Top of the Alps

This weekend I went to Wengen with a wonderful group of TASIS teachers. Wengen is in northern Switzerland. We hiked for 8 hours and saw the the most amazing views ever. I am including a couple of pictures now and I will add more later in the week. I just wanted to give a quick update. 

School is going well. The kids are in different groups for math and reading. I have both groups of 3rd grade for science. This week we have Curriculum Night. My students have written and sent letters to Cindy's class so we can have pen pals at Blake. 

Saturday I went with a group to a glacier in the Alps near a Swiss German town call Andermatt. It was amazing. We actually climbed with ice picks and crampons on our feet. It was a little scary and fantastic at the same time. Our guides were TASIS HS teachers. They knew exactly what they were doing. 

Sunday a large group participated in the StaLugano. A 10K that runs along the lake, through the city and back through the park. 

All School Hike

The First Two Weeks

The area here is breathtaking. Every view is beautiful. I am living with a roommate in temporary housing until the apartments for new faculty will be ready in late October. The apartment is quite nice with a balcony that overlook

s the city of Lugano, the mountains and the lake. When I do move in to my own apartment I will have internet access and a phone. 

I met my class last week. I have only nine students. All of them speak English at varying levels. English is not the native language for any of them. Many of them speak three languages quite fluently. The curriculum used here is basically Core Knowledge. The teaching staff is thoughtful, dedicated and helpful. The school is lucky to have a small group of returning teachers.

Last Sunday the school took the staff on a short hik

e up in the mountains. It was nice to see an area other then th

e school surroundings. I have been running with a few other teachers and a group of us are plan

ning to run a 10K near Lake Lugano on Sept. 21st. We are also training for a half marathon in Italy in Nov. If the rain stops I am going to go for a hike this afternoon with a group of elementary teachers. The weather here the first week was lovely, sunny and 80 degrees. Week two has been rainy and stormy.

 When it rains here it doesn’t stop and it pours. Rain boots are a must. 

This is my first real entry and I hope to update every week or so but we’ll see how that actually turns out. I have to stop now so I can make breakfast up at De Nobli. The meals are predictable. Lots of chicken for dinner, cereal and yogurt at breakfast an

d lunch is often chicken as well. Yesterday we went into Lugano and had lunch in town.

That’s all for now.

Martha