Half Term Experiences

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Over forty pupils from The Wallace High School enjoyed their recent half term holiday as fourteen Year 12 – 14 German students visited Hamburg, whilst twenty six Year 12 and 13 students departed for the slopes of New Hampshire.

German teachers Kerrie Ferguson and Ruth Logan accompanied the four day German trip to the beautiful city of Hamburg, where pupils enjoyed the opportunity to improve their German language skills, whilst also benefitting from the many cultural activities that the city has to offer. Staff and pupils savoured a bracing tour of the city by bike, a most informative visit to the socially engaged Sankt Pauli football club, an unforgettable trip to the Dialogue in the Dark exhibition and a stroll around the Miniaturwunderland- the largest model railway in the world.

German Trip 2013

Year 12 pupil Thomas McRoberts thoroughly enjoyed the visit and commented: “Everyone really enjoyed the trip to Hamburg which was beneficial for our exams this summer and also for our overall education, learning and experiencing German culture. I particularly enjoyed the visit to Dialogue in the Dark where we were led around a pitch black room by blind people speaking German. It was also good to sample the German food.”

The Ski Trip departed for America on a week long adventure which took them to the resorts of Waterville Valley and Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. Although cold for the first two days at Waterville the group, which consisted mainly of beginners, had an opportunity to “find their feet” as they went into lessons for the first time. The ski conditions at Loon for the three days were near perfect as staff and pupils skied in beautiful sunny conditions with frequent fresh snow, on runs such as Upper Twitcher, Boom Run and Lower Northstar. The group met for lunch on the final afternoon at Summit Lodge where pictures were taken and buffalo burgers enjoyed.

summit lodge loon

Mr Jonny Reid, Teacher in charge of the Ski Trip, was, as ever, delighted with the experience that the pupils gained in America:     “This is our sixth trip to New Hampshire and we were all impressed once again by the reception that we received in the hotel, on the slopes and also on the various trips we embarked on at night. It was great to see the strides made by all our pupils, particularly those who had never skied before, many of whom progressed very quickly throughout the week.”

Whilst in America, the group also enjoyed visits to the cinema, an ice hockey game at Plymouth College and to the Tilton Outlet Centre. The last day was spent in Boston city centre, where the pupils were given free time to shop and also have lunch in the superb Quincy Market.

summit north peak

On their return Wallace Principal, Mrs Deborah O’Hare, commented on the importance of these trips: “Widening the horizons of our young people by offering them a range of experiences is a core aim of life at Wallace. The recent visits to Germany and America serve to enrich the experiences of our students. Without the enthusiasm and dedication of our teachers and the support of parents these visits would not be possible.  The young people who went on these trips were wonderful ambassadors for Wallace and I am very proud of the legacy they have left. “

Last modified: March 5, 2013