Schools

Africa Bound WHS Students, Teachers Reach London

Group waiting to change planes to head to South Africa.

The delegation of 11 Westfield High School students and two teachers headed to Africa to conduct environmental research has reached London.

WHS earth science teacher Sara Soriente reports that the group reached London's Heathrow Airport around 6 a.m. New Jersey time on Thursday morning for an eight-hour layover. The group is waiting to board a flight bound for Johannesburg, South Africa. Once in South Africa, the group will take ground transportation to Kruger National Park, in the country's northeastern region near the borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The group is scheduled to leave London around 2 p.m. New Jersey time on Thursday.

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Soriente is leading the group with WHS physics teacher Josh Garodnick. The group consists of a mix of rising juniors and seniors and one member of the WHS Class of 2011.

The group is working with Operation Wallecia in conducting environmental research. At Kruger National Park, the group will research the impact of elephants on the ecosystem and controlled burns in the bush. The group will also head to Mozambique to scuba dive and conduct research into reef ecology.

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The group is scheduled to return to the United States on July 31.


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