Two of our Year 8 pupils have written about their trip to France earlier this term:
We set off on the trip, crossing the English Channel by ferry. Once on board, the entire year group vanished, then they wandered the interior spaces, and browsed the shops while we sailed away from England. I watched the White Cliffs of Dover slip further and further into the distance. There is no longer land beneath our feet, but sea that rolled on long, gentle swells, quiet and steady. On our returning crossing later in the week, everything shifted. Strong wind whipped across the water. The ferry rocked continuously, and large wave rolls all around the hull, tossing the ferry as we travelled back (it is a bit of hyperbole).
Nausicaa:
Aeroball:
One of the main thrilling activities was playing aeroball, a fast-paced sport played in bouncy trampolines. We split off into small groups of two to compete against each other in a lively, energetic way. As we bounced high above the ground, gravity felt lighter within every leap. We had to coordinate quickly, jumping, balancing, and throwing the ball accurately, while constantly moving on the surface. It required speed, teamwork and great focus: the atmosphere was vibrant and upbeat with everyone cheering. Everyone enjoyed this.
Archery:
In contrast to the chaotic energy of aeroball, we took part in archery, a calm and disciplined activity that tested both our patience and precision. In this activity we were also divided into two large groups, fairly against each other. Standing in line, we carefully position ourselves, raised our bow and steadily pulled back the strings, aiming sharply at the distant target. Every shot needed immense focus, steady hands, and also full concentration; you must block out or surroundings noise and distraction. Archery offered a peaceful, mindful, contrast to our trampoline game, creating a perfect balance of excitement and calmness throughout our activities. Thanks to our animateurs who guided us through our journey.
Disco:
After dinner we had a disco organised for us. The animateurs set up the light and music, and the room quickly filled with energy. Everyone simply relaxes and enjoys the popular music while laughter echoed around the room. The tiredness from earlier in the day slowly melted away in cheerful rhythm. It was such a laidback evening, a chance for us to leave things behind and keep the simple, joyful time with our friends.
We arrived at Ypres, an ancient village in Belgium, which we travelled by coach for about two to three hours. In the village of Ypres, we went to the Somme, which were WW1 trenches dug out by the infantry soldiers who used them to avoid enemy fire. We had a room where you could sit down at a wooden box with two eye holes where you could watch wartime pictures by scrolling a wooden knob.
We went to a museum where we had bracelets, and each had an individual soldier, and we were able to hear the story and what happened after the war. We also saw lots of weapons and had a poetry booklet to work on while we were in the museum and answering questions. The questions included reading an extract of a gas attack in the book ‘Private Peaceful’ and causes of conflict.
Later we visited the Cloth Hall Museum in Belgium, after which we went to a nearby chocolate shop called Leonidas. They gave us a special offer, where you could have a choice of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate, and a box with a mix of mini chocolates. They were VERY tasty.
We also went to a French food market to buy the ingredients to make sandwiches, which included hand made sausages, fresh fruits, and vegetables. We had to order in French, a good opportunity to try using French outside of the classroom!