Year 9 French exchange AW1 ( 17th to 24th May)

14 Year 9 students studying French took part this year in the French exchange with our French partner school “ l’Institution de la Croix Blanche” in Bondues, near Lille, not far from the Belgium border. We have run this successful exchange for over 10 years and for the 3rd Year, Newstead Wood School joined us with 17 Year 9 girls.

After travelling by Eurostar to Lille Europe, our students were met by their French host families to have lunch and spend the afternoon with them and get to know each other.

On Monday 18th, Ms Senaratne and Mrs Saunders met the students for a debrief, before enjoying together a “welcome breakfast” laid out by the French School and being greeted by their Headmaster. The rest of the day was spent in lessons with the French partners.

The following day was spent visiting the National Mining Museum where students learnt about the coal miners’ way of life from the 19th century through to the day when coal mines closed in the 70ies. The afternoon was spent learning how to make French bread, basting croissants, shaping baguettes and visiting the Museum of Armentieres, retracing the past of this traditionally textile industry-driven town.

On Wednesday, our students attended lessons with their partners in the morning and spent the afternoon with their host families.

Thursday 21st May was another packed day, starting with the guided visit of the thread manufacture in Roubaix, based in a former thread mill. We then spent the lunch hour picnicking in the Citadelle parc in Lille, where the students spent 2 hours tree-trekking, in perfect weather conditions.

On Friday, it was so sunny that the planned 2 hour long sand-yachting session on Boulogne-sur-Mer beach was shortened, but all 3 groups enjoyed a marine nature trail guided by the instructor. We finished our time in Boulogne, facing the beach, eating our picnics.

Saturday and Sunday were spent in our host families and although our students obviously were glad to re-unite with their parents, they were also a little melancholic of their challenging , enriching week in a different country.