German Christmas Markets Trip 2018
On Saturday 8th December, 38 students from years
10 and 11 travelled to Germany to experience the wonder of the Christmas markets
in the three iconic German cities of Köln, Koblenz and Aachen.
During the four day residential students stayed at a youth
hostel on the Rhein and on day two enjoyed a boat trip on the river where they
learnt some key historical, geographical and cultural facts about Köln, before
visiting the gothic cathedral and climbing one of the spires for a panoramic
view of the city.
After a lunchtime visit to the Christmas market at the base of the towering cathedral, students learnt about the production of chocolate, from cocoa bean to end product, at the famous Lindt Chocolate Museum. The huge chocolate fountain proved a big hit! Some students were spotted going back more than once!
After a lunchtime visit to the Christmas market at the base of the towering cathedral, students learnt about the production of chocolate, from cocoa bean to end product, at the famous Lindt Chocolate Museum. The huge chocolate fountain proved a big hit! Some students were spotted going back more than once!
On day three we visited our partner school in Andernach
where students received a very warm welcome as well as some home baked German
biscuits and traditional Weckmänner (dough figures) from our German hosts.
Winston students excelled themselves in their presentations
on the three following topics: ‘The EU Referendum and Brexit’, ‘How we
commemorated the centenary of the First World War in our school and local
community’ and ‘The differences and similarities between our two schools’
before breaking out into small groups where they interacted and exchanged
thoughts and viewpoints with German students.
Winston students delivered their presentations on the
various themes in a confident, articulate and humorous manner which was very well
received. All students engaged in lively discussion and debate and were a
credit to Winston. It is hoped that the partnership between our two schools
will continue to develop and we will be able to take part in further
collaborative work in the near future. We look forward to the German school’s
visit to Winston in March.
After this busy morning at school, students enjoyed a
walking tour of Koblenz, the two highlights of which were exploring some
segments of the Berlin Wall, now a memorial to the victims of a divided Germany
and standing at the ‘Deutsches Eck’ where students learnt about Kaiser Wilhelm
the First underneath an imposing statue where the Rhein and Mosel rivers meet.
Students then enjoyed the many Christmas markets Koblenz has to offer.
On day four we stopped off en route home at the traditional Christmas
market in Aachen which offered a wide variety of craft and food stalls and proved
to be a favourite.
The coach driver said the students were the best school
group he had ever worked with. Staff all agreed that it was a pleasure to take
such a polite and well behaved group where every student fully embraced
everything the trip had to offer!
I would like to thank the staff who accompanied this trip:
Ms Allen, Miss Pflanz, Miss Gersdorf and Mr Higgs.
-Miss Finney.
