As you are all probably aware there have been many cancellations and delays at Gatwick airport over the last 48hours. We are constantly monitoring the situation and will update the blog as and when we hear further information. If you are aware of any parents/guardians who do not have access to the blog, then please will you pass on this information.
At present we are leaving the hotel at 3:30am tomorrow and and are flying out of Geneva at 9:30am.
Click here for Gatwick airport news.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Check out how we are getting on by clicking on the photograph ...
Saturday 18 December 2010
Friday 17 December 2010
Friday's adventures ...
After the dumping down of snow, Friday's skiing was very 'interesting' to say the least! At times we were skiing through snow up to our waist and many a student had a little 'tumble' :-)
Even though many lifts and runs were closed due to heavy snow, all groups skied.
Unfortunately due to the risk of avalanches we are not able to ski La Sarenne (the 16km run from Pic Blanc) .... gutted! :-(
Tonights apres ski was a huge hit with all the students; we went down to Sharkeys bar for an evening with Right Said Fred (well, not quite .... more like Mr Waring & Paul) on karaoke. Almost all students exercised their vocal chords, especially Abbie Ullah, Emily Merry & Emily Grant. We had everything from The Temptations to Linkin Park; but I think it was Harry Wall & Jake Archer who stole the show with a certain song from South Park ... hysterical!
Photos of tonights activities will be loaded on the blog tomorrow, so keep checking!
Signing out for tonight, so good night all!
Even though many lifts and runs were closed due to heavy snow, all groups skied.
Unfortunately due to the risk of avalanches we are not able to ski La Sarenne (the 16km run from Pic Blanc) .... gutted! :-(
Tonights apres ski was a huge hit with all the students; we went down to Sharkeys bar for an evening with Right Said Fred (well, not quite .... more like Mr Waring & Paul) on karaoke. Almost all students exercised their vocal chords, especially Abbie Ullah, Emily Merry & Emily Grant. We had everything from The Temptations to Linkin Park; but I think it was Harry Wall & Jake Archer who stole the show with a certain song from South Park ... hysterical!
Photos of tonights activities will be loaded on the blog tomorrow, so keep checking!
Signing out for tonight, so good night all!
FRIDAY MORNING ...
It's snowing!!!! As forecast, it snowed last night .... the resort is white! We've had at least half a metre and it's still dumping it down .... happy days! ;-)
Thursday 16 December 2010
Thursday's adventures in Alpe D'Huez
Having not had snow for about a week, the slopes are getting quite compacted and icy ... snow is forecast for tonight so fingers crossed!
All groups have had another great day on the slopes, group 1 have been up to 3060 to see the sights over the valley. In the distance, we could even see the the resort of Les Deux Alpes. Group 2 are still exploring the runs of the second station, tackling the long winding blues whilst working on their technique. Group 3 have been developing their parallel turns on the first station.
Everyone's been working really well on developing their skiing; I think we've got a few potential ski instructors in the making!
Tonight's apres ski activity saw us tackling 'Invertigo', an elevated assault course at the leisure centre. Equipped with a gorgeous hairnet, helmet and special shoes, students climbed netting, rode unicycles and crawled through rope tunnels. Wait until you check out the pictures ... there'll be some great blackmailing opportunities!
All groups have had another great day on the slopes, group 1 have been up to 3060 to see the sights over the valley. In the distance, we could even see the the resort of Les Deux Alpes. Group 2 are still exploring the runs of the second station, tackling the long winding blues whilst working on their technique. Group 3 have been developing their parallel turns on the first station.
Everyone's been working really well on developing their skiing; I think we've got a few potential ski instructors in the making!
Tonight's apres ski activity saw us tackling 'Invertigo', an elevated assault course at the leisure centre. Equipped with a gorgeous hairnet, helmet and special shoes, students climbed netting, rode unicycles and crawled through rope tunnels. Wait until you check out the pictures ... there'll be some great blackmailing opportunities!
Emily Grant's quote ...
Haha best night last night winding casey up and making her move rooms to her decision!! loved taking everyone out and making kitty fall for the first time! this town is so cute and christmasyy !! loveee you mum !!!! xxxxx
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Daniel Hathaway's quote ..
