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Year 9, 10 & 12 French Exchange

November 16, 2018/in General News, Language Trips, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

Friday the 9th of November was a very exciting yet nerve- wracking day for a lot of people – we would finally be going to spend six days with a host family in another country after having very little contact with them. Saying this however, we had nothing to be worried about as we were welcomed like old friends later that day.

Upon our arrival at ‘College Gaston Serpette’ we were greeted by the French students before being introduced to our partners. Very kindly, many of the families had baked cakes and we got a chance to bond with our partners over the goods.

I was very relieved to arrive at the ‘Roche family’ house because, after a long day, I was just ready to sleep. Christophe and Coralie (the parents of Pénélope, my French exchange partner) were extremely kind and welcoming and even the cat seemed happy to have me in their home! That evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner and some board games with the older brother and younger sister. The family really appreciated the gifts that I brought, especially the younger sister who has since said that shortbread is her favourite thing in the world!

We went straight into having a weekend with our host family and this provided an opportunity to really get to know them as well as have a great time. It was board games and the local ‘Nantes market’ on Saturday and a visit to the beautiful ‘Mont– Saint-Michel’ on Sunday.

Monday morning required an early start as we had to go to school with our partners. I sat through art and maths with Pénélope and actually managed to understand quite a lot of what was going on. I have to say that it was very different to be back in a class with boys after the two years since leaving primary school! Speaking of primary school, that’s where we went in the afternoon. We filled out questionnaires with the children, who were all very excited to see us, before doing a presentation (in french) on presdales school.

On Tuesday, we visited a very interesting town called Vannes, an hour and forty minute coach ride away. After having a tour round, we were given free time. During this period, we all enjoyed picnic lunches made by our host families. It was in Vannes that I bought presents for my family back in England. I really enjoyed Vannes as it was a very pretty place with lots of quirky little details and we were given a chance to put our French to the test by talking to shopkeepers, etc., without the worry of getting anything wrong, as we knew that we weren’t going to see these people again. Also, they were very understanding.

Wednesday was, unfortunately, our last full day. My family gave me hot chocolate in a bowl (a very new experience!) and a huge selection of croissants, pain au chocolat and other pastries as they knew that there was a long day ahead! We got the tram into the centre of Nantes quite early in the morning so that we would be able to fit everything in. First of all, we had a guided tour round the château. The weather did not let us down, the beautiful skies were as blue as anything and it was very warm (considering that it was November). Then we went to the main shopping area in Nantes – there were lots of boutiques and individual shops in addition to some of the more well-known shops. The real highlight of the day would have to be visiting the huge mechanical elephant and carousel! To begin, we went into a museum which explained how the two were made and gave information about future projects that are being planned. I found it extremely interesting as the huge amount of time and effort put into the attractions was something to behold in itself. The ride on the actual elephant was slow but allowed you to take in local scenery and appreciate the work gone into it.

The day ended with a reception with the mayor of Nantes and we met up with our partners and families. It was very lovely and the trip ended on a high.

Then came the dreaded goodbye on Thursday morning… we were all very emotional to leave our ‘homes’ which we had been so happily welcomed into. Many tears were shed as the time came to say goodbye to our partners. The bond that we made with them was so strong – they had been like our brothers and sisters for the past week and leaving just felt wrong. Surely it was too soon for us to leave? However, we knew that it wouldn’t be long before the return visit and modern technology means that we can keep in touch very easily!

I’m so glad that I took the opportunity and went on this trip and would definitely recommend it. Your French will improve without you even realising and you’ll pick up new vocabulary just from overhearing dinner time conversation. The bonds and friendships that I made on the trip are ones that will last forever.

Róisín Hurley (Year 9)

Mon échange scolaire:

On the 9th of November Presdales and Richard Hale set off for France for the infamous French Exchange. Being the only Year 10 going, I was a little apprehensive at first but there was no need for me to be! My fellow Presdalians were absolutely lovely and, although it was a little awkward at first, I soon found myself chatting with them. Not only this but the teachers accompanying us, Miss Haywood and Miss Lee, were so sweet and kept us laughing and smiling the whole week.

Arriving at Gaston Serpette (the French school), I was so, so, SO nervous but also really excited to meet my exchange partner. I had previously texted her a bit so I knew what she looked like and a few things about her but I was still anxious that maybe we wouldn’t get along.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. We were well-matched, and I knew as soon as I said my first “Salut!”, I was really going to like her.

