Thursday, June 26, 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Monday, June 23, 2008

Gabcast episode 5 (as we are having problems with the feed to the podcastpickle player, here is the first audio episode) - just press play.

Gabcast! MontpellierLIVE #5

Our first recording!

Take a look at the photo entitled "our first gabcast" below. Here are the girls making their first audio recording for the blog. We are using a mobile phone to record, calling a VOIP (Voice over Internet Provider) number. This goes through a website called "gabcast", who then put it onto the blog in the embedded "Podcastpickle player" (scroll down the right side of the blog and you will see it). There is a bit of a delay so if it isn't there yet, please check later. Click on the episode you want (this one is number 5) and enjoy!

Place de la comedie


The first gabcast



Break time at school



Sunday, June 22, 2008

Photos on the blog

In case you didn't realise, you can click on the photo to see a bigger version.

Le Depart



Thursday, June 19, 2008

Site counter

Welcome to the MontpellierLIVE08 blog. We are now a couple of days from departure and have added a hit counter to the site (top right) so you can see how many visits the site attracts while the trip is running. Please take the time to scroll down now and explore the blog so far. And for those of you who are going: have a great time!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Activity on the site

If you are already following this blog you may have noticed a bit of coming and going of photos and text. In the run up to the trip we are just checking all staff are happy with the procedure of blogging from a mobile phone, and so several "test posts" will be uploaded, and then deleted shortly afterwards. Please rest assured that from the moment your daughters step on the coach we will be moblogging in earnest, and you won't be treated to any more shots of our back gardens or the French office ...
Please remember we would love to hear from you over the course of the trip. Just click on the comments link beneath the post you wish to comment on and type in your comment. You will be asked to copy an anti-spam sequence of letter, and then choose how to be identified. Please select "Name/URL" and then identify yourself by first name or as the parent of ... (first name only) following our internet safety guidelines (or netiquette, as we like to call it).

Only a few days to go...

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Itinerary

In case you have lost yours...

Dear *********,

Woldingham French Language Study Trip to Montpellier
Sunday 22nd June–Friday 27th June 2008

I am writing to you with the final details of the trip to Montpellier from Sunday 22nd June to Friday 27th June 2008. Please find attached the itinerary with details of flights and excursions. I would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of this letter by completing the attached slip and return it to me at School as soon as possible and by 6th June at the latest.

1. Travel Company

Ardmore Educational Travel:


2. Flight Details
Outbound:
22 June 2008
Depart: 13:45
London Gatwick
(NorthTerminal)

Arrive: 16:40
Marseilles
Flight No: BA2364
Inbound:
27 June 2008
Depart 17:20
Marseille
Arrive: 18:15
London Gatwick
(North Terminal)
Flight No: BA2365


3. Travel Times
The main party will leave from School (Flagpole) at 10:15 am on Sunday 22nd June and travel by coach to Gatwick (North Terminal).

I can offer parents the following choice for your daughters on Sunday 22nd June:

· Meet the main party at School (Flagpole) at 10:10 am for transfer to Gatwick.

· Meet the main party at Gatwick (North Terminal) at the BA check-in desk at 11:00.

We return to School on Friday 27th June at approximately 20:00.

I can offer parents the following choice for your daughters on Friday 27th June:

· Collection from Gatwick (North Terminal) Arrivals at 18:15 approx.

· Collection from School (Flagpole) at 20:00 approx.

Your daughter will telephone you from Gatwick if we are delayed. Please ensure she has your contact number.

Please indicate on the attached slip your preferred choices for delivery and collection of your daughter on Sunday 22th June and Friday 27th June.

4. Clothing and Footwear
-The weather is expected to be very good at this time of year, however it does get cooler in the evenings and so a jacket will be necessary.
- School uniform is not needed for the trip, but smart home clothes will be expected at all times.
- Comfortable shoes or trainers will be needed, as we will be doing a lot of sightseeing on foot.

5. Luggage allowance
- A reminder that only 1 piece of luggage (15kg max) is allowed plus 1 piece of hand luggage (5kg max). A handbag counts as hand luggage Please can you check the luggage does not exceed this weight allowance. I suggest that your daughter brings a backpack as her piece of hand luggage, so that she has sufficient space to fit all her belongings and documents.
NB: under new regulations no makeup or liquids are allowed in hand luggage.

Please be aware that your daughter is fully responsible for all of her personal possessions. So as to avoid losing any expensive items such as jewellery electronic equipment etc, we recommend that your daughter does not bring any valuable belongings with her.


6.Members of Staff accompanying and Emergency Contacts
Miss Sarah Bernardes and Mr Angel Lopez will be accompanying the girls. They will meet the girls every morning and the girls will have their phone numbers if any problems were to occur.

The phone number to contact if you need to reach the teachers is: 0044 7951530231.


The emergency contact at Woldingham school is Mrs Tierney. Her office extension is 4486 and her house phone number is 652124.

Liz Gillies (head’s PA) extension number 4205.

Please only use these numbers in case of an emergency



7.Host families
· The girls will be staying with host families. Ardmore will give me all the details two weeks before we are due to depart. These details will be given to both the girls and the parents.

8.Pocket Money
All meals will be provided.

I suggest that your daughters bring some pocket money for snacks and souvenirs, 100 Euros would be sufficient.


9.Passports and EHC cards
· I will be collecting all passports, on Thursday 12th June. Please make sure you make the necessary arrangements for your daughter to have her passport ready to hand in, at the meeting that I will be holding that day. Please ensure that your daughter has a European Health Card.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions:

Yours sincerely,



Niamh Craigdallie Green

Head of French