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Residential Activities - Details of Residential Activities

2007-2008 Residentials Summaries

Barcaple Report (September 2007)

Our new intake of Year 7 pupils had only been in Senior School for a week before they were given the opportunity to go away for a week with Mr Maughan and their new form tutors.  This was an excellent chance for them to get to know each other outside of school. 

Orchestra Weekend Away (November 2007)

Last year the GHCS Orchestra was formed.  They can be heard each week in the main hall but in order for them to rehearse in a more focused way they set off for Osmotherly Youth Hostel and spent a weekend together at the Youth Hostel. 

Edmundbyers Report (January 2008)

After the success of last years trip to Edmundbyers Youth Hostel our Sixth Form set off again for the weekend.  Despite some cold and very blustery January weather everyone enjoyed the opportunity to be out in the fresh air and celebrate the end of exams.

 

2006-2007 Residential Summaries

Pensarn Report from Miss Wimbush (February 2007)

Just before Half Term, 36 Year 8 pupils travelled to North Wales for a week, as an all-new part of the school’s residential programme. The Christian Mountain Centre at Pensarn Harbour provided a perfect setting for the week: right next to the sea for open canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and within the Snowdonia mountains for climbing, walking and orienteering and gorge walking. 
 
All pupils tried their hand at new activities and took on challenges, so that everyone can now look back on a successful and rewarding week.
 
Highlights/memorable moments:
-          the raft races
-          Mr Evans’ silly games
-          Night walk to the beach for bonfire and treasure hunt.
-          Miss Wimbush beating Mr Evans at Go-Karting (allegedly).  
 
It was great to have Jason Soullier (from the Titus Trust) joining the Year 8s as a volunteer and to lead the evening meetings.

 

Ski Trip Report from Mrs Braviner (February 2007)

After a long (28 hour) journey we arrived in the village, pleased to see some snow!  We were greeted by our rep, Michelle, and allocated rooms in the hotel, which was only 5 minutes walk away from the ski lifts.  
 
We were sharing the hotel with another school from Wales, and also shared ski lessons with them. 
The weather during our time there was fine and sunny, even quite warm at times, but there was still plenty of snow on the runs.
 
All students joined a ski school class and spent six days improving their technique and enjoying the scenery.   Other activities included night skiing, ice skating, disco, quiz and karaoke (a memorable performance by Mr Parker!)  
 
We were thankful that there were no serious injuries or incidents, and everyone returned safely after a good holiday.  We look forward to the next ski tip in 2009.
 

 

Barcaple Report from Mr Maughan (November 2006)

Twenty seven year 7's went to Barcaple this year.  We had a fantastic week from Monday 30th October to Friday 3rd November.  We were fortunate with the weather as it was dry and bright but it was cold. 

Our group was split in to four groups and took part in the following activities during the week:- Canoeing, Tree Climbing and Rope Course, Abseil Tree and Gold Search, Zip wire, orienteering, mountain biking, challenge course, archery and Team Challenge.

It was an enjoyable trip.  The accomodation was pleasant, the food of a good quality and the pupils were extremely well behaved.  A credit to the school.


2005 - 2006 Residential Summaries

  • Motivate - Year 11 residential.

Motivate offered 32 year 11 pupils the opportunity to relax and unwind in beautiful surroundings of North Yorkshire while challenging themselves to work as a team, explore the workings of their brain, discover their learning styles and strengths and consider new revision techniques.  They sang some good karaoke too!

(Miss Frayne, Teacher)

  • Our three Sixth Form Geography students enjoyed their week in the Yorkshire Dales.

Year 12 Geography students went on a week of fieldwork in January to Malham Tarn Field Centre in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We met up with students from Emmanuel College and collected data for several fieldwork projects including soil hydrology, river channel processes and landforms, rural settlements and succession in woodland ecosystems.
 
