Students immerse themselves in United Nations simulation

Emma Wratten with Year 7 Students Lily Balder and Lily Bell, who were thrilled to draw Germany as their country to represent in the model UN.

Nambour State College hosted its first Pinnacle Immersion Day on Friday with students testing their mettle in the intriguing world of international affairs.

“Pinnacle Immersion Days have been created to provide cross-curricular, leadership building and deep student-led learning opportunities for students in the Pinnacle Program (academic acceleration program),” said Emma Wratten, Junior Secondary Head of Department. “Eighty students will take part in the activities.”

Model UN is an educational simulation of a real United Nations conference. Students represent a given country and must engage in diplomatic negotiations to reach a resolution to a global event.

“It is often the first time that students are exposed to international affairs,” said Ms Wratten. “For Nambour State College students, this will further affirm our students’ place as global citizens.”

The event choice was inspired by the College’s Junior Secondary Academic Leaders seeking to see more Human Rights awareness. It was facilitated by the Youth UN of Queensland.

The Pinnacle Program is growing to not only include Pinnacle Immersion Days (where student knowledge and skills are put into practice beyond the classroom), but also Morning Masterclasses for high level study skills and wellbeing, and a Pinnacle Pathway for current students who aspire to join the full program.

The 2021 Year 7 Pinnacle Program is now full, but applications are open for current year 4 and year 5 students to join our primary school pathway program ‘Young Pinnacle Scholars’.