Colden Junior and Infant School
PGL 2022 - Day 2
I’m not too sure of everyone’s morning routines during a normal school week: whether or not you needed to shake your child to wake them up, call them at least 5 times before the get up and get ready or even hurry them along as they are moving at a snail’s pace. Was this the case for this morning? No.
“Mr Chan, we were up at 5. The curtains are bright,” Valentina said with all her other roommates nodding along. This was quickly followed by Amelia asking when we could have breakfast.
“Mr Chan, there’s a spider in our room,” Willow and Mathilde claimed.
“Mr Chan, shampoo exploded in my bag,” said Ella.
“Mr Chan, I found my toothbrush,” Evie said with a smile.
Not even a ‘Good morning’! The eager beavers excitedly were chatting (loudly) and ready before we had even knocked on their rooms. However, there’s always an exception - one room of boys snoring away right up until 7:30.
The chatting soon died down as they started plating up food for the day. Not a single word – all you could hear were the sounds of chewing.
It’s very rare that I am surprised at breakfast during residential trips. Today was my lucky day. As I stood queuing for my food, I see one child in front of me, Grace, load up on 2 hash browns, baked beans, a bread roll, 3 Weetabix, a yoghurt and some fruit. It was not that the amount that took me off guard: it was the fact she finished all of this and had this conversation:
“Wow! You finished all of that food!” Mrs Hall said with a surprised expression.
“You never have a plate full of food and not finish it,” replied Grace nonchalantly.
Bellies full. Bags packed. We were ready for a first morning activities.
Survivor – children broke off into smaller groups to work together to build a shelter from a variety of logs and learned how to tie special knots to keep them together. After voting on the best shelter, it was time to make fire. Ollie, Ted and George grouped together and managed to light the cotton wool and string.
Archery – what’s not to like? Firing arrows at some targets. Children showed great enthusiasm for this. Did the enthusiasm equal reflect the skill and quality like Katniss Everdeen? Bo ignored the target and decided to claim longest distance trophy, loosing 3 arrows into the beyond, the arrows still have not been found. Stefan took a more conventional approach and hit the bullseye, but many others took it upon themselves to make extra wormholes in the ground.
For our first full day at PGL, both groups were greeted with 2 high-end activities, trapeze and high ropes, and arguably two of the most daunting tasks that lay ahead of them this week. Even though anxiety coursed through their blood, they all achieved their own personal goals. From confident climbers who had always known they wanted to climb to the top of things like Oliver, Edgar, Kaitlin, Anna, Edith and Blake to those who had their own personal challenges like climbing to the second most highest or even halfway up the poles or ladders.
A special mention to Liam, Amelia, Ella, Ellis, Mia and Mathilde who all managed to attempt the activity and achieved brilliantly – we are all incredibly proud of them.
Splash was our final activity before tea. The children had to group together to create a protective case around water balloon with an extra incentive. If their balloon survived from a drop from a certain height, they would be able to throw theirs at a teacher. Mr Chan, Ms McGibney, Mrs Hall, who would fall victim to this? (Find out later!)
After an hour of asking what time tea was, it was time for tea. The children finally took the advice of eating more to give them more energy!
Ambush was the final activity for the day – hiders vs seekers. The children laid a trial of cones for the other team to follow and the seekers needed to stop along the trial to try a spot the hiders. Silence was key! No noise. Could the seekers find them? Where are they? Brrrrrrrppppp…there was too much excitement from the hiders. This noise from Thomas gave them away and for some reason came out of his hiding place with a bottom full of feathers.
Another successful day! The children are exhausted, but are eagerly waiting for canoeing with comments like:
“I’m going to get you!”
“Can I partner with you and tip you out of the canoe?”
“Can I jump from my canoe to your canoe and rugby tackle you into the lake?”
“Can I just tip you out into the water?”
These comments are referenced to one of the three staff members on the trip.
Oh, and here’s the video of the mysterious staff member chosen to be splashed! Could it be linked to the previous paragraph? You will have to wait for tomorrow’s installment to find out.
