Seven Clark Avenue Middle School students, members of the school’s International Relations Club (IRC) visited the United Nations in a day trip to New York City on Friday, March 1st. Grade 7 teachers and chaperones Bryan Sheckman and Stephanie Haffa accompanied the students. The group toured the UN, visiting the chambers of the Security Council and the General Assembly and other exhibits. Students were aware that they were in international territory once inside the security gates of the UN. With this knowledge, the IRC narrowly avoided an international incident when a student accidentally spilled water in the lobby near the public restrooms, but quickly wiped it up after a unanimous resolution condemning such activity.
The IRC made the visit to learn more about what the UN really does, which was also preparation for their model UN conference on Friday, March 8th. IRC delegates will represent Argentina and Germany in the Security Council, World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston’s annual invitational Model UN conference for middle school and high school students.
Other stops on the daylong trip to New York included a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Times Square. Students conducted themselves as student ambassadors and citizens of their school, city and country. The IRC would like to thank the Chelsea Teachers Union and the School Department for helping make this trip possible.
The Clark Avenue Middle School’s International Relations Club is an after school enrichment program that promotes intercultural understanding and citizen diplomacy.