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Junior Ski Trip
Mrs Astrid
Abbott-Imboden
On 3 March,
69 children
and seven
members of
staff travelled
to Sestriere for
the Junior Ski Trip. After a very
early start we had a smooth journey to the resort via
Turin, and arrived early afternoon – welcomed to the
mountains by an alpine blizzard. An extremely efficient
ski fit later in the afternoon, allowed everyone some
time to chill out, unpack and get ready for our first day
of skiing. After an excellent dinner, we all soon made
our way to bed.
The next morning was sunny, with wonderful snow conditions.
Everyone was keen to get onto the slopes and get the skiing
underway. Students were grouped according to ability and met
their skiing instructors who would look after them for the week.
The complete beginners experienced the moving carpet and
the first delight (or terror!) of coming down a slope with two
long boards strapped to their feet. Our more experienced skiers
explored the extensive skiing area, discovering the array of slopes
the resort has to offer. Upon everyone’s return, our lunch was full
of tales of adventure before we set off for our afternoon skiing.
After skiing, students were allowed to explore the resort and its
shops and came back with the delights of unsupervised shopping
– I am sure that shares in the ‘Pringle’ brand rocketed during our
time there. After dinner we sat together in the spacious dining
room and had a general knowledge quiz, which the Removes girls
won expertly. Further evening activities included a visit to the best
pizzeria in town, a fabulous crêpe and ice cream parlour and snow
tubing which had its own challenges.
Over the next few days, the weather started to deteriorate and
day three and four were ‘white outs’ as a blizzard swept through
the Italian resort. However, despite the abject visibility, student’s
spirits were not dampened and they all continued to make
excellent progress.
On our last two days, we had the best conditions ever experienced
on a ski trip – the snow was fresh, the powder was deep, and the
sunshine brilliant. The entire area looked like a winter wonderland.
.Unfortunately, our last evening came far too quickly and we were
packing and clearing up as we had another early start to fly back
home.
Everyone had an unforgettable experience and our students were
praised by hotel staff and tour representative as one of ‘the most
friendly, helpful and polite group they had ever had the pleasure
to work with’.
18 CO-CURRICULAR / PREP
Prep 2 Trip To
Outward Bound
Snowdonia
Mr Nick Thomas
Outward Bound describe their approach as, ‘high
adventure, high learning,’ and the Prep 2s certainly
experienced this during our recent week away at
the Aberdovey Centre on the edge of the stunning
Snowdonia National Park. The children were challenged
to go beyond their comfort zones, which resulted
in some anxious moments, but the results were
enormously rewarding. James from 2AA commented,
‘It was a challenge learning how to be ‘comfortable’
outside my comfort zone!’
From the first activity, ‘jog and dip,’ which involved running down
to the estuary and being fully submerged in the refreshing north
Wales water, to an epic hiking expedition and spending the night in a
remote mountain cabin, the children returned with new definitions
of teamwork, determination and resilience. Other activities included
scrambling and rock climbing at Barmouth Slabs, gorge walking,
canoeing the spectacular Dovey estuary, powerboating and jetty
jumping. Alongside the adrenaline there was a strong environmental
theme to our week through the John Muir award and the children
learnt a lot about conservation, local nature and the impact of
plastic on our oceans. We were generally lucky with the weather
and the children returned home exhausted, but happy, and with a
greater appreciation of the beautiful British countryside. Above all
the children enjoyed the independence of being away and building
friendships that will last into the Senior School and beyond. Imaan
from 2BR summed it up perfectly, ‘I learnt to trust my friends and
realised how much I needed them.’