“This above all: to thine own self be true. ”
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.
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.”
“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.
“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.”
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.
Panama (Boquete)- Spanish Immersion, Homestay Culture, Adventure & Service with Ms. Butler and Ms. Weichman. Like them on Instagram at “pgiapanama”!
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!
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.
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.
Ms. Ebe, VIMSIA College Counselor and Admissions Director, tied the knot at a beautiful ceremony May 11. All of us at VIMSIA wish you a lifetime of happiness and love.
Personal project is a capstone project that grade 10 students complete in their fifth year of the MYP program. The project is designed to help students prepare for the kind of work they will complete in the DP program. Students chose the project based on personal interest and exhibit skills such as time management, research, writing, critical thinking, and reflection. The students create a product and write a lengthy report. At the end of the year, they present their projects in the personal project exhibition. This year, 7th, 8th, 9th grade, teachers, parents, and staff came to see the hard work the grade 10 students spent all year completing. It was an excellent experience for all involved.
Ms. Truax
96.7% of students surveyed say they feel prepared for college - see full report.
Huge thanks to Shunshine Rotary for all of their hard work on the Annual Kids Triathlon. VIMSIA was awarded $500 for their 3rd place finish in “most participants”.
I really want to give a shout out to our Varsity players who DUG DEEP, played it cool and raged back against a 1-3 deficit in the second half of the game yesterday against CAHS. The VOLTS ended the game with a 3-3 tie, even after lots of rough playing and continuous challenges. It was AWESOME.
Kudos to all the players who showed a proud representation of our school and positive sportsmanship. And HATS OFF to Coach John who is a perfect role model for our kids to follow. Calm, collected and strategic on the sidelines at all times.
Way to go Volts,
Mrs. Arpasi
WAY TO GO VOLTS. You guys are simply amazing.
It has been so fun to hear what our students are saying about Teacher Appreciation - take a look!
““It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.””
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we all know that our VIMSIA teachers are the best! Please comment with your favorite teacher quotes or stories.
Syna and her family moved to the states after the hurricanes, relunctantly leaving VIMSIA, the only school Syna had ever known. She now attends High School in the states and was recently awarded with 5 Excellence Awards. Her mother Juhi says, “The teachers just love her! They are asking if she has any siblings. For her to do so well her first year makes us so proud. Please be sure to say thank you to all of the wonderful VIMSIA teachers that have been so instrumental in her success. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
You’ll see it in this short video - our students stand out!
With the updates to VIMSIA’s solar energy “plant”, VIMSIA will be in a position to overproduce energy for the school’s needs in the coming years. By purchasing electric vehicles, that we can lease back to our teachers, we can take advantage of that surplus by providing it to our staff for their leased electric vehicles. What a great way to provide economic enhancements to our staff and make living on St. Thomas more viable and sustainable. If you have an interest in an electric car please reach out to Mr. Bornn.
Recycling ambassadors Lexi and Sofie from Ms. Satter's class show off the recycling that has been collected in Elementary classrooms over the last couple of weeks. All elementary classrooms are now recycling plastics that are dropped off at Plaza Extra on Saturdays!
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
