Well, Kingswood is over for another year, and judging from the comments left on the blog, and those that we received from the girls, it was a huge success.
Just to complete the blog as a record of events I need to add a few lines about our last day.
We awoke (some of the girls needing to be roused forcibly) and needed to pack up before breakfast as well as strip the beds, putting all the linen from each dorm into 1 duvet cover - notice the word linen - NOT all the duvets and pillows as well!! Breakfast was continental style, much to the relief of staff who had found the cooked options too difficult to resist. Final tidying up and moving bags out of the dormitories, through the rain to a loading bay and then into the last 2 activities. All four groups finished off the programme, catching up on the activities they had not previously tried, archery, low ropes, team tech, aeroball or outdoor initiatives. Even the teachers managed to have a game of aeroball - it was a little worrying to see how competitive this became!
After lunch we had an awards ceremony, each girl receiving a certificate and a small momento of their time at Kingswood.
The coach arrived with a rather cross driver, mumbling things about driving hours and the M1, it transpired that he needed to have a 45 minute break, which he intended to take on the M1 in a service station; we managed to persuade him to take the break at the centre, food and drink was supplied for him while phone calls were made to warn of our late arrival back in Sheffield. As it happened we made very good time on our return journey and were back only about 15 minutes later than planned.
The tired girls came off the coach, full of stories to tell and dragged their bags as far as welcoming parents, who carried them (the bags, not the girls) to the ice cream van and off home. Over the coming days and weeks stories will be told, events relayed and songs will be sung, like a game of Chinese whispers, do not necessarily believe everything that is said, if you want to check any details, please do get in touch i.e. they did all have two ropes holding them on the abseil or no-one actually hit the pole at the end of the zip wire!!
You, as parents, should be very proud of your daughters, as staff we certainly are. I thanked them for their approach to the trip and the activities, it would have been very dull without them. Thanks also go to Miss Atkins, Miss Russell and Mrs Groombridge for giving up their time so willingly and throwing themselves, literally, into everything - it could not happen without them so go easy on your teachers for the next couple of days!!
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Arrival Time Up date
Due to circumstances beyond our control we will be arriving back to Sheffield later than planned.
We will be leaving Staffordshire at 2.05, so we will not be back until between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. The telephone cascade has been started.
See you all later!
We will be leaving Staffordshire at 2.05, so we will not be back until between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. The telephone cascade has been started.
See you all later!
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Day 3
Another fantastic day, again the weather was fine, not a waterproof coat in sight. The girls all slept well last night, asleep a bit quicker than on the first night and they certainly slept in a little longer than yesterday morning - more like 7.00am ish! A hearty breakfast of sausage, egg and tomato, cereals and toast was consumed, setting us all up for another action packed day.
Six more activities plus an evening entertainment have been completed including quad bikes, fencing, archery and some climbing but the most challenging activity was certainly abseiling. Being asked to trust someone (an instructor) and equipment enough to essentially walk backwards off a tower about 15 metres high takes quite some doing. All the girls managed to get themselves up the tower, fully kitted out and many even stepped up to the edge, it was the very brave (or daft) that actually went over the top and abseiled back down to the ground, much to the delight of their watching peers and staff. All the SHS staff do these activities with the girls in order that we know exactly what they are having to face and we also have to bear in mind that they are only 10/11 years old - I am not sure if this is an advantage or not! We are all incredibly proud of their achievements today and so should you be.
The evening entertainment was a disco or a movie, whichever they felt that they had the energy for. The disco passed without major incident and the movie is drawing to a close as I type. The girls are heading to bed, packing up the items of clothing that will not be needed tomorrow and settling down for a good nights sleep.
We are intending to leave at about 1.15 - 1.30pm ish and so scheduled time of arrival in Sheffield (outside the Botantical Gardens) is 4.00pm. If we get held up (more that 1/2 hour) we will set the telephone cascade in action.
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow - your daughters have been a credit to you and with only 1/2 a day left I doubt very much that will change.
