students work to determine solutions using "Pi"
Studnets enjoy some real "pie" for Pi day 2010!]]>students work to determine solutions using "Pi"Studnets enjoy some real "pie" for Pi day 2010!]]>
Peace Corps members and FBRA students pose with the finished productAs part of the service learning curriculum and eight-day international field-lesson in Costa Rica, FBRA students partnered with members of the Peace Corps to complete a mural at a local school in Guarari, a small town near the capital of San Jose. Salamanders met Anna, the young Costa Rican girl and student at the school who submitted the drawing and inspired Peace Corps members to make her creation into a mural at the school. The accompanying quote is by Mother Theresa and it says, "Peace begins with a smile."
Anna is the Costa Rican student and artist whose original piece pictured here inspired the mura
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Good morning from Costa Rica!
Salamanders arrived safely last night to Alajuela, just outside San Jose,Costa Rica. Students will visit Volcan Poas today, as well as a waterfallpark and zoo as they acclimatize to their new surroundings. "The view fromthe balcony is jungly...there are cows, chickens, we can hear monkeys, andthe hammock helps too!" says Chris Langdon about his first night in CostaRica. In addition to exciting activities, students completed educationalpackets during the flight to teach them about the history, geography,culture, and volcanoes of Costa Rica as they prepare to engage in theliving, breathing curriculum of the Pura Vida trip 2010!
-- Will YeiserFounder/DirectorFrench Broad River Academy191 Lyman Street, Suite 316Asheville, NC 28801www.fbriveracademy.orgwyeiser@fbriveracademy.org(828) 713-9734
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FBRA heads south to Costa Rica for their international field lesson today. In addition to experiencing the natural beauty and wonder of this unique country, students will attend school, stay with a host family, complete a service project with the peace corps, and apply the skills and knowledge they have been learning throughout the year so far in multiple disciplines. "We prepare for the experience for the first half of the year and then we draw upon that shared experience for the rest of the semester and hopefully the rest of their lives," says director Will Yeiser.
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FBRA entered the spelunking realm by spending last night deep in Worley's Cave just outside of Bluff City, Tennessee. In addition to learning about cave formations, bats, white-nosed syndrome, and geology, the objective of the trip was primarily to prepare students and staff for their upcoming international field-experience in Costa Rica. "The success of the trip largely depends on the preparation work we do with the students beforehand," according to Will Yeiser, director and co-founder of the French Broad River Academy. "While the caving experience provided many unique learning opportunities and adventures, the last thirty hours were really about building confidence, overcoming fears, communicating effectively, and working together as a team."
The constant temperature of fifty-five degrees also made for a pleasant escape from the winter cold outside the cave. Students and staff explored different passages and routes under the guidance of Shawn Robins, a parent of a student as well as an expert cave guide. "There is no way we could have done this without Shawn...his leadership, guidance, instruction, and assistance with preparations for the trip were invaluable!" said David Byers, lead instructor and co-founder. Visit the gallery for more photos!
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This Thursday (January 21st) from 5-9 pm we will be partnering with Mamacita's restaurant in downtown Asheville to raise funds for our upcoming international field experience in Costa Rica. By simply coming to eat you will be helping FBRA...please plan to stop by if you can. Enjoy a tasty meal, meet some of the students, staff, and parents of the French Broad River Academy and here what the Pura Vida experience is all about. Also, if you feel so inclined, please feel free to spread the word to anyone who might be interested and feel free to print and post the flyer in your place of business. Thanks in advance for your support!
□ What: Fundraiser for International Field Experience in Costa Rica.
□ When: Thursday, January 21st, 2010, 5:00-9:00pm
□ Where: Mamacita’s (on Biltmore Avenue, next to the Orange Peel)
□ Why: Get a tasty dinner while also supporting our international exchange program with students and the Peace Corps in Costa Rica.
□ How: Purchase any food or beverage between 5:00-9:00pm. FBRA students will receive a portion of the profits!
Tell friends, family, neighbors...pick up a burrito for lunch the next day if you already have dinner plans...thanks in advance for your support!
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The math program at FBRA is led by Frazier Worth. The goal of the math program is to help students become competent, confident, self-reliant learners. Math at FBRA is based on the Saxon Math curriculum. It is self-paced and designed to allow each student to work at a challenging but comfortable pace.
Students then visited Manna Food Bank where they continued their service learning curriculum by helping prepare and package food for the MANNAbundance BackPack Program. Students then reflected in their journals about the day's activities and discussed the meaning of the following quote: “Volunteer—not so you can build your resume, but so you can build yourself.” To extend the experience, FBRA will be collecting food items at the Winter Open House tomorrow night to donate to Manna.
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Students sort through donated clothes at the Western Carolina Rescue Missions Thrift StoreLast Wednesday, students and staff visited the Western Carolina Rescue Mission thrift store to help sort clothes and support the mission's efforts to help others in need. The visit was the first in a series of activities related to FBRA's service learning curriculum. Afterwards, students reflected on the experience and discussed why service to others is important and how contributing to the betterment of society ties into the academy's mission of "building character and integrity in young men for a lifetime of learning and service."
FBRA then spent the afternoon at the North Carolina Arboretum, where students experienced the "GeoDome"...a multimedia educational tool that allows participants to explore the earth, universe, and, of course, the French Broad River and the surrounding watershed. Students were given an opportunity to "drive" the GeoDome and travel throughout the galaxy and the flood plains of the French Broad.
The GeoDome-a multimedia presentation tool
Students then hiked to Bent Creek where the Arboretum's Outreach Education Coordinator Ben Colvin demonstrated how to determine pH and nitrogen levels in the creek. The group also collected various aquatic specimens such as salamanders and mayflies.
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