On September 23rd, Year 11 set out for a Geography and Biology expedition to Rochers de Naye.  After an hour long train ride the Biologists started work within the Marmot exhibition.  Each student learnt about Marmots. Plant identification was next.  The Geographers got down to work about footpath erosion on the Rochers de Naye area.  This included measuring distances, litter counts, infiltration timings and measuring the impact of tourism on the mountains.   On the hike down the Biologists looked for evidence that the water cycle and Nitrogen cycle occur at Rochers de Naye.  After an amusing descent, skipping and sliding down the rocks, everyone enjoyed the train ride back to Montreux.  Thank you to Mr Lineham and Mr Jupp.

Janelle Paquin, Year 11

Geographers hard at work

Even Biologists can find time for some fun

Measuring foot path erosion

Meet the Marmottes

Lynn makes a friend

A Geographer's work is never done

Year 8, accompanied by Mr Chapuis, Miss Byng and Mr Jupp visited the Salt Mines in Bex on Wednesday the 5th of October.  The purpose behind the visit was to give Year 8 the chance to see Primary Production at first hand.  After visiting the Salt Mines, the students dropped in on the "La Crousaz" flower farm. The day proved a bit hit with the children as you can see from the following poem, written by Alexander Barnsley.

Down the Mine

"We are going on a trip", she said,
"to the Salt Mines down in Bex,
it's about half an hour's journey,
and we're stopping on the way".

"Bring your jotter and your pencil or pen,
and a raincoat with a hood,
a picnic will be provided,
and an ice cream if you're good!"

Everyone started cheering,
hip, hip, hip, hip horray!
the trip was planned for two days' time,
and wasn't far away.

The two days passed and Wednsday dawned,
the weather was looking fine,
it wouldn't be much longer now,
before we would see the mine.

We took the register and got on the bus,
we would reach Bex by half past nine,
the teacher told us all to be patient,
we were leaving in five minutes' time.

The door was closed, the engine roared,
and we were off at last,
house and gardens, the tunnel at Glion,
then mountains and fields flew past.

Bex was getting closer now,
we could see the signs,
and the sun was getting brighter, 
so we had to close the blinds.

The bus pulled into the car park,
we'd all enjoyed the ride,
the teacher gave an explanatory talk
about what we should expect inside.

We watched a film on salt mining
and were allowed to ask some questions.
The guide who showed us round the mine
was impressed by our suggestions!

We ate our lunch, some sandwiches 
and bought ourselves a drink.
The break for food was welcome,
as it gave us time to think.

We visited the shop for gifts,
then we climbed onto a train.
We travelled deep down into the mine,
would we see our school again?

The train slowed down, then jerked to a halt,
we all felt a little queasy,
deep in the mine with the sulphur fumes;
it wasn't going to be easy!

We climbed some stairs to look around,
tunnels and tunnels we saw,
we learned how salt was extracted,
from the roof and the walls and the floor.

We got back on the train to leave,
we all felt worse than before,
when the train emerged from the mine,
we got on the bus once more.

We sped along the roads to school,
discussing our new found knowledge
Would knowing how the salt was mined
help us all through College?

Everyone asked one question,
how were the salt mines?
when we got back to school,
and we replied, just fine!!

Alexander Barnsley

On the 22nd of September four Geographers, Maya, Brad, Ruan and Mr Jupp set off to Col de Chaude, below Rochers de Naye, to investigate La Timiere River.  Despite the cold weather, we managed to get in the freezing cold water to complete all our tasks.

We had to collect a variety of data including river velocity, wetted perimeter, depth, cross sectional area and gradient.  We learned a wide range of measuring techniques and how to make good use of the information obtained.  Next was the fun bit - wiriting-up!