Senior Residential Trips

Friday 13th to Sunday 15th May

Replica of a turret and a section of the Wall

Twenty pupils from IS, IIS and IIIS took part in the trip to Hadrian’s Wall in May. Our first visit was the Roman fort of Segedunum in Wallsend where we had a very informative guided tour. Our guide took us around the main sections of the fort and showed us a replica of the Wall. We then climbed to the top of the modern tower attached to the museum to get a good impression of the layout of the fort.

ur accommodation was in the Roman fort of Birdoswald, the only hostel situated in a Roman fort. It is at Birdoswald that the longest surviving stretch of the Wall can be seen.

On Saturday, we learnt about and saw examples of the main defensive features along the 74 mile long north-west frontier of the Roman Empire: milecastles, turrets, the Vallum and forts. Walking to the fort of Housesteads with its commanding views over the Northumberland countryside and to the famous bath house in the fort of Chesters prepared us physically for the last challenge of the day: training as auxiliary soldiers in the Roman army. Rufus Aelius Victor, alias Roy, trained us as his new recruits after he had shown us the weapons and armour of both legionary and auxiliary soldiers. From disorganised barbarians we were changed into disciplined and skilful auxiliaries! On Sunday, we visited the fort of Vindolanda and the extensive civilian settlement outside its walls. In the museum, the students had the chance to look at the large collection of leather goods, coins and the photographic exhibition of the scripts of the writing tablets discovered in a rubbish heap in the fort. It is in one of these texts that the author uses the term Brittunculi (“wretched little Britons”) to speak about the local British. The term did not apply to our group, Brittunculi being masculine…

The pupils learnt a lot about the Wall and the life of soldiers posted along this northern frontier and participated with great enthusiasm in the various activities organised.

OPTIME!

Véronique Oldham Head of Classics

London Trip

On the 13th June, many pupils from IS – 5S headed off on one of the school’s trips to London where we got the chance to discover some of London’s famous sights and shows and develop our academic skills and knowledge.

On the first night we all arrived safely and, after a long train journey, enjoyed watching Mamma Mia the musical. Throughout the rest of the week everyone participated in many activities and learned from and enjoyed many workshops that were offered.

This included a tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a dance workshop from a professional dancer and a river cruise on the famous River Thames. We were also given the opportunity to look round the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and The Tate Modern Art Gallery as well as Borough Market or Covent Garden for lunch.

During our visit we saw two more musicals, Wicked and the Lion King which we all loved and we participated in a DNA workshop at the Royal Institutions where we collected our DNA and put it in a necklace. The highlight of the week for many was visiting Thorpe Park where we could experience the thrills of many roller coasters or take a ride on the relaxing river rapids. The weather all week was amazing, the experiences we gained were once in a lifetime and we have all collected many memories to look back on.

Marcy Bryce

I think this has been one of the best weeks of my life. I felt excited every second from the moment we stepped onto the train platform till the moment we came home. This experience has been spectacular!

The dancers and singers in the West End plays who put on such thrilling and beautiful performances combined with the delicious food filled the evenings with pure joy and amazement. Getting to have lunch in some of London’s most scenic parks and streets made the food taste even better.

We got the chance to see the sights on the river while smoothly cruising by on a boat. Having the chance to learn a routine from the Lion King show was something I’ll remember forever. As well as this we got the chance to explore science and history with the DNA workshop showing us how to extract our own DNA. This taught us skills we wouldn’t normally learn till later on in a Higher science class. It was amazing and I loved independently having the chance to explore the natural history museum.

Thorpe Park was something else entirely. The thrilling day left me bouncing with leftover adrenaline. I think one of the best things about this trip was the people. I’ve had the time of my life dropping from heights while holding hands and yelling my head off, exploring London and experiencing some of the most exceptional West End acting with my best friends. Overall I had an incredible time and I wish it didn’t have to end.

Sylvie Muir

Greece Trip

With our trip to Greece behind us, we decided to sit down and reflect on our experience in both the bustling city of Athens and the beautiful island of Kefalonia as a part of activities week 2022.

Our trip began in the country’s capital city, Athens, which was named in honour of the Greek goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena. Although our time there was short, it was filled with activities and adventures which allowed us to explore this beautiful city. Our first stop was the Acropolis, Athens’ most historical and sacred building, which provided us with a window into the ancient culture of Greece. The Acropolis is a citadel located on a rocky outcrop that looks down onto the city: marble curved pillars for a soft and elegant presence and intricate carvings a reflection of its interesting and significant past.

Following this we visited Greece’s largest turtle rescue centre, Archelon. There we were educated on the ever present threats human behaviour poses to the lives of the sea turtles. We were also lucky enough to view some of the turtles currently in care like Mickey who, after an accident involving humans, was left without front flippers. It was devastating to see the damage people do to these stunning animals, although learning about the work of the incredible volunteers who work there inspired us with our own conservation efforts.

We then had the opportunity of partaking in an Invisible Tour, where we were able to hear straight from a formerly homeless citizen of Athens. During this activity we journeyed through some of the most troubled and deprived neighbourhoods, seeing firsthand the poverty and struggles people in Athens face. For many of us this was a stark reminder of just how privileged we were. Even having a roof over our heads was a luxury many were not able to afford.

After the tour, we ventured to a social enterprise café. A unique project, it doubled up as a small gallery space and culinary experience. As we dined we admired the

colourful and eclectic artwork, some crafted from newspapers, all of which were made by homeless or formerly homeless people. A representative of the café explained to us their mission: providing the homeless with an opportunity to get their life back. Whether through training by a Michelin-star chef or working in their studio to create art, those in need were given an income that allowed them to sustain themselves and get back on their feet.

Our packed day in Athens drew to a close under a setting sun, washed down by the sweet taste of fresh fruit juice. This was to be our final stop of the day, a boisterous inn with live Greek music. As the final chords rang out some opted to end the night on a sweet note with some local ice cream, then we headed back to our accommodation in preparation for our journey tomorrow.

Although Athens was a fabulous experience, we were all eager to set out across the vibrant blue waters to Kefalonia.

Here we worked closely with Wildlife Sense: the group we were to collaborate with throughout the trip. We discussed their goals to protect sea turtles and preserve their homes. We took part in surveys on the behaviour of sea turtles along the harbour edge, to collect data on their activities, as well as wandering the sandy beaches to look for the whisper of turtle tracks. We were thrilled when, on one of our early morning scoutings, one of our groups discovered two sea turtle nests made the night before! Because of these discoveries we had the chance to witness an egg relocation, where ninety nine eggs were successfully moved to a safer area of the beach because they were too close to the water edge and could have been damaged if the tide crept up too high. These actions are vital in preserving the next generation of the species.

Although the main aim of the trip was to contribute to the conservation of the sea turtles in Kefalonia, we still visited other places around the island. These included an olive oil factory, where we were educated on the process that turns olives to oil, and a bee farm where we learned about the unbelievable activities of honey bees and their importance to our ecosystems. Our penultimate day was dedicated to sea kayaking, which was a new experience for many of us. One of the highlights of the trip had to be eating lunch on a beach practically untouched by humans. Its beauty was incomprehensible; the palest white stone met with crystal clear turquoise water. We know none of us will ever forget the magic of that hidden gem.

Much like that beach, our experience in Greece has been unforgettable and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to help such ancient and important animals.

Eve Reynolds