June 6, 2011

Northwood Elementary REACH students convene a Model United Nations 

Students in Brittany Williams' sixth grade REACH class participated in a Middle School Model United Nations Conference on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Northwood Elementary following a school-year of activities and events which put students in touch with players on the world stage. The in-school conference simulated the work of the United Nations. 

"Students acted as delegates in their model UN, created resolutions, debated issues and spoke about each individual's country's position," said Brandon McAuliffe, Treasurer Hilton HS Model UN Club.  He will serve as chairperson at the upcoming MUN in 2011 held at Hilton HS.  Also helping students were Suzi Kotin, HHS MUN Club President; Melissa Schachetti, Chelsey Manners and Lynette Brock.

Student participants were: Divya Naidu; Gina Laurini; Alex Noel; Moriah Krause; Allison Porcello; Yianni Diakomihalis; Michael Geffert Palumbo; Elise Wiza; Mallory Lincourt; Angelica Saluzzo; Olivia Gombatto; and Kathryn Batz.

Beginning in January, Miss Williams’ students studied the political and cultural aspects of a variety of countries, made complete by having visitors from these countries come in and speak with students regarding customs and culture  " We have had the pleasure to host via video and teleconference Darren and Michelle Cullerne from Canberra, Australia and Mr. Suhail Khan from New Delhi, India," Miss Williams said.

"We have also had guests come to the school in person including three exchange students from SUNY Brockport hailing from Canberra, Australia, Mr. Stuart O’Connell from Dublin, Ireland, Mrs. Luciana Smith and family from Paranatinga, MT- Brazil, and Mrs. Amanda Ritson from South Africa," she said. "The students have also researched topics from child labor to global epidemics and pandemics."

During the conference students worked collaboratively to come up with solutions for these issues with the guidance of high school students volunteering their time throughout the project.  Advisors for the conference were Northwood Assistant Principal Karen Bolinger; Jim Georger professor at SUNY College at Brockport; and Aggie Seneway, member of the Hilton CSD Board of Education. 

Earlier in the year, students served a pages for the UNAR Model United Nations Conference at St. John Fisher College on March 4-5 with sixth graders from Village Elementary.  - read more -