Chessington 2008

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If you are lucky, the start of June in England traditionally offers slightly warmer weather. If you are very lucky, it also offers slightly less rain than usual. However, if you are very, very lucky - and a new student in Key Stage 3 - it also offers you a day off school to visit Chessington World of Adventures!

 

On Wednesday 11th June, 20 excited students and 7 intrepid members of staff journeyed to Chessington World of Adventures for a thrill seeking day of rollercoasters and rides, all organised by the Rotary Club as part of the national 'Kids Out' activity day.

 

The day began with students being divided into three groups; Stage 1 Explorers, who were content to go on gentle rides and just watch the scarier ones; Stage 2 Adventurers, who would try some of the more intense rides; and Stage 3 Thrillseekers, who wanted to go on every stomach-wrenching and brain-busting ride the park had to offer!

 

There are no prizes for guessing which group had the most students in it, but you may be interested to know that by the end of the day nearly every person on the visit had ridden even the scariest ride in the park, the fearsome 'Black Buccaneer' swinging boat. The only people that didn't ride it selflessly gave up this opportunity in order to 'look after the bags', an important task that someone has to do!

 

Miss Smith may have regretted the rash promise she made to her group of students; when Tom, Kate and Ryan were initially a bit nervous, she admitted that she was a bit nervous too, but that in the spirit of being brave she would accompany them on all the rides that they chose to go on. Little did she know that by the end of the day they would all have turned into massive rollercoaster fans!

 

Many students were repeat riders; Will is certain that he went on 'Dragon's Fury' at least eleven times, and Matt B., James A., Harvey, Charles and Mike went on 'Rameses Revenge' so many times they lost count. Some of the students benefited from having a really thorough wash, although being lowered into a freezing water fountain while hanging upside down 10 metres above ground may not have been the usual way of doing it! Steven and Joe win the prize for the being soggiest students.

 

Many groups found the time to visit the sealife show to see the well trained seals and sealions, and Matt H. learned how to tell the difference between the two animals. James K. enjoyed driving his own car (well, a a Dennis the Menance Dodgem car actually), and one bunch of crazy students decided they weren't wet enough so soaked themselves from head to toe in the Beanoland fountains.

 

Kathryn, Chantelle and Miss Turner enjoyed the "Billy's Whizzer" chair-o-plane ride although the people on the outside got a bit soggy from the water squirters, and Megan and Sebastian confronted their fears by sitting right on the end of the Black Buccaneer. Gemma had her cap blasted off the top of her head by the whoosh of the first drop on Dragons Fury!

 

This was a hugely enjoyable day out which will be remembered for a long time by all who took part. Our thanks go to the local branch of Rotary for their generosity in funding the event and arranging for the lunches that were provided. The experience meant a lot to the children. Thanks also to the members of staff who attended, especially to Miss Bull and Mr. Heine who drove us there and back.