Over the course of 4 days in March myself and other students and teachers travelled to one of Italy’s most famous places, Venice! It was definitely a trip to remember – we had so much fun. We stayed in Venice Mestre which was a short train journey (on a double decker train!) to Venice’s islands where we explored many unique and exciting places throughout the trip and ate so much amazing food (mainly pizza and pasta as you can’t go wrong and it was delicious!).
We visited loads of monuments and churches that were ancient and breathtaking by how much detail and precision must have taken to create them. Also how vast and big they were, such as St Mark’s Basilica. We even got to experience going on a boat along the canal which was one of my favourite parts. Two islands, Murano and Burano, we visited by boat and got to learn what they were famous for. Murano is famous for its coloured glass and we watched a man making a horse out of glass. Some of us collected souvenirs to take back to our families!
On day 3 we travelled to Ravenna to meet up with our partner school which was an interesting, new experience to go to a school in a different country and see new places. I loved spending time with some of my closest friends but also making some new ones. We got to explore in small groups during free time and made some funny and great memories with our friends and we also got to speak Italian to different people like when ordering food! But overall Venice was so beautiful and enjoyable to visit thanks to the amazing teachers!
By Florence Webb
It was an early start on Monday morning to get to Heathrow for our flight to Düsseldorf at 7.10am! The journey to Germany marked the beginning of this year’s German Exchange with further developments in our established partnership with the ‘Gymnasium am Neandertal’ in Erkrath near Düsseldorf. This reciprocal exchange visit is a little different to a traditional Exchange. Our students are matched with a German student of a similar age and with some things in common to help with communication. We stay together in a local youth hostel and travel each day to school using public transport to meet with partners, attend lessons and get involved in joint projects together. Our students were immersed in German culture and customs and were able to use the language learnt in class to find their way. Students explored both Düsseldorf and the town of Erkrath in small groups using a Rallye designed by the German students. We attended lessons, experienced breaks and changes of lessons in school and this year, we were also able to spend an afternoon at the houses of the exchange partners. We visited the well-known Neandertal Museum, funded by our Partner school who are very proud of their Neandertal heritage. Parents organised a BBQ for us next to the lake where the school owns a piece of land and rowing boats. We were invited to try out rowing and for most of us this was the first time, we had sat in a rowing boat. We explored the differences between the school systems and the lives of young people in our two countries. Every day was packed with activities and negotiating many trains, trams, underground trains and buses but we still found time to shop, go to the theme Park @Phantasialand, pop up to the cathedral in Cologne. The photos of our trip will give you a flavour of all we experienced in the beautiful Neandertal Valley.
We had an additional unplanned experience too. Our British Airways flight home was delayed and finally cancelled meaning we had to stay and extra night in a very nice hotel! Our students took it all in their stride and were wonderful ambassadors for Presdales. We are looking forward to welcoming their German partners to our school in two weeks time( 1st- 5th June 2025), where they will take part in a similar programme.
The week before half term 15 Year 8 and 9 students visited the capital of Estonia, Tallinn where approximately 40% of the population are native Russians and there are lots of Russian speakers.
Students enjoyed a whirlwind tour of what life was like in Estonia during the Soviet Union, discovered what the KGB might be interested in them for and where they would have ended up if they didn’t go along with party communist party lines. They also took a step back into Imperial Russia and visited Peter the Great’s house and palace, enjoying the art collection there.
Students particularly enjoyed the Russian lessons and visit to the school where they met young Russian speakers and exchanged ideas about their lives and hobbies. Tallinn has a beautiful Russian language theatre which offered the students the opportunity to enjoy a very novel staging of Figaro, which was visually very engaging even if they spoke very quickly.
The students thought the old town of Tallinn was very beautiful and made their own Russian dumplings at the Russian restaurant in the old town centre. They also ordered their own Russian pies in the pie shop. We were very lucky to enjoy Tallinn in the snow and the students represented Presdales very well in spite of extreme tiredness from such a packed programme.
Slightly belatedly for the Russians, the Year 7 Russian class marked Maslenitsa (pancake week) with pancake ordering, sushki bracelet making and singing. The students embraced the challenge of singing quite fast and made a rather pleasant sound by the end of it! Well done Year 7.
‘What a trip! Four days! We did it all, travelling through 4 countries, Christmas markets in Köln and Düsseldorf, der Kölner Dom, das Schokoladenmuseum, swimming, Phantasialand, der Fernsehturm, shopping and we even managed to visit our partner school in Erkrath. Our students were able to meet the partners they had been writing to during the year, in person.
Parents and students in our partner school, das Gymnasium an Neandertal (Gymneander) organised a Christmas party with German seasonal food. We shared English traditions (mince pies, crackers and a Lucky Dip) and were entertained by a Year 9 class with a song in German and in English. Our students also attended 2 lessons to get a taste of what it is like to learn in a German School.
St Nikolaus, who normally comes on the night of 5th- 6th December, came 5 days early to put some chocolate in the shoes we left outside the door of our hotel rooms.
