Friday Headlines

the weekly newsletter from EHS

Escape to the Chateau for Year 6

26 May 2023

On Monday 15 May, 48 excited Year 6 girls arrived at school ready to depart for France. The long-awaited French Trip was finally here! After delivering cases to the driver and saying final farewells to parents, we were off, motorway bound and heading for the South. At the services, the girls treated themselves to a breakfast – McDonalds’ and Starbucks’ sales intake was greatly boosted by our visit!

We arrived at Dover in good time and enjoyed a calm ferry crossing whilst the girls enjoyed a packed lunch. Finally, several DVDs later, we arrived at our destination, the Château du Broutel in Rue. The girls were shown to their dorms, given a quick tour of the Château grounds, taken to the dining room for dinner and then we began settling into our home for the week.

Whilst we stayed both in the main Château and Écurie buildings, we enjoyed the opportunity to appreciate the entire Château and its surroundings – a magnificent 18th Century building set in over 40 acres of well-kept grounds, and of course…the resident cat!

Over the next few days, we were all kept busy, with a timetable of both cultural and adventure activities. A market trip; a visit to a snail farm; a visit to the beach complete with ice cream; the chance to make their own French mayonnaise and to meet the pen pals they had exchanged letters with at Notre Dame School, provided plenty of opportunities for the girls to practise their French speaking, listening and reading. The adventure activities this year involved Orienteering, Blind Trail, Obstacle Course, Low Ropes, Initiative Exercises and Aeroball – which proved to be a great success! Many were pushed a little out of their comfort zone….and greatly enjoyed it! The Tracking & Camouflage activity and Camp Fire were firm favourites in the evening.

Food once again featured highly, with everyone making the most of the croissants, pains au chocolat, fresh fruit, cereal and yoghurts for breakfast and the variety of tasty dishes for lunch and dinner - always accompanied by French bread and cheese. The girls, of course, also enjoyed some evening trips to the Château tuck shop!

We returned to school on Friday evening tired, but in high spirits after a lovely week. Many of the girls took full advantage of the opportunity to try something new and really enjoyed working with the Château staff and activity leaders. Many also commented on how they had formed closer friendships with their peers. The girls also received compliments for their excellent manners, teamwork and positive outlook and were a pleasure to take away.

A huge thanks, or should I say ‘merci mille fois’ to all involved in the trip, and to the glorious sunny weather, for a wonderful week!

Mme Hennous

Back to Friday Headlines