Hello All,
This is the final posting for the 2009 Grade 7 Staffordshire trip.
We are back safe and sound wiithout a hitch, not even a delayed flight!
I am posting the photos for the last two days, York and Chester Zoo, as I thought you'd like to have them. I know by now you are probably looking at your child's own photos, but some more won't hurt!
The Zoo on the last day was marvellous, and even those children who have been to a zoo before got the chance to see some very rare, endangered species. I know there were some animals/birds which I hadn't seen before, not even on TV. We walked miles round the zoo and I marvel at the sheer amount of energy the children have!
It was a wonderful trip and the children were the most wonderful travelling companions! Huge thanks are due to Ms Isabelle - her organizational powers are amazing and responsible for the fact that everything went without a single hitch. Ms Rosanne, Ms Maris, Ms Maryanne and Ms Isabelle are most wonderfully kind and loving towards the children; we owe them a huge vote of thanks for their unstinting efforts to making the children happy.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Good evening All!
We have only just arrived back from our day in York so this will be a short blog tonight as I must go and help Ms Rosanne help the children to pack.
The children had a full day visiting the Vicking museum and the Castle Museum, which was a fascinating display of domestic settings and things from the 1600s to the present. The kids were fascinated by the development of toilets!
We visited the huge Minster and then the children did some last minute shopping in the narrow streets of the York Shambles.
Tomorrow we are off to the Zoo and then to the airport. Hopefully if there are no delays we will be flying by this time tomorrow.
Sorry to keep it so short but I really must go and help supervise the search for socks under beds and various other items that develop feet and walk!
See you all tomorrow!
We have only just arrived back from our day in York so this will be a short blog tonight as I must go and help Ms Rosanne help the children to pack.
The children had a full day visiting the Vicking museum and the Castle Museum, which was a fascinating display of domestic settings and things from the 1600s to the present. The kids were fascinated by the development of toilets!
We visited the huge Minster and then the children did some last minute shopping in the narrow streets of the York Shambles.
Tomorrow we are off to the Zoo and then to the airport. Hopefully if there are no delays we will be flying by this time tomorrow.
Sorry to keep it so short but I really must go and help supervise the search for socks under beds and various other items that develop feet and walk!
See you all tomorrow!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Good evening All!
Today was the Black Country Museum. The children learned much about what life was like a hundred years ago. They visited old shops where the salespeople explained how different the goods they sold were from today's shops. The children were fascinated by the chemist shop - they saw how pills used to be made in the old days, as well as old-fashioned baby bottles and a cash register which only rang up a maximum of today's 74 cents. They went into an old sweet shop and learned how sweets used to be made and even bought Victorian sweets to try.
They went down a mine in hard hats and carrying torches which only gave a light equivalent to 1 candle. That way they realized how tough life was for kids their age who already had been working down the mines for years.
They had a ride on a canal boat and practised 'legging' the boat through the tunnels. It was fun for them to learn that just two of them could move a 30 tonne boat through the tunnel!
For lunch there was old-fashioned fish and chips from the replica Victorian chippy.
We were there from 10.30 to 4.30, a full day with many sights to see.
After dinner this evening we went on a nature trail. The college has a huge garden with magnificent trees from all over the world. They had like a treasure hunt to see how many trees they could identify; of course they had picture clues to help them. They really enjoyed racing around the gardens and finished up by rolling down the grassy green slope in the upper garden.
Now it has started pouring so they are off for showers and then diary work before hot chocolate and bed.
Today was the Black Country Museum. The children learned much about what life was like a hundred years ago. They visited old shops where the salespeople explained how different the goods they sold were from today's shops. The children were fascinated by the chemist shop - they saw how pills used to be made in the old days, as well as old-fashioned baby bottles and a cash register which only rang up a maximum of today's 74 cents. They went into an old sweet shop and learned how sweets used to be made and even bought Victorian sweets to try.
They went down a mine in hard hats and carrying torches which only gave a light equivalent to 1 candle. That way they realized how tough life was for kids their age who already had been working down the mines for years.
They had a ride on a canal boat and practised 'legging' the boat through the tunnels. It was fun for them to learn that just two of them could move a 30 tonne boat through the tunnel!
For lunch there was old-fashioned fish and chips from the replica Victorian chippy.
We were there from 10.30 to 4.30, a full day with many sights to see.
After dinner this evening we went on a nature trail. The college has a huge garden with magnificent trees from all over the world. They had like a treasure hunt to see how many trees they could identify; of course they had picture clues to help them. They really enjoyed racing around the gardens and finished up by rolling down the grassy green slope in the upper garden.
Now it has started pouring so they are off for showers and then diary work before hot chocolate and bed.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Good evening All!
It is 10.10 here, unlike the strange times that seem to be posted on the blog, which I can't find out how to change.
