit to Roseway Ship’s Log

Dr. Xuri Maurice Allen visits DP Program

Dr. Xuri Maurice Allen visited our Diploma Program students during College Seminar this week.  Dr. Allen (current VIMSIA parent) has over 20 years of experience in higher education and has served as the Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the University of the Virgin Islands.  He spoke to our students about the transition to college and preparing for the college application process.  Thank you for supporting our students, Dr. Allen!  For more information or ways to get involved please contact Kara Ebe at kebe@vimsia.org