Newlands - Day 4: The Return
Our final day was a mixture of emotions - and smells! We were sad to be leaving such a beautiful and fun place, but looking forward to seeing our families and being in our own beds.
The morning started with our final breakfast. We celebrated Harry Stewart's birthday with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. Mum had sent birthday cards for him and the biggest tub of sweets we have ever seen as a birthday treat for everyone in J6 - thank you mum! Given the amount of sugar the Staff managed to confiscate from bedrooms or find the children buying/munching in the common room, we decided to leave the sweets until after Rheged to avoid sweet-eating taking precedence over packing!
Mrs B and Mrs D girded their loins and entered the Drying Room...
The pile in the back left hand corner is JUST a pile of pants and socks! The photo does nothing to reflect fully the smell. If smell-o-vision is ever invented, then we feel that this is a scent which has to be experienced to be believed!! Once the named items were returned to their rightful owners then Mrs D and a band of helpers spread out the unnamed items (and there were a LOT of them!) on the Bench of Shame. Amy Maclean-Bristol was a fabulous organiser and ensured all socks found their partners, any escapee named items were separated from the unknown ones and generally took control of the few boys brave enough to try to help with this onerous task. Thank you Amy! Every child in J6 then had to walk past the Bench of Shame and retrieve their pants and socks... teaching is such a glamorous job...
Once bags were packed, hauled down the stairs and put on the Coach, the children gathered in front of the Centre for a final photo (which I hope to upload on Monday once I get a copy from Mr M) and to say a farewell and a huge thank you to Newlands Staff. The House Captains did a super job of thanking everyone on behalf of St Columbas.
And then we were on the road again, northbound. The journey on a coach along single track country roads was quite challenging for our driver - but he did a grand job! It wasn't long until we arrived at Rheged (http://www.rheged.com/) where we watched a 3D movie all about the last reefs that exist in the world. This was a beautifully shot film and quite visually stunning. There is a rumour, however, that at least one member of staff missed substantial bits of the film due to being in a warm, darkened environment and behind black glasses... Fortunately the snoring didn't drown out the sound effects from the movie.
Lunch followed by some free time in Rheged meant the children were able to spend their money on bits and bobs but mostly sweets! Then the coach journey resumed. During this final leg of the journey, just in case any child's sugar levels dropped below the "dangerously high" level, we distributed Harry's birthday sweets, handful at a time. Even the staff had a sweetie this time - and, oh! The excitement! Mrs D hadn't had Love Hearts in ages, Mr D was beyond himself with excitement at the thought of a packet of Parma Violets and Mrs B spent the rest of the journey enjoying a boiled sherbet lolly. Small pleasures!
Finally, at around 2.45pm the coach pulled up on Knockbuckle Road and children were reunited with parents.
From many of the comments I received, I know that this Blog has been enjoyed and read a lot. In an attempt to give you a full flavour of the week, therefore, I will put as many photos as I can on here. On Monday/Tuesday, however, please send a NAMED memory stick in with your child and I will transfer all the photos I have onto it for you.
Newlands 2012 is now a memory - but planning for Newlands 2013 starts on Monday morning! We all hope the children have enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home and feel fully refreshed for the new School week.
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Newlands - Day 3: 17 May 2012 (pm)
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Climbing and kayaking. An afternoon of water fun and Tarzan impressions.
The final outward bound activities of the week took place this afternoon. We had groups in the woods climbing trees, swinging across rivers and balancing their way back across ropes. Other groups were active in the Indoor Climbing Wall and we have photos to demonstrate the great heights that Mrs B can reach! The High Ropes proved popular again with lots of team work and support to help one another around the tough course. Mr M accompanied the kayakers to Derwentwater where the children had a fabulous time on the water. Mr M waited for them on the banks but he wasn't too bored as it seems that the coffee and cake standards in the area are quite high and we are told that the Millionaire's Shortbread is quite something.
