Vendredi : le grand retour!!

I'm trying to think of a time when the weather has been so nice on a trip. Don't think it ever has been. Weather here amazing today as it has been all week. Just left La Roche sur Yon having said our final goodbyes to the partners. Watch this space for updates Mr L

Jeudi : puy de fou

Another lovely sunny day today. We went to puy de fou a fantastic French historical theme park. We saw amazing live action shows featuring roman gladiators, horse chariot racing, amazing pyrotechnics and stunning visual effects. My favourite show was the jousting featuring amazing acrobats on horseback. Yours truly was also involved in the Viking show as a volunteer. I had to run around avoiding flames, explosions wielding a sword. It was surreal but awesome! Amazing to see the incredible efforts all the stunt men go to as well. Dropped off the year 9&10 pupils for the final nightwith their exchange partners. The year 8s also said their goodbyes to the partners. back at base, talent show and awards tonight was great fun. Too many highlights to mention but Josh Kernon your Shakira inspired sketch was ace! Many more great memories to be posted soon on frog...watch this space. Joel's live make up session too had to be seen to be believed. Our final night in France has ended brilliantly. Well done everyone! Ok the long journey home begins tomorrow at 6am. Watch this blog as ever for updates as they happen. Bonne nuit, Monsieur Lister.

Mercredi : au college et chez les partenaires français

Bonjour! Well half way through our trip and today Year 8, 9 & 10 pupils went to their exchange partners School College Edouard Herriot in La Roche sur Yon. Before all that though an énorme Happy Birthday to Jasmin Coon in BAU who became a teenager whilst with us in France today. Happy 13th Birthday Jasmin! She enjoyed a card and a present on behalf of the whole group at breakfast this morning. Then off to school to see the brand new school which has just been built with some lovely modern facilities. We especially liked the school bell marking lesson changeovers which played a relaxing tune!! To start we were welcomed very warmly by a speech from the deputy Head, followed by brioche and Orange juice. Pupils attended lessons lead by their exchange partners including singing, word games and quizzes. At midday we made our way to the park in la Roche sur Yon and had a picnic with our exchange partners and the French teachers. In the afternoon all pupils spent the afternoon doing various activities with their French partners. Some examples included bowling, going to the beach, ice skating, shopping and sightseeing. Having eaten with their partners, year 8 returned to the youth hostel where they continued some excellent work in their Exchange booklets. Weather has once again been very good today - mostly sunny. Looking forward to tomorrow, but sad that it's the last proper day before we must travel back to England. Bonne nuit! Monsieur L.

Mardi : le château, le shopping et l'elephant de Nantes

Plus de soleil aujourd'hui! Amazingly sunny day again and we managed to get to Nantes in very good time. Started off with a lovely mooch around the castle. Then some free time to shop and enjoy the sun. After a lovely relaxing packed lunch on the banks of the river Loire we moved on to les machines de l'ile in the afternoon. This had to be seen to be believed - it's an amazing set of mechanical animals that pupils can ride on and interact with. The highlight though was the elephant though. A giant 50foot high mechanical beast walking along the ground with us on top. It even sprayed out real water from it's trunk! Freya Weston cooled off nicely this way in the heat! Canicule is the word for heatwave in French by the way. A slightly extended journey back in the evening resulted in us having a shorter evening but the duck (le canard) that we had for an evening meal was delicious. All pupils will be in school tomorrow with their partners and involved in different leisure activities with their host families tomorrow afternoon. Ps - a big thanks to Izzy, Connor, Alessia, Vanessa, Tamsyn, Josh, Sophie, Freya, Nathalie and anyone else who was involved in buying that surprise for the teachers. It was very sweet. Very touching. Thank you. A demain! Monsieur L.

Lundi : Les Animaux Savages!

