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The Morrisonian | 07/08
School Trips
Advanced Higher English Trip/French Exchange Advanced Higher English Trip (cont.) Gallery, dodging a rather large band by way of huge detour down another road entirely. Mr O’Kane was a sight to behold. He had on sunglasses, shorts, a Hawaiian floral shirt which he reliably informed us he had picked up in France (as though that makes his crime any less heinous) and a jacket. It was now time for a bit of culture. Helen, Catie and I enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the Tate Gallery. In the section we spent the most time in, there were screens positioned around the room. Each screen showed the same film of a man tripping up. However, each screen showed the film from a different angle. It was very clever as you could see the fall from a different angle. It was very clever as you could see the fall from such view’s as the man himself, the dog he tripped over and a passing car. Unfortunately it seemed we had cut it a bit fine to catch our plane. We set off hoping we wouldn’t have to run the entire journey. We caught the tube back to the hotel to collect our bags, dashed back to the underground, walked down the narrowest staircase in history (at this point may I remind you of the sweltering heat in the underground) to get on to the DNLR line which would take us straight to London City Airport. Disaster struck when we discovered the line was closed. We raced out of the underground into the street. Mr O’Kane and Mrs Riddell flung out their arms (film style) “Taxi!” they yelled. “I’ve always wanted to do that.” Mrs Riddell added happily. Pity it didn’t work. The taxi roared past, oblivious. Luckily, just a few moments later we caught a different taxi. Catie
Echange Scolaire attempted to leave Mr O’Kane behind but he caught the door flying into his face and jumped in too. Mrs Riddell asked the taxi driver to get us to the airport as quickly as he could. Our dramatic moment was rather spoiled when he asked our flight time and upon hearing it laughed at our panic and told us he could get us there easily in time! It was a short drive to the airport during which we, rather ironically, passed the DNLR line several times. Our driver turned out to be right as we made the flight with time to spare, though admittedly with seats fairly near the back. We checked in, our bags (well the girls’ bags) weighing considerably heavier than on Friday. After our flight was the short drive home during which time we reflected that we had thoroughly enjoyed our trip to London. Catie Gray S6
Institution Sainte-Marie, Antony, France – Morrison’s Academy, Crieff, Scotland In February and March a group of 13 Higher and Advanced Higher French pupils took part in the first exchange between Morrison’s Academy and the Institution Sainte-Marie in Antony, on the southern outskirts of Paris. In Paris our pupils stayed with French host families and visited the Château de Versailles, Montmartre and the famous Latin Quarter where they dined in a traditional Parisian restaurant. An enjoyable day’s shopping and sight-seeing in Paris included a visit to the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. In addition we attended classes in order to get a flavour of school in France. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience. During our brief but action-packed visit to Crieff, the French pupils spent a day in school, paid a visit to Glenturret Distillery, attended a ceilidh and were treated to some fine Scottish fare at The Gallery restaurant. After the mandatory day trip to Edinburgh and a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment at the Music Department’s Spring Concert, Scottish and French friendships were toasted at a buffet in Academy Hall. En février dernier nous sommes partis en échange scolaire, il y avait quatorze personnes dans le groupe. On est restés chacun avec une famille française et nous sommes partis pour quatre jours. Nous avons pris l’avion à Beauvais, près de Paris, ensuite on a voyagé en bus pour aller au collège. Le voyage était assez ennuyeux alors nous avons passé la plupart de temps à lire, regarder par la fenêtre et, pendant une heure, nous nous sommes endormies. Les après-midi on faisait souvent du tourisme autour de Paris; on a vu la Tour Eiffel et Montmartre par exemple. Un jour nous sommes allés à ‘SaintMarie’ (leur école) afin d’essayer de