Avenue House School
Read all about the lastest ski trip.
Each year pupils from Years 3 to Years 6 have the opportunity to set off on an Activity Skiing Holiday.
March 2008 - Montgenevre - France
March 2007 - Tonale - Italy
March 2006 - St Johann - Austria
Mrs McCormick writes about the skiing trip to Montgenevre.
The destination for this year’s adventure was Montgenevre, a small, but perfectly formed village on the border of Italy and France. And what an adventure we had!
After a relatively civilized start of 8.30am, we said our goodbye’s at the school gate
and took the coach to Stansted Airport for our flight to Turin. Check in was relatively painless, despite long queues at passport control and the inevitable excitement when someone was stopped and searched! We then found ourselves a comfortable seating area and sent in shifts to stock up on merchandise for the flight. In addition to the copious amounts of sweets and drinks, we were also well fed on birthday cup cakes,
as one of our party, Rhea, was10 that day! I think the whole of the departure lounge delighted in our loud rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ and the loud cheers that followed!
The flight was easy and fortunately, ‘Nurse Jory’ had learnt from previous years and administered sick tablets well in advance of the flight! Our arrival at Turin was smooth and all our bags were there to greet us. First part of the journey complete!
The journey to Montgenevre was about an hour and a half, and in spite of the incessant questioning of “are we in France yet?” the children were happy and excited, as were the accompanying adults and teachers!
We were staying in the Club Hotel Les Rois Mages, a comfortable establishment directly opposite the pistes. Those of us with any knowledge of French were quite looking forward to the opportunity of conversing with the staff, but upon arrival, we were greeted by the very friendly Brummie manager called Paul! We quickly learnt that the hotel was entirely staffed by Brits – but hey ho! You can’t have everything! Within a couple of hours, all suitcases were in the correct rooms and children were being fitted for their skis and boots, by the rather aptly named ‘Wayne Lush...’
What followed was another week of perfect skiing, happy and busy children and enthusiastic parents and staff. The children did amazingly well on the slopes and should all be very proud of themselves. It was lovely for some of the more advanced skiers to have the opportunity to ski in both France and Italy and the instructors were friendly and very helpful. Evening activities were fun packed and competitive, and I am proud of Miss Jory for becoming the killer pool champion! However, all good things must come to an end!
Our journey home was a little less smooth compared with our outward journey, not least because one of our party had had a rather unpleasant accident 
on the final morning of skiing. Yes – I am able to look after 25 children but unable to look after myself! However, my sincere thanks go out the French mountain rescue service and everyone else who made my descent less painful! Footage of my descent is available on YouTube. Unfortunately my knee is still somewhat crooked, but hopefully time is a great healer!
In addition to our little hiccup with regards to the party leader, our time at Turin airport was somewhat extended, as First Choice announced upon our arrival at the airport that they did not have a plane for us to fly home on and we were to be delayed for 7 hours!! Delays are not fun at the best of times, but with 25 children, 9 irate adults and an incapacitated party leader, we were a little unhappy to say the least! However, as ever, the children just got on with it and played happily for the next 7 hours. Thank goodness for the small rubber bouncy balls that many had bought from the vending machine at the hotel. ‘Four-square’ in an airport lounge had never been so fun!
Finally, at 2.15am (as opposed to our original arrival time of 9pm) we wearily drew up Avenue House, to be greeted by parents and smiling faces. It had been a rather tedious and traumatic 24 hours, but overall, a wonderful trip.
My sincere thanks go out to all our fabulous children who excelled themselves and flew the ‘Avenue House Flag’ proudly. Also, huge thanks to Mr Batt, Mr Halpenny, Mr Adey, Mr Kamboj, Mr Robinson, Mr Piercy and Miss Wagstaff for giving up their time to come on the trip. My room mate and hot chocolate connoisseur Miss Jory and the ‘new boy’ – Mr Sheppard – who informs me that he will be happy to come again next year! On a personal note – I am so grateful for everyone pulling together in my hour(s) of need. It is times like that when people show their true colours and I am proud to say that the Avenue House Clan is as vibrant as ever.
Mrs McCormick tells more about the skiing trip to Tonale.