Our final evening will be spent playing some Parachute Games and attempting to find all our clothes in the drying room. We are hoping the Gods will be with us as we attempt to match clothing to child...
Newlands - Day 3: 17 May 2012 (am)
Rain, rain go away... Staff woke to mist, drizzle and lots of still sleeping children! After a much-needed early night the children woke fresh and raring to go. The weather hasn't stopped heightened spirits and lots of fun.
The final Ghyll group were up the hill this morning. Unfortunately, the river's central heating system had a technical failure and the general consensus was that the water was freezing! Other groups were kayaking, wall climbing, scrambling up and over the ropes course and flying through the air in the woods. Even Mrs D felt the need to put a harness on today and demonstrate the zip wire. Her nerves may never recover... Fortunately there is no photographic evidence of the event!
We're all looking forward to the final afternoon of activities and hoping the weather clears up before the evening's Parachute Games. More photos will follow later.
Newlands - Day 2: 16 May 2012 (pm)
The sun has disappeared but the fun and excitement hasn't!
Another fun-filled afternoon in the Ghyll, on Derwentwater, up a climbing wall and above ground in the Ropes Course. The Drying Room is now bursting at it's seams (good job all the clothes are named!) and the children now have the Centre to themselves. Friday morning could be fun when we try to get all the t-shirts, jumpers, shirts, socks and shoes back to their rightful owners!
There's an evening of games ahead of us and then, no doubt, the children will be asleep rather quickly - or at least that's what Mr McKay, Mrs Blackie, Mrs Duncan and Mr Duncan are hoping for!
Newlands - Day 2: 16 May 2012 (am)
Everybody slept really well last night with the boys being first up (6am) and the girls rising at a more reasonable hour of 7am!
We woke to the sun splitting the sky and this continued throughout the whole morning. The Ghyll scrambling groups had super weather which, although a little chilly in the shade, was warm. The groups out on the Derwentwater kayaking had calm water in glorious sunshine. The remainder of the groups were on the High Ropes Course which was as exciting as it sounds! A great new addition to the programme.
We are all having a lovely time and looking forward to having the Centre to ourselves later today when the other School leaves at lunchtime.
Newlands - Day 1: 15 May 2012
After a relaxing drive down with Ratatouille on in the bus, we arrived out of the sunshine in Scotland to a grey, overcast but generally dry Newlands. This didn't last long. We were straight in at the deep end with groups in the Ghyll, kayaking on Derwent Water and climbing trees. Then the hail started. Then it stopped. Then the sun came out. Then it rained. What didn't change, however, was the excitement of the children and the fun of all the activities. Activities are planned in the late evening sunshine and then (hopefully) an early night in preparation for tomorrow's action packed day. Everyone is well, happy and having fun.
Mrs Cook's FINAL Coffee Afternoon
The final coffee afternoon with Mrs Cook will take place on Friday 15 June at 3pm in the Livingstone Hall. Please come along for coffee, a chat and an informal farewell to Mrs Cook. Coffee and biscuits will be provided; please bring your own tissues!
The Fire Brigade Visit the Prep
On Thursday 3 May the Prep were visited by real life Fireman Sams! They had lots of fun learning all about the work of the Brigade and the children were even allowed to practise using the hose. It was a fabulous morning!
Junior School Netball
St Columba’s A and B netball teams competed in the Inverclyde Spring Netball League in March 2012 at Greenock Sports Centre. It was a two part tournament involving around 18 teams across Inverclyde.
On Tuesday 20th March the girls played extremely well in the first round of matches, with the A team winning all games, securing them a place in the second part of the tournament. St Columba’s B team showed great determination and hard work, coming third place, only narrowly missing out on a spot for the finals.
On Tuesday 27th March, St Columba’s A team played against five other teams, achieving four wins and one draw, which gave them the highest score in the competition. The girls were delighted to defend this particular title for a third consecutive year. Mandy and I were delighted to see the girls demonstrating both a positive attitude and good sportsmanship at this event.
Gillian Beggs