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The Boston Globe Globe North 5 All the world's a stage, and they're preparing to act on it THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 fj sionally asked and answered questions to spark discussions. In one area, students studied key historical figures and events and their impact on the present, such as Roman politicians and military leaders Gai-us Flaminius and Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Meanwhile, in one of the offices, a small group tackled the ongoing nuclear threat posed by North Korea to its southern neighbor and the rest of the world, as well as the two-decades-long civil war in Somalia. "I found a folio on Somalian propaganda," said Owen Murray, 12, of Melrose, who will speak on behalf of South Africa at the conference. "Please tell me that's a joke?" Benjamin Grayzel, 12, of Winchester, said quizzically as he examined the e-mailed document.

"No, that's Somali propaganda." Murray, a pair of headphones slung around his neck, explained South Africa's neutral stance on North Korea: "They don't want to be a part of it. They want to stay out of it." Next door, in an adjacent room, another group took on the similarly heavy topics of illegal weapons training and human trafficking. "You just want to find a plan that suits your country's best interest," said Eamon Szostak, 13, of Boston, examining both issues from Japan's perspective. "Because generally, countries are self-centered." Human trafficking is a "pretty big problem" in Japan, he said. Overall, it's been interesting to examine things from the mindset of a country that isn't "big and powerful," and has to use the means of "pacifism and cooperation" to get things done, he said.

As for Sudan's significant dilemma with human trafficking? "We dismiss them," Max Paul said succinctly. "That's what all governments do, is deny things," Szostak rebutted. "They don't like it, they deny it." Similarly, across the Red Sea and the vast plains of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates has a "pretty serious problem" with illegal weapons training and human trafficking, which it is trying to rectify, according to Julia Urquiola, 13, of Melrose. "But," she noted, "they have quite a long ways to go." Mayer reported that human trafficking isn't a huge priority in the United Kingdom but it's also not the type of news that would dominate US headlines. Unless, he added, it had an impact here.

With a shrug, he said of the experience, "I wouldn't otherwise have known about the UK's position and policy." Taryn Plumb can be reached at tarynplumbl gmail.com. ACERA Continued from Page 1 Model UN is a core component at Acera in Winchester, an independent STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) school founded in 2010 for "high-ability" students in grades to 8. To qualify for admission, students have to have an IQ of 130 or above; score between 95 and 99 percent on state and national achievement tests; perform above their expected grade levels in several subjects; or exhibit overall "creative gift-edness." Students supply their own laptops, and tuition for the current school year is $14,500 for elementary school and $14,750 for middle school, according to the school's website. Through nontraditional, multiage classrooms and project-based learning techniques, the goal is to foster students to "think about their role in the world," said founder and codi-rector Courtney Dickinson. "We want to have the kids emerge on the world stage as citizens." This isn't the first time students have had the chance to show off their intricate understanding of global issues.

In November, 23 Acera middle-schoolers participated in a model UN event held at Northeastern University in partnership with the United Nations Association of Greater Boston. Four students Paul, Jasmine JESSICA RINALDI FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Walter Ainsworth and Jacob Siegel Zeserson ready for the upcoming BU conference. thing from the war on drugs to maintaining political stability in Venezuela following Hugo Chavez's death. Their country will take a position, or not. "It's been a great experience for me," said Mayer, 12, who is tackling issues of the United Dimaculangan of Medford, Thomas Mayer of Waltham, and Elizabeth Mulgrew de Laire of Carlisle came away with outstanding delegation awards, the highest award given.

Fittingly, they were honored with gavels. For the upcoming conference, each student has been assigned a country to represent, a committee to sit on, and a complicated topic to debate any ots, and Newbury Comics stickers in a large, carpeted room with couches, chairs, loft seats, and private office areas in lieu of traditional desks and rows of seats. "A huge part of this is discovery on their own," said Sean Ingle, a middle school interdisciplinary teacher, who has a diverse background in political science, engineering, and government lobbying, as he occa On a recent morning, Mayer and his classmates spread out with their Mac laptops personalized with Red Sox, Patri Through photos, a window on the world RUG CLEANING C4LI FOR PICK-UP II now for p'ck'up. 781-665-8885 dia, China, Italy, Ghana, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil, and Canada. Eventually, the photos will be displayed in local and online exhibits, and, ideally, in a book.

"It's tangible, hands-on put yourself in their shoes, have them in "Or the differences," added her classmate, Amanda O'Brien. Meanwhile, in another part of the school, a different group gathered containers of paint, glue, pencils, and crayons to show how they create art, and what materials they use. "I hope to see some of the same stuff that we do maybe a connection," said fifth-grader Tia Fiorentino. "We all like art, so hopefully we have some of the same interests." As she escorted different groups in their errands, parent volunteer Azurae Hood said, "It's really cool, especially because sometimes children don't have the perspective of the bigger picture. They see what they see every day, and that's it.

