Last Thursday the seismometers set up around Mount Longonot National Park would have certainly detected a rise in vibrations. Thankfully the source of these disturbances was not the re-awakening of the slumbering magma chamber and forthcoming pyroclastic flows – but they in fact came from 60 Year 7 students from Braeburn setting out to conduct their geographical fieldwork studies.

Mount Longonot, sitting at the heart of the Great Rift Valley presented a fantastic environment for our students to utilise the skills and knowledge have been building up over the course of the year in a dynamic, real-world setting. Work was focused around 3 key learning areas – What type of volcano is Mount Longonot?, how sustainable are National Parks in their current state? It also allowed the students to get practical experience using their mapping and orientation skills.

Annotated field sketches were delicately put together, samples of lava and ash for historic eruptions were taken, environmental quality surveys were conducted, and maps were drawn up of the National Park. All of the student’s efforts paid off, and a great array of primary data was collected so that a more thorough analysis can now be undertaken in the classroom.

Alongside all of this, the students must be commended for the endurance and determination they showed in reaching the towering summit of the volcano, especially considering the thin air found at altitude and the clouds of dust that seemed to enshroud them at every step. Many of them took home a great sense of pride in achieving this feat, and all certainly gained from the experience of looking at this wonderful, tectonically active environment in a new inquisitive, learned, and geographically aware way.

Finally, a huge thanks must go out to the teachers who gave up their time to accompany the students in their fieldwork study, and to the support from the Year 7 parents who made the trip possible.

Mr Zammit, Geography Teacher

Braeburn has always been involved in charitable activities and this term the student council decided to focus on children and literacy.

Throughout the second half of the term the student council body has been collecting books from several people for donation, by Thursday 7th of March we managed to collect 1000 books overall which was a success. The genres included fiction, non-fiction, educational, anthology, fantasy and action. The reason that we had this innovative idea is because Braeburn community is steadfast in eradicating illiteracy.

The student council accompanied by teachers and FAB members were able to visit Mogra children's centre and the students were able to partake in activities including reading to young children and arranging the donated books in the library. 

Our guide Timothy graciously gave us a tour of the home including the sleeping area, study and the dining. This home was founded in 2003 to house homeless children and give them the basic right of education.

As the children sang a song to appreciate the donation they received it dawned on us to always appreciate the small things in life. I would like to appreciate Yanet and Shlock head of the student council body for proposing the book drive, Braeburn community for donating the books, FAB members for their support  and Mr Keru for making it possible for us to visit the home.

“THE SMALLEST ACT OF KINDNESS IS WORTH MORE THAN THE GRANDEST INTENTION” Oscar Wilde.

By Sherryl Mbugua - Student Council representative

The Hillcrest U9 Hockey Festival was a culmination of the U9 hockey season this term and the Braeburn U9 Girls' team was excited to be participating in it.

Under the sweltering sun in the open field they took on 3 other schools in their pool. They drew 2 games against Hillcrest and Peponi, beat St Andrews Turi and unluckily lost by a goal to Greensteds.

In the different games they played the girls showed skill, determination and great team spirit. Waka and Anissa were both selected as player of the match in different games.

The boys too gave their best in all the games they played and did not concede a goal throughout the tournament. They won 2 games in their pool and drew 2, emerging top of their group and proceeding to the finals.

In a fast-paced game against Peponi, they kept their cool and used every skill learnt throughout the season. The match ended in a goalless draw and both teams were declared the winners, thus sharing the shield.

Trey was nominated player of the game in two of the matches.

The boys and girls are definitely looking forward to more hockey next year and another opportunity to win the shield for themselves.

On the morning of Wednesday 13th March, children and staff in Year 1 were very surprised to find that an alien spaceship had landed at school! Our very best detectives were sent to investigate the scene and secure the area. The children found green slime, orange gloop and what was suspected to be alien footprints leading away from the spacecraft. Our detectives have worked tirelessly to piece all the clues together and have created some wonderful descriptive reports based on all of the evidence.

We'll keep you updated on any further sightings...