Summer Reading!

Summer is a wonderful time for leisure reading. The Montessori & PGIA Libraries will be open through June 21, and families are welcome to come check out books for the summer.  Allowing children to choose their own books is a proven way to make reading fun for even the most reluctant readers.  We encourage all elementary students to take up the Read 5 challenge from the Governor’s summer Reading Program – each student has received a form and one free book to get started.  Other ideas for summer reading activities can be found here. Happy Reading!

Jacob helping to introduce students to the Governor’s Summer Reading Program. One of the featured books is jacob and Jet, written by his mother Liza Margolis.

End Session Students Turn Trash to Treasure

As part of the Trash to Treasure End Session Course, students are re-purposing discarded waste into unique treasures with aesthetic and practical appeal. This week, the group teamed up with Sports & Nutrition to explore the mangrove lagoon and learn about the flora and fauna affected by terrestrial litter and marine debris.

End Session students kayaking in St. Thomas

End Session students enjoy VI Eco Tours on St. Thomas

Former VIMSIA Student, Alex McFarlane, Drafted to Major League Baseball!

Alex McFarlane was drafted to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday! He is a strong commit to the University of Miami (FL) as well. Alex attended Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy from La Casa until 11th grade. He moved to Georgia to further pursue opportunities for baseball for his senior year of high school. Congratulations on these incredible opportunities, Alex! The VIMSIA Community is very proud.

Ms. DiFrancesco's Third Year Students Visit St. John!

Ms. DiFrancesco’s third years went to St. John for their end of year trip! They hiked the Cinnamon Bay Trail and swam at Trunk Bay. They saw some Taino artifacts and learned about some of their tools and techniques as well as some plants they used for food and medicine. The Taino were an indigenous people of the Caribbean.

Students enjoy a tour from the St. John National Park Service.

AMI Celebrates 90 Years!

“The purpose of education must be to elevate the individual.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) is celebrating 90 years! Dr. Maria Montessori founded AMI in 1929. VIMSIA’s Montessori program is accredited by AMI. The organization is directed by an international board, and is supported by distinguished scholars and statespeople throughout the world. AMI is internationally recognized as the oldest and most respected Montessori Program accrediting organization in the world.

Clinton Global Initiative Visits VIMSIA!

Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) representatives were on campus Wednesday to meet with Head of School Michael Bornn about expanding Montessori Education in the Virgin Islands and off grid renewable energy systems. Mr. Bornn also attended the CGI conference at the University of the Virgin Islands earlier this week. We are hoping to gain CGI’s support in our efforts on each of these fronts.

Former President Bill clinton speaks at cgi conference at uvi

Alumni Update: Nisha Hodge

Nisha, a 2012 PGIA IB graduate, was on hand for the 2019 commencement ceremony last week and we were honored to have her announce our guest speaker. It was so fabulous to see Nisha back on campus to get an update on what is going on in her life.

She brought in a photo on her at her 2012 graduation holding her “Oh the Places You’ll Go” book, by Dr. Suess, which has become a traditional gift for our graduates from their teachers and the VIMSIA staff.

Nisha, a Gates Millennium Scholar, has achieved much since her time at the PGIA. She is most certainly on a path to be the change she hopes to see in the world. Rock on, Nisha!

She gave us some of the highlights of her life since graduation:

• In 2012, when I graduated I received the Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship that completely covered my undergraduate and graduate education. 

• During my freshman year of college, in 2012, I was the student keynote speaker for the IB Conference in New Orleans in which I introduced environmentalist Phillip Cousteau Jr.  

• I attended New College of Florida and graduated in 2016 with a BA in Biology/Chemistry.  

• I graduated in 2018, last year, with my Masters of Public Health (MPH) from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. 

• At the beginning of medical school, I found out I received the National Health Service Corp (NHSC) Scholarship which covers the cost of medical school in exchange for my commitment to providing primary care to underserved populations. 

• I just finished my first year of medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. 

• I will be conducting clinical research in health disparities this summer at Stanford University for 8 weeks.

We at VIMSIA could not be more proud of Nisha. Oh, the places she has gone - and is going!

Spring Magic Dance Recital - Truly Magic!

Ms. Helen's 16th Annual Spring Magic Performing Arts Production was another success! This year Ms. Helen's dance classes were joined by Ms. Mary's tap & jazz & Ms. Mary Christensen's musical theater class. Vocalists and a magician also joined in on the program. The performers were remarkable!! VIMSIA has so much talent.

The Class of 2019 Represents the PGIA's 10th Graduating Class!

Sunday, May 26, was an incredible day at Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy. The Class of 2019 represents the PGIA’s 10th graduating class and these thirteen graduates shined during their last event as high school students! This group has a very notable bond and there was an overwhelming sense of ‘readiness’ to start the next chapter of their lives.

Valedictorian Talia Feshbach

Salutatorian Axel Bartsch

Gregory Christian, 2019 Student Selected Commencement Speaker, receives the Masjid Nur International-Mindedness Scholarship

 Talia Feshbach led the class as Valedictorian and Axel Bartsch was Salutatorian. Gregory Christian was chosen by his peers as the student speaker. He was also awarded the Masjid Nur Organization's International-Mindedness Scholarship at the ceremony. Gregory shared wonderful anecdotes and perspective, having been a part of the VIMSIA school community since Primary. Ms. Alexandra Silva was selected as the teacher speaker and encouraged students to take on each of their classmate’s best and most signature qualities as they venture off into the world. The crowd enjoyed a keynote address from Shane Feldman, founder and CEO of Count Me In, one of the world’s largest millennial movements for volunteerism, community and mentorship.  