Here are some quotes by the students:
“It was a great week; I never had so much fun on school trip before!” Matthew C
“It was impressive; I enjoyed all the projects, on the whole a very enjoyable experience” Nik B  
 “The surroundings were spectacular, almost surreal. The fieldwork put the theory we learnt into practise”. John M

(Miss Bijker, Head of Geography)

 

  • Barcaple (near Dumfries) - Year 7 and 8 Residential

In the Easter holidays years 7 and 8 went to Barcaple.  They stayed at the Barcaple residential centre for 5 days with the aim of 'getting away from school, having a little mini break and a lot of fun!'.  As all the activities took place on site, the group were able to take part in mountain-biking, tree-climbing and the legendary zip-wire, without moving very far! The students had a pleasant stay and enjoyed the different activities that were laid on for them.

(Mr Parker, Teacher)

 

  • Lendrick Muir (Scotland) - Year 5 and 6 Residential

In April, Year 5 and 6 took a trip to Lendrick Muir, near Kinross in Scotland.  They stayed for 4 nights and 5 days in a Victorian mansion set on a large estate with beautiful surroundings, open fields and woodland.  The purpose of the trip was to enable children to experience being away from home and to give them the opportunity to do activities such as archery, orienteering, tree climbing and abseiling.  They alos went on an interesting educational visit to the science museum in Dundee.  'Everyone had a great time and they all want to go back again next year!' 

(Mr Lawson, Teacher)

  • Lake District - Year 10

Year 10 went on a trip to Bassenfell Manor, near Kesiwck in the Lake District.  They stayed for three days and enjoyed doing various activities like dragon boating, canoeing, trying the high rope course and doing team games.  During the evenings they were entertained with karaoke, quizzes and an optional late-night hike.  The pupils also took time out to visit the shops in Keswick.  It seems they crammed a lot in during only three days!  'The trip was for the students to get to know themselves better and to get to do challenges.  The students really enjoyed themselves.'

(Miss Bijker, Teacher)


2004 - 2005 Residential Summaries

Get Real! - Year 9 at Whithaugh Park  in Scotland (2004)
This was the last residential trip of the academic year, and a great time was had by all.  It was a fun-packed week of excitement, challenge and entertainment with the opportunity to experience activities such as abseiling, canoeing, mountain biking, climbing, zip wire and much, much more.

Motivate - Year 11 at Sneaton Castle near Whitby (2004)
Motivate has been designed in partnership with Scripture Union to help pupils gain an insight into their own preferred learning style and learn strategies and skills to help them choose activities that will make study time effective.

'Year 11 pupils enjoyed a three day retreat in Whitby in January.  "Motivate" was the title of the event that combined a mixture of academic and fun challenges.  Pupils explored brain functioning, learning styles, revision techniques and other useful tips to prepare for GCSE exams.  The event left them (hopefully!) refreshed, motivated and ready for their GCSEs.'   (Summary from Miss Bijker).

The Barcaple Adventure - Year 7 & 8 at Barcaple in Scotland (2004)
'The Year 7 and 8 students who went to Barcaple over the Easter holiday had a great time away, experiencing activities which included hill walking, mountain biking, abseiling, ropes courses, challenge courses and orienteering.  However, the most exciting event was reported to be the teachers' race to the top of the climbing tree that was won without much competition by Mr Johnson and Mr Parker who virtually flew up the tree!'   (Summary from Mr Parker).

Totally Activate - Year 5 & 6 at Lendrick Muir in Scotland (2004)
'At the start of March, 23 Year 5 and 6 pupils headed off to Lendrick Muir in Scotland.  The week was spent trying lots of different activities including abseiling, mountain biking, archery and a ropes course.  Evenings were spent taking part in LMTV Live and indoor sports, a favourite being the giant inflatables'   (Summary from Mrs Grenfell).

Senior School Ski Trip (2004)
'The ski trip to France was wonderful.  The week included some amazing skiing, daily struggles with boot fittings, hilarious wipe-outs at the top of button lifts, eating delicious food and most of all the opportunity to create some lasting friendships.  We are now all laughing at the photos and looking forward to the next trip!'   (Summary from Miss Whan).