Our annual visit from École Internationale de Reims is always a highlight in the Year 3 calendar. We are usually sweltering in the heat and basking in the sunshine. This year we were greeted with heavy, grey clouds.
By some good fortune, we escaped the rain all day and alternative plans were put on hold. A host of cheery, wide eyed, chatty young people stepped off their enormous coach which had brought them from the Champagne region in Normandy for their stay with us.
We welcomed them and off we went on tours of the school. En route, the Year 3 children practised their French conversation, posing questions to their new friends to get to know them a little better. The teachers were impressed with their confidence and their emerging accents. Next we introduced cricket and rounders - two new sports for the French children to learn and enjoy. The rules were simplified and the fun began.
By lunch time, there were some hungry tummies and we enjoyed a wonderful picnic altogether under the trees. During free time it was no surprise to see an international football match taking place between the children, where I understand the result was a draw!
As usual, the French children prepared an almighty drama performance worthy of West End status, which we all enjoyed - Alice in Wonderland, complemented by Twinkle Twinkle and even the Baby Shark song! The rest of the day was spent getting creative making flags and fortune tellers in groups. We had a lot of fun and were sad to wave goodbye at the end of the day, a day which sped past so quickly. Well done to all the Year 3 children who were kind, brilliant hosts. Fortunately, we will meet our French friends again when they return in Year 5 for another visit.
