Residential Blog

Eschweiler Exchange 2012

Mini Olympics Event







A competitive event but friendship and sport is by far the biggest winner!

Hellos and Intros...or is it Guten Tag?







Our Reigate Priory ambassadors meeting new friends on their first visit to Barbaraschule in Eschweiler.

SKI AUSTRIA 2012
Jan 14-21

A message from Luke 'Sky Walker' Greenland (6LB)

The trip to Saalbach was amazing. It was a once in a lifetime experience. The snow there this year was really good for skiing on.

I was a beginner to skiing, but now our instructors told us that we are 'intermediates'. I only really had to spend a day and a half on the nursery slopes before I was on the proper mountain. It was awesome!

I would tell you more but i do not want to spoil it for those in Year 5. Thank you Mr Moses, Mrs Boothroyd, Mrs Walters, Miss Beck, Mr Webb, Mr Purnell and Mr Mc Niff.

Saturday 21 January
At 12:45pm on Saturday 21 January, 57 Year 6 children and 7 staff safely returned from an epic alpine ski residential. The Ski Team would like to congratulate and thank the children on making this another fantastic 'Priory' experience. Children make sure you wear those medals with pride!

Huge thank you from all the members of the Ski Austria Team for all the letters and cards of appreciation. It is wonderful to read about how the children have talked about their snowy adventure! Makes it all worthwhile!

Thursday 19 January
The sun may have disappeared but the snow has been falling and with temperatures set to drop over night, the now expert skiers are looking forward to a powder filled final day.

Two of the three groups of absolute beginners have now managed to ski competently a red run from top to bottom with one instructor proudly announcing that his group had reached intermediate ability. What a wonderful achievement and a far cry from the wide eyed rather nervous little bunnies that clicked in for the first time last Sunday morning.

Time seems to have flown by and with tomorrow's team races and time trials on the horizon...the competitive spirit between teams is beginning to rise.


Has Mr Purnell...
a) Decided a 'Snow-Doo' is better than a hair-do?
b) Had a particularly unlucky crash?
c) Trying to cool off?


57 children + 114 skis + 114 ski poles = organised chaos!


Bubblelicious uplift! Who has the biggest Cheshire Cat grin?

Wednesday 18 January


It is all smiles in the 'orange bubble'.


The girls kicking back after a morning of hard skiing.


The finest band of ski crazed children and teachers in the whole mountain land!!!

Tuesday 17 January


It's Cosi time!!


 Luke...a sliding master!


Another smiley day piste side.


And it goes something like this...

Monday 16 January
Ok...this is getting really boring...yet another bluebird day with sparkling sunshine and fantastic snow!! These children just do not know how good they have got it...We might have created a fair few of mountain monkeys!

All the children have progressed unbelievably well!! With nearly everyone progressing up the mountain to soak up the sun and enjoy the finest of views. I am sure that by the end of tomorrow all skiers will be high mountain bound.


Half the battle is just looking good...


Snow hang time!!


 And if you did not believe me about the snow... Look closely for a snow kitten!

Sunday 15 January

Hey-HO...let's go play in da snow!!!


WoW-Zers!!! This stuff is deep!!

Saturday 14 January
Yip-peeeeee... We have arrived safe and sound but boy-o-boy that was a very long day! Children have been fantastic, many compliments received from other travellers. I must mention the snow...there is SO much of it and still it falls from the sky!

Having left at 2:30am, we arrived at the Hotel Riegler at 11:30am local time...just in time for lunch. The children have all been kitted out with skis, boots, poles and helmets ready for the off tomorrow. Oh...and did I mention the snow?... Deep pillows of fresh powder, perfect for ski fun!!

After lunch we headed out to explore the very snowy Saalbach and check out the nursery slopes....children swimming in waist deep snow, diving and leaping like a pod of dolphins!

Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to upload some pics of the children taking on their first day of skiing. It is sure to be fun and thrill filled.

Mr Moses

North Wales Week 2
12 June - 18 June

North Wales Week 1
5 June - 11 June

mp Fairy Glen.

One step and one wave at a time.

Phew!!..time for a rest.

28 March - 1 April

New friends


Dancing performance from the Barbaraschule children.


Guess who?

Atomium, Brussels


Discovering the local area, Eschweiler


Enjoying the tasty local treats, Eschweiler

SKI AUSTRIA 2011
Jan 15-22

Friday 21 January
At 3pm today 56 children and 7 teachers skied down their final run! They all arrived safely  and clicked their skis off for the final time! Once just children, now powdery snow loving children that can ski!!

It has been an amazing week!!

Thursday 20 January


Just hanging in the 'Pow'.


Poppy on the slide.


The new Priory look...goggles looking 'real fly'...

Wednesday 19 January
And the snow came down...and down...and down..


Ski Gruppe 2 after a morning 'sesh' in the 'pow'.


Mr Webb gets a snowballing.

Tuesday 18 January

A 'first ever' chair lift ride!!


A 'first ever' gondala ride to the summit!!


Going up is almost as much fun as sliding down.

Monday 17 January
Our ski lesson started at 9am. I really enjoyed it! I had never REALLY skied before until this week! We improved our snow plough turns and many more brill things. I am really pleased as I managed to move to a different ski team...I have really achieved something!!!

The toughest thing so far is the boots hurt your shins a little but as I remember 'no pain no gain!'

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow as it is going to be another exciting and enjoyable day...like today.

Annabelle Andrews


'Blue bird' day on the first blue run of the week.


Ski team a go go...

Sunday 16 January
We had to get up REALLY early as there was lots to do! As our plane had been delayed we had to do our ski fit first thing. We got cool skis and some heavy ski boots. Before we knew it we were standing at the nursery slopes meeting our instructors, Rachel, Tom, Johnny, Olivia and Kirsty. They are all really ace!

The morning sped by. We learned how to snow plough. But there was plenty of slipping over. We all got up though and gave it another go! Miss Beck did say she has never seen so many children who can do the splits : )

Before we knew it it was back to the hotel for a tasty lunch.

The afternoon was filled with more fun and we are getting better, although not yet experts. All of us moved up a slope!

Owen's lips are blue because of his funny lip balm.


Proper 'cheesey' grins!


Not bad for a first day Tom!!


The TRAVEL-A-TOOR!!..and Callum C.

Saturday 15 January
 A travel weary but still smiling group of 56 children and 7 teachers have arrived safely in Saalbach. Everyone has enjoyed Austrian weiner schnitzel for dinner and been packed off to bed - i'm sure to dream of snowy peaks and squeaky snow. Guten nacht : )