Four weeks and counting to the IOW

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your payments for the Little Canada residential visit which is being held on 15th - 19th March 2010, just a few weeks away.

This residential will develop their independence, allow them to experience new adventurous activities and skills and hopefully develop new friendships.

Little Canada activity centre has just reopened after the Christmas holiday. I visited last week. In my opinion and I am pleased to inform you, we have secured the best accommodation and activities at the centre. Over the winter, the accommodation has been updated further, new activities developed and improvements made to the children’s programmes and dining hall. It looks like this will be one of the best visits ever.

The trip was discussed with your child today. We will discuss all of the information below and answer any questions which they may have thought of during half term. To help you here is some of the frequently asked questions that parents have asked in the past.

Accommodation

Pupils’ cabins

We will be staying in the middle of the centre and grouped around a central staff cabin. Your child’s cabin contains four bunks, a toilet, shower and sink. The children are given a key and are expected to organise themselves so they know who has the key and where they will be during the day.

We have asked them to nominate friends who they would like to share a cabin with and aim to ensure that they have a least one close friend in their cabin.

Activities
The day begins around 7.30am and lights out is around 9.30pm.

During the day, the children are divided into four groups. Again we take into consideration personal relationships but we also try to encourage your child to work with someone who they may not have worked with in the past.

The range of activities include Jacobs Ladder, trapeze, aero ball, archery, dragon boating, fencing, climbing, trampoline, abseiling, aqua fun, low ropes and quad biking.



Meals are eaten in the dining hall. Your child is also expected to be ready for meal times. That includes having washed their hands.

Meals include a vegetarian option and are well prepared and highly nutritious, suitable for the active days that your child will enjoy. The food is served in a similar way to our lunchtime and your child will be expected to clear their plates away after the meal.

There are also evening activities planned including a traditional disco on Thursday night.

During the day, the children have a small amount of free time for writing postcards, exploring the site, football, visiting the shop or just relaxing.

Here are the details of the week.

The centre is situated on Wotton Creek, near Ryde, IOW. The address is
PGL Little Canada
New Road
WOOTTON
Isle of Wight
PO33 4JP
Tel: +44 08700 551551

To contact us during the week, please phone the school (023 8073 3415) during working hours and the office staff will contact me. For real emergencies out of hours, please phone the centre and inform them of your child’s name and our school.

As part of their experience, the children love to receive post so could you send a short letter or postcard so that it arrives by the Monday 15th March. Letters that arrive mid week may cause homesickness.

Timetable

Monday, 15th March 2010.
12.45pm Meet at Red Funnel Terminal at Royal Pier, Southampton Docks. (If you are delayed please contact the school). We have ordered trolleys for the luggage but please be warned, that over the last few years, sometimes they have not be available and the children have had to carry their own bags onto the ship.

1.30 pm Depart. If you wish to wave to your child, I recommend the quayside at Town Quay. After we leave the docks your child will eat their lunch inside.

2.30pm Arrive at East Cowes, IOW and board the coach.

2.50pm Arrive at Little Canada, IOW.

The children will be shown around and allocated their accommodation. There will be then an orientating activity.

5.30 - 7pm Evening Meal and free time

7 - 9pm Evening activity.

9pm Get ready for bed

9.30pm Lights out and sleep!!!!!!!!!


Tuesday - Friday

Your child needs to be showered and ready for breakfast by 7.30am. After breakfast, the children will tidy their cabin and prepare for their activities. There are four, hour and a half sessions each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Lunch is around midday and the activities finish round 5pm.

On Friday we intend to return on the 1.30pm ferry and aim to be back at the Red Funnel terminal at 2.25pm. If for any reason we are seriously delayed we will contact the school and notify them. The school will then text you.

On arrival, please allow the children to get down the ramp. We will ensure they get to you but it can be quite intimidating to face a large body of parents rushing towards their children. If you wish somebody else to meet your child, please notify us on the slip below. Again, if you are delayed please contact the school.

Ferry rules
After boarding the ferry, your child will be able to explore. The children will be expected to be in pairs at all times. We will aim to go on the top deck to wave goodbye and then base ourselves on Deck B where your child will eat their packed lunch.

