In addition to cooking their hearts out, Ms. Thurman's and Mr. Mear's crews both stepped out of their comfort zones at the high challenge course today. Ms. Thurman's crew all went on the zip line, the dangle duo and the flying squirrel. You can check out last week's post about the zip line and the flying squirrel if you want to know more.
On the dangle duo, two climbers must help each other to ascend a giants ladder. It is extremely difficult, so I was proud to witness members of Mr. Mear's crew collaborate compassionately. Students learned all about the safety mechanisms involved in the high challenge elements. Most importantly, they learned to belay each other. Belay is the french term that means "to hold fast." It can be a very empowering and trans formative experience to hold one's life in one's hands. All students are "backed up" by an instructor and by an anchor student. You can see Erica B. Fine and Mwenye Seville back up belaying Jada and Armoni.
Ms. Weeks was able to get away from school to visit us up north; so we put her to work belaying at the Leap of Faith. As you can see, a team of students belays the climber (Marvel) who climbs up a large pole only to try and jump to a trapeze bar. At the belay end, the rope weaves in and out of a pole to create friction and then is commanded by the belay team. This truly is a leap of faith.
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