In English Grade 8 have been learning how to write formal letters, and one group exercised this skill, writing letters to ISM's very own contact in Antarctica. Roberto Dicasillati, a doctor, and father of a student in Grade 4, works with the famous PNRA organisation in Antarctica . Students spent some time researching the work of the Italian team, before sending their letters to Mr. Dicasillati. With its emphasis on Holistic Learning, the MYP encourages students to practice their newly acquired skills, through direct interaction with the ‘real world', beyond the walls of the classroom.

Among the questions students asked were: “What are you doing in Antarctic?” Mr. Dicasillati replied as follows.

“A Medical Doctor in an Antarctic Base mainly has to think about the health of all the member of the expedition. There aren't any hospitals in a range of thousands of miles. Any health problem has to be solved here. Especially during the winter over, there is not any possibility to be reached by any means of transportation. Here we have prepared a little, but well equipped, operation room for surgery. We have a dentistry chair too. A second, but no less important goal, is to study the human adaptation to such a hostile environment. The situation here is similar to that of a long duration space mission, except the gravity. In fact some of our investigations are sponsored by the ESA (European Space Agency). We have studied the microbiological pattern in the base, the modification of some biomedical parameters and the psychological assessment.”

A letter direct from the icy continent, replying directly to their many questions, was a thrilling experience for the students, who are hoping to develop this link, in Geography, with video conference link-ups. For anyone interested in knowing more about the work of the Mr. Dicasillati and the PNRA the following website provides a wealth of information:

http://www.concordiastation.org/

http://www.pnra.it/