Terrington Hall School

We all arrived safely back in Terrington last night just gone 11pm after a long day traveling. We started the day packing and stripping beds. We all then enjoyed a bacon sandwich outside in glorious sunshine. It felt very spring like with a warming temperature of 11 degrees outside the Ferriers' home in Les Longs. The journey and airport was easy and speedy and we all enjoyed our Ferrier made baguettes on the aeroplane (thank you Mrs. Ferrier).

Our journey to Gatwick to Terrington was long but all the children were on their best behaviour and quite a lot of them enjoyed a snooze along the way. We arrived back at school to be greeted by welcoming parents and Mr Glen. I'm sure all the children will have slept well last night and I hope they enjoy a restful weekend.

A huge thank you to Simon, Sue, Isabel and Leo Ferrier for their hospitality care and fun they have provided us all with. A big thanks to Mrs. Cole for accompanying us all on the ski trip and giving up her half term to do so. Thank you also to all the children for being so well behaved, well-mannered and great fun. A great week has been had by all!

We have ended the week with a great last day skiing in perfect sunshine and less wind. All children recieved stars and awards today. We are just starting to get packed up ready for traveling back tomorrow and we have been reflecting on our favourite parts of the week . . . . . . .

Iona - "When everyone fell of the button lift because of me."

Olivia - "Going over the bumps and jumps was the best part of skiing."

Ella - "When we were off piste and I went flying into Scarlett pushing her into a tree."

Scarlett - "When we did a huge jump and landed on an inflatable cushion."

Ellen - "I like it all but it was scary getting lost in the woods."

Frankie - "When we did a long jump onto the big air cushion."

Eddy L - "Getting my three star award."

Thomas L -  "The food was the best part of the holiday."

Eddie T - "I loved going on the bin run with little Leo looking after me."

Nathan - "It's been great to use poles as I couldn't last year with my broken arm."

Harvey - "I liked doing a 180 on the jump onto the inflatable cushion."

Tom P - "I loved the freedom to be able to go off piste."

Alex - "The bin run was the most amazing thing ever, I did it every day and I want to do it at home."

Charlie T - "Falling over the trip wire on the button lift."

Isabel F - "When I skied straight into a big block of ice and when I jumped onto the big cushion."

Leo F - "Skiing over to Superdevoluy with Mummy, the beginners and Miss Savage."

Mr Ferrier -  "When the children were so tired they actually went straight to sleep."

Mrs Ferrier -  "My one to one ski lesson with Mrs Cole."

Mrs Cole -  "Watching the children develop, learning to take greater responsibility for themselves and growing as individuals - never mind their progress in skiing!"

Miss Savage -  "Seeing the beginners and all children progress with their skiing so much and scaring me that they are better than me."

On Wednesday 15th February the ski trip ventured up the mountain on our daily drive in a tropical temperature of 4 degrees! However we were soon disheartened by the strong winds on the drive. We all zipped up well and set of on our morning warm up. The winds were strong and we could all feel the chill in the air. Therefore most of us stayed lower down on the mountains. Everyone was in search of jumps, forest trails and no wind!

The children all reported back from their lessons saying that their instructors were cooler and nicer than us teachers as they had been allowed to go on a huge jump landing on an giant sized inflatable air cusion. We all skiied some more this afternoon but of course all trying to avoid the cold wind and snow drifts. It was fasinating watching the loose powder snow blow up the mountain like a river.

All children have been talking today about how much they want to stay skiing for longer and enjoy life in the Alpes more often. Parents you will be glad to know the children's pocket money is being spent wisely and that there has been some gift purchasing today.

We are starting to realise the week is nearing the end. Whilst I am writing this I can hear Mrs Cole guiding children on how to load a dish washer and Mr Ferrier ensuring the children have helped deliver the rubbish to the bin. This week really is more than just a holiday and skiing. This evening we had a visit from Florence and Nino who are friends of the Ferriers. Florence was amazed to see how many children and adults fit into a family home and manage to live together peacefully for a week. Team work really is and has been a huge part of this week, whether it be collecting fire wood, washing dishes, setting the table, skiing as a group, helping each other on ski lifts or just sharing sweets! The children have been a great credit to their parents and the school this week.

Tomorrow is our last ski day so the children are looking forward to recieving their awards. Friday will the be a long journey back. I'm sure all children are looking forward to seeing their family and friends. I know I am too!

Photo - Scarlett (in the distance), Thomas L, Ella - all enjoying the forest trails!

On Tuesday 14th February we all enjoyed a little bit longer in bed as mid week tiredness got to a few of us (mostly Miss Savage and Mrs Cole)!

Our morning drives to the resort are loved by all and we must report to you on our Winter Watch over the last few days we have seen a fox, a red squirrel, chamois tracks (goat/deer) a wolf venturing nearer than usual to villages in search of food (children), because of the cold but thankfully he was not near Mr Ferrier's house to blow it down!

We all tested our ski legs before lessons, with the beginners showing Miss Savage how much they had learnt in two days. She was amazed how they coped with exploring little forest trails and even a jump! Mr Ferrier was looked after by the advanced group again and they took him over lots of jumps. Eddie L with the intermediates wiped Mrs Cole out on a tricky mogul field (harder than anything of the advanced skiers have tackled)!