Colden Junior and Infant School
PGL 2022 - Day 2
I’m not too sure of everyone’s morning routines during a normal school week: whether or not you needed to shake your child to wake them up, call them at least 5 times before the get up and get ready or even hurry them along as they are moving at a snail’s pace. Was this the case for this morning? No.
“Mr Chan, we were up at 5. The curtains are bright,” Valentina said with all her other roommates nodding along. This was quickly followed by Amelia asking when we could have breakfast.
“Mr Chan, there’s a spider in our room,” Willow and Mathilde claimed.
“Mr Chan, shampoo exploded in my bag,” said Ella.
“Mr Chan, I found my toothbrush,” Evie said with a smile.
Not even a ‘Good morning’! The eager beavers excitedly were chatting (loudly) and ready before we had even knocked on their rooms. However, there’s always an exception - one room of boys snoring away right up until 7:30.
The chatting soon died down as they started plating up food for the day. Not a single word – all you could hear were the sounds of chewing.
It’s very rare that I am surprised at breakfast during residential trips. Today was my lucky day. As I stood queuing for my food, I see one child in front of me, Grace, load up on 2 hash browns, baked beans, a bread roll, 3 Weetabix, a yoghurt and some fruit. It was not that the amount that took me off guard: it was the fact she finished all of this and had this conversation:
“Wow! You finished all of that food!” Mrs Hall said with a surprised expression.
“You never have a plate full of food and not finish it,” replied Grace nonchalantly.
Bellies full. Bags packed. We were ready for a first morning activities.
Survivor – children broke off into smaller groups to work together to build a shelter from a variety of logs and learned how to tie special knots to keep them together. After voting on the best shelter, it was time to make fire. Ollie, Ted and George grouped together and managed to light the cotton wool and string.
Archery – what’s not to like? Firing arrows at some targets. Children showed great enthusiasm for this. Did the enthusiasm equal reflect the skill and quality like Katniss Everdeen? Bo ignored the target and decided to claim longest distance trophy, loosing 3 arrows into the beyond, the arrows still have not been found. Stefan took a more conventional approach and hit the bullseye, but many others took it upon themselves to make extra wormholes in the ground.
For our first full day at PGL, both groups were greeted with 2 high-end activities, trapeze and high ropes, and arguably two of the most daunting tasks that lay ahead of them this week. Even though anxiety coursed through their blood, they all achieved their own personal goals. From confident climbers who had always known they wanted to climb to the top of things like Oliver, Edgar, Kaitlin, Anna, Edith and Blake to those who had their own personal challenges like climbing to the second most highest or even halfway up the poles or ladders.
A special mention to Liam, Amelia, Ella, Ellis, Mia and Mathilde who all managed to attempt the activity and achieved brilliantly – we are all incredibly proud of them.
Splash was our final activity before tea. The children had to group together to create a protective case around water balloon with an extra incentive. If their balloon survived from a drop from a certain height, they would be able to throw theirs at a teacher. Mr Chan, Ms McGibney, Mrs Hall, who would fall victim to this? (Find out later!)
After an hour of asking what time tea was, it was time for tea. The children finally took the advice of eating more to give them more energy!
Ambush was the final activity for the day – hiders vs seekers. The children laid a trial of cones for the other team to follow and the seekers needed to stop along the trial to try a spot the hiders. Silence was key! No noise. Could the seekers find them? Where are they? Brrrrrrrppppp…there was too much excitement from the hiders. This noise from Thomas gave them away and for some reason came out of his hiding place with a bottom full of feathers.
Another successful day! The children are exhausted, but are eagerly waiting for canoeing with comments like:
“I’m going to get you!”
“Can I partner with you and tip you out of the canoe?”
“Can I jump from my canoe to your canoe and rugby tackle you into the lake?”
“Can I just tip you out into the water?”
These comments are referenced to one of the three staff members on the trip.
Oh, and here’s the video of the mysterious staff member chosen to be splashed! Could it be linked to the previous paragraph? You will have to wait for tomorrow’s installment to find out.