Somersfield Academy Celebrates United Nations Day with a Showcase of Global Awareness
Students taking part in Somersfield Academy's UN Day.
March 15, 2012 — The interconnection of all life was highlighted and celebrated at Somersfield Academy’s recent United Nations Day Celebration. The purpose behind the connected class projects was to expose students to global issues affecting both people and the natural world. The intention was to encourage them to be reflective thinkers with an international mindset, who understand how deeply connected we all are and who make decisions demonstrating their principled and caring nature.
The activities held on the morning of February 28 comprised a series of oral presentations, video clips, posters, dioramas, and demonstrations presenting different levels of inquiry on similar topics. At 10am, students in the Middle Years programme gave a presentation to parents in the gymnasium on the United Nations; at 10.30am, it was the younger students’ turn.
The 9 to 11 students began with a welcome and four podcasts that overviewed what they had been learning: environmental issues in Bermuda and around the world, and the role of the UN in addressing these issues. Topics included flight and innovation in space technology, as well as the examination of various biomes, including the temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, Arctic tundra, and marine biomes, which are crucial to Bermuda’s environmental and economic well-being.
Students taking part in Somersfield Academy's UN Day.
Four PowerPoint presentations explored how global warming and climate change impact Bermuda and other coastal communities, biodiversity and its threats, and the status of Bermuda’s sea turtles. Following the presentations, parents were encouraged to take a closer look at the displays around the gymnasium. These covered a broad spectrum of topics, from general food webs and inland waters to specific explorations, such as Dr Gordon Salo’s efforts to reforest coastal Eritrea with mangroves, significantly improving the quality of life for the area’s inhabitants. The morning closed with parents sharing a picnic with the children and enjoying the environs of the school.
Originally published in The Royal Gazette