This year’s Enrichment Week saw pupils across the school off-timetable as they took part in a variety of trips and activities that took them away from the normal school routine.
House Day
The week started with a fun-filled House Day on Monday.
Our younger pupils up to and including Year 2, began Enrichment Week with a Bear Day (their equivalent of Senior School Houses). For the rest of the pupils in College, there was plenty to keep them busy including an “It’s a Knockout” event with lots of inflatables and water drenched obstacles set up for pupils from Years 3 to 12 to pit themselves against each other, get soaked and fall over a lot!
This was only part of the fun, as throughout the day, Years 3 to 9 had to investigate the murder of College Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mrs Jwaideh, in a CSI-style investigation where they had to collect evidence and solve the case of whodunnit.
Years 3 to 6 were also using their problem-solving skills as they took part in an Escape Room challenge and had to beat the timer and escape using the clues.
Year 12 battled it out to see who would be victorious in the inter-house volley match and across College, pupils made history as they painted their house patron saint in mosaic style.
More photos from House Day can be viewed here: House Day 2022
Trips Galore
On Tuesday, Early Years were treated to a Circus Workshop at the College, while many of the older pupils were out and about on excursions and heading off to residentials.
Year 5 and 6 visited local historical places of interest, Reading Abbey and Reading Museum; Year 7 travelled to Rushall Farm for a soil study and farm visit; Year 12 headed off to Longleat and Year 9 set off on a residential trip to Bath and Bristol.
Year 8 pupils ventured, like pilgrims, on foot to Our Lady and St. Anne RC Church in Caversham, where they visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham. En route, they took in the Abbey Ruins and Forbury Gardens, before heading over Caversham lock and weir. There they were met by Ms Feeney (College Governor and Chair of the Spiritual Life Committee), who taught them all about the shrine’s history before they explored the church and shrine.
Prep STEM Day, a visit from a farm and a Ceilidh band
Wednesday saw Year 8 set off on their residential to Cardiff Year 8 where they got to go down a mine, visit a few castles, take a boat trip across the bay, get involved in the interactive experiments at Techniquest and visit the Senedd.
College meanwhile, was brimming with a mix of scientific wonder, cute cuddly animals and energetic dancing.
Prep STEM day gave the pupils the opportunity to take part in lots of fun experiments and activities, including making rainbow snakes and taking part in “Bubbly Heaven” on the lawn where they jumped through, ran round and chased bubbles of every shape and size. They also made their own hovercrafts, created a kirigami paper ball and tested out a variety of bubble wands to see which one made the best bubbles.
Farms2Ewe pop-up farm set up on the top field and Early Years pupils were excited to meet and learn about some of the visiting animals including a Shetland pony, ducks, guinea pigs and even a goat called Cow. It looked as if some of the staff were enjoying the animals too!
Year 7 had a performance theme to their day. In the morning, RISE Theatre came in and they explored what “True Happiness” means through a mix of short sketches, music, interviews, videos and creative reflection. After lunch, they put their best foot forward for an afternoon of Ceilidh dancing with music provided by traditional musicians including a fiddle and accordion player.
Off to Shakespeare Country
Thursday saw Year 1 and 2 set off to visit Wellington Country Park for the day, Year 12 headed to Royal Holloway and Year 5 and 6 went off to Winchester Observatory. It was the turn of Year 7 to venture on their overnight residential trip and they travelled to the home of Shakespeare, Stratford. They visited Shakespeare’s house, enjoyed a boat trip and a ghost walk, all before bed!
Finishing with a flourish
On Friday, builders were on site, (well Lego builders!) for a Lego Masters builders club and it was Year 9’s turn to learn the art of self defence and also first aid in a series of workshops. The animal theme continued with Year 3 and 4 visiting Marwell Zoo.
As the day drew to a close, some very tired but happy Year 7 pupils arrived back from their residential having spent the day at Warwick Castle.
Phew, what a week!
