Parklands News Desk

DAY 3 Manor Adventure 2008 - The sun came out to play.

Hello Parklands,
Thanks for the sunny weather. It was a dry day and we are ready for another one so keep ‘em coming.

Blog is looking good.

Day 2 Wet Wet Wet!!!
 
A drenched start to day two as we wake up to the pitter patter of rain on the roofs of our dormitories. We nonetheless looked forward to the days activities and soon we were off to the hill for a misty and drizzly walk. The high ropes, which are always a popular activity, became an interesting challenge with the ropes and wooden planks being soaked by the morning’s rain. As ever the obstacle course provided heaps of entertainment to not only the kids but the teachers as well. Children hanging on for fear of mud while other’s fall face down in the mud. All good, clean fun!!!
 
The afternoon looked to be dry and group 1,2,3 and 4 set off for their hill walk. So there we were at The Long Mynd (National Trust Park) admiring the views and taking pictures of the rushing stream thinking this is great. As we made our decent from the hill we were caught in what can only be described as ‘a soaking’!!! This tested even the most expensive of waterproofs and found most wanting. As we sat at the dinner table discussing the days events we were glad to be back in the dry and looked forward to some sunnier days. Well you can hope can’t you?
 
Manor Adventure Group 2008
Shropshire

  (Click on the photo for a larger image)
Shortly before 2pm the Year 6 children arrived at Manor adventures for their long awaited residential trip. The drive up to Shropshire was without traffic apart from a small delay near Kettering. After listening to a safety briefing, which included a tour of the site they started their first activity. The group is excited to be out and about and looks forward to a good week despite the weather predictions being less than favourable.

Shropshire trip reminders 

Monday 8^th September to Friday 12^th September 2008 

Please arrive in school on Monday morning from 7.30 am – please park along the edges of the playground to allow two coaches and a minibus through the car park. 

Children to report to the hall and go to the table with their activity group leader on.  The children will be told their activity group leader upon return to school in September.  Children need to hand over: 

Medicines:  

• All medicines must be clearly marked with their name and with clear instructions for the dosage.  Please put in any medicines they might need e.g. allergy cream, every now and again medicine.
• If your child is asthmatic, they must take 2 inhalers. One must be taken to all activities and the second one is looked after by our first aider.
• All medicines will be kept with our first aider and will be given out at the correct times and correct dosages.  The children will not have medicines in their dormitory.
• If your child is prone to travel sickness, please give them tablets before the coaches leave and then hand in labeled ones for the return journey.

Pocket money: 

• Each child needs 4 envelopes containing a maximum amount of £1.50.  The envelopes need to be named and dated (Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs) and please ensure that they have change, as they will need it to use in the vending machines.

Luggage 

• One main bag for all clothing – ideally a soft holdall
• One sleeping bag – tightly rolled in a black bin bag – name on the outside
• List of what you are including
• Spare named bin liners for wet clothes and sleeping bag on the return journey

The children must travel in their red Parklands sweatshirts as these are used for identification at the service stations. 

Children will need a packed lunch in a carrier bag, so it can be easily disposed of once eaten.  Anything that is not eaten cannot be taken into their dormitories.  They are not allowed to take chewing or bubble gum or cans of drink and chocolate on the coach.

Please do not include notes to your child or send letters. 

Children are not allowed mobile phones.  If there are any problems school will phone you or you can phone the number at the top of the phone tree. 

The children can take mini games consoles but at their own risk – again clearly mark with their name.  There are no charging facilities so please leave any PSPs or DS Lites at home!Cameras are permitted – please name and be sure your child can load the camera themselves.  Disposable cameras are ideal. 

A watch will be particularly useful as the children need to be on time for their activities, breakfast, lunch and evening meal. 

Hair dryers for long hair are permitted. 

No radios please although Mp 3s are acceptable – again these are at your child’s own risk and should be labeled. 

Phone tree You will receive the phone tree in September.  For the outward journey, once we arrive, the school will be informed and this will set off the phone tree – please phone the next on your list – if no one is in please phone the next on the list to save delay.  Please keep the school line free. Return journey – we will contact school from a service station when we can best judge expected time of arrival.  School will then start off the phone tree – if there are likely to be changes due to traffic etc, school will be informed, so please keep your phones free.  Clothing Please see http://parklandspaper.learnerblogs.org/2008/05/23/information-sheet-for-shropshire-trip/ for a complete clothing list.It could be wet/chilly or even quite nice however children must have a waterproof coat.Old clothes – please encourage your child to have a go at packing their own belongings as they will need to do this before leaving.  It really helps if all clothing can be labeled.Footwear – children will need shoes with heels or
Wellingtons for the horse riding2 or 3 pairs of old trainers – they are likely to get muddy and wet. Activities and day to day Breakfasts tend to begin from 7.30 in the morning with the first of 5 activities beginning at 9 am.  The last activity begins at 7pm.There is a good choice of different foods. Expectations
 We expect the same standard of behaviour as we would at school.  If there is any significant bad behaviour then we would contact parents and the child would have to be picked up from
Shropshire. It should be a great week so please encourage your child to try their best and have a go at each activity. Have a great summer 

A. Pinkham 

INFORMATION SHEET FOR
SHROPSHIRE TRIP 

Please ensure that all clothes, shoes, bags, etc. are named so that we can identify the owner if they get lost. 

Children must travel to and from
Shropshire in their Parklands tops.  This makes things easier at service stations. 

Luggage 

Please restrict this to one piece of luggage, preferably a holdall and one piece of hand luggage.  Metal framed rucksacks should be avoided as they are difficult to fit in the coach. 

Clothing 

ALL CLOTHING SHOULD BE OLD AND LABELLED. 

Jumpers, sweatshirts, tracksuits, trousers/jogging bottoms, t-shirts, shorts, underwear, nightwear, 4 towels, hat, gloves, thick socks, but no denim items.  Walking boots/stout comfortable shoes/wellies and trainers (at least 2 pairs, one of which can be thrown away).  Pony trekking groups will need to bring boots or shoes with a heel (suitable for stirrups) 

ALL PUPILS MUST HAVE A WATERPROOF CAGOULE/JACKET. 

A torch, 3 black bin liners, a couple of carrier bags for changes of clothes for wet activities and a small rucksack for the hill walk, although this can be the same bag used for the coach journey.  Please put your child’s name on these too. 

Sleeping 

Pillow case and sleeping bag. 

Further information will follow later in the term.