Week 17 - Operation: Camp Green

This weekend brought the year's boarding activities and trips to a close. It was fitting that on such an occasion we stayed close to home to celebrate the boarders' time as part of it. 

Our venue was the Upper playing fields; our challenge was an afternoon, evening and morning of camping entertainment;our mission: to have fun and say some some fond farewells. For our Year 8 boarders, it was to be their last weekend before they move on to Year 9 in September. Operation: Camp Green was in effect.

Saturday was graced with gorgeous weather, and although Sunday was a little cooler and windier, both days allowed everyone to really embrace the occasion and make the best of it! The events of the weekend are best recorded through pictures, which 'speak 1000 words'. Do please take the time to enjoy them and celebrate with our boarders, but especially our leavers, the end to an excellent year.

Let the preparations begin!

 

Precision in action, set against a gorgeous skyline!

Once Operation: Camp Green had taken shape, boarders relaxed into their overnight accommodation and enjoyed games on the fields:

An early evening community game of rounders was enjoyed by all, umpired by Miss Wright!

This was followed by the obligatory toasted marshmallows around the campfire...

...with hot chocolate to accompany them!

The universe in a marshmallow: Ivan contemplates the great mysteries of life.

Miss Rolfe was a very welcome addition to staff supporting the evening :-)

Time for the farewell speech and poem for our Year 8 Leavers; our audience were immersed!

After the speech, there were presentational gifts which were emotionally received!

 

The end of a two-year era; reality hits home.

Operation: Camp Green was a success. Our boarders (after getting some sleep overnight!) disassembled the tents on Sunday morning and returned to Westwood where they enjoyed an array of takeaway pizzas for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation and down-time.

An expansive fare to pull in the hungry punters...

We hope you enjoyed this weekend's concluding story. Thank you for continuing to support our blog; we look forward to updating you soon as the final week of term unfolds.

Westwood Weekend with Wibit

On Friday evening we welcomed Year 6 boarders Carlota, Harvey, Jack and Katrin from High Vinalls as they will be joining us in September. Sarafina did a great job with a quiz on modern culture with popular edible prizes. Westwood waffles went down with our guests before they returned South!

We welcomed more guests on Saturday as Hayley and Jack, both day pupils, have hosted a number of boarders since September 2017. They were given a warm welcome. We all sat down to watch Replicas starring Keanu Reeves whilst enjoying Magnums and Pizza with Ed, the prefect.  The film got mixed reviews from this selective audience.

Today ten of the boarders were involved in an all day rehearsal for Arabian Nights which we are looking forward to this week. Good luck, thespians! The rest of the House headed with Year 9 and Year 10 boarders to Cotswold Country Park to enjoy the Wibit, an inflatable structure on the man-made lake. https://www.waterpark.org/ Donning wetsuits and bouyancy aid a lot of fun was had in the company of Mrs Francis and her family, Mr Pentreath, Miss Wright and Mrs Duke. The trip was popular and much enjoyed!

 Getting ready to face the freezing temperature of the water!

Charlotte and Mrs Duke enjoying a joke!

 They are brave!

 Under the watchful eye of life guards.

 These are Kingswood boarders, but it is tricky to work who is who!

It has been a great penultimate weekend with the camping trip to come!

Week 15 - A weekend ode to Weymouth

Following the musical heights of Matilda last week, the boarders embraced this weekend with their typical enthusiasm and anticipation. Having navigated end of year examinations this week, boarders were able to enjoy a cathartic time this weekend, which - following Saturday's afternoon trip to town - featured an evening film about fun, folly and, above all, family:

 

Sunday brought an early start as the boarders made their way to Weymouth for the day's outing. When the coach arrived at the seafront, our boarders were treated to traditional British fish and chips (or other agreeable, traditional options) before embarking on their own quests to explore the town, harbour and coastline. Prior to departing, we were all able to enjoy a modified version of beach rounders before returning to prepare for the week ahead. Do please take some time to enjoy a range of photographs and videos that captured our day out; we look forward to updating you again soon! 

Although it started a little overcast...

...things started to brighten up!

The charming alleyways of Weymouth town centre...

...which also featured a 'Pirates Pavilion'!

A beach experience would not be complete without donkey rides!

 

And, of course, it would be rude not to play and build in the sand!

 

The afternoon ended with a game of beach rounders; the stakes were high!

 

At times, it was Team Westwood vs Team Seagulls.

A final photo as we boarded the coach home!