Introduction
Dear Parents and Guardians
We are very excited to be taking a mixture of Year 5 and Year 6 students away to Sestriere, Piedmont for the Year 5 and 6 residential in Italy.
This is an excellent opportunity to ski in a world-famous resort in Italy’s western Alps near the French border. It is part of the Vialattea (Milky Way) ski area. The resort benefits from the high altitude, multitude of pistes for all levels and snow making facilities.
Students will have an invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves into the ski culture. They will be improving their skills with the guidance of fully qualified ski instructors whilst enjoying wonderful mountain views and experiencing Italian après ski culture. The children will deepen existing friendships, develop new ones and pick up new Italian words and phrases as well as geographical knowledge of the area.
“Skis are not just pieces of wood, steel and fiberglass.
They are tools for escape, a medium for personal expression, a way to challenge fears, push limits and share incredible experiences with your friends.”
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Our Tour Guide – Halsbury travel
In planning of this trip, we are being expertly supported by Halsbury travel, who are a fully accredited, specialist educational travel company with nearly 40 years of experience. They believe in the transformational power of learning outside the classroom and leaving students feeling inspired. A representative from the company will be with us for the duration of our stay in Sestriere.
“Support every step of the way. Safety prioritised. Students inspired. That's the Halsbury experience.”
A passion for learning starts with 'wow'. So, let's fill your trip with plenty of 'wow' moments.
School Ski Trip to Sestriere
Hotel Villaggio Olimpico
Created for the 2006 Winter Games and used for the Olympic athletes, the Villaggio Olimpico offers first class, modern accommodation of a 4* quality standard and is highly recommended It is ideally located at the base of the slopes, with the nearest ski lift just a few metres away. The complex enjoys panoramic views of the Argentera Valley and the Montagna della Luna. The accommodation is very well equipped for groups, with a vast array of facilities, including spacious public areas, a buffet restaurant, lounge, pizzeria, shops and mini-market and an indoor swimming pool. Rooms are in an apartment style each with two sleeping areas including a cosy seating area They are spacious and have mountain views.
The boys will benefit from:
• Close proximity to ski fit, ski school and slopes
• Excellent Italian hospitality
• Close proximity to après ski activities
Itinerary
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Sunday 6 April
• Park in North Drive and arrive at the Prep School Hall at 6:30 am
• Register in and together walk to coach park
• Assist with loading of suitcases
• Depart Habs
Bring own lunch to eat at airport
• Arrive Turin Airport
• Coach to Sestriere
• Arrive at hotel Villaggio Olimpico Dinner at the hotel
• Room allocation
• Unpack ski clothes
• Set up rooms and go to sleep
Monday 7 April
• Breakfast
• Ski fit and collection of equipment
• Ski lesson Lunch
• Ski lesson Dinner
• Evening activity – Quiz at the hotel
Tuesday 8 April
• Breakfast
• Ski lesson Lunch
• Ski lesson Dinner
• Evening Activity - Pool time and board games
Itinerary
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Wednesday 9 April
• Breakfast
• Ski lesson
• Ski lesson
• Evening activity – Town time
Thursday 10 April
• Breakfast
• Ski lesson
• Ski lesson
• Evening activity – Bowling/ Aquatic centre (tbc)
Friday 11 April
• Breakfast
• Ski lesson
• Ski lesson
• Evening Activity – Bowling/ Aquatic centre (tbc)
Itinerary Continued
Saturday 12 April
• Breakfast
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
• Ski lesson Lunch
• Ski lesson
• Return of ski equipment Dinner
• Movie night
• Farewell awards
Sunday 13 April
• Breakfast
• Packing and Room inspection Collect Packed Lunch
• Coach from Sestriere to Turin
• Flight back from Turin Airport
• Arrive at school 7pm
• Parents park in North Drive
• Collection from Prep School Hall
Key Information
Travel arrangements
Departure - Sunday 6 April 2025, 6:30am
Please drop off your child at 6:30am. Park in the North Drive car park and escort your child to the Prep hall with their luggage.
Return - Sunday 13 April 2025, 19:00 approx.
Please park at the North Drive and walk over to the Prep Hall to collect your child.
Suitcases will be placed in the luggage compartment of the coach; therefore, it is important your child packs any items needed for the coach journey and flight in their small rucksack. No liquids in the rucksack please, except re-usable water bottle that we can pour out and refill at the airport.
We will ensure parents are kept updated with our estimated time of arrival on Sunday 13 April 2025.
Please note:
Pupils may bring a few snacks for the flight and a packed lunch (no nuts, seeds, liquids).
All belongings must be clearly labelled, this includes cameras, socks and pants. Pupils should make a careful list of all their possessions which they can then use when they are packing up at the end of the trip. Please also provide them with suitable bags to store their dirty clothes in.
Pupils must not bring any Air Tags, smart watches, phones, electronic games, chewing gum, sweets or extra food beyond the sensible number of snacks they will have in their rucksack for the flight
Kit List
Hand Luggage – Rucksack / Day Bag
Clothing Other Items
• Water bottle
• Ski jacket
• Ski trip hoodie (if purchased)
• Ski socks in rucksack ready for ski fit
• Recreational activities, e.g. reading book, notepad, playing cards
• Inhalers/Adrenaline Pens
• Packed lunch for the airport/plane
• Snacks for the plane (optional)
Please ensure all liquids are in your son’s suitcase, not hand luggage. Our allowance is 20kg.
