Parent Teacher Magazine Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools March 2014 | Page 13

Opening the door to diplomacy

River Gate Elementary students to experience United Nations model
Twelve River Gate Elementary fifth-graders are preparing to represent
Brazil in the Global Elementary Model United Nations (GEMUN) that will
be held in Dallas, TX in May. They will give speeches, advocate for Brazil’s
interests, and make decisions with students from around the world in twoday sessions. The sessions will test students’ skills in diplomacy and their
knowledge of global issues.
“It is a challenging academic experience and our students are up for it,”
said Jessie Mollé, talent development teacher and team coach. “Our students
need to know what is going on in the world around them.”
Students meet once a week after school to learn about issues facing
Brazil to effectively advocate for their countries’ interests. Some of the
topics they research include child labor, sustainable development, ecosystem
management and climate change. They practice public speaking, write
position papers and prepare resolutions. Lessons are also incorporated into
their literacy and math classes.
When asked what they practice the most. It was a consensus—public
speaking.
“We have to make formal speeches to our committees,” said Alexandria
Chandler. “I have to be able to convey my countries’ position in a way that
convinces the committee to take action.”
Each student on the team participates in a United Nations committee.
Some of the committees are the World Health Organization, the Commission
on the Status of Women, the Economic and Social Council and the Human
Rights Council.
“I am on the Human Rights Council and my topic is on eliminating child
labor,” said Ayana Bryant. “I found out that Brazilian children are still working
at a young age because of poverty.”
Sofia Wolff, like her peers, is excited to learn about a country that will
host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. However, Sofia was
surprised to find out that girls are highly discouraged from playing soccer.

School Board votes to keep spring break
intact for CMS
Regular schedule on March 31 for day missed on Feb. 12
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced Feb. 25 that students will
not have to make up school days missed on Feb. 13 and 14 due to the
winter storm.
Dr. Heath E. Morrison, the district’s superintendent, presented a
recommendation to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Feb.
25 to leave spring break intact by not making up two of the three missed
days. The Feb. 12 snow day will be made up on March 31, previously
designated a teacher workday.
The district calendar for the current school year has 1,080 hours of
instructional time, which is more than the 1,025 hours required by the
state. The extra hours provided some flexibility in the district’s response
to the unusual weather event.
“The education of our students is always our first consideration and
that is why the extra hours were built into the calendar,” Dr. Morrison
said. “This decision was not an easy one but the unique nature of
the February snow storm warranted a unique response. Many of our
employees and families indicated that they had made plans for the break,
so we are pleased to avoid shortening spring break at this time.”
However, Dr. Morrison reminded the Board and the public that it is
possible that additional severe weather could occur this year. Missing
more days of school, he said, will mean losing days during spring break.
District leadership does not believe giving up more instructional time is in
the best interests of students, he said.
Dr. Morrison’s recommendation was unanimously approved by the
Board of Education.

She plans to address the issue with her committee.
The process has also sparked some career interests. Charles Baysinger
is even more interested in missionary work now that he has learned about
Brazil. He says he would like to become a missionary and travel to Brazil to
help the poor. Marissa Staton now wants to be an engineer.
“I looked up photos of the buildings in Brazil,” said Marissa. “They have
houses in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro that are stacked on top of each other.
I want to know how they did it. I like knowing how things were built.”
In addition to preparing for the conference, Mollé and her students are
also fundraising to help fund the trip.
“As you can imagine, it is going to take a considerable amount of funds
to make this tri