Paris 2016

Forty-six Year 9 students and Mr Patchesa, Mrs Lewis, Mr Martin, Mrs Hall and Mr Bowell enjoyed a fantastic week in Paris. After an early start and tiring journey down to the outskirts of Paris, we were up bright and early on the Tuesday of Activities week to clamber the many steps up the Eiffel Tower. Thirty of the students were brave enough to take the lift to the very summit to take in the spectacular views, which, for one year only took in the sight of the Euro 2016 fan park. A quick coach ride took us to the beautiful Montmontre area and the Basilica Sacre Coeur, before the staff took a well earned sit down as the students explored the artists’ quarter in the Place de Tetre, sampling local delicacies, buying berets and, in a few cases, getting portraits sketched. From here to the Bateaux Mouche, a relaxing and informative boat ride in the gorgeous sunshine admiring the cultural and historic sights along the river Seine. A busy day concluded with a meal near to the Avenue Champs Elysee and the Arc de Triomphe before we returned home for a well earned rest.

Day 3 saw us visit the Disney Studios Park, enjoying the thrills of the Rock’n’Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror amongst many other attractions with a movie theme. The students, whose behaviour and attitude was superb throughout showed admirable stamina and stomachs with some reaching double figures for rides on the twisting, turning, looping Aerosmith soundtracked ‘coaster, but still had plenty of appetite left for the following day’s visit to the Disneyland Park.

The weather, which had been fine but a little cloudy over the previous two days, shifted up a gear, and in the dazzling sunshine, the students mingled with Mickey, Donald and co. and experienced rides such as Space Mountain, an Indiana Jones themed rollercoaster, Pirates of the Caribbean and, under sufferance from a few of the cooler crew amongst our number, It’s a Small World. It was a late one, with us stopping for the fantastic show of fireworks before returning to the coach, laden with stuffed toys and sporting Minnie Mouse ears, for the journey home. Paul, our driver, made good time to get us back to Selby and whilst we were sad that a terrific week was over, everyone was glad to exchange the smell of feet and trapped bodies for a few hours kip in our own comfy beds!