We woke up very early—before the sun had even risen! We had to arrive at school by 4:30am to get on the coach. Even though it was early, there was a buzz of excitement in the air.
We took the coach all the way to Dover to catch the ferry. The journey was long, but we didn’t mind. We chatted with our friends, played games, drew pictures, and admired the countryside views.
When we arrived at Dover, we boarded the ferry and ate our breakfast. As the ferry set sail, the white cliffs of Dover slowly disappeared behind us. The sea was sparkling, the wind was blowing, and we could see seagulls soaring above us. After breakfast, we played games and explored the ferry deck.
Eventually, we spotted the golden sands of Calais, and we knew we had arrived in France! Our first stop was a French primary school. There, we were welcomed with warm smiles.
We had lunch in the school’s forest area and played games with our new French friends. It felt so special to connect with someone from another country and realise how much we had in common.
After lunch, we sadly had to say au revoir to our new friends. We got back on the coach for a short journey to the beautiful town of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Boulogne is a historic town full of charm. We saw the stunning domed basilica that looked just like St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The narrow streets and old buildings made us feel like we had stepped back in time.
We worked in groups to complete a treasure hunt around the town. We had to answer questions and find clues hidden on plaques, signs, and maps. It was like being detectives—French detectives!
After our hunt, we had the chance to visit some shops and market stalls. We spent our euros on toys, souvenirs, and lots of sweet treats like lollipops, fudge, and candy floss. The sweet shop was our favourite—so many colourful, delicious smells!
We went to a different country without our parents and it was really exciting. It felt really good to be independent by looking after my own money and choosing how to spend it. One of my favourite parts of the trip was having lots of fun playing card games with my friends during the journey.
I loved exploring the town and seeing things I’d never seen before, like old fountains, statues, and cobbled streets. It felt like a real adventure - especially when we had climbed so many stairs to see the view of the town.
I was amazed by how different everything looked in France—even the road signs and houses! It was fun spotting the differences and learning more about another culture.
I really enjoyed taking in all the history around us. From the old buildings to the basilica, everything had a story to tell. I also loved practising my French—it felt great to try out real words in a real place!
After all the exploring, we were ready to rest. We headed back to Calais to board our ferry. This time, the sun was setting over the sea, and the sky was pink and gold. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day.
On the ferry, we had our dinner. I had chicken nuggets and chips—delicious and just what I needed after such an exciting day!
Isaiah: My favourite part of the trip was playing with our French friends and realising how much fun we could have even though we spoke different languages.
Maria: My most memorable part was the ferry ride—the wind in my hair, the sound of the waves, and the thrill of sailing across the sea.
Daniel: I enjoyed spending my euros in the sweet shop. It was fun choosing what to buy and practising my French.
Beatriz: I also loved sharing this amazing experience with my friends. We laughed, we explored, and we made memories that will last forever.
Judiah: My favourite part was the treasure hunt. It made exploring the town even more exciting, and I loved solving the clues together with my group. We hope our assembly has inspired Year 3 to look forward to their turn next year!