During the Easter holidays a group of 19 pupils from Year 7 and 8 stayed for a week in the Château de la Baudonnière, a centre situated south of Cherbourg. This centre has been running for around twenty years and offers children a French language immersion experience.  This was our third visit to the Centre. Mme Haddow led the group with the help of Señora Fleck.

Each group had a French native-speaking member of staff (an animateur) who ensured that all activities (including meals) were undertaken using spoken French, and pupils were encouraged to use the language to express themselves as much as possible. In fact, the animateurs never spoke English to them! The pupils spent some of their time at the Château learning archery, fencing, climbing, and bread-making. They also experienced an assault course through the countryside which involved a lot of mud, but which was probably the most popular activity! Cultural visits included Mont St Michel and the Bayeux Tapestry, a local market and a goat farm, where they were encouraged to feed, milk and handle the goats.

The weather was good and for pupils and staff alike it was a most enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

Year 5 began their wonderful performance of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ with some beautiful singing of Tales of a Riverbank. The scene opened with a delightful Mole, energetically spring cleaning his home until he dug his way up to the river bank to meet Ratty, Badger and Toad.  Soon the affable friends were messing about in boats.

It was striking how well all the children knew their lines, and how confidently they acted their parts, while the narrators did a terrific job of telling the story. When reckless Toad stole a red motor car, the whole cast were all-aboard in the brilliantly performed song Poop, Poop, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and obvious merriment.

A frightened Mole longing for home was poignantly portrayed. Badger and Toad’s solos were beautifully sung but Badger’s sternness was to no avail. The irrepressible Toad escaped gaol, artfully sneaking out in a black lacy bonnet, dressed as a washerwoman. The final act saw a splendid Toad, conspiring with Badger, Mole and Rat to take back Toad Hall from the Weasels. There followed a slow motion battle of monstrous animals in which the terrified weasels escaped, leaving Toad and his friends with one final celebration in Toad’s Great Day.

Congratulations to Year 5 for a wonderful performance. The artwork on the programme and posters was wonderful. Thank you Mrs Laube for the really wonderful music, to Mr Stokes for the staging, and of course to Miss Orange for all her hard work in putting together such a well rehearsed and thoroughly enjoyable play.