Unusually, this year, we went on a Friday which meant we were immediately spending the weekend with our host families which meant that there would be no teachers there to help translate! My correspondent’s parents were so welcoming, and I instantly felt safe and at home and I soon befriended her cat. My family made no fuss that I was vegetarian and cooked some delicious meals, making sure that I never went hungry – there was always a goûter (snack) ready and waiting for me!

At the start of the week, there were often challenging points where I would try to ask or describe something to my exchange partner and couldn’t quite get there. Despite the language barrier, we were always able to get across what we wanted to say, even if it involved an odd jumble of French and English. By the end of the week I was better at saying these phrases and found myself feeling more confident to say them in the first place.

It was really cool to experience a completely different culture, and even better to be doing so in such a beautiful city! Leaving Nantes, I was so happy I had met such kind people and so upset that I would not see my correspondent for several months – there were many tears at the airport! I wish I could have stayed for longer.

To any younger students thinking about whether to go or not, I would 100% recommend you give it go, and I’m not just saying that because I know Miss Haywood will read this! It will boost your French speaking and listening and prepare you for those GCSEs with extra vocab you wouldn’t know otherwise. You also get to spend a whole week off school with your mates, and get to meet new people, both French and English, with whom you may well become really good friends.

Going on the exchange gave me so much more confidence with my French and really inspired me to keep going. Not only that but I made a genuinely amazing friend who made my week so enjoyable.

Rebecca Kennard (Year 10)

My French Exchange Experience

I went into the French exchange feeling nervous but mostly excited about meeting my partner and diving into the French lifestyle. Since I had done the exchange before in year 9, I half knew what I was expecting; however, unlike the last time, I was constantly speaking French and by the end of the week I was really getting used to the family’s lifestyle and the French culture.

My partner is called Lou and early on into the exchange we were already really good friends! We’re looking forward to seeing each other again when she comes back to England! We did lots of fun activities whilst we were there. With the school, we went to the Machines de l’Île (where there’s a giant mechanical elephant) and also we visited the Château de Nantes, which was really impressive. On Monday and Tuesday I went to the French school and it was really interesting to find out what school in France is like because it was so different from England.

For me the best part about the trip was getting to meet my exchange partner because I have made a really good friend who can also help me improve my French. The most challenging part of the trip was at the start. I was finding it hard to understand the fast and complicated French that the family and my partner were speaking, but by the end of the week I could pick up most of what they said to me. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone taking French, not only because it improves your listening and speaking skills, but it also allows you to make lots of friends and it is altogether a lot of fun!

Hannah Wilson (Year 12)

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/msm.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2018-11-16 15:00:012021-02-26 11:35:08Year 9, 10 & 12 French Exchange

Year 10 & 12 Trip to Urbania

July 19, 2018/in General News, Language Trips, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/palazzoducale.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2018-07-19 14:59:222021-02-26 11:35:51Year 10 & 12 Trip to Urbania

Year 10 Industrial Cadet Interview with Prince Charles

March 7, 2018/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

On Wednesday the 7th of March, a group of seven Year 10 girls travelled to Savoy’s Place in London for the Industrial Cadet Awards Ceremony. The team consisted of: Ayesha, Becca, Amelia, Phi, Talitha, Saidhriti and Evie. In the summer term of 2017, three Presdales groups participated in a regional competition (sponsored by GSK) where each team had to prepare a ten week project about worldwide issues e.g. energy resources. Each group had to prepare a team report about their project, a model of their idea and a presentation for the judges. Every participant received a nationally recognised bronze Industrial Cadet Award, for their hard work and contribution to the project. My team, Presdales Brilliance, chose the topic ‘Our Healthy School’ and created a website from scratch entitled ‘Think Aloud’. In the regional stage of the competition, our team won the award for Best Overall Project and so had the opportunity to meet the other regional winners from around the country.

Our team chose to focus the project on mental health as we believe it plays a fundamental role in our wellbeing, as well as having an important effect on our academic performance, which we thought was very relevant to students our age. The website is full of helpful information to spread awareness about mental health and what it is, as well as blog posts centred on a focus of the week, helplines, calming music and links to informative videos. The main aspect of our website is that it combines professionally sourced advice as well as personal experiences, in a way that is student friendly and enjoyable to read. Our website was made by students, for students and so we believe that Think Aloud is the perfect combination of professional and personal. Our aim is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and promote its importance in a way that encourages people to discuss it. Our motto, ‘think allowed, think aloud’ says exactly this: we want to express that everyone should openly talk about and explore mental health and our website helps do just that. We chose to create a website in particular as it is easily accessible, can be constantly updated, has a low carbon footprint and is extremely cost-efficient.