The German department are very proud of our 48 students from year 8, 9 and 10 who took it all in their stride. They were fantastic ambassadors for Presdales and our country. I even heard them talking German to each other. Well done to them all!
We hope the pictures and the comments from students give you a flavour of this exciting trip.
This was the best trip EVER!
I liked being in a German school. They have huge corridors and it was very chilled.
My favourite part was going to the German school. It seemed really strange at first, but they try to get everyone involved in the lessons. I found the chalk boards in all the classrooms a bit strange. All the students have iPads. They don’t wear uniform and start and finish earlier.
The school was chill with no seating plans, no uniform and no homework. Phones were allowed in the class I was in.
It was great to see the school. It was interesting to get to know another culture.
I enjoyed going to the cathedral so much, that we nearly got left behind, because we were taking so many pictures.
My favourite part was going Phantasialand because I went on loads of rides. I also enjoyed the Christmas markets as I got to buy nice things and try different foods.
I enjoyed the journey as I could spend many hours watching animations without someone telling me to stop.
I had the best time at the Chocolate museum with lots of free tasting and I got presents for my family.
One of my favourite things we did was to go to Phantasialand, but I also enjoyed swimming, the Christmas markets and especially meeting our partners. I loved all of these since they were fun and we met new people. I also enjoyed seeing Germany. I just wished; we had more time!
I loved the TV Tower. It was so high. I also ticked something off my bucket list ‘eat a pretzel in Germany’.
Phantasialand was the best. F.L.Y is a must when you visit.
I enjoyed the Christmas Markets because there was lots of present options. I also enjoyed the slides in the water park. They were really fun!
I have never been to a proper Christmas market like the German ones before, so it was magical and beautiful to see and experience. It was an amazing opportunity for gifts and souvenirs. I am so grateful to have gone on this trip and I hope to go again!
It was quite fun for me because I had never been to Germany before, and I have not been to another country where I know at least some of the language.
The TV Tower was great fun. We leant on the glass and looked down. The view was amazing and very pretty.
I was so scared going up the TV Tower but I face d my fear! I leant on the glass and got great pictures.
On Tuesday 7th May the French department had the pleasure of taking 22 Year 10 students and 2 Year 12 students on a 3 night residential trip to Normandy.
We stayed in the beautiful setting of the Château du Baffy and enjoyed visits to the picturesque towns of Honfleur, Bayeux and Deauville, where we were able to do some shopping for souvenirs and taste some delicious French delicacies.
Other activities included a trip to the beach, a very interesting visit to the Bayeux tapestry and a campfire with hot chocolate, marshmallows and lots of singing and dancing!
We were so impressed with all the students throughout the trip, especially when they conducted surveys with passersby in French on the beach in Deauville. They really made the most of being able to practise speaking, reading and listening to French and it was an absolute joy to see their confidence flourish and to spend time with them.
This is the first time that the French department has run this trip. It was a great success and we are looking forward to doing it again next year already!
Here’s what some of the students have written about the trip:
I thought the trip was so much fun! Not only was it a great opportunity to improve French speaking and confidence, but it was also really enjoyable! It was really nice to be able to visit several different French towns and explore the culture. It was also really interesting to see French locals and listen to their language. My personal favourite experience was going to the hypermarket because I’ve never seen such a big supermarket before! Overall I really enjoyed this trip and I think it has given me a lot of confidence in speaking French and even more of a passion in learning the language. (Jessica Knight, Year 12)
I enjoyed making new friends and spending time with people I don’t usually spend time with at school. I loved going and speaking to French people and asking our 5 questions. I think that was a really great way of learning by listening and speaking. I loved walking around the different towns and buying postcards and enjoying the different sights. (Chloe Haworth, Year 10)
I really enjoyed this trip, as I haven’t done a school trip abroad before. The accommodation and food was nice, we had lots of fun in Honfleur, Bayeux and Deauville, and I really loved how everybody was friends with each other by the end of the trip. If I could do this again I really would! 10/10. (Polly Carter, Year 10)
Earlier this term we were able to welcome 24 students to Presdales for the first time, from our German Partnership school ‘Gymnasium am Neandertal’ (Gymneander for short!). They were with us for five days experiencing life in an English school with a full programme of events both in and out of school including lessons, baking scones, visits to the Lido, Scott’s Grotto, a Town trail, an evening bowling, an afternoon tea and visits to London. It was lovely to see our students taking good care of their partners, who they had already visited in Germany, and friendships developing with our students across the school. Thank you to parents and carers who have supported this new venture, which we hope will continue to develop and grow. The photos here show our students and their partners really did exchange ideas and experiences.
Latest News
Coming Up
Thursday 5th
Year 12 Parents Consultation Meetings
Friday 6th
Oracy Day
Wednesday 11th March
Year 12 Printmaking Workshop
Year 8 Parents Consultation Meetings
Thursday 12th and Friday 13th
Bronze DofE Practice Expedition
Thursday 12th
Post-18 Options Evening, 6pm
Friday 13th
Year 10 Big Interview Day
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Presdales School
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Ware
Hertfordshire
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Tel: 01920 462210
admin@presdales.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher:
Mr Warren