Our first full day in France today and it has been great. Lovely breakfast of cereal, delicious fruit compotes and fruits. Then off to college Edouard Heriot to pick up the year 9 & 10s from their exchange partners. On his first night George Paxford cooled off with a lovely swim at his host family's house, George Claverly sampled 15 varieties of French cheese - just a couple of the highlights. Then, off to "Planete Sauvage" a safari park near Nantes where we all enjoyed an amazing 4x4 jeep experience with French commentary, whilst seeing animals like tigers, elephants and giraffes (Mr L's ancestors!) up close and personal. Weather amazing again today so plenty of suncream applied by all. After a lovely lunch in the shade, we toured the rest of the safari park by foot and saw monkeys, flamingoes, parrots, reptiles and an incredible new dolphin display. After returning year 9 & 10's to host families, we returned with the year 8's to the youth hostel where we ate a lovely dinner of cordon bleu followed by chocolate gâteau. After filling out the booklets, Mr Walker competed a games evening for pupils which they loved and the final went right down to a tie break question. I have been really impressed by the amount of French words Sheldon pupils have translated or asked me about or even used when ordering food and their general positivity about what they have been doing. Mrs Hart, Miss Pavlou and Mr Walker are also amazing teachers to have on the team and I feel very lucky to have them all and thank them for their hard work and effort. Terry the coach drivers efforts are also awesome and he is master of the turning circle!! Ok I must go to bed now so will blog more later; hopefully it is keeping you all well informed about the trip. The data I have in front of me is that it's had over 600 views so far. A demain!! Monsieur L.

Bienvenue en France!

We have arrived safely in La Roche sur Yon and the year 9 & 10's are safely with their host families for the night. Year 8's and the four teachers have enjoyed a lovely meal in the Youth Hostel and it's sunny! They are all now safely tucked up in their rooms ready for a full day of activities tomorrow. After a very long day travelling, we have been very pleased with the behaviour of the group and we are all looking forward to the safari park tomorrow! Bonne Nuit! Monsieur Lister

Bonjour la France!!

Just passing by Rouen. Still sunny. May be a bit later in La Roche tonight, due to our tunnel crossing being cancelled earlier. Will keep you posted. Lovely weather here. Monsieur L

Bon voyage!!

The French Exchange 2012 is underway. Many thanks to the bleary eyed parents who waved off their loved ones at 2.30am this morning!!? Not long to the channel tunnel now. We are making really good progress and we've just seen a beautiful 5am sunrise here on the M20. Will blog later when we are in France. Ps it's all gone strangely quiet in the coach as most pupils (and teachers!) are dozing off. A plus tard! Monsieur L.

The Final Countdown

Bonsoir - good evening - it's coming up to 8.30pm on Saturday evening and it's almost time for the off.
Hope everyone has been able to grab a snooze today in the lovely sunshine.
A couple of last minute reminders that we have mentioned before :
Firstly, if at all possible, please could parents arriving tonight park in the two car park bays BEFORE the red and white barrier. There should be plenty of room there for everyone. 
Secondly, don't forget that as most of Sunday is spent travelling, a packed lunch and several appropriate snacks/drinks are a good idea, unless you want to pay expensive prices at the services. 
OK, well look forward to seeing you all at 2.15am......zzzzzzzz
Now, I wonder how France are doing in Eurovision.....
If I don't blog again before we leave, BON VOYAGE everyone!!    

Vendredi soir

Bonsoir!
Monsieur Lister here again. Doing the last of my packing tonight. Sun cream essential for next week. Don't forget a mack as well just in case ...I wonder if there are any other Sheldon pupils/staff out there aiming to have finished most of their packing by end of tonight like me...?   
Another reminder for year 8 pupils especially - please make sure you bring some pens/pencils/crayons as some evenings we will be working in our booklets that Mr Walker has kindly compiled.
Remember!! 2012 French Exchange photo competition with an image (or images) that you have taken on the English or French leg of the exchange that best sums up the exchange...prizes will be available when you have submitted your photos to us (and all 4 of us have judged) after the trip.

I will make sure I give you another update tomorrow..
Oh, I almost forgot, a big merci beaucoup to Monsieur Macmahon (le Proviseur) and Monsieur Dawson  for their technical support in helping me set up this blog. (I have not yet worked out how to do accents!)

Watch this space for  more updates tomorrow...
Bonne nuit! Monsieur L.

It's Friday morning and sunny in Chippenham - now under 2 days until we leave. Mr L has just checked the forecast and it's due to be 20-22 degrees Monday and Tuesday next week in France and dry.  
A couple of reminders - don't forget to bring a day bag for the coach journey on the way down on Sunday - remember snacks, music etc to keep separate from what goes in your main baggage in the hold. I'm doing my final packing tonight!

2 days to go! What will the weather be like?
Your teaching team of Mr Lister, Miss Pavlou, Mr Walker and Mrs Hart reckon it's going to be a scorcher like it is here in Angleterre at the moment. 
Il y'aura du soleil!! Have you started packing yet? 
Mr L is wondering how many pairs of shorts to pack....