After travelling through London, we arrived at Savoy Place and began to set up our display board. Throughout the day, our team had the opportunity to meet industry bodies through networking and promoting our project as well as meeting other winners and learning more about their projects and ideas. We also sat in on the awards ceremony to listen to speeches by the Prince of Wales and industry CEOs, encouraging young people to take up careers in STEM. As well as this, we each answered a recorded interview question regarding our Industrial Cadet experience. What I think was the highlight of the day was getting to have a private interview with His Royal Highness Prince Charles: we were one of two groups who had the opportunity to do this! We were asked questions about our project, our Industrial Cadet journey and plans for the future. Each member answered the questions confidently and we had all perfected our royal curtseys! After lunch, our group also attended an engineering and science lecture by special guest, Johnny Ball, who gave us an insight into some particularly interesting examples of engineering in action in today’s world.

Our team is planning on completing our silver Industrial Cadet Award, where we plan to incorporate the website into school life at Presdales; perhaps promoting it through assemblies, for use in form times or at home. I also plan on consulting the rest of the school council on their ideas on how to integrate Think Aloud into our school. In the future we are also considering developing a Think Aloud app and social media presence in order to further reach out to teenagers and improve accessibility.

I believe that the variety and diversity in our team was one of the main reasons that we worked so well as a unit; we could have rich discussions and make well informed decisions. From this experience, I have most definitely learnt knew skills: networking, teamwork and decision making, and the journey has inspired me to extend my scientific knowledge and experience and go into a STEM career in the future. Personally, the Industrial Cadet experience has allowed me to develop key skills that I have built during my time at Presdales. For instance, public speaking, opportunities like this and the Mock Trial in year 9 have really helped me grow these kinds of skills that will be vital for success in later life.

On behalf of my team, I would like to give a huge thanks to our GSK mentors, Steph and Kaye, for all of their guidance and advice through the journey, as well as Ms Walsh and Mrs Barnes for their help in getting us to London. Not to mention, Ms Walsh’s hard work behind the scenes to allow our team this opportunity of a lifetime!

Ayesha (Year 10)

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Prince-Charles.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2018-03-07 15:57:442019-10-01 11:47:29Year 10 Industrial Cadet Interview with Prince Charles

Ski Trip 2018

February 16, 2018/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

On Friday 9th February we left school to head to Nendaz, Switzerland. The journey was good and it seemed to pass very quickly, most people slept very well on the coach. When we arrived at our hotel we were a little tired but very excited to see the snow, get our skis fitted and, most importantly, see our rooms!

The skiing was such fun, with plenty of laughter and some falls but so good to see everybody making great progress. The days flew by and we had lots of snow and sunshine (until the last day) which made the ski conditions amazing. We enjoyed some fun activities in the evenings, too, The Big Quiz is always a good one, plus this year we went bowling and to the Carnival.

I think that we were all sad to leave and face the long journey home but we had a fantastic time and will be able to talk about all the memories for years to come.

Miss Clarke

‘The ski trip has and always will be an amazing part of my time at Presdales. Despite the long coach journey, our week in Switzerland was unforgettable. No one can describe the feeling of skiing down a mountain with your friends and teachers, admiring the blue skies, snowy mountains and warm sun. Thank you to Miss Clarke and all teachers involved for organising a spectacular trip!’

And from a parent

‘I would just like to thank you and all the teaching team that supported the girls on the recent Ski Trip, My daughter came home having had the very best of times. She really enjoyed the week, particularly the skiing. Kind regards and many thanks again,’

‘I was so nervous about skiing and especially about going on the chair lifts but I loved everything. I cannot wait to go again and hopefully I can get even better.’

‘The 2018 ski trip is something I will never forget….as it was AMAZING. All of the teachers really looked after us.’