Their lessons were apparently great fun with the intermediates report back making the advanced group very jealous as they had been taken over a huge jump! The beginners were very excited to venture up the mountain on a chair lift. They went to nearly the top of the mountain and cruised all the way down on blue runs impressing their instructor.

This afternoon Mrs Cole took the the advanced group to the top of the resort where they tackled various red runs in fantastic snow conditions. Unfortunately at 4.35pm they were still going up the mountain again when they were due to be meeting at the foot of the slopes at 4.45pm! But no one minded. . . .

Miss Savage had lots of fun with the intermediate group this afternoon playing around on some bumps, jumps and forrest trails. Alex and Eddie then took Miss Savage for a much needed rest and we enjoyed a drink whilst Iona, Ellen and Olivia met up and explored another run with the beginners who would not give in! The girls were very impressed at the transformation since they last saw them and there was quite a lot of competition. Mr Ferrier and the beginners had a wonderful afternoon enjoying everything off piste. They explored forest trails and jumps with their new found confidence.

Our drive back made history as the temperature rose to 0 degrees for the first time this week! Le grand froid c'est fini!

Miss Savage

Photo -  Charlie T, Eddie T, Harvey, Tom P, Nathan and Isabel F

Revised time for arrival back in Terrington.

The earliest we can possible expect to be back will be 10pm and could well be later given traffic on a Friday on the M25 and M1 leaving London.

We will be in touch during our travels.

On Monday 13th February we set off earlier than on previous days to have an extra session of skiing before our ski school lessons. When we arrived we split into three groups. Mr Ferrier with the beginners, Mrs Cole with the intermediates and Miss Savage with the more advanced.

After our amazing session we started our lessons. In our group were Eddie L, Iona, Alex, Ellen, Olivia and Eddie T. We explored some off piste and went on a button lift where most of us fell off apart from Alex. Alex did the best today because at one stage he lost his confidence but then he rediscovered it and did amazingly well.

This afternoon the beginners group enjoyed exploring trails through the trees with Mrs Cole. They managed to miss hugging trees! The intermediates cruised down blue runs with Miss Savage, finding little jumps and managed to cope well with some ice. Mr Ferrier was tested to the limit by the advanced advanced group who spent much of the time airborne.

We all enjoyed our day and made good progress in all our sessions, but the beginners' group enjoyed it the most, improving loads going higher up the mountain and coming down a long blue twice with Mr Ferrier, three times with their instructor in a two hour lesson and three times again with Mrs Cole. They are due to explore higher up the mountain tomorrow on a chair lift for the first time.

Eddie T and Eddie L

Photo - Ellen, Eddie T, Iona, Olivia, Franki and Alex

Sorry - technology would not allow me to upload two photos.

Here are the beginners ready to take off!

Photo - Scarlett, Ella and Thomas L

On Sunday 12th February we set off for our first day skiing. Most of us had skied before but for Ella, Scarlett and Thomas it was their first time. They were really eager to give it a try and we were excited to warm up our ski legs. We held our breath as we passed through the tunnel into the resort. Miss Savage has informed the girls that it helps their ears adjust to the altitude (a few of them are still believing this!)

We arrived at La Joue du Loup to perfectly groomed pistes. The instructors split us into three groups and we were off. One group of children (Harvey, Nathan, Charlie, Isabel F, Frankie and me -Tom) experienced going backwards on a ski lift (which was a highlight of the day for some) and all went forwards and downhill on skis.

We stopped for lunch and drinks before exploring the slopes some more in the afternon. The beginners managed to test and entertain Miss Savage on the nursery slope whilst the rest tested Mr Ferrier and Mrs Cole on the higher slopes and jumps (apparently).

Overall we had a really good day and can't wait to do it again tomorrow.

Tom Pycock

Photo - Leo F, Nathan, Eddie T, Olivia, Iona, Tom P, Frankie, Isabel F, Charlie, Alex, Harvey, Ellen and Eddie L

The children enjoyed a French style breakfast this morning to fuel themselves before we set off on our adventurous day. Our first stop was in Gap to kit ourselves up with snow shoes and poles. We arrived at Col du Festre (en route to our ski resort) and fueled up yet again with a chocolat chaud.

Our Snow Shoeing trek took us across glorious sunny countryside in the foot hills of a mountain range. The views really were amazing and the distant sight of a little wooden cabin kept the children enthusiastically trekking on. We stopped a few times to yet again re-fuel with our delicious flute (a size larger than a baguette) crusty sandwiches, water and goodies. All the children put a lot of effort into a fantastic snow shoe trek which took them off the beaten track into a winter wonderland and they seemed pleased with their achievement. The guidance from Mr Ferrier was excellent and all children fought to be close to the front to be walking next to the hero they worship!

We ended our day exchanging our equipment for skis, boots, poles and helmets. Ella, Scarlett and Thomas (first time skiers) were intrigued by these strange boots that were being fitted to their feet!

The children have just easily cleared a table of pizza and completed the famous 'bin run'. Tomorrow's weather is due to be another sunny day and the children will all start their ski school lessons.

Iona, Scarlett and Ella