Activities Week

Congratulations to the following four Year 7 students who did the best drawings on the sketching trip to Whipsnade zoo. They are: E. Iliya, (Great drawing of a lion) G. Lawrie, (Fantastic drawing of a tiger) D. Illing,(Wonderful drawing of a bird) and V. Leighton (Very accurate drawing of a seal leaping up to hit a ball) They will each receive a prize in the forthcoming 'celebrating success' assemblies.

Year 7 enjoying Whipsnade zoo during an Art Trip.

The Art Department hope that all the Year 7 students found something of interest (Mr Hearn was particularly fond of the burrowing owls) and were able to record lots of images of animals which they will save for their sketchpads, and will be suitably inspired to create sculptures of animals in an exciting Year 8 Animal project which will be running next year.

Year 7 enjoying the Tower of London during a Humanities Trip.

An account of the Trip to the Tower of London by Abi Simpson 7EEL

The trip to London was quite a long trip with the buses getting stuck in traffic. In the end we made it, everyone was cheering when we saw the castle, the bus driver parked up and we all got off in an orderly fashion. The boat trip was nice and relaxing, well it saves you swimming down the Thames.

We had a guide who said he wasn’t a guide but just a member of the boat crew, he pointed out that Big Ben was the name of the bell, and the tower on which it stands was just a tower; he pointed out that the fire of London was set off in Pudding Street by one candle; and that there was a replica of Francis Drake’s Golden Hind; and also that one man on one of the bridges once poured milkshake on the tourists- how rude.

We then headed for the castle, Mr Corrasco gave us our tickets and in we went. It was a bit like a little village, inside a castle, we saw Beef-eaters and guards outside in the ‘bailey’ after annoying the guard and trying to make him laugh, we wondered off to the exhibition, it had everything, the armour, the weapons, the interactive ‘shooting the people in the cart’ games and playing with a bow and arrow.

After taking a picture of almost everything, my camera died, and it was just as well because we then set off down a load of narrow stairs to the dungeon, which had the replicas of how they taught people their lessons back then. It was a short three minute walk to where they had the crown jewels, they were very strict and they didn’t allow any photography.

The tour took you through two or three rooms of short films about the Queen and her Coronation, we then crossed the path off a big steel bolted door which obviously protected the jewels, and there they were, the diamonds and rubies of all nations; Indian, Scottish, and previous rulers too! There was a slow elevator which gave you a journey past the jewels to see them clearly. Some women, who must have been foreign, had taken a picture, and the security guard had actually chased her, demanding her to delete the photo, Wow!

It had been a long tiring day, and everyone was getting grumpy and anxious to get back to bed, so in actual fact, the bus trip home was probably longer than the trip there. I must have to admit that it was a great trip, Thank you!

Year 8 Activities Week

 

Year 7. Remember to save your images, and bring them in next year!

 

Year 7 Whipsnade zoo Expressive Arts trip On 7th July,

By Dominika Chmurzunska 7AKY

Year 7 pupils and art teachers were delighted by the many sights and scenes of Whipsnade zoo. As part of an art project, students had the task of drawing an animal they saw at the zoo. So, with sketch pads at the ready, everyone boarded the coaches, bursting with excitement.

Upon arrival, most headed straight down to the first enclosure with their groups, to look at the bears and wolverines. Many cameras clicked, many photos taken, many gasps of wonder uttered as the bears lumbered around their habitat, and the wolverine feasted on his breakfast.

Next, we headed down to the penguins. The fashion of these creatures as they waddled and swam amused some and amazed others. We were momentarily side tracked by a family of wallabies, who roam free at the zoo. Then, we piled on to the safari bus, eagerly listening (and snacking for some) to the commentary of the wild Africa area of the zoo.

We passed zebras and buffalo, finally getting of at the meerkat station. Most of the students were then astonished to discover that not all meerkats spoke with a Russian accent and advertised car insurance. The worn safari tracks then lead to the cheetah enclosure, amusing many by the ‘Are you faster than a cheetah?’ game.

We then headed off towards the park, in which many let off steam by going on the slides. We next headed off to the sea lion show scheduled before lunch. Many students piled in with the other tourists, beginning a slight scrabble over who got to sit in the wet zone. Claps broke out as the sea lions reached high and flopped back into the water, sending a small wave over the wet zone.

Now, it was time for lunch which we ate in the park, but not before spending all our money on key chains in the gift shop. Many headed straight to the slides, but were a bit disappointed to find out the thrilling ride was rather small.

After we were fed and watered, we headed down to the tigers, only remembering that we actually had to draw something. We sat down on the grassy hill and watched the tigers, pencils ablaze, as they prowled around like kings.

We now headed off to the creepy crawly are, most of the boys nearly bursting with delight as they watched the spiders, snakes and crocodiles. Most girls (like myself) stood a little distance away from the glass. Lastly, we went to see the bird show, gasping as the owls and hawks swooped around our heads, showing off their magnificent wings, before piling onto the bus to head home.