Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Poland: final day

  Sat 07 Mar 2020 T. Caygill

  Our final morning in Biecz, after an amazing week away. We had a bit of a lie-in today as breakfast was at 9:00 am. We finished packing then walked up into the town for some last-minute shopping before catching the bus to the airport. This took a couple of hours and we then prepared ourselves for a very long wait as we arrived soon after 2:00 pm and weren’t flying till 8:55 pm. Still, we made the best of it as we found a games area and played Twister, table tennis and table football; we did some souvenir shopping; we went to the observation deck to do some observing then we played on Snapchat and saw what we would look like if we were pretty babies - the fun literally never stopped!

  Eventually we got through passport control and enjoyed a lovely pizza/pasta meal then got ready to board. 

  We’re so proud of the the children we’ve brought away with us. They’ve been great ambassadors for our school and spending a week with them has been a joy. A huge thank you to Marilyn for keeping us on track and supporting us throughout the week. Our flight is a little bit delayed but we’ll be home soon. Signing off from Poland: good night. 

  

• Poland: Day 6

  Fri 06 Mar 2020 T Caygill

  This morning we were joined by children from the Polish school and headed up into the mountains to the horse stud. There was snow on the ground and it was really, really cold. On arrival, we had a quick snowball fight then warmed up before getting onto carts pulled by horses and riding out along the roads near the farm. Everyone enjoyed this despite the cold. The horse hair, and Nicole’s hair, blew into people’s faces and our cart passes the time with an alphabet game. Unfortunately, Mr Caygill is allergic to horses (but not Nicole) and his eyes went red and swelled up a bit so he didn’t go into the building with the horses and just sat on his own like Terry-No-Mates as he didn’t want to scare the horses! Everyone else went into the barn with the horses and petted and fed them - including two foals - then went into the arena. At this point all of the children and Miss Dickinson and Marilyn rode on a horse and were led round the arena by another adult. Everyone loved the experience - well, almost everyone!

  We then had lunch - tradition Polish cuisine - of mashed potato, chicken in breadcrumbs and a kind of sauerkraut - it was nice but it was no chicken nuggets. All the children had a good go at eating this - they’ve really broadened their food horizons as the week has gone on. As it’s national Women’s day, the ladies amongst us got a special chocolate - We gentlemen didn’t mind at all though as the four ladies have been great company and deserved a treat for putting up with us three!

  After lunch we played games with our European friends before heading to a wooden Greek Orthodox Church made from wood. On the outside it appeared a small, unassuming building but, on entering, it was spectacular with icons and gold and carvings to make your eyes pop. Sadly, today has been marred by the lack of steps - it really was a tragedy (for the nineties kids among you!) but our legs deserved a rest. 

  Then we had a much needed rest in our rooms before the farewell dinner. Packing mostly done and all set for the journey home tomorrow. 

  

• Poland: Day 5

  Thu 05 Mar 2020 T. Caygill

  The weather this morning was clear with a bit of fog that soon burnt off as the sun came up. After breakfast, we headed to Carpathian Troy, which was a museum of mediaeval Poland - a bit like Beamish but older. First of all we painted wooded eggs -in a traditional Polish style - which was excellent. It was the quietest we’d been all week however it was much harder than we thought. My Caygill assumed he would be an expert at it but his shaky hands did not agree. Everyone had a really good go at it with Ly’s egg having the colour and texture of moss: interesting. Everyone else’s being more in keeping with the original style. 

  We then visited the mediaeval and bronze-age villages which involved more . . . Steps! Today’s tower had 201 so more than yesterday but fewer than Monday in the steps league table. 

  Next, it was lunchtime and it was everyone’s favourite meal of the trip as we all like to widen our culinary horizons with traditional Polish food - it was chicken nuggets and chips!

  After that, we headed into Jiaslo to the lollipop museum where we learned about the history of lollipops then had a go at making them. We opted for strawberry flavour and then all bought some to take home for souvenirs - maybe? After that, we wandered into the town square for refreshment before heading back to the hotel with a glorious sunset to accompany us. 

  Then it was free time before food: cheese pancakes and caramel sauce, fresh cream and icing sugar - yes, really!

  It’s our last full day tomorrow and the children have been great throughout the week. Looking forward to tomorrow’s adventures now. 

  

• Poland: Day 4

  Wed 04 Mar 2020 T Caygill

  Breakfast was earlier today as we were visiting the ‘early years’ part of the school, which is on a different site from the rest of the school. We went into several different classes and were greeted with songs, sung in English, about the seasons, asking questions and saying hello and welcome. Lu and N had their photo taken with a huge teddy bear although N looked slightly more impressed with this than Lu!

  We then went into Biecz to sightsee. We went to a museum about Marcin Kromer   As he is Biecz’s most famous son and Ly was inspired by his statue. Then it was a tour of the cathedral, which was stunningly beautiful and full of golden carvings and statues, that N recreated with uncanny realism. We then went on to a museum of pharmacy, where J photographed everything in sight,  then climbed to the top of the town hall - all 167 steps of it. We really have climbed many, many steps this week - our legs can definitely feel it!

