On Saturday 19^th January, 29 of the year 8s chose the ski trip as their residential visit along with Mr Robertson, Mrs Hadfield and Mr Stout. They flew to the Geneva airport which is in Switzerland then they got the bus for the last part of the journey, taking them all the way to France. The Year 8’s enjoyed a whole week of skiing and other fun and energetic activities arriving back on the 26^th January.

It was a very early start for them as they had to arrive at the airport by 5am for their flight at 7:15am. They arrived in Switzerland at around 10:40 and got to their ski resort after a 2-3 hour bus ride.

In the ski school, pupils were put into groups of 12 per instructor, and the intermediate and advanced groups were shared with Gosforth Central Middle School, as they were enjoying a ski trip at the same time as GEMS. The lessons were 2 hours long and in the morning and afternoon students were taken there and back by a 5 minute bucket lifts (like a roofed-cage that transports you up the mountain!). The pupils spent the first couple of days on the nursey slopes until they progressed to higher levels - green, blue, red and eventually for the most capable skiers the black runs.

A typical day included; a 7am wake up, a 7:30am breakfast, 9am ski school, 11:30am lunch, 1pm ski school, 4pm bank and free time, 6:30pm dinner and 8pm activities. The evening activities were: bum boarding, ice skating, a disco, a film night, a quiz night and a ‘big person’ soft play.

Some of the highlights of the trip and funny moments included when Freya K and Ellie M put makeup on Mason and the ‘scary chairy’ ski lift.  Congratulations to Alice L, Sophie T and Ellie M who won the room inspection!

Quotes, “It was definitely the best trip I’ve even been on!” said Alice while Georgie said it was “The best experience and learning how to ski properly was really cool!”

Leila 8HC and Georgie 8KP