News from Key Stage 2 Lower

Isle of Wight Blog 2010

Year 4 on the Isle of Wight 2010!

 

“Five star!” That’s the comment of the children about our hotel, the Sandhill, here in Sandown. “That big one over there must be a 10 star if it’s better than ours!” It’s been a long but very good day and the children have settled down for the night – we won’t be far behind!

 

The weather has been a bit grey but at least it has been dry. We sailed down Southampton Water at a rate of knots on the Red Eagle and enjoyed a fearsome wind on deck which created bad hair days for all the staff. From Cowes we moved on to Osborne House and had a great afternoon exploring the house, Swiss Cottage and grounds. It was amazing to learn that several of the girls are taller now than Queen Victoria ever was. We were lucky to have historian supreme Eva who is incredibly knowledgable about Victoria, her family and many relations; she impressed the guides very much indeed. The Bluebell Wood walk was beautiful and most of us found the five-legged deer……

A warm welcome awaited us at the Sandhill from Kathy, Stacey and Steve; the portions at supper were so huge Mrs. Parkyn was unable to finish her Hanky Panky Chocolate ice cream cake……  Off to the park for a run around, rounders and football with 70 year old tube trains trundling along the island’s railway line in the background.

Thursday 6th May

The only Election Fever here at the Sandhill concerns the outcome of the Talent Show this evening. Singers, dancers, impressionists, harmonica players, comedians and poets have all performed. There was even a surprise appearance by Jedward – how are the mighty fallen! The winners are announced in the morning.

 

There was rather an early start for some rooms which didn’t go down too well – to be fully dressed and tidying rooms at 6.00am wasn’t quite on. After a top breakfast the short ride to Brading Roman Villa where we did some mosaic making and archaeology workshops as well as exploring the mosaics in the farmhouse. It was a good contrast to the splendour of our own Roman Bath. Well done to Keith our driver for negotiating one of the tightest corners known to man (and coach drivers) – hooray!

 

The sun shone for lunch on Sandown beach. There were quite a few contenders for the best sand sculpture with turtles and mermaids to the fore; Ginger Elvis could yet come up on the rails though. After lunch a quick dash (as much as you can ever dash on the island) to Carisbroooke Castle, which is a real gem. There is a real sense of history here and it is what a castle should look like. Everyone oohed and aahed (eehed and oored?) over Jigsaw the donkey who showed everyone how to use the enormous wooden wheel to raise water 161 feet from the well. A walk around the battlements and up the incredibly steep steps to the keep was enjoyed by all, as was trying on the chain mail suit in the Armoury – heavy or what! Quality gifts were bought by everyone in the shop…

 

Several little people fell asleep on the nine mile trip back to the Sandhill after a long day. After another great supper came the Talent Show and then a bit of jumping around. Once the dispensary shuts we are all off to the Land of Nod.

 

 

Friday 7th May

It’s absolutely freezing this morning! All the staff are talking about what might happen following yesterday’s election, all the children are talking about their cooked breakfast. This group has been the neatest ever and nearly all the dorms have been impeccably tidied; we really hope we can arrive home and have nothing sent on by the hotel – that would be a first!

 

Bags and packed lunches on board it was a short hop to the Owl and Falconry Centre to watch a Bengali Eagle Owl, a Harris Hawk, a falcon and some vultures (including a pair called Tony and Gordon) put through their paces. Absolutely fascinating and wonderful. The speed of the falcon was quite astonishing and, despite Ben’s best efforts, the Harrier Hawk managed to catch the rabbit on a string within 10 metres. Although it is the 7^th May gloves were needed; with a northerly wind it was bitterly cold and a quick tour of Appuldurcombe House didn’t really warm us up! It was the grandest house on the island before an unfortunate wartime event.

 

Fed and watered, we made for the ferry (appropriately named the Red Falcon) for the trip back to the mainland, (cliché time…) tired and happy. Isle of Wight radio went down well with all those on board who liked the 80s...

It has been a great few days with huge learning opportunities for the children in so many ways. Once again we have been complimented on the behaviour and attitude of our children – well done and thank you everyone.

A huge thank you to all at the Sandhill for their hospitality and, of course, to Keith our driver supreme. Same next year?

 

And finally......

......61 tired children (and 7 equally tired adults!) arrived back on schedule last Friday from their three days on the Isle of Wight. Once again it was a very successful trip with lots of important milestones for many people; first time away from home, first time on a ferry, first time making a bed! The children were lucky to see and learn about so many things; the splendour of Queen Victoria’s Osborne House, the castle that ‘all castles should look like’ at Carisbrooke near Newport, the mosaics of Brading Roman Villa and the stunning owls and falcons of Appuldurcombe House. They ate well (as did the staff!) and enjoyed singing along in the coach to the ‘one and only’ IoW radio, some time in the park and on the beach as well as putting on our island famous Talent Show. It was possibly the coldest ever residential we’ve been on, particularly on Friday outdoors at the Falconry Centre…….brrrr!! Thank you to Mrs. Tilbury, Miss Merritt, Miss Hawes, Mrs. Parkyn and Mr. Jenkins for all their hard work in making it such a great trip.

 

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Year 4 Animations

Check out our animations in our video box. A very weird selection!

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