Clothing,
Below is a list of the recommended clothing. Obviously going away in March, the weather can be variable so this list is a minimum. Suntan cream may be needed. (hopefully )Please refer to the weather forecast prior to the visit and label everything with your child’s name.

Mobile phones and mobile phone cameras are not allowed. If your child takes a camera, they must responsible for it.

Kit list
Packed lunch for the crossing to the IOW.

Below is a list of further items which PGL recommend as a guide of what to pack. Clothing should be old – please do not supply your child with a new wardrobe!

Sleeping Bag (essential)
Nightwear
Pillow
Casual, comfortable clothing for the journey and evening wear
Warm jacket/ waterproof / rain proof jacket
Jumpers/ Sweatshirts
Trousers/ Shorts
Socks and underwear
T-shirts
Shoes: OLD TRAINERS – for games/ water sports (these may get wet/muddy)
Comfortable trainers for walking in
Swimming costume
Toiletries
Towel
Sun lotion/ sun block, protective lip salve and insect repellent if appropriate
Sun hat if appropriate
Torch and batteries
1 set of clothes for disco.
Plastic drink bottle

Self addressed post card / stamp
Bin liners/ plastic bag for wet and dirty clothing.
Book to read
Inhaler if appropriate.

We recommend that the children do not take valuable items such as expensive clothing or jewellery. A cheap watch may be useful.

Postcards.
Please ensure that your child has a blank post card, letter/envelope with your address on and a first class stamp. Your child will be writing to you.

Behaviour
While we expect behaviour to be exemplary all the time, we operate to a similar set of rules as if we were at school. We expect your child to respect the centre, staff and other pupils at all times in accordance with our school policy.

Misbehaviour undermines the enjoyment and the learning of the other children and staff as well as them selves If your child chooses to misbehave, they will dealt with in the same way as we do at school. Therefore sanctions may include reprimands through to loss of an activity, particularly if the child is not listening to safety instructions.

Persistent or serious misbehaviours may require that your child needs to be returned home. Arrangements would be made through the school.

Medicines.
Please complete, sign and date the medical form and return it by this Friday. If there are any medicines that you want administered during the trip, please ensure that they are fully labelled with the times to be given, dosage and medical spoons etc. Please make Mr Booth aware of any medicines which will be taken before Friday 12th March 2010. Please hand all medicines / tablets to Mr Booth at the terminal on Monday. Except for inhalers, pupils MUST not have medicines in their cabins at any time. If your child has a headache during the trip, we tend to administer Calpol rather than tablets.

Money
There is a shop on site for souvenirs, sweets etc. Your child is allowed to take a maximum of £10 but they have been told that it is up to you! (A good opportunity to get the washing up done or car washed!) Please can your child bring the money in a named envelope on Friday 12th March 2010. It would also help if it was a mixture of notes and £1 / £2 coins. The money will be handed out during their free time. Your child has been reminded that if they lose the key to their cabin then all of the children in the cabin have to pay for the replacement key.


Website
We have a set up a website at photobucket.com for photographs. You can access it through the Year 6 website.

Currently, the site includes photos taken last week. We aim to photograph the children in action and will endeavour to keep it up to date as possible. We will also endeavour to update our Year 6 website.


Hopefully, we have covered all of your questions. If you have any other concerns still, Mrs Taylor and I will be available for further discussion on Thursday, 25th February between 3.30pm and 5pm. Please contact us if you have any other concerns, how trivial you may feel that it is. We want to ensure that you are as happy with the arrangements, as your child will be.

Please complete the enclosed form and return by Wednesday, 24th February 2010.


Yours sincerely,






Mr. P. Booth and Mrs. L. Taylor




Isle of Wight 2010


Dear Mr Booth / Mrs. Taylor

I/ we acknowledge receipt of the above letter.

I have completed my child’s medical form and signed it.

My child can / cannot swim / swim up to 1 width of a swimming pool(10m) / swim 1 length of a swimming pool (25m)/ swim more than 1 length. (Please circle one).

I will/ I will not be picking my child up at 2.25pm on Friday.

(_____________________), who is known to my child, will be picking him/her up instead. Please leave blank if you are meeting your child.

I understand that my child will be photographed for academic purposes.



Child’s Name ……………………………….. Class …………………



Signed (Parent/Carer) ……………………………… Date …………………




Please return this page to your child’s class teacher by Wednesday, 24th February 2010