Students Continue to Learn, Grow and ENJOY at International Studies at SHS…

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Sandwich Learns Together/ SPS in Celebrate SPS!, Did you know?, Sandwich High School

by Donald Franke, History Teacher and International Studies Leader – SHS

International Studies we currently has over 60 students enrolled as we begin year 30 of our program. With our freshman club fair and other recruiting, we will have an opportunity to expand the number of students that we expose to the model United Nations experience. The long term vitality of International Studies at SHS speaks to our the SHS and STEM Academy commitment to provide “something for everybody, ” by sponsoring a wide range of clubs and activities.

International Studies is guided by three members of our SHS faculty- Rebecca Lewis, Patrick McDonald, and me.

Senior Lily Barter listens to a delegate at a Saturday Model UN at St. John’s Prep High School.

Our Monday night sessions are open for business, our delegates are off to a great start to what promises to be a very exciting year for model United Nations not only here at Sandwich High School but across all the member schools of the New England Model UN Moderators’ Association. For more about the newly established New England Model UN Moderators’ Association, of which Sandwich is a founding member, click here – NEMUNMA Letter

As the Sandwich High School International Studies Program (home to our own Sandwich High School Model United Nations on Saturday, March 2, 2015) comes to life after a summer off, we have much planned to expand and enhance International Studies in Sandwich.

As always, we will participate in a robust schedule of Saturday model United Nations conferences in New England and will plan our annual trip to New York City. There are many highlights to our NYC trip, including a visit to the United Nations.

Our goals this year include:

incorporating students in the grades 7 and 8 STEM Academy into our program;
creating materials that will help both our delegates and delegates other high schools develop their skills as model United Nations delegates;
making more efficient use of our funds when it comes to transportation to conferences,
expanding our contact with the community through more parents nights;
hosting the first ever end-of-the-year banquet where both parents and the administration will be invited for a night of awards, and, of course, debate;
creating topics for debate that reflect both the interests of our own delegates and the desire to support the curriculum offerings of the high school.

We are also very excited about the New England Model UN Moderators Association. Working together, we will strengthen student participation in this very impactful program, which is open to all students in our schools. We are proud to be among some of the most highly regarding high schools in New England, and I am personally proud to be the Association’s first leader.