Story appeared in the 2017 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.

BY HAYLEY PICARD, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Teachers strive to inspire their students to work hard, push past personal fears to see our world from a new perspective, follow their personal passions and to be lifelong learners who make a positive impact on the world. Queen Margaret’s School Senior School teacher Kimberley Phillips wanted to be a model of these behaviours by embodying them.

During her second visit to The Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute in New York, Kimbereley Phillips met Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University. They discussed the importance of high school graduates possessing global understanding… — During her second visit to The Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute in New York, Kimbereley Phillips met Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University. They discussed the importance of high school graduates possessing global understanding and the formation of the Columbia World Projects (CWP).

Tifa Yamamoto (Grade 10) presenting her position paper at ShawMUN.

The growing popularity of the Model United Nations (MUN) in high schools around the world created a new demand for curriculum at QMS in early 2016. Though the School has hosted a Model UN club for many years, students wanted a more in-depth engagement with inter-national political policy creation, the basic rules of political dialogue at the United Nations level and how they can be more informed, active global citizens. When Phillips was selected as the teacher for the new course, she quickly looked for professional development opportunities to bring the curriculum to life for her students. That is when she discovered The Great Decisions Teachers Training Institute.

Hosted by The Foreign Policy Association, the institute is a four-day learning experience for high school teachers from across North America, and is held in New York City each June. “It was quite the application process,” shares Phillips. “But I really wanted my ability to guide class discourse to be current, relevant and my understanding of the Model UN to be authentic.” The institute provides selected teachers with a learn-as-you-go environment with educators from various ethnic, socio-economic and geographical backgrounds, so it is similar to the experience of students during Model UN events.

Model UN is an educational simu-lation where students learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations as an organi-zation. Participants are placed in committees and assigned countries, or occasionally other organizations or political figures, where they represent members of that body. Delegatesformulate positions and debate with their committee members from the perspective of their assigned country/political group. The events are fast-paced and challenge students to think quickly on their feet. “I used everything I learned in New York and incorporated it into my teaching,” says Phillips smiling. “The act of taking a perspective that is quite possibly not your own creates empathy, understanding and connections.” With her newfound knowledge, Kimberely welcomed back students eager to enter the international political arena.

A diverse group of students commenced their learning through in-class mini UN presentations on women’s rights in the workplace, capturing their attention and engaging them in a topic they could relate to. Seven students com-mitted to attending the Vancouver Model UN in January, and based on their experience, the number of participating students grew expo-nentially to 36 girls for ShawMUN in April. The QMS delegation was the largest of any attending school and also contained the highest number of first-time participants.

During ShawMUN, students from around North America joined together to write position papers, engage in political debate, draft resolutions and create hypothetical ways to solve world issues. Kimberely Phillips watched the girls, astounded by their confidence and growth as they dove right into deconstructing complex international issues. “I was inspired by, and proud of, our students’ ability to decode content-specific language quickly and use it correctly, and learn political debate theory and apply it,” she says. “These girls internalized this learning and experienced a whole new level of political awareness. It was incredible to be a bystander and witness it!”

One particular QMS student made an impression on Phillips. Natalia Ross Vazquez, a Grade 10 student from Mexico, chose to take part in a Francophone-based committee for her very first Model UN experience. She interacted with her peer group completely in French, researching and writing a reflection paper on security in Francophone countries such as Haiti. Natalia’s diplomacy, confidence and compassion (delivered in her third language) earned her an Honourable Mention award from fellow delegates. “Should she chose a path in politics, Natalia will have a very bright future,” commends Phillips.

The legacy of QMS’s involvement in the Model UN movement includes a life-altering experience for recent Brentwood graduate Maxwell Quackenbush who attended VMUN during his final year at QMS. “For me, Model UN has transformed me from quiet and grammatically uncoordinated to confident and articulate,” shares Quackenbush. “QMS introduced me to MUN in Grade 8, and MUN introduced me to debate. I’m excited to continue practicing both of these activities at Queen’s University next year.” The pinnacle of Max’s success in this forum occurred this past spring when he was honoured by his fellow attendees as Best Delegate at VMUN. A sizable achievement, considering there were over 1,300 attendees at the 2017 conference.

For life-long learner, Kimberley Phillips, her goal of sharing the mutually beneficial nature of the Model UN with her students will continue through her role modelling the attribute of curiosity, instilling a much needed characteristic in tomorrow’s global leaders.

Volunteering as a Way of Life

Service is a long held, beloved value of Queen Margaret’s School. Our Founders knew that ensuring QMS students had opportunities to help others would provide lessons in empathy, encourage open minds and create deep links with our greater community. Studies on the psychological impact of service show there are numerous positive effects for the volunteer, as well as the recipient.

While providing vital support to those in need, it also helps reduce stress, combats depression, and provides a sense of purpose for the volunteer. QMS Senior School students are expected to provide 20 hours of service each year, but this is not seen by everyone as onerous. In fact, a passionate group of students advocated for the entire School to be more involved locally. Their altruistic spirit led to the creation of two Service Mornings a year.

These mornings of volunteerism provide QMS staff and students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 opportunities to feel the joy and satisfaction of providing time, love and kindness to others. We are, indeed, making positive impacts in the world.

A Model for Political Dialogue

Volunteering as a Way of Life

©Queen Margaret’s School. All rights reserved.