Cokethorpe School
Sestriere
15 December – 21 December
What are we here to talk about?
• Who is going?
• Where are we staying?
• Who’s our tour operator?
• What do you need to bring?
• What will we be doing?
• Health and Safety/Rules
• Any questions?
Who is going?
We are taking 48 students in total (Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Form)
There are six staff joining the trip: Mrs Hammond, Mrs Arbuckle, Mrs Cooper, Mrs Walwyn, Mr Gallagher and Mr Bosse
We will also have a Halsbury Rep with us at all times.
The Resort
The Resort
Benefits of Staying in Sestriere
• Sestriere is higher than San Sicario with runs as high as 3000m. The highest resort in The Milky Way!
• The hotel offers doorstep skiing.
• A hot lunch will now be provided back at the hotel and the children will gain some 'down time' between morning and afternoon ski sessions.
• The resort centre is easy walking distance from the hotel.
• We will be in Sestriere at the same time as Halsbury's ISSC event (Independent Schools Ski Championships) which means we will be operationally well-looked after.
The Hotel
The Villaggio Olimpico is in a different league to the Duchi D’Aosta (2023)
• It’s a 4 star hotel, situated at the base of the Olympic slopes
• There is an extensive buffet as well as wood fired pizza available at lunch and evening meals
• the rooms are spacious, apartment style with panoramic views
• Ski lifts are a few metres away
• Facilities are impressive with spacious public areas, an indoor pool, mini market
• Boot and ski storage is in hotel
Villaggio Olimpico
Who’s our tour operator?
Over 35 years of experience
Halsbury Ski is the specialist school ski division of Halsbury Travel.
Halsbury Travel has been arranging school trips abroad for more than 35 years. The company was founded in 1986 by a former teacher.
• Halsbury Travel are a Member of ABTA
• Halsbury is a member of ATOL as well as ABTOT
• Halsbury is also an Assured Member of the School Travel Forum (STF)
• And Halsbury has been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, which demonstrates the company’s commitment to offering activities that are safe and beneficial to learning.
Transport
BAD NEWS!
It’s an early start!
Please be at the Dining Hall by 2.30am at the latest on Sunday 15th December
If its dry, please leave suitcases in the car park by the bridge.
Please check the contents of your child’s hand luggage to avoid unnecessary delays at security
Children will need to buy lunch at the departure lounge as we won’t arrive at hotel until the afternoon.
Children will be split into 5 passport groups.
Each group will have a ‘Passport Teacher’ who will keep hold of their passports and boarding passes throughout the trip and will assist them through security and onto the plane.
We will be back at school around 2.15pm on 21st December We will contact you if we are delayed on return
PLEASE WEAR HOODY ON JOURNEY IF YOU BOUGHT ONE
DON’T FORGET EHIC/GHIC CARD!
(www.nhs.uk)
We are flying with British Airways so usual rules apply to luggage allowance and cabin bag size and contents
1 soft suitcase and 1 small cabin backpack
Medical Issues
• We will take with us an extensive first aid kit and will be on hand to administer medication if needed.
• We are First Aid trained
• Signs of cold/dehydration/altitude sickness will be constantly monitored and we will make sure everyone applies sun block regularly
We have one student with a severe nut allergy so we request that all students are mindful of this when buying snacks for the journey or to take back to their rooms at resort
Ski Fit
• Ski fit will be done at a local ski fit shop and is completed by experienced and knowledgeable ski technicians
• Height and ski experience determines ski length
• Weight is used to set ski bindings so skis release efficiently during a fall
• Boot sizes, height and weight etc will already have been sent to resort ensuring the ski fit goes smoothly. Don’t worry if your child’s measurements have changed.
• We can sort it out on site.
PRECAUTIONS AND RULES
We cannot keep the kids 100% safe as skiing is a high risk sport BUT we can reduce the risks and deliver a successful trip. We will take sensible steps to minimise problems.
HEALTH AND SAFETY ON SLOPES
Equipment
– we will label all boots and skis to prevent accidents happening from students putting on the wrong boots or even worse, the wrong skis -we also have velcro straps to keep the skis together (easier to carry them)
On slopes
- Each student will be issued with an identity card that has a staff contact number on, along with details and directions of hotel and a few Italian phrases!
- We will return to the hotel for lunch and to change wet clothes if necessary - Students only need to bring their sunblock and possibly a water pouch onto the slopes.
Behaviour on Slopes
Students will not be allowed to carry rucksacks whilst skiing (to avoid them getting snagged on the chair lifts). They will also not be allowed to ski with speakers playing music. Students are to ski with their instructor AT ALL TIMES. Any student going off piste without instructor or ‘accidently’ losing their group will face sanctions.
Ski School
• We will be having 5 hours of ski tuition per day. Lessons are taught by qualified, English-speaking instructors
• All students will be assessed by the instructors on the first day and divided up into groups according to their ability. There will be a chance to move groups throughout the week
The instructors will make sure the lessons are fun but safe. Students should try to stay in line with the instructor and switch up the order of the line so that everyone gets a chance to ski directly behind them. Any student who feels they are in the wrong group should speak to the instructor
Rules in the Hotel
Students will not be allowed into each other’s rooms (social time can be spent down in the hotel reception)
The rooms are all single sex. Staff rooms will be dotted in between the student rooms
Alcohol is STRICTLY forbidden. Anyone caught drinking or with evidence of alcohol will be punished in accordance with the school policy (suspension) when back at school.
Anyone wanting to leave the hotel to visit the resort MUST get permission and sign out with a member of staff. They must be in groups of no fewer than 3.
Phones are not to be brought down to dinner or breakfast and are to be kept in pockets during evening entertainment activities.
Possible evening entertainment:-
Apres Ski
• Quiz, games
• Film Night
• Swimming
• Magician
• Bowling
• Ice Skating
• Crepes and Ice creams
• Disco/Karaoke
All evening entertainment is subject to change and may be weather-dependent (skating)
Entertainment is included in the price.
What to wear skiing
Useful Tips and Tricks for Parents
LABEL EVERYTHING! Especially gloves (2 pairs if possible)
Sun cream on a lanyard and a water pouch is useful – label!
Bring a bank card and some cash. You will need pounds or card for the airport departure lounge and either a card or euros for the rest of the trip
Try to limit luggage to 2 items (soft suitcase if possible with wheels and a small carry-on rucksack)
Final thoughts…
This
is a skiing trip and all students are fully expected to ski each day for all five days.
(Having an afternoon off is NOT an option!)
It is a very demanding sport and tiredness will kick in. However, it is amazing how the cold air and snowy conditions can make you forget your aches and pains!
We would like to discourage children from phoning home with their worries as this can create all sorts of problems and we would really urge parents not to suggest their child should have a day off. This will be decided by the staff. The emergency number will be made available to parents but please use this for emergencies only – your call will go via the Deputy Headmaster at school so please think twice before phoning. Please trust us to contact you if there is a problem! I will be checking my emails in the evenings (time allowing) so this is the best way to communicate with me.
