Note to Correspondents

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MARKS 60th ANNIVERSARY

On Monday 22 October 2007, the United Nations International School celebrates its sixtieth anniversary.  The Board of Trustees of the school, the Director and the staff will host a champagne reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by a gala buffet dinner at 7 p.m.  The dinner will be attended by members of the United Nations diplomatic community.  The Master of Ceremonies will be the New York journalist and television personality, Marvin Scott.

The United Nations International School (UNIS) was founded in 1947 at Lake Success by a group of United Nations parents to provide an international education for their children that emphasized academic excellence and fostered global understanding within a caring community.

What began as a nursery school for 20 children from 15 countries is now a co-ed K-12 college-preparatory day school, with two campuses enrolling approximately 1500 students from 117 countries.  Faculty and staff represent 70 countries.  The school promotes appreciation of and respect for the diversity of persons and cultures.

Its students gain historic and contemporary knowledge and understanding of the world by interacting with students and teachers from around the world.  They maintain the fluency of their mother tongues while valuing the acquisition of other languages as needed (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Russian and Spanish).  They create wide connections with their classmates and become citizens of the world.

The students are committed to the spirit of the United Nations Charter in their school life.  Many of the student organizations and clubs focus on community service and outreach projects, and demonstrate the students’ respect for human rights and equal rights for all.

The United Nations International School is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and by the Council of International Schools.  It is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to prepare candidates for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.  The school is a member of the College Board, the National Association of Independent Schools, the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the European Council of International Schools.

For further information please contact:  Dr. Lidana Jalilvand, Director of Special Programs, United Nations International School, 24-40 F.D.R. Drive, New York, NY 10010.  Tel.:  212 584 3083 and e-mail:  ljalilvand@unis.org.

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For information media • not an official record