Six more activities plus an evening entertainment have been completed including quad bikes, fencing, archery and some climbing but the most challenging activity was certainly abseiling. Being asked to trust someone (an instructor) and equipment enough to essentially walk backwards off a tower about 15 metres high takes quite some doing. All the girls managed to get themselves up the tower, fully kitted out and many even stepped up to the edge, it was the very brave (or daft) that actually went over the top and abseiled back down to the ground, much to the delight of their watching peers and staff. All the SHS staff do these activities with the girls in order that we know exactly what they are having to face and we also have to bear in mind that they are only 10/11 years old - I am not sure if this is an advantage or not! We are all incredibly proud of their achievements today and so should you be.
The evening entertainment was a disco or a movie, whichever they felt that they had the energy for. The disco passed without major incident and the movie is drawing to a close as I type. The girls are heading to bed, packing up the items of clothing that will not be needed tomorrow and settling down for a good nights sleep.
We are intending to leave at about 1.15 - 1.30pm ish and so scheduled time of arrival in Sheffield (outside the Botantical Gardens) is 4.00pm. If we get held up (more that 1/2 hour) we will set the telephone cascade in action.
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow - your daughters have been a credit to you and with only 1/2 a day left I doubt very much that will change.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Day 2
Wow, what a glorious day, and I am not refering to merely the weather! Yes, it was gorgeous sunshine from first thing this morning (about 5AM when the girls woke up!) and there is still not a cloud in the sky. It makes such a change reminding girls to use sun cream and drink water rather than waterproof clothing and hot drinks being served out at breaks.
All the girls have completed a programme of 6 activities plus an evening entertainment of Karaoke. The favourite activities seem to have been Go-Karts and zip wire with laser quest coming a close third. One of the most rewarding activities to see is climbing; individuals are asked to set themselves a "target" to try to get to and virtually all exceed this, some by a large margin, reaching the very top (about 40 - 45 feet!). The way in which pupils from the High School support each other's endeavours always impresses the staff at the centre and it is still really good to see from the SHS staff point of view, although it is what we come to expect!
Food continues to be a highlight of each day, the choices seem to be endless and the fact that you can have a bit of everything and even go back for seconds ensures that no-one is going hungry - empty plates tell us all we need to know about the food.
The girls have now headed off to bed, under instructions that they need to shower (if they didn't this morning) and settle down to sleep - 11.00pm ish the last murmers were heard last night and there is no doubt in my mind that it will be considerably earlier than that tonight. Everyone is happy, tired, fulfilled and safe, looking forward to another day of action tomorrow that will include quad bikes, abseiling, lots of problems to solve and of course, the traditional disc/movie evening - another chance to "glam up"!
All the girls have completed a programme of 6 activities plus an evening entertainment of Karaoke. The favourite activities seem to have been Go-Karts and zip wire with laser quest coming a close third. One of the most rewarding activities to see is climbing; individuals are asked to set themselves a "target" to try to get to and virtually all exceed this, some by a large margin, reaching the very top (about 40 - 45 feet!). The way in which pupils from the High School support each other's endeavours always impresses the staff at the centre and it is still really good to see from the SHS staff point of view, although it is what we come to expect!
Food continues to be a highlight of each day, the choices seem to be endless and the fact that you can have a bit of everything and even go back for seconds ensures that no-one is going hungry - empty plates tell us all we need to know about the food.
The girls have now headed off to bed, under instructions that they need to shower (if they didn't this morning) and settle down to sleep - 11.00pm ish the last murmers were heard last night and there is no doubt in my mind that it will be considerably earlier than that tonight. Everyone is happy, tired, fulfilled and safe, looking forward to another day of action tomorrow that will include quad bikes, abseiling, lots of problems to solve and of course, the traditional disc/movie evening - another chance to "glam up"!
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Day 1
Well, at last, we have all arrived safe and sound at Kingswood 2008, 13 months of planning and many weeks of excitement!