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Year 8 & 9 Trip to a German Christmas Market

December 2, 2017/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

I am very fortunate to have been able to go on the German trip, it was a great experience. I loved waking up every morning and looking forward to the fun filled day ahead. It was very interesting to learn about Germany’s culture. I also enjoyed spending time with my friends and meeting new teachers. Isabelle Gardiner (Year 9)

I had a really great time in Germany. One of my favourite parts was going on the river cruise. We travelled up the River Rhine. Inside the boat, we were served hot chocolate and cake! It was so nice as the temperature outside was about -2 degrees and we were all very cold! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Holly Yeoman (Year 8)

On Thursday morning we travelled to K?ln. We went to the Lindt factory. It had three floors you could see the chocolate being made and then heard about the history of the chocolate. On one floor there was a large chocolate fountain and you could dip wafers in it. Finally we went to the shop and bought presents for our family and friends. Freya Chandler (Year 8)

The Germany Trip 2017 was amazing! We experienced lots of different things, like their beautiful Christmas markets. Despite the cold, winter weather, I had so much fun going around trying new foods and buying little souvenirs. We also did activities such as going to a cathedral in K?ln which was the largest most beautiful cathedral I have ever seen. However, my favourite part of the trip was when we went to Phantasia Land. Phantasia Land is a big theme park with lots of different rides, including the fastest one in Europe! I had never been on a roller-coaster before, it was thrilling! We also went to see a spectacular light show; it was the best firework display I have ever seen! I would really recommend this trip and, if I could, I would do it all over again. Maisie Pryke (Year 8)

I loved Germany! It was fantastic, especially Phantasia Land. It was so fun. I went on the FASTEST ROLLERCOASTER IN EUROPE! It was scary but the adrenaline rush was definitely worth it. It swung you upside down, round and round. I’m not really sure how many loop the loops I did – I had my eyes closed the whole time. I loved the Lindt factory – the Germans sure do know what they’re doing with chocolate. The chocolate fountain was delish! Kirsty Thomson (Year 8)

On the trip we visited Cologne Cathedral. The building was amazing. It was so tall. 515ft to be precise. What surprised me was that even after two wars, it was still amazing. I really liked the stained glass windows as they were bright and colourful and didn’t stick to a certain theme like other cathedrals. Outside the cathedral were the Christmas markets. There were loads of stalls selling different things. Even though it was cold and started snowing we still managed to get loads of shopping done. I really enjoyed the trip because we did lots of fun activities. Amelia Gilmartin-Smith (Year 8)

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/german-market.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2017-12-02 15:48:542019-03-19 16:44:52Year 8 & 9 Trip to a German Christmas Market

Russian Trip

October 24, 2017/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

The Russian trip in October half term was an absolutely amazing experience. As a year 12 student studying A level Russian, I found the history and culture we learnt about extremely interesting, and relevant to the course which I am studying. The highlight of the trip for me was the overnight train from Moscow to St. Petersburg as it was a completely new experience for me and something I would definitely like to do again. St Petersburg is an architecturally older city than Moscow and contains so many beautiful palaces; however, I preferred the more modern architecture of Red Square, St. Basils being a beautiful structure. I would really recommend the trip to anyone who gets the opportunity to go, whether they study Russian or not.

Claudia Holmes, Year 12

Going to Russia was probably one of the coolest things I’ve done. The trip as a whole was brilliant whilst being super cold. Personally, I had a clear favourite part, visiting the local school in Moscow. It was an insight into the lives of a different culture and a chance to use some of the Russian I had learnt. We talked to one another in both Russian and English and trying to break the language barrier cracked me up. I had other highlights such as: the circus, the night train and the folk show. It’s a great trip and I’d recommend it to everyone.

Shauna Concoran-Snowden Year 11

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/russia.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2017-10-24 14:57:172019-03-20 16:28:54Russian Trip

Design and Technology Trip to the Knit and Stitch show

October 11, 2017/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

On Wednesday 11th October, 36 textiles students and 3 teachers travelled to the Textiles exhibition at Alexandra Palace, London. We all arrived with our shopping list for future projects and we were not disappointed by the wide selection of fabrics, decorative textile components, wools, sewing machines and patterns. In fact there were 400 stalls for us to view and collect ideas.

Once we had purchased our fabrics, we visited the exhibitions from 20 professional textiles artists, which this year included a collection of unique designer handbags embellished by a leading embroidery company “Hand and Lock”. The work by graduate students and their sketch books allowed us to see the amount of work involved in textile degree courses. Some of the work was amazing.

We viewed the latest trends in knitwear on the fashion stage and were able to develop a wide range of skills via the expert tuition available on stalls. Some of us tried to learn to knit but need a bit more practice before we can start knitting a jumper! We had a great day and collected lots of ideas for future projects.

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/D-T-Copy.jpg 580 600 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2017-10-11 16:06:172019-03-20 16:10:55Design and Technology Trip to the Knit and Stitch show

Year 12 Government & Politics Visit to Parliament

September 29, 2017/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

On Friday the 29th of September the Year 12 Government and Politics students visited the Houses of Parliament. The trip allowed students to bring our studies to life and fleetingly experience what we have been learning in one of our A Level units about the British constitution and the powers of Parliament.