 Twelve students are planning to attend university in the fall.  They were accepted to 53 different universities and received over $5 million in scholarships and grants.

Our students will be attending:

• Allegheny College (PA)

• Bryn Mawr College (PA)

• Drexel University (PA)

• Florida Atlantic University (FL)

• Georgia State University (GA)

• Grove City College (PA)

• High Point University (NC)

• Howard University (DC)

• Jacksonville University (FL)

• Occidental College (CA)

• Rider University (NJ)

• University of Miami (FL)

Music End Session Donated to Livingston Music Fest

These generous students are all in the Exploring Music End Session, lead by Mr. Ott. They chose to use some of their own funds to purchase tickets to the Livingston Music Fest that they raffled off over a facebook live event this week! Kudos to these generous kiddos for sharing the joy of music and giving.

End Sessions off and Running .... or flying - as the case may be.

This year there are eight End Session programs including London, Iceland/Ireland, Panama, Film Making, Sports, Music and Expression, Computer Science and Trash to Treasures. See all End Session program descriptions for 2019.

PGIA End Session is one of the exceptional programs that sets VIMSIA apart from other schools. Each year, we put together several program options for these last few weeks of school. These are indepth programs that focus on the arts, science and international-mindedness. Some involve international travel, while others provide these experiences here on campus - with special field trips and events.

VIMSIA Travel Map - pins indicate countries visited for educational travel

VIMSIA Travel Map - pins are places we have traveled for student education

Bon Voyage London End Session Trip

“This above all: to thine own self be true. ”

— Hamlet, Act I, Scene III

London Trip is off and running. How nice that they ran into Mrs. Gruber!

Global Context: Orientation in Space and Time - London End Session

Discover how the shared history of British-American relations translate to our modern relationships throughout the world.

Explore the ancient wonder of Stonehenge, the early Renaissance cultural explosion of Shakespeare’s time, and modern theater and innovation.

VIMSIA Parent, Liza Margolis, Authors Children's Book - "Jacob and Jet"

Jacob and Jet

Parent Liza Margolis has written a children’s book based on her son Jacob’s experiences with their hurricane rescue dog Jet. The book, titled Jacob and Jet , has been selected for this year’s Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge.

We are all so proud of Liza! The book will be sent home for the summer reading challenge and available in our library approximately the last week of school. After release this summer it will also be available from Amazon.

Liza says, “Jacob’s adorable relationship with this precious rescue dog inspired me to write this story. It has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my adult life.”

Bon Voyage Ireland/Iceland End Session Trip

“Irie in ICELAND & IRELAND: Photography and Media Documentation”

This eager group of PGIA students, along with Ms. Ferguson and Ms. Truax, are heading off to Iceland and Ireland for their End Session Trip. So nice to have met Mrs. Gruber at the airport!

Follow their adventures on their student run blog.

Nobel Prize Winner’S thoughts on Montessori

“I do not believe there is a method better than Montessori for making children sensitive to the beauties of the world and awakening their curiosity regarding the secrets of life.”

— Gabriel García Márquez, Living to Tell the Tale

From Montessorieducation.com

Gabriel García Márquez was a Nobel Prize winner in literature. In his autobiography, Living to Tell the Tale, he talks praisingly of his time there. Read the full article from Montessorieducation.com.

Bon voyage Panama End Session

Panama (Boquete)- Spanish Immersion, Homestay Culture, Adventure & Service with Ms. Butler and Ms. Weichman. Like them on Instagram at “pgiapanama”!

FBI Visits VIMSIA Students for Community Outreach

The FBI's Evidence Response Team (ERT) visited VIMSIA this week!  The ERT was on island doing a variety of community outreach and training sessions.  PGIA students learned about countless opportunities to learn and grow as a part of the FBI as well as participated in simulated activities involving forensic science and crime scene investigation. Our on campus end session groups found ways to apply this presentation to computer science, up-cycling, sports science and more!     

Alumni Silas Wisehart has been Appointed to US Coast Guard Academy Class of 2023!

St. Thomas resident Silas A. Wisehart has received an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.   Wisehart will be sworn in as a member of the Class of 2023 on July 1, 2019. 

 The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, is a top military college granting Bachelor of Science degrees in one of nine engineering or professional majors.  The smallest of the nation’s five military service academies, the Coast Guard Academy’s Corps of Cadets represents the nation’s best and brightest students, ready to serve and lead their country.  Each year, approximately 200 graduates are commissioned as Coast Guard officers to help ensure the safety, security and stewardship of our nation’s waters. 

 Wisehart, who was born and raised on St. Thomas, is a 2018 graduate of the V.I. Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy.  During his senior year of high school, he received admission to the Coast Guard Academy Scholars Program, which provides a year of preparation for the rigorous academic, athletic and military program at the Coast Guard Academy.  Having successfully completed the Service Academy Program at Marion Military Institute in Alabama, Wisehart received a full appointment to the Coast Guard Academy. 

 Wisehart is the son of Ryan and Lisa Wisehart of St. Thomas.

Montessori Elementary Soccer Team gets a Visit from Lieutenant Governor Roach

Celeste Accepted to Youth Leadership Forum at Emory University

PGIA 11th grade student, Celeste Hodge, has been accepted to the Envision Program's National Youth Leadership Forum at Emory University this summer! Envision is a experiential education organization offering students the opportunity to explore their career and life interests. Celeste's program will focus on the medical field.  Students in this program get to experience the collegiate lifestyle firsthand, learn from doctors, participate in an interactive curriculum led by advisors and visit medical schools. Congratulations Celeste!  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.