★ Thursday, November 15, 2018

Pali Trip – 7th grade – Day 3

By Bénédicte Brouder

Hello all!

We are already at our last full day in Pali… and what a day! Today we only did two big activities : Forest Ecology and Outdoor Skills. During Forest Ecology we learnt about the different kind of trees in the area and how to recognize them. Some of them taste like lemon, some of them have huge cone pines that can weight up to 8kg! We reflected on Dr. Seuss story The Lorax and discussed about our role and place in the forest.

In Outdoor skills we learned about to survive in the forest and how to protect it. We learnt about fire camps, how to build them but how to extinguish them properly. We then tried to build a shelter in and around trees with the materials at our disposition. Most important of all we learnt how to protect our forest and our environment. Remember : Leave No Trace!

It’s already our last night in Pali with scary stories and star gazing!

See you tomorrow!

Mme Addo

★ Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Pali Trip – 7th grade – Day 2

By Bénédicte Brouder

Hello from the top of Pali Mountain!

Yesterday evening we finished our first day by celebrating Emi’s, Lilou’s and Louis’ birthdays. Thanks to them for the delicious cupcakes! After this we went for an astronomy walk during which we enjoyed the beautiful night sky and listened to stories about Cassiopea, Andromeda and Orion while finding their constellations.

This morning we did two courses : orienteering and energy dilemma. In the first one we learnt how to use a compass and read a map and then went on to find clues in the forest. In the second we reviewed the pros and cons of different energy sources and built our own wind turbines. We got to test them : some of them went really fast!

In the afternoon we relocated to Cloud City one of the rope parkours of Pali. We did the leap of faith and climbed on different trees.

Tonight is movie evening and then night hike!

Mme Addo

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Pali Trip – 7th grade – Day 2

By Bénédicte Brouder

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Art Installation – November 1918 commemoration

By Bénédicte Brouder

Celebrating the return of peace – WW1 November 1918 Armistice

Artist in residence and SDFAS parent Jacob Johnston and his middle school students enrolled in his Mixed Media Elective have been working for several weeks on an installation of elegant blue flowers and poppies, in order to commemorate the end of WW1 and the souvenir of previous generations’ sacrifice.

You can enjoy the beautiful installation located to the left of the entrance to the administration building of the school.

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Pali trip – 7th grade- yesterday’s departure – Day 1

By Bénédicte Brouder

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Pali trip – 7th grade – yesterday night, day 1

By Bénédicte Brouder

It was cold yesterday night as the students were on their astronomy session!

★ Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Pali Trip – 7th grade – Day 1

By Bénédicte Brouder

Hello from Pali!

Today when we arrived on top of Pali Mountain we were greeted by Nick and Suzie who will be our guides and monitors for the rest of the week. We went on a tour of the Pali Institute and even got to play some Gaga.

After lunch, divided in two groups, we became Junior Detectives and solved the mystery of the Snake Thief on Pali CSI learning about finger prints and DNA. Then we went to rescue a balloon from a two stories fall by making a home made protection for it.

The weather here is chilly but beautiful so we hope for a clear sky tonight for our Astronomy Evening. More pictures of the rest of our day and of our 3 classmates birthday celebrations tomorrow!

Ms. Addo