NEWS...
Croydon High School collaborates with the University of Bath to launch weather balloon into space
to prepare for another launch with two ‘generation 2’ payloads being launched in September, each named after a pioneering female figure in Physics - Jocelyn Bell-Burnell and Helen Sharman. The payloads were named Sharman payload and Bell-Burnell payload. On 12 September 2023 both generation 2 payloads successfully launched with the flight predictor indicating a course towards Oxford, while the GPS tracker provided real-time position updates every 3 minutes, confirming its journey towards South Oxfordshire.
After nearly landing in the Thames, Sharman payload landed in privately owned Lock Wood Forest, where a Forest worker, Andy Bungay, contacted the team to tell them it had been spotted.
Croydon High School, in a remarkable partnership with the University of Bath and supported by experts Professor Cathryn Mitchell and Dr. Robert Watson, specialists in space and atmospheric physics, has announced the triumphant success of its Astrogazers project, which involved launching a weather balloon into space.
“Mission Aspiration” was a dream realised for Arabi Karteepan, Head of Physics and Director of Astrogazers at Croydon High School. The mission involved a team of girls from Year 5 - 11 launching two meteorological balloons that ventured to an altitude of 32,380 metres. The balloons carried essential equipment, including cameras, data loggers, GPS trackers - designed to explore how different materials respond to atmospheric conditions.
The first launch took place on 30 June 2023, from the University of Bath campus, but was unsuccessful due to strong gusts of wind which led to a friction burn between the release cord and the parachute cord. Undeterred by the launch failure of the ‘generation 1’ payload, the students of Croydon High School worked over their summer holidays
Arabi Karteepan, Head of Physics at Croydon High School for Girls, initiated the Astrogazers club in 2021 with the goal of inspiring girls to pursue their interests in physics, engineering, and space-related careers. Mrs. Karteepan’s dedication to empowering young girls in these exciting fields shines through her leadership.
Mrs. Karteepan said, “I am incredibly passionate about providing girls with the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to pursue their passion and excel in the exciting and impactful domains of physics, engineering, and beyond. This balloon launch project provides a unique opportunity for girls to work together on a large-scale, real-world project outside of the classroom. I believe that diversity of perspectives and skillsets is crucial to tackling complex problems, and I am proud to be a part of empowering girls to pursue their passions in physics and engineering.” The University of Bath supported this project through use of the campus facilities and with technical support from Clare Cambridge, Siva Sivaraya and Linden Weyer-Brown. It was also supported by the Royal Society and Spirent Communications through an Industry Fellowship.
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https://www.croydonhigh.gdst.net/ ACS Cobham wins prestigious Eco Schools award
ACS International School Cobham has received the prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag accreditation for a second year running thanks to its students’ notable efforts to reduce the school’s environmental impact. The international award recognises the work of those students who have made a difference in their school through green initiatives. This year, ACS Cobham students led an environmental review of the school in order to identify strengths and areas for
improvement, focussing on aspects such as greener transport, reducing energy usage and litter, and promoting healthy living. Grade 7 student, Hiba S, comments: “I decided to join the eco- committee because I care about the world, it is what we live on and there is no planet B. I want to make the world and the school a better place for us and the next generation to live.”
Barnaby Sandow, Head of School at ACS Cobham, said: “It has been brilliant to see so many student volunteers keen to be involved in our eco committee and act as school ambassadors for change. Last year,
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the student-led review of the school resulted in the installation of more refillable water bottle stations across our Middle School, and creating videos about food waste, among other initiatives. Our volunteers have already made a start on reviewing a new set of topics that will help the school continue to champion environmental practices.” Sandow continued: “These awards reflect the ongoing commitment of our whole school community which continues to support our goal of creating an encouraging educational environment in which students can thrive and feel prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.”
Launched in 1994, the Eco Schools Green Flag award makes global issues such as climate change more relevant to young people and prompts them to consider environmental changes that they can make in their school and everyday lives, supporting ACS Cobham’s mission to nurture responsible global citizens.
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https://www.acs-schools.com/cobham/co-curricular/clubs-activities October 2023
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