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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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