Science class on Table Mountain

Most recently, we traveled to the top of Table Mountain. A group of students hiked to the top, traveling slowly through the two main rock types that make up Table Mountain (mudstone and sandstone – quartzite). Another group sped over the beautiful geologic formation while riding up on the tram car. The entire group met at the top, enjoying the spectacular view of the Cape of Good Hope and the Atlantic Ocean. Students completed an extensive field journal entry on the landscape of Table Mountain and the specific rock types observed. This case study of the geology of Table Mountain will be carried over into the next few weeks as we officially begin our Geology Unit. The students will continue to look at the landscape and analyze, how did these features come to be? What forces are working on this landscape today? What will this look like in the future?

- Leah

Algebra 2 Class Update

To wrap up the first half of the semester, the students completed their Chapter 3 studies with a comprehensive test. In Chapter 3 students learned to solve systems of linear equations and linear inequalities. We explored three dimensional coordinate systems in terms of graphing points and solving linear systems with three variables. Starting this week, we will move into Chapter 4, studying Matrices. Students have also diligently completed weekly budgets, tracking their individual spending money. They will continue with these as we cross the border and transition to working with the Namibian Dollar.

- Leah

from Tsitsikamma to the beach...

We had a spectacular hike through the fynbos biome in Tsitsikamma National Park. The girls now approach hiking days of 13+ kilometers with no difficulty. We hiked into our first hut, late in the afternoon to be greeted by a wonderful natural swimming hole. The girls explored this by sliding on the slippery rocks and testing their mettle by fully submerging into the cold, mountain pool of water. You could hear shrieks and laughter rising up out of the little canyon. Our second day out greeted us with misty cloud cover. It was the perfect weather, as the fynbos biome is characterized by beautiful varieties of shrubs and low lying plants and not much shade from the sun. We were blessed to see hundreds of the 8,600 species native to the Fynbos biome in bloom. The best sighting of the day, was South Africa's token flower, the King Protea. Photographed with drops of misty rain on the outside, it was a highlight. We greeted the truck again after a 11.5 kilometer hike out and hit the road for our next adventure. Other highlights included science and travel journalism classes on the trail, smores, cooking dinner over an open fire and evening games. What's next for these adventurous students? Surf lessons!