St Mary’s Catholic High School / 6 Nov
Flanders Trip Day 1:
We have arrived safely at our hotel in Lo-Reninge, after a pleasant trip down to Dover, via a services stop, and a calm crossing to Calais.
Our first stop was at Essex Farm, the place where the famous In Flanders Fields poem was written by John McRae. Mr Cox gave an explanation and reading of the poem and Mr Peach showed pupils around the dressing station and toured the cemetery.
Today has also afforded us with opportunities to make links to GCSE History Paper 1, as well as other interesting historical context. Mr Peach detailed the causes of the First World War before we crossed the border into Belgium and began to see sites of interest.
Our evening meal is at 6:30 this evening, after which the pupils have some free time, before a well-needed good night's sleep - tomorrow will be a busy day!
The Flanders trip is always one that is challenging: our pupils are, of course, excited to be away from home and to be travelling abroad, but are faced with moving stories, as well as expectations that they are respectful and empathetic. And so we are delighted with their behaviour and reverence so far, but we never take it for granted.
