St Clere’s Students Reach for the Stars
During October thirty of our year 11 students successfully completed the Advanced Space Academy Course at the US Space & Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
This latest group brings the number of St Clere’s students who have graduated from the course over the past six years as part of the schools Gifted & Talented Programme to a total of 140.
Among the highlights of the week was the scuba diving in order to experience the feeling of weightlessness while working in space, ‘Area 51’ where the pupils completed physical and mental tasks which required them to work as a team and then the final six hour mock mission.
The simulated mission involved the pupils using their training as Mission Specialists or Pilots in order to take a Challenger Spaceship into space, repair a satellite and then return safely home.
The group also toured the area to give them a flavour of the history and culture of Alabama along with an evening of Southern line dancing and a visit to an American Football game.
Mr K. Lewis, the schools Gifted & Talented Coordinator who was recently appointed as Space Camp Ambassador for the Rocket Centre has been taking groups to the camp since 2001.
He says that the annual visit is the most exciting and enjoyable school trip he has ever been involved with. Equally important is that the pupils experience a different culture while also seeing how the skills taught at school are relevant and important for their future careers. |