Wow! What a day! Cadbury World was a real hit with the children. What a monument to cholesterol and dentists' bills! But it is very sweetly done(no pun intended) and the children loved it. We started by walking through a cocoa tree forest, telling us the history of how the cocoa bean arrived in Europe, then to an audio-visual show about the history of Cadbury. One of the highlights was a second audio visual show explaining how chocolate is made. Every time the film said the chocolate was shaken, our seats shook; when it said anything about steam treatment, our seats made wooshing sounds and so on. You can imagine how the kids loved it.
They got the chance to practice writing their names in chocolate and we went on a little train ride of Cadbury Bean land, an animated ride. They each have a souvenir photo of that ride and some had key chains or fridge magnets made with the photo on them. They got the chance to create the chocolate of their dreams, and of course to go shopping in the Cadbury shop. Oh yes, and during the tour of the factory, they got free Cadbury chocolate several times. We ate our packed lunch in the playground there.
Then it was back to WMC for dinner. For dessert we had ordered a bithday cake for Christine and we all sang happy birthday to her.
Then the trip the kids were really looking forward to - Waterworld. What can I tell you, they had a whale of a time there. No photos unfortunately because it was all too wet! I wish you could have seen the looks of sheer joy on their faces as they came wooshing down the water shutes! We spent nearly three hours there and they enjoyed every minute!
We arrived back at 9.15 and off they all went to shower and get into pyjamas. Now they are writing their diaries and having hot chocolate and biscuits. Then it's off to bed for us all!
Good night and God bless!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The third day
Hello All!
This morning the children visited Cooper-Perry School. It's a delightful small school, all on one floor with classrooms without doors. Most unusual - you can view any classroom from the central hall desk! Brilliant for keeping tabs on everything. The children got to see the end- of -year show put on by the CP children, used their computers, played games and also had a game of rounders on their real grass playground. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
In the afternooon we went to Stafford centre and took the children shopping at the shopping mall there. It was a joy to see how carefully the children chose presents for you all at home. I am sure you will be thrilled with the thought and effort they put into your gifts. I was so completely touched and loved listening in to their careful conversations, comparing best value for money. You should be so pleased, you've brought them up well!
Now while I'm writing this, they are all outside on the beautiful green field belonging to the college and racing around playing ball. (Ms Rosanne bought them a couple to play with in the evening).
I must go and join the other teachers now because the teachers from Cooper-Perry are coming over to visit us and I don't wish to appear rude by not being with them.
More news and pics tomorrow.
God bless!
This morning the children visited Cooper-Perry School. It's a delightful small school, all on one floor with classrooms without doors. Most unusual - you can view any classroom from the central hall desk! Brilliant for keeping tabs on everything. The children got to see the end- of -year show put on by the CP children, used their computers, played games and also had a game of rounders on their real grass playground. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
In the afternooon we went to Stafford centre and took the children shopping at the shopping mall there. It was a joy to see how carefully the children chose presents for you all at home. I am sure you will be thrilled with the thought and effort they put into your gifts. I was so completely touched and loved listening in to their careful conversations, comparing best value for money. You should be so pleased, you've brought them up well!
Now while I'm writing this, they are all outside on the beautiful green field belonging to the college and racing around playing ball. (Ms Rosanne bought them a couple to play with in the evening).
I must go and join the other teachers now because the teachers from Cooper-Perry are coming over to visit us and I don't wish to appear rude by not being with them.
More news and pics tomorrow.
God bless!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Dungeons and Dragons!
Good evening All!
Today was a memorable one for the children. We visited Warwick Castle, the highlight of which was a visit to the Dungeons. Ms Rosanne and I did not go in as we stayed outside with the children who were a bit too scared to enter. Before you enter, a Jester dressed all in black and with a face made up to look really evil, gives you a brief introduction to the 'delights' to be seen in the dungeon. Whoever she was, she was a fantastic actress and suitably scared the children. So we told them no-one had to go in and some chose to stay outside while the rest went in with Ms Maris, Ms Isabelle and Ms Mary Anne. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will have lots to tell you about the visit when they get home. Even Ms Maris admitted to feeling slightly shakey during the experience!
We also watched a falconry display with some magnificent birds of prey. One highlight was watching a huge merlin being chased and scolded by a tiny sparrowhawk.
We visited a reproduction of a Victorian weekend party in the Castle and the children said how much they enjoyed seeing what life was like in those days. The boys were impressed by the fact that the footman only earned £32 a year and the girls really loved the Victorian nursery with all the beautiful baby clothes and toys.
The children saw a working water mill and learned how electricity for the castle was generated by the mill until the Second World War.
A beautiful castle-like playground built all in wood was the site for our picnic lunch. It was a lovely safe place for the children to run and play. The deep layer of wood chippings covering the ground intrigued the children greatly. They said it felt like walking on sponges.
We then saw a re-enactment of a trebouchet being fired. We all gathered on a slopping lawn overlooking the river with the trebouchet on the other side. But I think the children were more impressed by the mother duck and her ducklings and the swan who came and walked amongst us. The children's cameras were going like mad and you'll have plenty of pictures to see!
The children and teachers then walked the battlements of the castle, climbing some 530 steps in all! The view from the tower was magnificent and cameras were clicking like mad again.
