Continuing Initiatives

Spanish Infusion

Spanish here Spanish there Spanish everywhere…our on-going Spanish Infusion Program continues to improve. We have Spanish speaking teacher’s assistants in all nine of our Casa and Montessori classrooms.   Translation?  Your Casa or Montessori child has one adult speaking to them in Spanish for their entire school day.  From “Johnny, ve por tus zapatos, por favor” to “Chicos, hagan la fila, por favor”.  18 months of age to graduation, students at VIMSIA are being infused with the second language of Spanish which, in turn, will facilitate their learning additional languages.

End Session Programs

The PGIA End Session program is a capstone experience to each school year - it truly embodies our mission, "Education for Life.”  At the end of the fourth quarter, students in grades 7 through 12 are able to pick a specialty course for a 2 1/2 week in-depth journey into a unique educational experience. The talented teachers of the PGIA develop and facilitate these engaging, experiential programs.  With the option of staying on campus, or traveling abroad, students enjoy hands-on learning in real life situations.  Some of our past End Sessions include:  Spanish immersion programs in Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia, Peru; SCUBA certification; endangered leatherback sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica; visiting Kenya to stay with a Maasai tribe and support the educational programs for young Kenyan girls; performing the play Peter Pan;  experiencing the magic of NYC and Broadway; creating their own documentary film; building robots and working with The Weizmann Institute’s elite scientists; studying endangered humpback whales in Baja, Mexico with world renowned marine biologists – and so much more.  Each year, students anxiously anticipate the announcement of the year’s End Session offerings.  There is always something new and exciting about End Session!  The culminating End Session presentations for 2016 will be held on the VIMSIA campus June 9, 2016. All are welcome to attend.

MMUN

This marks our 9th year as Montessori Model United Nations delegates.  Our Upper Elementary students gain first-hand experience in diplomacy and international relations.  This annual trip to New York City with all of the preparation the students must make to act as delegates to their chosen nation, has proven to be an exceptional learning opportunity for our young students.  Several thousand students participate from around the country and the globe.  This is a great coming-of-age endeavor as our Montessori students prepare to enter the International Academy.    

Enrichment

Swimming, Gardening, Yearbook, Photography, VI Culture, Investment club, Library Mania, Etiquette, Animal Care and more are all available during our enrichment programs every week. It’s an opportunity for PGIA students to pursue personal interest with the support of a group. 

Chess

Anyone for a game of chess? It doesn’t take a genius to recognize the brain-building powers of chess.  Come by and let’s play - numerous sets and tables available around campus.

Green Efforts

We are always anxious to lower our carbon footprint.  We continue to collect cans for recycling, power our school with solar, collect rainwater for our needs, including grey water for irrigation – and so much more.  This year, join our 11th grade students in their quest to ban the plastic water bottle from campus!  The effort was inspired by their visit to Necker Island last spring.

Events

There are some great things coming your way.  Keep an eye on Facebook and our school calendar to stay on top of these and other happenings presented by or hosted by VIMSIA.

Head of School Welcome Back Social

Thursday, September 3rd from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, Michael Bornn invites the VIMSIA family to celebrate the start of the new year with a concert by Luba Dolgopolsky, a Russian born classical and jazz pianist and vocalist on campus. Come socialize with friends and new families.

PTA Beach Picnic

Magens Bay on Sunday September 6th 11:00am to 4:00pm.  See if the dolphins will swim with us again. Open to all families, bring a dish to share.

Wine Tasting

Glazer's Premier Distributors and VIMSIA will host their 5th annual wine tasting event. This year the exquisite tasting event will be at Caribbean Fish Market at The Elysian Hotel on Monday, October 26th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Tickets are $125 and can be bought from school or any Board member.

“In Her Shoes” by Playwright Jessica Henderson

Playwright and VIMSIA parent, Jessica Henderson is directing a play “In Her Shoes” for the benefit of The Family Resource Center which will be performed here at VIMSIA’s Awning Stage. There will be three shows, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, October 23 thru 25th. Do not miss it.

Fall Fest

PTA hosts this great family event for children of all ages throughout the community. Costumes, games, great food and fun.  Saturday, October 31st, on Campus.

M2M

The Third annual M2M Road Race from Montessori to Magen’s Bay on November 7th at 6:30am. Run hard, support the runners or socialize, be there bright and early and get invigorated. Sponsorship opportunities exist. Challenge your friends to participate in this eight mile race.

80/20 Lunch

VIMSIA has been holding this event for the past eight years.  It is an amazing opportunity for our students to see (and feel in their tummies) first-hand what it might be like to be in the 80% of the population that receive only 20% of the world's resources.   Eating beans and rice with their fingers, students watch and listen as their classmates represent children from other nations suffering from hunger every day. Held on November 24, we encourage our VIMSIA families to consider this a day of fasting in support of starving children around the world.  Lunch money collected from participating students and community members is donated annually to hunger organizations around the world.

Las Vegas Night

On Saturday December 5th at Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef, VIMSIA will hold its 46th annual Las Vegas Night.  Mark your calendars from now for the social event of the year.

Michael Jackson Tribute Concert

A tribute to Michael Jackson will be held Saturday December 12th from  7 to 10pm at school. Keep an eye out for further details.

Taste of Nations

Come early to taste it all. Over 35 vendors provide tastes of food from around the world. In Fact call us if you are interested in being another vendor with an ethnic delight. March 12th 5:00pm to 9:00pm - music, entertainment, food, fun, friends, new acquaintances - it will all be at The Taste of Nations on Campus.

Renaissance Fair

New this year, we will piggyback on Pistarckle’s Annual Shakespeare Festival by hosting our first annual Renaissance Fair!  Juggling, jesters, and jousting… oh, my!   Great family fun with a medieval flare.  Look for this event in April. 

Art is a Verb

Our PGIA Arts Program shows its stuff in this great family evening of performance and visual arts.  The talent displayed by these young people, never ceases to amaze.  This event will take place sometime in late April or May.

Spring Magic

A celebration of dance and music produced by Ms. Helen and presented by our after school arts instructors.  This is always an entertaining afternoon.  Join us May 22.

New Website & Social Media

Please visit our new website, www.vimsia.org, to keep abreast of the happenings on campus.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Make sure we have your email!  If you are not getting our event announcements, email us at events@vimsia.org with the heading “Add My Email” and we’ll take care of the rest.