Six return to Capernwray

Last weekend I had the pleasure of escorting four members of the Upper School, namely Tom W, Alex E, Harrison L and Ed K, and one parent, Mr Hall, back to Capernwray Dive Centre in order for them to complete their PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.            

This course involves a number of specialty (sic - PADI is US based!) dives. Divers learn to navigate a square course (with only three sides in the case of one student who clearly needs to pay more attention in Maths), demonstrate a sound practical ability in terms of buoyancy (one student needed to be dragged down as they were not heavy enough to initially sink), search and recover a lost item (so why did he then leave his mobile in the hotel restaurant and take the hotel key away with him?) and dive to the deepest point of the quarry to carry out a test to demonstrate how reactions are slowed at greater depth (so why did our pupils do better at 20m under the water than they did at the surface?)

 It's one small step...                                                                                            

Congratulations are in order as everyone passed and they are now looking forward to completing their Dry Suit course in the Lent term. Next week those who qualified last year are off to St Abbs near Berwick to dive amongst the coral (honest!)

D Chubb

French Dictionaries

Mme Hunzinger would like to remind all Upper School French students that they are required to have a French dictionary.  With the emphasis in Upper School very much on independent learning, many of the prep activities cannot be completed without an appropriate French/English dictionary. If you are not sure which dictionary to buy, Madame will be happy to offer some recommendations.

Tuesday Hockey

Please note that gum shields are compulsory for everyone playing hockey.  Rather than run the risk of serious damage, anyone not wearing a gum shield will simply not be allowed to play. So to avoid disappointment, be sure to pack your gum shield with your kit!

Be Prepared!

We are delighted to report that, rather than breaking out in a pandemic rash of puce, pupils are managing to keep the dreaded pink slips to a commendable minimum. This is a very encouraging sign that pupils are becoming more proficient at managing their own time and their own resources.

For those that still perhaps find it difficult to dodge the pink slips, here is the

Top Ten Tips garnered during registration times from fellow pupils:

 1.         "Write every prep in your prep diary during the lesson - don't

            leave it till later!"

 2.         "Make sure you understand what you've got to do. And if you don't - ASK!"

 3.         "Don't work where you know you'll get distracted. No TVS. No MSN."

 4.       "I pack my bag for the next day before I go to bed"

 5.         "Try leaving your bag/prep by the front door as soon as you finish it. That way you're not likely to leave it on the kitchen table, or in your bedroom"

 6. "   Make a note of the time when you start a prep, and when you should finish by"

 7.            "I set an alarm clock for 35mins so I can't spend too much time on each piece of prep"

 8.                  "Make sure you've got a telephone number or MSN of someone else in your set. If you get stuck, you can ask them what you should be doing."

 9.         "Prioritise your work. Don't order preps by favour. Order them by deadline!"

 10.      If you can't hand a prep in, no matter what the reason, go and tell the teacher. Go find them before they come looking for you. Believe me, it's worth it!"