This allows them to broaden their perspective. "And it's fun." OOSTERMAN'S REST HOMES "Our family caring for your family since 1946" WENDY MAEDAGLOBE STAFF Sofia Arnet photographed Olivia Wiley and Anika Ruedlinger at the Ambrose School. their own drawings. That effort is chronicled in the book "Everywhere Happiness: A Global THE PREFERRED CHOICE with its small size, exceptional value and quality care in the moment. Oosterman's is the preferred choice over assisted living and nursing homes.

www.oostermanresthome.com LIVE Continued from Page 1 ect earlier this month with a goal to connect children in as many as 1 1 countries through their commonality of school. Students are given more than a dozen questions including "What tools do you use to learn?" "What does your classroom look like?" "What does your mealsnack look like?" -that they represent through digital images. "It allows them to interpret their learning environment," said Live Learn Act cofounder and president Stephanie Smith. "We expect numerous interpretations of the questions." The nonprofit was founded in 2011 as a means to educate children about the world, link them on a global scale with their peers, and ultimately encourage the local participants to become philanthropic and "international citizens," Smith explained. As part of this mission, Live Learn Act has helped to establish two learning centers in rural India for girls age 5 to 12.

The children in Winchester are able to interact using their hands and feet with the world through the use of large National Geographic Giant Traveling Maps of Asia and Europe. Most notably, the nonprofit embarked on The Happiness Project, through which more than 1,900 children in 11 countries answered the question, "What makes you happy?" with 93 Laurel Street Melrose, MA 021 76 781 -665-3188 706 Main Street Wakefield, MA 01880 781 -245-4778 Taryn Plumb can be i tarynplumbl gmail. com. your shoes," said Kowalczuk. On a recent morning, 120 Ambrose students fifth-graders paired with kindergartners and parent volunteers fanned out in a cyclone of movement, toting cameras and question sheets.

Some took pictures of multiple angles of the front door to answer, "Where do you enter your school?" while others put on their boots, coats, and book bags and hurried outside to illustrate "What do you look like when you come to school?" To answer a question about the sports they play, fifth-grader Caroline McCarthy kicked a tiny soccer ball to kindergart-ner Lily O'Hagan, whose silver-sparkly shoes darted back and forth. "I want to see how similar we really are," McCarthy said as the group made its way back to Together We Make Things Happen. "The goal is to excite them about learning about other cultures and kids their own age across the world," said Smith. It has ignited that passion, with students in Winchester selling flowers, setting up lemonade stands, and offering donations in lieu of birthday gifts to help with their Indian sister schools. "Show me your school" is used as a "mechanism to teach about other cultures," she added, with the camera being their ultimate "ticket around the globe." The project is in the early stages, with partnerships still being formed, according to executive director Christine Kow-alczuk; the wish list of participating countries includes In- 1 Commercial Mortgage Rates Mortgage Rates News Briefs 10-YEAR TERM No Points! m.

PPP Wff If BHP 15-YEAR TERM No Points! I I Our Commercial Lending Team quired to maintain the department's accreditation by the commission. To achieve accreditation, departments must meet and maintain standards established by professional law enforcement organizations and institutions. The department is one of 47 in Massachusetts to be accredited. North Reading first achieved accreditation status in January 201 1. To maintain accreditation, awarded for a three-year period, the department must periodically be reassessed.

For more information, contact Murphy at or a member of the accreditation team: Officer James Carcia atjcarcianrpd.org or Sergeant Anthony Morlani at amorlani nrpd.org. BRENDA J. BUOTE SOME I Series of talks about housing Somerville will kick off a series of roundtable discussions about housing needs, affordability and gentrification in the city next week. Rachel Bratt, a professor in Tufts University's Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, will be the guest speaker at the first discussion on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

in the Ar-genziano School at 290 Washington St. The type of housing needed to raise a family in Somerville will be discussed, along with how the community can work to meet those needs. Additional discussions on Feb. 11 and March 4 will discuss gentrification and develop strategies to move forward with an effective housing agenda for the city. BROCK PARKER David Doucette, Credit Analyst; Lisa Kriz, Lending Assistant; Rati Wilson, SVP; Karen MacCormack, SVP and Senior Lender; David andPatnela Bishop, For more information about these and other i contact us at 978-225-1340.

BILLERICA Shawsheen Tech applications Jobee O'Sullivan, the guidance director at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, is urging any 8th grade student interested in attending Shawsheen next year to submit an application by the Feb. 1 deadline. There are nearly 600 potential candidates for about 350 slots for ninth graders, according to a statement released by Shawsheen. Interviews are expected to begin the first week in February. The application for Shawsheen may be picked up at a local middle school, at the high school, or downloaded from the admissions tab on the school's website at www.shawsheen-tech.org.

Applications cannot be completed online. However, they can be printed out and faxed to the school, mailed, or dropped off in person. Shawsheen is at 100 Cook Billerica 01821. The fax number is 978-663-6272. Acceptance letters will be mailed in April.

BRENDA J. BUOTE NORTH READING Police assessment set Feb. 5 A team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to arrive Feb. 5 to begin examining the Police Department's policies, procedures, operations and facilities, according to Chief Michael P. Murphy.

The assessment is part of a voluntary process re Newburyport Ipswich Rowley Salisbury Topsfield Institution for Savings Building Stronger Communities Together Since 1820. Minimum loan a LTVs up to 80 Maximum LTV 70. ions may apply. Other terms and condi.