Registration has opened for the 4th Annual Kingswood Oxford Model UN.

Submitted by Michelle M. Murphy, Director of Communications & Marketing, Kingswood Oxford

Registration opened Oct. 15 for KOMUN 2016, Kingswood Oxford’s unique Model UN for Middle School students, which will be held on March 12, 2016. Submitted photo

Kingswood Oxford will host its fourth annual Model UN for Middle Schools (KOMUN), on Saturday, March 12, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

All middle schools throughout the state are encouraged to register for the conference, which will introduce students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to global problems and the challenge of working collaboratively to solve them. Last year, more than 160 students from 14 different middle schools tackled the issues of ebola and the Syrian civil war during KOMUN 2015.

“KOMUN not only exposes students to some of the biggest challenges in our world today, it also helps them to develop the problem-solving and communications skills they’ll need in high school, college, and life,” said KO history teacher Stacey Savin, who founded KOMUN in 2013. “KO is proud to once again be hosting this event.”

Registration for KOMUN began Oct. 15. Schools can “save their seat” by submitting an $80 registration fee, which covers the school and one delegate. Final delegate count with full payment is due no later than Dec. 11. To register, go to www.kingswoodoxford.org/KOMUN2016.

Savin, a lawyer, has been KO’s Upper School Model UN advisor for the past 14 years, during which the students have competed in the U.S. and Europe. Since she introduced KOMUN for middle schoolers three years ago, and with the help of KO’s award-winning Upper School Model UN team, more than 250 students from 18 public, private, charter, and magnet schools have participated in this unique event.

“If there was any doubt that middle school students are capable of debating sophisticated world issues, KOMUN puts it to rest,” said Savin, who also teaches Model UN at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth during the summer. “The middle school teachers who advise their delegations are equally responsible for KOMUN’s success. Connecticut is lucky to have such devoted teachers. I couldn’t do KOMUN without them.”

No prior Model UN experience is needed for KOMUN, and parliamentary procedures will be taught that day. Each school will represent an assigned country in various mock UN committees, such as the Security Council, the UN Environment Programme, the World Health Organization, and the UN Commission on Human Rights. The day will include lunch and an awards ceremony.

In November 2015, the Upper School Model UN team will travel for the first time to the prestigious Paris Model UN conference – one of only a few American teams competing in an event that attracts 1,500 students from 60-70 countries.

In March 2015, four KO Model UN members brought home awards from the Harvard Model Congress Europe in Madrid, Spain. And in January 2015, the team won several top awards at Yale’s Model UN conference, including a “Best Position Paper” out of 1,600 entries from across the world.

Kingswood Oxford is now interviewing students for September 2016 enrollment. To make an appointment for a personal tour and interview, please contact the Admissions Office at 860-727-5000 or [email protected]. Or, come to the Open House for Middle and Upper School students on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015; 1 – 3 p.m. for Middle School students and 2 – 4 p.m. for Upper School students.