REVISTA DAP AVENTURA 2015-2016

F-50 SCHOOL IN VILLA LAS ESTRELLAS, ANTARCTICA
PENGUINS GO TO SCHOOL
It’s one of the two schools to be found in the
area. Each morning, no matter the extreme
cold and snow, its six students come to
learn and study.
One day, Chilean students began to be
known as “penguins”, due to the typical
colors of school uniforms, which are found
in almost every school. But, what about the
school where Antarctic “penguins” attend?
It’s one of those special places, where kids
will meet with their Uruguayan neighbors in
the morning, and then those from Russia or
China in the afternoon. In an extremely cold
and multicultural context, Chilean children
attend F-50 school in Villa Las Estrellas,
which is the only school in Antarctica, together
with Argentinean school Nº38 Raúl Ricardo
Alfonsín at the Esperanza Base.
With snow covering almost half of its building,
and an old bell in its entrance, each day, no
matter the wind gusts or the cold, the six
students come to fulfill their learning duties.
A series of old photographs adorn one of
the classrooms’ walls. They are of earlier
generations of students, who had the chance
to start their school life no less than in
Antarctica.
Walking through the few class rooms, this
school is not so different to any other in Chile.
Posters with historical landmarks on their
walls, manual works made with icecream
sticks, and some musical instruments, can
be found after a brief walk around.
Time shift
Class times, recesses and study must go
along with Antarctic rhythm of life, where
winter becomes and endless night, and in
summer, the moon almost cannot make an
appearance. The school curricula might
not be changed, but so can be the mood
of the students, so maintaining a joyful life
with a good array of recreational activities
is very important.
But in spite of the difficulties and the extreme
experience studying in this icy part of the
12 Adventure at the End of the World