S ER C C OO SN S DCAARMY P U S
PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL VISIT
YEAR 6: A SEASIDE REMINISCENCE Duncan Ferguson
Assistant Leader of Learning, Year 6
“Every year, Residential is better than the last but Year 6 has got to be the best,” Anjali, 6S As the students sat in a circle with their teachers and instructors, reflecting on their week at the Sand and Sea Resort, she shook her head slightly; it was amazing that the trip was already almost at an end. She had grown used to the sound of the sea, gently swishing onto the sand but knew that she would miss it. Listening to the other students make their pledges to lead a more environmentally-friendly life crystallised in her mind how she could really make a difference. She thought back to their arrival and the beach clean-up on Day One. “We couldn’t believe how much plastic there was on the beach. There was also styrofoam stuck in the mangroves. It felt really good to do the walk along the beach collecting trash. We could enjoy playing safely in the sand afterwards.” – 6R
They had fanned out along the beach with instructions to pick up rubbish, of course avoiding anything sharp or dirty. As one may have expected, it had developed into a competition. Who could find the most? Who could get the most obscure item? Fishing floats, plastic bottles, netting and plastic bags were all collected. The obscurity award went to a flip-flop and a rucksack. So much had happened since then. The voices of her friends floated to the surface of her mind. “My most memorable moment from Residential was the ‘holey pipe’ game, because I learnt to work as part of a team – even though most people poured water on me instead of in the pipe!” – Matthew, 6C
The water had jetted out from the holes and soaked them! “Hey, quick – put your finger back on the hole. I can see the ball 14
• Bangkok Patana School
floating near the top of the pipe!” she had cried. Worried that the level was not rising quickly enough, she had yelled for her team to bring more water from the bucket down by the sea. Although many students were drenched, their spirits were not dampened; they stuck with it. Cooperation, challenge, consideration and communication had played a part. Of the 5 Cs, the big one for the whole week, she thought, was conservation.
to begin to make amends. Their pledges were wonderful small steps to a better future. Her mind continued its fond journey through their week.
“My favourite part was the fish demonstration centre because it’s not every day you get to feed sharks and clean crabs.” – Naythit, 6A
It had, indeed, been peaceful. However, it had also been funny and frantic. It had been tiring, surprising, interesting and challenging. The range of activities had been huge – visiting the fishing village to quiz the locals about their industry, swimming in the waterfall, jungle cooking on open fires, drawing a sound map, camping in the National Park and so much more. Warmth crept into her. Most of all, she thought, it had been inspiring.
On arrival at the pier, they had marched eagerly along the boardwalk clutching buckets of small fish to feed to whatever lurked in the sections beneath them. The colossal grouper fish were certainly the most dramatic, but she had liked watching the turtles and leopard sharks, too. The jars of species had been slightly off-putting although it was interesting to know what lived in the local waters, and to know that there are efforts being made to conserve these creatures. ‘Are the efforts enough, though?’ she thought. “Dear Ocean, I am sorry that I have taken so much from you. I want to repay you by collecting all the trash from you. I feel guilty that I may not be there for you in the future. I will try my best to repay you now.” – Letter to the Ocean from the Girl (after hearing The Giving Ocean Story) by Kelly, 6F
Hearing the sea continuing to gently lap the shore, she smiled. She glanced around at the faces in her circle of friends – she knew that they had all started a journey
“The Year 6 Residential Visit to Chanthaburi was great due to all the nature surrounding us with joy. For example, when we went kayaking in Kung Krabane Bay and amongst the mangroves, we were surrounded by animals and peacefulness.” – Alise, 6J
“The campfire was a great end to the trip! We loved roasting marshmallows - even though some were more scorched than toasted!” – Nat, 6M
She looked around at her friends and breathed in a lungful of wonderful, coastal fresh air. Smiling at the recycling bins dotted around the area, she stood up. It was time to leave the swishing sea, get on the bus and return to Bangkok Patana, where her first pledge would begin. “Probably the best Residential Visit I have been on at Bangkok Patana.” – Emily F (6J/W)