REPORT AND PHOTOS!
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On the 8th December, twenty-four Year 6's travelled to Hawse End Cottage in a minibus and two cars. When we got there, the Cottage looked really small, but once we got inside you could see how big it really was. As soon as we got there Mr Ball went through the safety rules and showed us where the exits were. The boys' dormitories were upstairs apart from one, and all the dorms were named after Santa's reindeer. The girls were all on the ground floor.
Once we'd unpacked we got a box of decorations and a little tree with some lights and had to decorate our dormitory. There was a competition and Dancer's dorm won the prize.
After we'd had our packed lunch, we got our thick jackets on and went for our first one hour walk past the lake. We kept stopping for skimming stones on the water and for photos and to climb on the big tree. The walk made us hungry so we had a snack and a drink when we got back. We had time for a shower then it was time to give Callum his birthday cake and card! It was also our pretend Christmas Eve, and we had fish, chips and peas when we went for tea at the big house.
After tea we had a Pub Quiz and watched a film.
When we got up it was pretend Christmas morning and everyone except the teachers got a present off Santa Claus. We played with them for a while, then we started on the art and craft activities. We made soap, bath bombes and scented pine cones, and Mrs Wilson showed us how to decorate gift boxes to put them in. Later we went for a walk to Derwent Bay Bears; everything was 40% off in the gift shop. We saw them using a chain saw to carve the bears out of wood.
We had our Christmas dinner up at the big house. There were crackers and decorations. Also there was a competition to see who could put on the best entertainment. Cupid's dormitory won. We had another film then we went to bed.
On the third day it was pretend Boxing Day and it was nearly time to go home. First we had to unmake our beds and pack our bags with our clothes and presents. We had a big game of charades and finished off some of the art and craft. There was time for a good long walk down near the lake, and for feeding the ducks. At two o'clock it was sadly time to leave the Cottage. We set off and we back at school for home time.
QUOTES:
"I wanted to come to Hawse End because everyone enjoyed it last year and it sounded good - plus I wanted to spend Christmas with my friends." Rebecca
"When I first got there, I felt really excited and it felt as if I was at home. Hawse End was a lovely place and it had a lovely view." Ashleigh
"Our dormitory was very good and the drawers underneath the beds were awesome!" Liam
"My best activity was when we were walking and we had a skimming competition. I got the most anyone ever has - ten jumps." Dominic
"The moment I will always remember was the pretend Christmas morning with my friends." Natalie E
"If someone was thinking of coming next year, I would say to them that it's much better than school and you can relax. There's lots to do, but you might be a bit nervous at first." Stephen N
ALL THE TRIP INFORMATION: (You can still download the documents)
This year, our residential trip to Hawse End Cottage is from the 8th to the 10th of December. In addition to the Information Pack you will have received by now, you can find out more, and download a number of documents here online. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader (available FREE) if you want to download the documents. Make you sure you right-click on the link, and choose "Save Target As", to save the file to your own computer. Alternatively, you can read the documents online.
Download the final information letter. (78k)
Read the final information letter online.
Download the packing list. (199k)
Read the packing list online.
Download the Hawse End Calendar. (329k)
Read a report by last year's HawseEnders!
To obtain a further copy of Form C, the parental consent form, please contact school as soon as possible.
Visit the Cumbria Outdoors website.
FINAL LETTER (or back to top of page)
28th November 2004
Dear Parent
With our residential visit to Hawse End just over a week away, we’re sending you further details about packing, transport and so on. There is also a standard consent form to sign and return to school.
We’ll be setting off from school at about 9.45am on Wednesday 8th December and returning at about 2.40 pm on Friday 10th December. The children will be travelling in either a minibus (driven by Hawse End staff) or a teacher’s car.
If your child needs to take a travel sickness medicine, please make sure that the pill for the return journey is given to a teacher, labelled with their name and the dosage, before we set off. We can give most medicines, except Paracetamol, provided we receive a signed note from the parent. Medicines MUST be given to a teacher before we set off. The container should carry the child’s name and the required dosage. Also, please remember that if your child needs an inhaler, they must have it with them. In the past we have, unfortunately, had to leave a child behind until an inhaler was obtained.
Accommodation is in dormitories, which sleep four or five. We usually try to keep friends together. Each year we take children who sometimes wet their bed. This is easily dealt with and should not be a cause for worry. We can usually avoid the other children finding out, but it helps if you let us know beforehand if there is likely to be a problem.
We have included a packing list, which we hope will be useful. No special clothing is needed, although we can expect the weather to be very cold – so warm jackets and tops would be a good idea. The children will be going on walks around the lake where it may be quite muddy, so they will need wellies, boots or old trainers. We can also lend them a pair of hiking boots from the Cottage, as well as a cagoule.
The children do not need money, as everything is included, but we will be visiting Derwent Bay Bears, where there is a giftshop which sells souvenirs.
We do not allow the children to phone home, as we’ve found through long experience that this is the happiest arrangement for all concerned. The number of the Centre, for emergencies only please, is 017687 72816. We are in daily contact with school, and staff there are able to contact us directly.
Your child might like to bring a cheap camera, for which they will be responsible. However, we will be taking two or three digital cameras, so they aren’t an essential item. Many children like to bring a book or magazine, or maybe a favourite bedtime toy. Electronic equipment: Walkmans, Gameboys etc should be left at home. Also, please be aware that mobile phones are banned from all school trips. Please help by making sure that this rule is followed.
The teachers attending the residential part of the trip are Mr Ball, Mrs McAleavey and Mrs Wilson. Usually Mr Kidd visits us on a daily basis, at around about teatime!
We hope that like many before them, your child has a magical time at Hawse End this Christmas. We must emphasise, however, that their place on the trip is on condition of continued good behaviour. If we have to send a child home from Hawse End, it is highly unlikely that we could give a refund.
Lastly, could you complete and return the standard consent form by the end of the week (Friday 3rd December) – this is also the date by which all moneys should be paid.
You can also find information about the trip on the school website. We hope that this letter covers everything, but if you have further questions, please contact the school and we’ll try to help you.
Yours sincerely
G Ball
G Ball, Mrs B McAleavey, Mrs L Wilson
PACKING LIST (or back to top of page)
· Warm jacket
· Woolly hat
· Gloves
· Outdoor shoes/ boots/ wellies for muddy walks
· Other outdoor shoes or trainers
· Slippers or indoor trainers
· 2 pullovers / jumpers / sweatshirts
· 2 tee-shirts
· 2 pairs trousers / jeans / jogpants
· Socks and underwear
· Pyjamas or nightwear
· Soap /toiletries
· Towel
· Brush / comb
· Toothbrush and paste
· Bedtime toy - teddy!
· Book to read
· Inhaler with full cartridge
Also for art and craft: a shoebox
And just in case “you know who” visits us – their Christmas stocking!
Although we won’t be doing any adventurous type activities, we will be going for walks in the grounds and around the lake where it will be very cold. Warm clothing is essential. Electronic toys and expensive items should be left at home, and please remember that mobile phones are banned from all school trips.
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