This school year started in September with another memorable field trip to Sada, La Coruña with the year 13 Biologists. The students travelled by plane and we drove with the equipment by minibus to meet them. Such visits bring out the best in students and they all studied hard and played hard. As well as studying taxonomy and rocky shore ecology, we also visited the ‘bateas’ (rafts which are used for culturing mussels) with a local marine biologist. We climbed up the tower of Hercules, near the site of the Mar Aegeo disaster and watched the vendors in the fish market in Malpica. Complying with local custom, we tried a ‘mariscada’ and a ‘quemada’ (a wicked brew!) on the last evening.

Yearbook 2007-2008

Year 12 and 13 were amazingly fortunate this year because they were able to watch open heart surgery in the hospital of Puerto de Hierro. We saw two operations, one of which involved the replacement of a faulty valve in the aorta. Absolutely fascinating if you’re not squeamish about such things! A very big thank you to Mr García (Carla’s Dad) who dedicated a whole morning to us, giving a running commentary on the procedures involved in such complicated operations.

Years 10, 12 and 13 also saw the ‘Bodies’ exhibition in Colon. Again, if you’re not of a queasy disposition, it was riveting stuff! The different organ systems were so meticulously displayed, even the boisterous year 10 group were attentive and obviously impressed by what they saw.

As well as visits, there has been some teaching and hopefully some good results in August, and another group of year 13 biologists to say bye to.