Category Archives: Foreign Trips

Holland 2019: Day 4: Our Lazy Day

Good Morning Prestonpans – this is Valkenburg calling.

A long lie this morning until 7.30 ish when we were awoken by Stuart Wilson , a leisurely breakfast and then on our way to SnowWorld Landgraaf for the Climbpark and Alpine Coaster.

ALL of our young adventurers took part in the activity and we had no refusers on Europes largest high ropes!

The temperature soared and by lunchtime it was 38°C and we really needed to go for a swim at the fantastic Mosaqua Pool in Gulpen. This was a welcome relief for the unrelenting sunshine, which we are experiencing – you too we understand!!

The evening we were back across the cool caves of the  Valkenburg Agogo for a game of Lasertag.

The weather tomorrow is forecast to be even hotter and we return to Germany to Movie Park Theme Park

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Holland 2019: Day 3 Phantasialand Adventure

Good Morning Preston Lodge – Valkenburg calling

What another spectacular day we have had, the weather was scorching hot with hardly a cloud in the sky. Temperature hit 34 °C and although some of the adventurers were feeling the heat, none were burned (not even the gingers!!)

A beautiful moment this morning when Jaime’s Granny met us at the Phantasialand bus park!! Thank you for taking the time.

Phantasialand was quite quiet and the queues were around 5 – 10 minutes on most of the rides – this seemed like a lifetime for some of the more “excitable” travellers.

Departure from Phantasialand was delayed as one leader could not find the bus, something she can work on in retirement when she has her own bus pass.! (btw the bus was where we left it)

We finished the day with bowling and a walk down into Valkenburg before up to the rooms for a shower, shave and bed. Some had forgotten to shave this morning!

 

Tomorrow we are having some “down time” in and around the beautiful town of Valkenburg,

High Ropes, Alpine Coaster, Swimming Pool and Laser Tag all on the agenda

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Holland 2019: Day 1 & 2 The Journey and Arrival

Hello Prestonpans – this is Valkenburg calling.

Welcome to our first post from the adventure to Holland 2019.

The overnight crossing was very successful and our PL travellers where the stars of the dance floor and where complemented by other travellers for their good humour.

We have arrived in Valkenburg safe and sound and are settled into the Hotel Op De Boud.

The weather is spectacular. This has led to the perhaps inevitable but nevertheless unfortunate situation where three of the young people melted, although this will not be welcome news for parents it has resulted in additional space on the coach. Every cloud, etc.

The Rodelbahn was very popular with our adventurers and everyone used the chairlift , even  those who had previously indicated that they would be refusing due to height issues.

Ice cream has been very popular, however, it too is melting!

We will call again tomorrow after our outing to Phantasialand

Holland 2018: Final Report

Good morning to all our readers, thanks you to those who have been in touch, our travellers love to read your comments.

Today was our second cross border incursion to our third country – The Kingdom of Belgium.

Our visit to Bobbejaanland was accompanied by some beautiful weather and we had a great day in the sunshine. It all got too much for our First Aider (Jill Johnstone) who required to seek attention at the Medical Room, she was advised by the attending staff that there was little that they could do about ageing.

The young team continued to make the most of the great weather and the many thrill rides of Bobbejaanland before collecting Jill and taking her for a cup of tea and a wee scone.

The return journey had many sleepyheads recharging batteries for our final evening in the amazing  Hotel Op De Boud .

Bowling and Karaoke until bedtime.

All the staff would like to thank the parents and carers for entrusting your fantastic young people to our care for the past week. They have been great company and a real credit to their families and the school.

This is our final blog post of the trip as we have no internet access on North Sea Ferry.

See you all on Thursday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

Holland 2018: The quiet day

Long lie this morning, breakfast at 08:00 Dutch time – which is Tuesday in the UK

The agreed collaboratively planned lesson:

What

  • To develop responsible team working skills where nobody is left behind
  • to provide multi-venue opportunities to show resilience and perseverance under pressure, requiring resourceful quick thinking to solve real life problems as they are encountered in a unfamiliar environment.

How

  • By tackling the Europe’s largest high ropes course and associated Alpine Roller Coaster
  • Water based activities in the fun filled Mosaqua pool
  • Team working at LaserTag at Valkenburg Agogo.

Our planned intention is to avoid added vomit as previously conducted self evaluation and reflection has identified that this is now an activity which we have all achieved Level 3 Secure by the end of S1 (although we will obviously not be using this language in reports)

Why

  • Why not

Holland 2018: Initial Report

Welcome to this initial report on the progress being made by our young people as they develop their four capacities and six R’s within the structure of the framework provided by the Preston Lodge High School “Aims & Values”.

This is a short reflective analysis of the impact of this experience and the opportunities provided through full participation in all of the learning tasks which have been planned by the highly trained staff and of course by completing the pack of graded worksheets.

We of course intended to complete several of these reflections over the duration of the sequence of planned teaching and learning episodes which will form a significant component of our Self Evaluation. We will have online questionnaires, focus groups, planned observations and lots of colouring in with highlighters.

Did we also say that the kids are fine? Well, yes, we think so. We’ll do a ‘headcount’ tomorrow morning to make sure.