2 hours 15 minutes, and a slight U-turn towards the end and we were pulling in to the centre to be greated by our typically lively Group leader - Sarah. Having been given a drink and shown around the whole site, we were taken to the dormitories - even more excitement as the rush for "top bunks" was eagerly fought. All the girls have at least one of their nominated friends with them and often many more. We have been allocated 3 rooms of 14 and 1 dorm of 8 girls, they all seem reasonably happy with the sleeping arrangements, just wait and see if there is much sleep - watch this space!!
Dinner of cottage pie, toad in the hole, pasta and sauce, vegetables, jackets/wedges and salad (or any combination) was welcomed with open mouths before starting our first activity; Low Ropes, orienteering, archery and zip wire - wow!! The girls threw themselves whole heartedly into the activities and then, following a fire practice, we headed for the campfire. Songs were sung (many with outrageous actions), jokes were told - where do they get them from?!, and marshmallows were eaten. Everyone seemed happy to head off to bed. When I left the girls (about 40 minutes ago) some were going to shower, others brushing teeth and starting to settle down into their dormitories.
All the girls are happy, contended, well looked after and looking forward to an action packed day tomorrow, which will end with a Karaoke competition as the evening entertainment - more news tomorrow, about the same time.
2 hours 15 minutes, and a slight U-turn towards the end and we were pulling in to the centre to be greated by our typically lively Group leader - Sarah. Having been given a drink and shown around the whole site, we were taken to the dormitories - even more excitement as the rush for "top bunks" was eagerly fought. All the girls have at least one of their nominated friends with them and often many more. We have been allocated 3 rooms of 14 and 1 dorm of 8 girls, they all seem reasonably happy with the sleeping arrangements, just wait and see if there is much sleep - watch this space!!
Dinner of cottage pie, toad in the hole, pasta and sauce, vegetables, jackets/wedges and salad (or any combination) was welcomed with open mouths before starting our first activity; Low Ropes, orienteering, archery and zip wire - wow!! The girls threw themselves whole heartedly into the activities and then, following a fire practice, we headed for the campfire. Songs were sung (many with outrageous actions), jokes were told - where do they get them from?!, and marshmallows were eaten. Everyone seemed happy to head off to bed. When I left the girls (about 40 minutes ago) some were going to shower, others brushing teeth and starting to settle down into their dormitories.
All the girls are happy, contended, well looked after and looking forward to an action packed day tomorrow, which will end with a Karaoke competition as the evening entertainment - more news tomorrow, about the same time.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
This time tomorrow...
Just think about it ... this time tomorrow you will be at the Kingswood Centre, unpacked, been shown around, made your beds!!?!! and completed your first activity, you will be settling down to your first Kingswood meal experience - and what an experience it will be! There will still be one more activity and a campfire (surely it will not be raining) before hot drinks and bedtime.
I hope you have all packed, or at least made a start on it, and have a restful evening planned, no late nights!
Make sure you have a good lie in, decent brunch and I will see you all outside the Botanical Gardens at about 12.45pm tomorrow.
I hope you have all packed, or at least made a start on it, and have a restful evening planned, no late nights!
Make sure you have a good lie in, decent brunch and I will see you all outside the Botanical Gardens at about 12.45pm tomorrow.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Less than 1 week
This time next week we will be sitting around a campfire, singing songs, toasting marshmallows and feeling very much at home in our new surroundings. In the week leading up to our long awaited trip there is much to do, with the small matter of a production to put on!
Can you please check that you have a copy of the last letter at home along with the telephone cascade as we did find one (6W I think) on the floor of the cloakroom - this letter gives vital information about times and contact details.
In the time leading up to departure, please make sure you have everything you require and try to get plenty of sleep! Any worries, concerns or questions make sure you ask before we leave, just to put your minds at rest. Email address is on all the letters or just leave a comment - they get into my inbox!
Can you please check that you have a copy of the last letter at home along with the telephone cascade as we did find one (6W I think) on the floor of the cloakroom - this letter gives vital information about times and contact details.
In the time leading up to departure, please make sure you have everything you require and try to get plenty of sleep! Any worries, concerns or questions make sure you ask before we leave, just to put your minds at rest. Email address is on all the letters or just leave a comment - they get into my inbox!
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