  There was then time to stock up on all the essentials: Fanta, chocolate, biscuits and more chocolate. Next it was free time in the hotel before returning to school for a quiz and sports night. The children wore themselves out in a variety of team games and ran off some of their excess energy!

  Then it was home for tea and ready for bed - we need all our energy for lollipop making tomorrow!

  

• Poland: day 3

  Tue 03 Mar 2020 T Caygill

  Tuesday started a bit later than yesterday and the day before as breakfast was at nine so we had caught up on the lack of sleep from Sunday night by getting an early night and having a bit of a lie-in. 

  We all filled up on bread, cheese, sausages and biscuits for the day ahead. 

  Our walk to school took about ten minutes and we caught a glimpse of what a beautiful city we are visiting. On arrival at school, we were treated to a show. The host school had prepared special dances for each visiting country with a bit of ballroom for England, Despacito for Spain and some traditional Cypriot music too. There was singing and dancing and an overall message of tolerance and togetherness; a really emotional morning. 

  Then it was a quick presentation about the school before the children split into groups and got to know their Polish counterparts. We then enjoyed a tour of the school before heading back to the hotel for lunch: mushroom soup and traditional polish dumplings. 

  After lunch we headed to a clay workshop to make clay hangings. Everyone had a go although Mr Caygill’s elaborate design of woven rope, shaped into a heart, looked like something you should pick up after your dog has been for a walk! N’s pen-holder in the shape of a heart was lovely as was Ly’s in the shape of a lamb and a chick - very appropriate for the Easter pen-holder market! J was very thoughtful and made an Easter egg Erasmus/ Poland hanging and Lu’s design was a triangle with his name and the Erasmus logo on too. Miss Dickinson made a heart shaped one and an Erasmus one too. 

  We then had some free time before our evening meal.  Tonight, it was . . . PIZZA. Hurrah! Everyone seemed happy with this meal!

  After that, it was amazing to see all the children, and staff, joining in with songs and dances and really bonding as a group. Laughing together and having fun. Thankfully, tired children are now in bed!

  

• Poland: Day 2

  Mon 02 Mar 2020 T Caygill

  This morning was a very early start: 7:15 breakfast and check-out at 8:00. We then went on a epic tour of Historic Kraków. We visited: St Mary’s square (the largest square in Europe), the castle, a cathedral and the university. We went to the top of the tower in the cathedral and had spectacular views of the city below! We also touched the bell and made a wish - not everyone could reach it however and some needed a helping hand from Mr Caygill. Ly and J were very enthusiastic throughout and were often at the front asking the guide more and more questions. Lu and N were further back, chatting and looking forwards to their Starbucks! 

  We all needed a little sit down after walking four and a half miles by half eleven so it was hot chocolates, coffees and muffins all round! 

  Next we caught the coach to the salt mine and had lunch. Starter was soup and the main was a bit like if a sausage roll and a spring roll and a cabbage roll had a baby - that’s what it was like! Everyone tried it and it was good to see our kids giving the traditional Polish cuisine a try. 

  Then we headed to the salt mine, which is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. First we descended 380 steps to start the tour but did a whopping 786 steps by the end! Inside the mine there were an amazing 26 chapels underground for the miners to worship in with St Kinga’s chapel being the largest at 12m high and taking 100 years to build - people actually still get married there although we were slightly concerned about how someone might get their aged aunt down all those stairs! A chandelier in the chapel was made entirely of rock salt, including 800 pieces and taking eight months to build. By this point we had walked over eight miles so we’re looking forward to a little sit down. 

  Our coach journey, for the next leg of our trip, took 2 hours and we finally arrived in Biecz and checked in to our hotel. All ready for tomorrow now.

  

• Poland: Day 1

  Sun 01 Mar 2020 Mr Caygill

  We set off at nine o’clock sharp and headed towards Leeds with a bit of a detour as a result of the A66 being closed.  Check-in and passport control were really straightforward however our meal was slightly more problematic. We ordered separately and our food arrived one at a time - with a five minute interval between each item - so that Mr Caygill and Miss Dickinson has to shovel their food in as the boarding gates were closing. It wasn’t the hardest thing to leave to be honest - I don’t think Gordon Ramsay has much to fear!

  We got on the plane easily and were really close to the back so it allowed us to get on and off quickly. L loved her first flight and especially enjoyed zooming along the runway before takeoff. Our flight was around two hours long and we were soon in a taxi, heading to our hotel. On arrival we met our Polish hosts, who were very welcoming and made us feel immediately at home. We also met the Spanish group who had just arrived before us. Later we met up with the Cypriot group and all went out for our evening meal: chicken and mushroom pizza. 

  Later we walked into the historic centre of Kraków which was absolutely beautiful with glimmering fairy lights, horse and carts (complete with rear lights) and an array of stunning, historical buildings. Lots of tired people - especially the adults - but ready for tomorrow’s adventures.