"What another fabulous trip for all! It began with an early start at Heathrow airport, waiting for a few latecomers to check in, and then through the departure hall in a long crocodile. It always amuses me to see the variety of expressions from members of the public as we snake our way through the crowds. They are either expressions or admiration or sheer horror! I like to think it is the former!
Once through passport control and baggage check (always a challenge – as children inevitably leave hand luggage/shoes/belts behind!) we all felt in need of something breakfasty! ‘Pret a Manger’ didn’t know what had hit them at this time of the morning!
Once fed and watered, it was the usual waiting game before it was time to board, which was filled easily by wandering around the variety of retail outlets that the airport has to offer.
Now fully stocked with reading material, water and an obscene amount of sugary concoctions, we boarded the BA flight to Milan. This is always a wonderful moment, as the sheer reality of the trip hits both the children and the adults alike – with different responses. Every item of literature is removed from the backs of seats and every button pressed! Accompany adults realise that their usual experience of a family holiday for 4 has not prepared them for the enormity of the journey before them!
As the flight ended, with the usual cheer and round of applause from the children as the pilot lands us safely on Italian soil, we waited until all the ‘normal’ public had left the plane before we gathered together again. Through passport control with ease and then onto the baggage claim! This has the potential for disaster, but luckily, with our fail safe system of ‘blue ribbon tagging’ all bags were off the carousel with ease and onto the trolleys. We had a quick walk through the arrivals hall, to be met by our Ski Equity Rep – Richard.
The coach journey to our resort was lengthy and a little stomach churning at times. Unfortunately, the winding mountain roads took its toll on some of the children and some of the confectionary mentioned earlier did reappear! However, as ever prepared, after a few stops on the side of the road and some wet wipes, we arrived at the resort.
During the mid 70’s our hotel would have been regarded as ‘cutting edge’ but unfortunately, as with everything, time had not been kind to either the design of the building or the fittings and fixtures. Suffice to say – that ‘Prisoner Cell Block H’ could have used it as a filming location. However, the aesthetics aside, it was clean, warm, and perfect for children. The manager Marco was incredibly accommodating and went out of his way to make our stay easy and comfortable. The food was excellent and the bar well stocked with snacks and hot chocolate!
The photographs can tell the story of the rest of the trip much better that I can describe, so I will leave it to the eye to speak. Suffice to say, that the snow was perfect, the children were determined, gutsy and skilful in their approach and the accompanying parents were worth their weight in gold.
Some may say that it is a very brave or even crazy thing to take children of primary school age away on a ski trip. I would beg to differ. The personal development, teamwork, independence and enjoyment that the children gain from a week away with their peers, is more that I could hope to achieve in an entire term in the class room alone. They mix with children from other classes and year groups. They learn to share and take responsibilities for their actions. They have to organise their belongings each day, keep their rooms tidy for the sake of their room mates as well as themselves. They help each other on the slopes and see their friends at their most exhausted and vulnerable. They begin to understand the need to eat well and sleep well. They begin to learn to sort out their own arguments without the intervention of a teacher to sort it out all the time. They are away from the distractions of PSP’s, X-Factor and High School Musical.
Above all else, they have the real opportunity to be children and play. They talk, laugh and roll in the snow. Now surely that’s something that should be on the curriculum in all schools. "
Take a look and see what fun was had on the slopes and off the slopes in March 2007
Mr Wilson gives a parents perspective of the skiing trip in 2006.
The school skiing trip is a fabulous adventure for both the children and parent-helpers. It’s a week long experience where the children gain in confidence everyday, both from their improved skiing ability and their independence from being away from home. The camaraderie that develops amongst all the children is fantastic, i.e. watching them bond in their various groups (advanced, intermediate, improvers and beginners) and see several move up the groups as they improve throughout the week.
The week in not all about skiing! There are organized action-packed games and activities every night, where the children can wind down and release that additional energy they always seem to have. After the evening activities it’s off to bed, as the children are usually worn-out from the busy day, there is very little time for any mischief! The week always finishes with a prize-giving ceremony that is packed with fun and laughter.
The parent-helpers get to spend a wonderful week with the teachers and the incredibly well behaved Avenue House School Children! What more could you want with your week vacation.