"Missing everyone at home but having fun out here. I'm not falling over as much now and I'm now learning how to parallel turn. Can't wait to see you!"
Wednesday's adventures ...
It's 8pm and we are all chilling out in the hotel lounge, having a pool competition, playing the Wii and getting ready to watch Toy Story 3 .... oh, and watching Azeem sleeping on the sofa!
We've had another amazing day on the slopes; everyone's been up skiing at some point, even Harry has managed to navigate the nursery slopes without kissing snow and hugging the snow-cannon!
Group 1 have been ripping up the red & black slopes from the middle stations and have even been venturing over the next valley of Oz. Group 2 have also ventured up to the middle station and over the valley. Group 3 have finally made it off the beginners slopes and on to the DMC bubble lift to station 1 ... Woop woop!
Tonights awards:
Wipeout of the day - even beating Abbie Ullah's snow cannon kiss yesterday: Jacob McCarthy (check out today's pics for the evidence)
Perseverance of the day - even though she has been feeling poorly with a sore throat: Alice Pritchard
Trier of the day - just getting on with it even when the going got tough: Jack Pearce
Signing out for the evening now, as the movie is about to start ... bon soir/nos da!
We've had another amazing day on the slopes; everyone's been up skiing at some point, even Harry has managed to navigate the nursery slopes without kissing snow and hugging the snow-cannon!
Group 1 have been ripping up the red & black slopes from the middle stations and have even been venturing over the next valley of Oz. Group 2 have also ventured up to the middle station and over the valley. Group 3 have finally made it off the beginners slopes and on to the DMC bubble lift to station 1 ... Woop woop!
Tonights awards:
Wipeout of the day - even beating Abbie Ullah's snow cannon kiss yesterday: Jacob McCarthy (check out today's pics for the evidence)
Perseverance of the day - even though she has been feeling poorly with a sore throat: Alice Pritchard
Trier of the day - just getting on with it even when the going got tough: Jack Pearce
Signing out for the evening now, as the movie is about to start ... bon soir/nos da!
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Tuesday's adventures ...
Two day's in and everyone's having a fantastic time! Everyone is up and skiing and progressing really well.
Group 1 being led by Jean Pierre 'Moustache' have been to the middle stations and skiied red and black runs (phewww).
Group 2 being led by Liliane have ventured up their first chair lift and are tackling the rolling blues with ease.
Group 3 being led by Anali have been perfecting their snowplough turns and are starting to learn how to transfer their weight onto the bottom ski.
Today's awards go to:
Best wipeout of the day (the best one ever!) - Abbie Ullah
Clumsy clots of the day (for taking out both Cerys Francis & Jack Buckley) - Sean Johansen
Skiing with ease and progressing really well - Azeem Abbas
We've got an interschool competition going on between our rival Newcastle school in tonight's apres ski activities ... 'Who wants to be a Seanonairre?' and 'Big Break'.... results to follow later!
Signing off now, so bon soir!
Group 1 being led by Jean Pierre 'Moustache' have been to the middle stations and skiied red and black runs (phewww).
Group 2 being led by Liliane have ventured up their first chair lift and are tackling the rolling blues with ease.
Group 3 being led by Anali have been perfecting their snowplough turns and are starting to learn how to transfer their weight onto the bottom ski.
Today's awards go to:
Best wipeout of the day (the best one ever!) - Abbie Ullah
Clumsy clots of the day (for taking out both Cerys Francis & Jack Buckley) - Sean Johansen
Skiing with ease and progressing really well - Azeem Abbas
We've got an interschool competition going on between our rival Newcastle school in tonight's apres ski activities ... 'Who wants to be a Seanonairre?' and 'Big Break'.... results to follow later!
Signing off now, so bon soir!
Monday 13 December 2010
Emily Merry's quote ...
"ZZZZZZZZZZ, so tired and want to go to bed, but having an amazing time and can't stop smiling. Skiing's fun!"
Casey Brooke Mann's quote
"Everyone's amazing, including Watty and Paul except Parky & Clive (AKA: Waring), they keep winding me up. I love everyone:)"
The 1st Day ...
Well, here we are sat in the lounge area awaiting our second apres ski activity of the day - Town Trail. All students are being allocated into groups to explore the village and answer a variety of questions. The winning group will get a hot chocolate!