Speaking of pictures - since I am borrowing the reception computer to send this blog, I haven't yet managed to download photos to it. Tomorrow afternoon we go shopping in Stafford so I'll buy a pendrive there. I can then download the photos from my laptop to the pendrive and access them from this computer. It never occurred to me to bring a pendrive with me! So sorry you will have to wait.
Some of you have already spoken to your children by now but I will reassure you all that all the children are well and happy and eating quite well, too. Some took a little while to get to sleep last night but after all the fresh air today I am sure they'll be knocked out at bedtime.
At the moment they are working on their scrapbooks of the trip and hot chocolate and cookies await them before bedtime.
Best regards to you all!
Today was a memorable one for the children. We visited Warwick Castle, the highlight of which was a visit to the Dungeons. Ms Rosanne and I did not go in as we stayed outside with the children who were a bit too scared to enter. Before you enter, a Jester dressed all in black and with a face made up to look really evil, gives you a brief introduction to the 'delights' to be seen in the dungeon. Whoever she was, she was a fantastic actress and suitably scared the children. So we told them no-one had to go in and some chose to stay outside while the rest went in with Ms Maris, Ms Isabelle and Ms Mary Anne. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will have lots to tell you about the visit when they get home. Even Ms Maris admitted to feeling slightly shakey during the experience!
We also watched a falconry display with some magnificent birds of prey. One highlight was watching a huge merlin being chased and scolded by a tiny sparrowhawk.
We visited a reproduction of a Victorian weekend party in the Castle and the children said how much they enjoyed seeing what life was like in those days. The boys were impressed by the fact that the footman only earned £32 a year and the girls really loved the Victorian nursery with all the beautiful baby clothes and toys.
The children saw a working water mill and learned how electricity for the castle was generated by the mill until the Second World War.
A beautiful castle-like playground built all in wood was the site for our picnic lunch. It was a lovely safe place for the children to run and play. The deep layer of wood chippings covering the ground intrigued the children greatly. They said it felt like walking on sponges.
We then saw a re-enactment of a trebouchet being fired. We all gathered on a slopping lawn overlooking the river with the trebouchet on the other side. But I think the children were more impressed by the mother duck and her ducklings and the swan who came and walked amongst us. The children's cameras were going like mad and you'll have plenty of pictures to see!
The children and teachers then walked the battlements of the castle, climbing some 530 steps in all! The view from the tower was magnificent and cameras were clicking like mad again.
Speaking of pictures - since I am borrowing the reception computer to send this blog, I haven't yet managed to download photos to it. Tomorrow afternoon we go shopping in Stafford so I'll buy a pendrive there. I can then download the photos from my laptop to the pendrive and access them from this computer. It never occurred to me to bring a pendrive with me! So sorry you will have to wait.
Some of you have already spoken to your children by now but I will reassure you all that all the children are well and happy and eating quite well, too. Some took a little while to get to sleep last night but after all the fresh air today I am sure they'll be knocked out at bedtime.
At the moment they are working on their scrapbooks of the trip and hot chocolate and cookies await them before bedtime.
Best regards to you all!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Our Arrival
Good evening Parents! I know it's very late but there is no internet access for laptops here, so it took a little while to get everything sorted. The receptionist very kindly has allowed me to use her computer and will let me use it every evening.
The children were well-behaved on the plane and on the coach trip from the airport. They all exclaimed at the trees and greenery here and really enjoyed seeing the sheep, cows and horses in the fields alongside the motorway. Several of them even commented on how England even smells different.
They are enchanted with our accommodation, which is in some very lovely old houses belonging to the college.
We finished supper just a little while ago, so they have gone to have showers and pop into bed. Tomorrow is an early start - we're waking them at 7.00 for breakfast at 8.00 as we have a packed day ahead of us.
I have no photos to post yet and I'm not sure I will be able to do so since this isn't my computer, but at least you can get an update of the news. The children will all be phoning home tomorrow when we return from our day out.
Although they are a little bit hyper tonight, which is understandable, I'm sure they'll go off to sleep fairly quickly since it's been quite a long day for them.
They all send their love.
Best wishes to you all and sleep well yourselves!
The children were well-behaved on the plane and on the coach trip from the airport. They all exclaimed at the trees and greenery here and really enjoyed seeing the sheep, cows and horses in the fields alongside the motorway. Several of them even commented on how England even smells different.
They are enchanted with our accommodation, which is in some very lovely old houses belonging to the college.
We finished supper just a little while ago, so they have gone to have showers and pop into bed. Tomorrow is an early start - we're waking them at 7.00 for breakfast at 8.00 as we have a packed day ahead of us.
I have no photos to post yet and I'm not sure I will be able to do so since this isn't my computer, but at least you can get an update of the news. The children will all be phoning home tomorrow when we return from our day out.
Although they are a little bit hyper tonight, which is understandable, I'm sure they'll go off to sleep fairly quickly since it's been quite a long day for them.
They all send their love.
Best wishes to you all and sleep well yourselves!
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