After a short train journey we arrived at Westminster, greeted by the familiar buildings we’ve seen on the news (and in textbooks!). We were then given some time in small groups to explore, eat and compete in a challenge of which group could take the most (and to some extent funny) photos and tweet them to the politics department on twitter (@PresdalesPols). Through this light-hearted challenge, we got to visit a variety of sights, including Downing Street, Big Ben, the Supreme Court and multiple offices such as the Cabinet Office.

After posing with an assortment of notable individuals (unfortunately in statue form) we reconvened to be given a tour around the Houses of Parliament. We were able to view the two different chambers, along with the Queen’s robing room, the lobbies and more. In doing so, we were quizzed on our knowledge from class along with learning more about the history of Parliament and the different duties of the Houses. Following our tours, we attended a debating workshop and learnt about the essentials of debating in Parliament; to put this in to context, we split into two groups and debated the question of ‘Should school uniforms be banned?’ seeing some very passionate responses from each side.

The day was both fascinating and enjoyable, leaving some students with the hope of someday working in Westminster. Consequently, we’d like to thank Mr Spurgeon and Miss Powell for organising such a fantastic trip and hope to see next year’s cohort enjoy it too!

Katie Adamson and Maisie Mautterer, Year 12

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/parliament.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2017-09-29 16:18:532019-03-20 16:23:59Year 12 Government & Politics Visit to Parliament

Borneo World Challenge 2017

August 12, 2017/in General News, Trips & Visits, World Challenge /by Steve Telford

This summer two groups of students went on a World Challenge Expedition to Malaysian Borneo, accompanied by Mr Walker with Team One and Miss Chapman and Miss Gregson with Team Two. The expedition was a month long and everything from the itinerary to food to accommodation and accounting were all planned by us students. Throughout the month we did trekking in the Borneo jungle, a project in the local community, snorkelling and so much more.

Our journey started at 4.30 am at school, all packed and ready to set off. We then had three long flights into Borneo, flying into the capital city, Kota Kinabalu, and the other group flying into Miri, another major city in Borneo. The first couple of days were spent finding our feet in such a new environment and sorting out all of the money and accommodation for the next few days. At night we enjoyed exploring the famous night markets of Kota Kinabalu where they sold lots of interesting street food which some of us tried.

Soon after, we were travelling to the Crocker Range where we did our first trek. It was our first jungle experience and we found it hard carrying our massive rucksacks while walking for 5 hours in 35?C heat. However we were in the good hands of our three local guides Ed, Roni and Chris who helped us along the way. Soon our three day trek was over and we survived our first two nights in hammocks. We then arrived at the Adventure Centre where we stayed for the night and our guides told us stories about their experiences of the jungle, and about some of the local culture and traditions.

After a good night’s sleep in something slightly more stable than a hammock we waved goodbye to our guides and headed north to Sepilok Orang-utan and Sun Bear Sanctuary. We all found the orang-utans so beautiful, but the reason why the sanctuary had to be built got some of us thinking about the issues that the rainforest is facing. Logging, deforestation and the palm oil industry has meant that animal habitats are shrinking, evidently meaning that some of Borneo’s wildlife is decreasing in numbers and some species are even in danger of extinction. We all wanted to do our bit to try and combat these issues so after we travelled to an Eco Centre for a few days. Here we helped to plant trees after a forest fire destroyed lots of the rainforest a few years ago, and we cleared an invasive weed from their lake that had been driving away other species. Early each morning and every evening we had boat rides along the river. Here we saw loads of wildlife such as Proboscis monkeys, hornbills and crocodiles. Also we had guided night walks when we saw a very rare Western Tarsier.

We then made our way back to Kota Kinabalu where we spent a day snorkelling off the islands just off the coast of the capital. It was so nice to have a break from travelling to relax and explore some of the marine life that Borneo has to offer. But shortly after we started preparing for our main trek, and left in 4x4s to the start of our trek. Here we met the other group who had just finished their main trek. We hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks so we caught up about what both groups had been up to. That day we also met our guides Kenny, Petrus and Lian. It was a restless night sleep for most of us as we were so anxious and excited about what to expect. The next morning we said goodbye to the other group and started on our trek. There were far less hills than the first trek but a long day of trekking still took its toll, so when we arrived at camp we were ready for a hearty meal cooked on an open fire by the food team. After three more days at trekking we arrived at our guide’s house where we stayed for the night. They prepared us a wild boar and some people helped to kill and prepare a chicken. That night we had a celebration for my birthday and some of the team even sang me a birthday rap. It was nice to finally sleep in a building, even though there weren’t enough mattresses for everyone so it was quite cosy.

