On the 4th July Year 3 had a sleepover at school. When we arrived at 6.30 we unpacked our things and put out our beds in the Welsford Hall, some of them were really cool. We waited for our parents to go and when they had gone we went to the tennis court to play Miss McCallum’s new sport, called non-stop cricket. We were all rather hot and tired so we went for a barbeque and a drink. Lots of us had seconds of burgers or hot dogs and there were choc ices for dessert. After that we felt refreshed and we played Zulus on our way to the campfire. At the campfire we sang songs and toasted marshmallows. After that we got ready for bed and had hot chocolate. We had a story and went to bed at 11 o’clock! When we woke up we went to have breakfast in the Marian Hall and we watched a DVD until everybody was up. Mrs Bothwell taught us a great new game called Splat and then we went to the tennis courts to fly the kites that 3B had made. Before we went home we finished the game of non-stop cricket. It was a draw.

Thirty-eight girls from Form II went to Calshot residential centre for five days on 30th June. The week, blessed with lovely weather, was full of fun and adventure. Everyone was encouraged to try something new and had a great time challenging themselves. The accommodation was very comfortable and the staff fantastic. Some of the activities included sailing, windsurfing, orienteering, skiing, rock climbing and even cycling in the velodrome. I enjoyed sailing and skiing, although there were many falls. I especially enjoyed the high ropes because we made Mrs Brooks run along the cat walk (pole suspended in the air) which was very funny to watch. Although very tiring, it was immensely satisfying and a great time was had by all.

The Isle of Wight has been the best residential trip we have ever had with the school! We stayed at the Rooftree Hotel, owned by Ann and Futoshi. Here are a few of the many highlights of our trip. The boat tour around the Needles was one of the best highlights, we got great pictures and fabulous views. Glory Art Glass was great as well, especially when they blew the glass bubble and popped it, which made everyone jump! We also had a fabulous dance class with Ann, the hotel owner, and a disco.
We brought sweets, money and our teddy bears for the competition, where you had to make a scene with your teddy bears: some examples were, a hot air balloon ride and a barbecue on the beach. We also had the tidiest room competition, and the boys never won!
Friday came too soon and before long we were heading back to Portsmouth and then back to school.

Emily told us: "I loved the facilities the château had. The grounds were brilliant and I especially loved the swing! I enjoyed all the visits but the one I liked the most was the caramel factory. We watched how the caramel was made then after sampling some we all went to the shop to buy more! I also enjoyed the trips to the markets because everyone was so friendly. I loved asking people questions because once you had asked one person you wanted to ask another. I was very excited on the day we went out to buy our own food and make a meal. It was great fun, the food tasted fantastic and we won second prize! It was really touching when we went to the American War Memorial Cemetery because so many people had given up their lives for us. It was so sad to see how many thousands of graves there were and to know how many more people were missing.

The trip that took months to arrive and will take years to fade
The trip that moments made, moments endlessly replayed
Where I was forgotten but where we were found
The trip where our days and actions were framed by a sound

Lourdes alters your thinking and moulds your perception, from your first time in the grotto to strolling the streets. You were constantly surrounded by music, every corner you turned, every group you joined. And regardless of your ability or talent you sang as well. Everyone could join in and it was a unifying force. Everyone's experiences of Lourdes were unique to them but we all sang the same songs.

From the 86th floor of the most famous skyscraper in the world, the Empire State Building, members of the Sixth Form gazed in awe at the sights of New York which stretched before them. A busy few days followed during which they visited many of the sights, attended an impressive conference at the UN and had a sparkling night out on Broadway where they watched "Hairspray". A solemn moment was spent at Ground Zero where the construction of a memorial garden and a new World Trade Centre is underway. Returning with bulging suitcases after seeking out the best bargains in the shops, all the girls agreed it was a brilliant trip and are looking forward to going again next year.

With the weather looking grim and the prospect of getting very muddy looming, Year 4 embarked on a trip that, for some, would be their first time away from home. Excitement coupled with anticipation and nervousness was high. Since the middle of September Mrs Whicher and Mr Walker had been preparing Year 4 for this trip, explaining what would happen and what to expect and now the time had arrived.

Year 4 were accompanied by Mrs Bothwell and Miss Orbell as well as their intrepid class teachers! We were all impressed by the way in which year 4 threw themselves into it and tried their best in every activity.

Upon arrival at Bethany house we were greeted by Sophie, the manager and Myles, our group leader. Both of them were in charge of organising us, making sure we ate on time and got to the correct activity on schedule. After finding our rooms (and engaging in the annual problem of putting a sheet on a duvet, for some children!) the children were taken for the first of their 3 evening activities lead by Myles. Afterwards we began the task which haunts the dreams of every teacher on residential, bedtime!

Day One

After solving the problem of fitting 11 bags into the minibus, we traveled for 3½ hours to Wales. Our first stop was Rhondda Valley Heritage Park. The old colliery, which first opened in 1870, has now been converted into an industrial museum. We started, after meeting our very Welsh guide, Howard, by tracking two families lives and how the coalmine had effected them. This gave an insight to life in the coalmines and a glimpse at their history. We were then taken down, or so we thought, into the coal mining tunnels. We learnt how the coal seams were blown apart, in order to be mined out, with a life like re-enactment, and the system they used to extract coal from each seam. We then simulated a ride back up to the surface, only to find ourselves at the surface the whole time; we hadn't been below ground at all!

After wrestling with the tube barriers, wheelie bags, metro maps and passport control at Eurostar, the Lower Sixth eventually arrived at their hotel in Paris. All the hustle and bustle was soon forgotten once we took a boat ride along the river Seine. We sailed towards the Latin Quarter, gliding past the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay which stunned us into silence. Despite the rain and losing several personal items including many Metro tickets, Paris introduced us to a whole new world.

Enjoying such sights and witnessing the great art masterpieces from Monet and Picasso, viewing their work first hand allowed many to wonder at the context in which such art could be created. The majesty of the classical architecture experienced by visiting the Sacré Coeur and Notre Dame and its contrast with the futuristic, jigsaw design of the Centre Pompidou was also plain to see. Inevitably a visit to the Champs Elysees with its grand, luxurious gold plated stores was a must and only served to highlight the alternate world of the city’s backstreet emporiums. As a shopping capital it didn’t fail although many would agree perhaps their purses did.