The first activity of ice skating was a roaring success. . .students spent more time on their 'derriere ' than on their feet! After a conga line of Christmas songs we headed to the nearest creperie for a chocolat chaud :-)
And now for the most important bit ... we had a fab day skiing, students progressed really fast and are starting to explore the variety of slopes that this resort offers. The resort is really impressive and the hotel staff have been exceptionally accomodating.
Today's awards:
Group 3 'Smiler of the day' - Kitty Flannelly:
She skied really well, picking up the basics and is sure to progress to a high standard by the end of the week.
Group 2 'Best technique of the day' - Joshua Firth:
He skied really well and showed that prior preparation will ensure he gets the full potential.
Group 1 'Quiet faller of the day' - Cerys Francis:
Having not skied as part of a ski group before, Cerys literally threw herself into the experience and has proven she can fall with the best of them!
We are signing off now but keep an eye on the blog for an update of pics and messages off your little darlings :-) Bon Soir!
The first activity of ice skating was a roaring success. . .students spent more time on their 'derriere ' than on their feet! After a conga line of Christmas songs we headed to the nearest creperie for a chocolat chaud :-)
And now for the most important bit ... we had a fab day skiing, students progressed really fast and are starting to explore the variety of slopes that this resort offers. The resort is really impressive and the hotel staff have been exceptionally accomodating.
Today's awards:
Group 3 'Smiler of the day' - Kitty Flannelly:
She skied really well, picking up the basics and is sure to progress to a high standard by the end of the week.
Group 2 'Best technique of the day' - Joshua Firth:
He skied really well and showed that prior preparation will ensure he gets the full potential.
Group 1 'Quiet faller of the day' - Cerys Francis:
Having not skied as part of a ski group before, Cerys literally threw herself into the experience and has proven she can fall with the best of them!
We are signing off now but keep an eye on the blog for an update of pics and messages off your little darlings :-) Bon Soir!
Sunday 12 December 2010
We have arrived!
After an ardous journey crossing the Swiss border and climbing up the French Alpes - 21 bends, all of which are on the highest point of the Tour De France - we have arrived!
All pupils behaved impeccably through the check-in at Gatwick, getting on and off the flight and on the bus journey.
Rooms have been allocated, we've been fed and watered (twice) and pupils are now having some 'free time' and settling down to watch X-Factor - come on Rebecca!
Conditions are good, snow is compact and the sun is forecast to shine; so it's plenty of sun lotion for our first day on the slopes tomorrow.
We are signing off now, so a bientot bon nuit!
Ps: don't forget to check out our piccies :-)
All pupils behaved impeccably through the check-in at Gatwick, getting on and off the flight and on the bus journey.
Rooms have been allocated, we've been fed and watered (twice) and pupils are now having some 'free time' and settling down to watch X-Factor - come on Rebecca!
Conditions are good, snow is compact and the sun is forecast to shine; so it's plenty of sun lotion for our first day on the slopes tomorrow.
We are signing off now, so a bientot bon nuit!
Ps: don't forget to check out our piccies :-)
Saturday 11 December 2010
1 MORE DAY ...
See you all at 2am Sunday morning in the school bus bay!
Don't forget, you are not allowed any more than 20kgs in your main luggage and 5kgs in your hand luggage. The maximum of 100ml of liquid rule still applies to your hand luggage and any liquids that you carry must be placed in a clear bag.
Any last minute questions, email me ...
Tuesday 7 December 2010
LUGGAGE LABELS
Could all pupils who are going on this year's ski trip come and see me to collect a luggage label and a Key Fact Insurance document.
Miss Parkhouse
Miss Parkhouse
Wednesday 1 December 2010
NEXT YEAR'S SKI TRIP
Next year's trip to Saalbach, Austria has been approved and the letters are available. If you wish to go please see Miss Parkhouse for a letter (room F1:01). There are 40 places available and they are on a first come basis.
Please note that if you are unable to bring in the £80 deposit before Christmas, then you can secure your place with as little as £20 and pay the remainder after Christmas!
Click here to see a copy of the letter.
Please note that if you are unable to bring in the £80 deposit before Christmas, then you can secure your place with as little as £20 and pay the remainder after Christmas!
Click here to see a copy of the letter.
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