The next day we set off again for the final day of our trek to the village where we did our community project, Bario. Finally after 8 hours of walking we arrived at our homestay in Bario. The owner of the homestay cooked us a chicken curry, which some of us helped to cook. Our last week or so was spent at the primary school in Bario where we painted a mural and built a shelter for the children and parents to wait after school, because Bario is situated right in the middle of the rainforest so the weather is often terrible. After we had finished working we were able to play with the children. We were all so impressed as to how good their English was, and we taught them the hokey-cokey and ring around the roses. Unfortunately after five days in Bario it was time to say goodbye to the children and make our way to Miri. We boarded a tiny plane which took us over the rainforest and into the city. The next day we decided to visit the Niah Caves that were so beautiful and there were old paintings on some of the cave walls.

Our final few days in Borneo were spent exploring Miri, and buying gifts for family and friends, until we set off again for two long days of travelling back to London. It was very emotional coming through the doors into the airport lobby to see our families waiting for us after a month of little contact.

We all had such an amazing time in Borneo and made some great new friendships. People described the expedition as ‘life changing’, ‘Bewildering, slimy, tough, exhilarating, varied’ and ‘sweaty, muddy and eye-opening’.

Written by R Stewart, Year 11

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/borneo1-Copy.jpg 800 600 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2017-08-12 16:18:582021-03-12 11:55:56Borneo World Challenge 2017

2017 Year 8 French Trip to the Opal Coast

July 7, 2017/in General News, Trips & Visits /by Steve Telford

106 Year 8 pupils and 12 members of staff recently took part in a very successful and extremely enjoyable four-day French Trip to the Opal Coast.

Two coaches of pupils and teachers left Presdales School early on Monday morning and, after taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais, arrived safely at their destination in Boulogne-sur-mer in time for lunch. In the afternoon, each coach group made a visit to ‘Nausicaa’, a sealife centre in Boulogne which specialises in educational and entertaining insights into the world of the oceans. Pupils enjoyed walking around and looking at the many tanks of freshwater and seawater life.

Once we arrived at our accommodation, we unpacked, settled in and had dinner. Later in the evening, girls grouped together to write their diary entries in French in their trip work booklets, and did some language work in preparation for the next day’s activities. The second day began with a visit to ‘Les Escargots du Bocage’, a snail farm, situated in the nearby countryside. They were firstly given a tour of the farm and then they were invited to sit in the shady courtyard of the farm to taste snail paté on toast, snails prepared in garlic butter and home-made jam, made from a variety of fruit grown on the farm. Despite reservations, almost everybody tasted the snails and many were pleasantly surprised, with some even going back for seconds.

After a picnic lunch on the beach at the beautiful, coastal town of le Touquet, the afternoon was spent completing a town trail. Many of the girls took time to do a bit of shopping, buy ice creams or order a drink in one of the many cafés, taking the opportunity to practise their spoken French.

The pupils were very excited about the planned activities for the third day which began with a trip to ‘Aqualud’, a big water park with waves and slides in le Touquet. The afternoon consisted of a visit to ‘Le Fond des Communes’, a goat’s cheese farm close to the village of ‘Montcavrel’, where they had the opportunity to ‘meet’ the goats and all the other farm animals. They then learnt how the goat’s cheese was made on the farm and even got to taste some in the farmhouse. The girls also made a visit to ‘Leclerc’, a huge hypermarket, where they were each given some Euros to complete a shopping task. This involved buying something typically French to take home and share with their families when they returned. When the girls made their final diary entries in their work booklets that evening, they also did a ‘show and tell’ about their shopping task purchases.

The teachers and the staff at the accommodation and visits were extremely impressed by the excellent attitude and behaviour of the Year 8 girls throughout the trip. The polite and friendly way in which they conducted themselves and their commendable efforts to practise their French during their four day stay in France meant they were a real credit to the school and a pleasure to take.

Madame Rowe

https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/opal.jpg 600 800 Steve Telford https://presdales.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/presdales-school-logo.png Steve Telford2017-07-07 16:18:592019-03-21 17:28:132017 Year 8 French Trip to the Opal Coast
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