Cabin Luggage - Suitcase
Clothing Other Items
Minimum 7 changes of clothing:
• T-shirts for après ski
• Base layers and sport tops for skiing
• Trousers/ jeans/ joggers
• Underwear and socks
• 2x ski socks
• Ski trousers/ salopettes
• 2x ski gloves or mittens
Jumper and Ski trip hoodie
Pyjamas
Swimwear x 1, Swim hat, Small sports towel for pool, flip flops/ sliders
Shoes: Snow boots, Trainers, Indoor shoes (sliders or slippers)
Woolly hat, neck warmer
Ski goggles, UV Sunglasses (optional)
Toiletries:
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shower gel
• Shampoo
• Deodorant (roll on)
• Pocket tissues
Cards, Game, Book, Notebook and Pen
Suncream, lip balm with SPF
Dirty laundry bag
Spending money: Up to 50€ in cash, ideally in small notes and coins (inside a named envelope).
Camera (optional)
Passport & GHIC/EHIC – handed into the Prep Office by Friday 29 March 2025
Please ensure all items (including socks and underwear) are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
No electronic devices, AirTags, Kindles, mobile phones, smart watches, tablets or electronic games are to be brought on the trip.
Note: Your child will be required to take their suitcase up some stairs, so please ensure they are able to carry their suitcase. Our allowance is 20kg.
Trip hoodie
It is essential that each boy has a Ski trip hoodie as it helps us identify our group quickly and easily whilst travelling and during our stay at the resort. This is at no additional cost and is already covered in the cost of the trip. The shop link is below with clear guidelines of sizes. As a nice touch we have included initials on the hoodie, so please supply this information when completing the order. Hoodies will be distributed to the boys on the day of departure.
As the shop payment is set up to go through the school, you will not receive a confirmation e-mail. You’re more than welcome to contact them to check the order went through. They will also provide us with an updated list of orders, and we can send out reminders, if needed.
https://www.hoodyworldshop.co.uk/
Please use the following Passcode to access the shop: HABS25
*Please Note* Any orders that need to be placed after the web shop has closed, MAY incur a £5 surcharge due to additional admin and artwork set-up costs and will not guarantee your order will be despatched by our requested delivery date.
Medical and dietary requirements
Our tour guide and hotel catering staff will be informed of any medical and special dietary requirements based on the information provided on your Evolve consent form. First Aid kits are carried at all times. Please note, staff will carry additional Calpol/Nurofen and Piriton (antihistamine) on the trip. If you are concerned about medical or dietary requirements, please contact Mrs Percival jpercival@habselstree.org.uk
Pupilsmust carry theirown inhalers/adrenaline pens with them at all times. Please notethat ifyour childforgetstheirspareinhaler/adrenaline pens,they willnotattend theresidential.
If your child needs any other medication (whether this be prescription or non-prescription), creams, vitamins, cough sweets or similar during the trip, please also email Mrs Percival thisinformationin advance of thetrip jpercival@habselstree org uk
All medicationmust bein the originalcontainer, labelledwith the pupil’sname, the name of themedicine, the dose and frequency of administration and the expirydate.
Any medication can be handed in by an adult at the Prep reception desk for the attention of Mrs Percival during the week commencing 31 March 2025.
Contact
You are warmly invited to provide any extra information or for any reassurance about any aspect of our trip contact Mrs Percival as the trip leader.
During the trip you can achieve contact in an emergency by telephoning the Prep School Office on 020 8266 1779 between 8am and 5 30pm Outside these hours, please leave a message on the answer phone which will be picked up by the School Office the following morning
In serious emergency cases only, you will be able to contact Mrs Percival on a school trip telephone number which will be distributed prior to departure.
Staff Accompanying the Trip
Mrs Percival – Trip Lead
Mrs Best
Mrs Palmer-Reid
Mr Miller
Mr Gillard
Mr Teague
We will share photos of our time in Italy on Padlet so you can follow along with our ski adventure and fun activities.
Further Questions
Food choices – allergies or religious observations
Before the trip, your child’s dietary requirements will be noted, and they will not eat anything they have an allergy to or cannot eat due to religious reasons. This list will be given to the tour guide and the hotel, so they are aware. If you have any concerns or additional questions, please contact Mrs Percival.
Bedwetting
This situation is one that we encounter every trip. Please have a discrete chat with Mrs Palmer-Reid or Mr Gillard who will arrange for a sheet to be placed on your child’s bed during a quiet moment. This will be checked each morning, when the room is empty, and will be changed without comment if they are wet
Homesickness
Our aim is for every child to have a wonderful week away with. We find it is rare for a pupil to feel homesick, especially with all the activities they will be doing! If your child does begin to feel homesick, please be assured we will support them and call home if needed. Do remember, no news is good news!
Safety
The trip is ABTOT and ABTA protected and Halsbury Travel hold ATOL and LOtC Quality Badge They are also members of the School travel Forum
Instructors and accompanying teachers are first aid trained and first aid resources are available 24/7. Activities are supervised by English speaking fully qualified instructors with the approved qualification for the activity Staff, regardless of qualification, are regularly trained, reviewed and appraised.
Insurance
The school provides its own comprehensive insurance for all educational visits.
Pupils should also take great care with all hired ski equipment and the hotel’s facilities. The cost of breakages/damages will be passed on to those concerned. Note
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