Last year, Saxe middle school kicked off its maiden involvement with The Middle School Model UN, under the guidance of New Canaan High School senior Connor Gress. Deborah Line, 6th grade social studies teacher, and Allison Freeman, 8th grade social studies teacher, acted as faculty advisors for the lower and upper divisions, respectively.
NCHS has been involved with the Model UN for five years, and currently ranks among the top 20 of over 100 participating North American high schools. Last year Saxe principal Greg Macedo noted that the International Club, run by Line, could be an excellent feeder opportunity for the high school Model UN. When this was discussed with Paul Phillips, faculty advisor at the high school, he agreed and appointed Connor as student liaison.
After an extremely successful first year, Connor has now headed off to college, leaving NCHS senior Jayne Wixtead to fill his shoes, along with his younger brother, Quentin Gress, now a NCHS junior.
Since its kick-off last fall, Connor provided expert leadership for both the lower and upper divisions by attending weekly meetings for each. He also provided invaluable guidance to those students who chose to participate in a scrimmage with New Fairfield in March. Additionally, he created a mock scrimmage; specifically for Saxe students, that was attended by New Canaan middle school and high school delegates alike. Former NCHS Model UN captain Jack Ludtke, now at Georgetown, along with high school co-captains Alejandra Zamora and Danny Konstantinovicled, attended the proceedings last spring.
This year, Saxe students will be attending scrimmages at both New Fairfield and New Canaan High Schools. In addition, they hope to have the opportunity to attend their first conference at Horace Mann this fall, and an Ivy League multi-day conference at Dartmouth College in the spring.
2014 NCHS graduate Connor Gress with Saxe middle school Model UN students Izzy Carpenter, right, and Skye Risom, left.