Just last week for our French trip, 38 of our Year 9, 10 and 12 students spent 5 days in Normandy, visiting our partner school, the Collège de l’Abbaye in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte on the Cherbourg peninsula.
The Trip
Students visited the world heritage site Mont Saint Michel and the D-Day landing beaches from the inspiring base of the Grand’Ferme residential centre. The students rose admirably to physical, creative and intellectual challenges presented entirely in French by talented young leaders.
Particularly popular were our cross-channel cruises, a daring barefoot expedition across the slippery St Michael’s bay to sample the quicksand, French bread making, aero ball and a fancy-dress soirée française…despite the snails!
There was a competition to buy the tastiest, healthiest picnic at Coutances market, and, of course, the opportunity to enjoy the company of pupils from a Bordeaux school with whom we shared the centre.
The Return Visit
On Tuesday this week we returned the favour and welcomed a party of 48 students and their teachers from our partner school. It is a school with which we have a very special relationship, as it was by sisters from the order established in Saint-Sauveur by Marie-Madeleine Postal that our own school was founded and continues to be generously supported.
Year 9 were delighted to meet and join in activities with the pen pals with whom they’ve been corresponding. Year 11 and 12 students from French made a fabulous job of presenting our town and school to the visitors. Newly appointed HaLE prefect, Joshua, had the honour of interpreting Mrs Stotesbury’s address.
All round it was a very enjoyable French trip and even better to host their pen pals back at the College this week.
