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Out of School
every day, one at 9-11, and the other after lunch. We went
back to have lunch at the hotel before coming back up.
The first day skiing was so hot we all undid our jackets, but
thankfully the following few days were cooler, but overall
the weather was really nice all week!
Every night we would gather after dinner in the basement
and the teachers would announce who got which ‘award’.
The week started off with only D of the day which is where
someone did something stupid and had to wear an old
green all in one ski suit. Then there was superman where
you wore a Superman outfit for being brave or helpful, and
then there was Robin and Batman which came as a pair
and finally a chilli outfit. If you got given any of these you
would have to wear them the next day skiing.
On the Tuesday evening we had a uniform night where we
all had to dress up in some kind of uniform and then go
out for pizza. There were nurses, pilots sailors and more.
We went out the following evening and did some bowling.
Then on Thursday we went out to a pub/restaurant just
for a few hours. There was another school there as well
and there was music playing and food and drink. Then
on Friday before we left we all got our awards from the
week. You got your award written on a paper plate and
everyone got a prize. The prizes ranged from a talking
hamster, to a slipper and mugs. After we got our awards
we had to go and pack all our stuff away and put it in the
basement where we waited for roughly an hour before we
could load themonto the coach for the last time and begin
our journey home after such an amazing week of skiing!
Hannah Jackson Y9
Y13 History and Politics Trip to
Washington DC
In the October half-term twenty-eight Year 13 students of
HistoryandPoliticsembarkedona study triptoWashington
DC, Philadelphia and NewYork City in the final week of the
presidential election campaign. After a pleasant flight
the group’s week of challenges began in Dulles airport
where Emily Carr was kidnapped and interrogated by US
Homeland Security having apparently tried to enter the
country under her aunt’s identity. Eventually we met up
with our guide, Rhonda, and drove into DC passing key
sights such as the ‘George Bush Intelligence Centre’ on
the way. Waking up the next morning in our plush and
luxurious hotel we were keen to hit the sights of the
nation’s capital. We took in Congress and the key areas of
downtown DC as well as the American History Museum
and Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated. Luckily
Joe Curran was able to record all this on his hi-tech camera.
The next day saw us head out to Arlington National
Cemetery and undertake awalking tour of themonuments
of Washington. It was at this stage that Hurricane Sandy
started to interfere in our plans! Whilst in the cemetery
we received the call from our tour company saying that
because of Sandy’s projected course we would not be
able to travel up to Philadelphia the next day. “Just being
cautious,” said Rhonda, “we’ll make it the next day. The
storm will come to nothing, I’m sure.” As the afternoon
went on Rhonda’s phone did not stop buzzing as
everything in the DC area from the Metro system to the
shopping malls announced they were shutting down. It
seemed as though Sandy was getting serious.
That night the weather closed in and the winds picked
up. American TV stations gave doomsday scenarios but
things didn’t seem too bad in Washington. By the next
morning, however, things were rather different. We
awoke on Monday to pictures of devastation in NYC. The
road that we were due to be driving on that day through
Delaware and New Jersey was underwater, despite being
miles inland. Lower Manhattan was mainly underwater
and Staten Island was burning. It was pretty serious. The
group hunkered down for a day in the safety of the hotel.
Mr Dwyer taught dance and those who dared took on Miss
Williams in the gym. In the evening we all brought down
pillows and blankets to watch…Twister.
With Philly and NYC off the agenda the group refocused
its attention on the DC area in the days that followed.
Highlights included trips to Gettysburg and Mount
Vernon, an afternoon’s shopping in Pentagon Mall (where
Alex Goodwin’s futile quest for size 16 shoes hit an all-time
low), and, fromMr Simpson’s point of view at least, a visit to
