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Saturday 31 March 2012

Easter musings

'So shaken as we are, so wan we care, find we a time for frighted peace to pant..' these opening lines of Shakespeare's Henry IV (one of our A level English texts) drifted across my mind as the Spring term came to an end. It has certainly been a full one and it is good to have had some r and r. Here is a look at some of the main events....

GENERAL

The winter freeze, Chavagnes under snow:

The weather after Christmas, as most of you know, took a turn for the colder and Chavagnes International College was covered in snow thicker than any seen in its decade-long history (if the stalwarts are to be believed.) Routine continued as normal with little change to the timetable (except the popular decision to cancel cross-country) but some concessions to uniform. All around the school grounds boys could be seen making their way between vollies of snowballs laden with hats, scarfs, gloves, coats, cloaks and whatever else they could find, looking for all the world like a tribe of small Michelin men.


An unfamiliar view of the back quad
Senior boys enjoy a stroll in the snow

One break-time the snow even went to the heads of the teachers and our chaplain: (photo coming soon)




SPORT

Rugbyitis

Thanks to the energetic work of Mr. Leach and Mr. Usher this term has been one of the most sporty in the college's history. Rugby fever has gripped the school. The symptoms of this pandemic are breathlessness at the mention of 'match', sudden involuntary shouts of 'ole!' and of course the compulsory throwing of an oval ball at every break and half-break of the day.


Thursday 15 March 2012

Rome Trip, February 2012


ROME
After a term and a half of hard work, the school choir was rewarded by a trip to Rome. For many members of the choir their first visit to the Eternal City, the trip was highly anticipated and a cause of great excitement for staff and pupils alike. We arrived at our objective with little difficulty except for the distribution of cottas and folders in our baggage under the close scrutiny of Ryan Air staff who can spot a 10.2 kilo bag at thirty paces. Our group consisted of choir, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Tyldesley, Mr. Crawford, the parents of Louis and Armand Vadot and of course our trusty Chaplain, Father Bedus Rowus.

Our lodgings were at the Seraphicum, an educational establishment run by the Franciscans on the outskirts of Rome, conveniently located at one end of the Roman metro. They were very good to us during our stay, providing excellent breakfasts and meals and showing patience towards their excited guests. The first evening was largely spent getting used to our surroundings, excepting a brief visit to the Abbey of St. Paul of the three fountains. We discovered that each fountain sprang up where Saint Pauls decapitated (and presumably bouncy) head had hit the ground.

The next day we walked a short distance to the grand, spare buildings of the Museum of Roman Civilization. This was an excellent museum for curious children, as many of the artifacts were reproductions and were designed to withstand pawing. Particularly impressive was the large scale model of Rome under the mid-Empire which we spent some time staring at and debating the scale of.

Our next stop was the Colloseum. As this trip to Peter's city was, as is the case for any Catholic, also a pilgrimage, it was pointed out that the Colloseum was also a Church, consecrated, as it were, by the blood of the martyrs spilled on its sand. At this point our group split into two; one, zealously directed by Father Rowe, examined some of the churches around the forum and the other explored the forum itself. The low walls and truncated columns of the forum can be underwhelming, and it was only at great expense to Mr. Tyldesley's theatrical skills that they could be brought to life. After returning to the Seraficum, its prayerful chapel, which was the location of all our masses, became our rehearsal space.

The next day we had Sant John Lateran on our agendum and we were heading in that direction when we were lucky enough to come across Father Redmond, a friend and visitor of the shool. The magnificent frieze and main door gave pause for wondrementm but rain drove us inside. With father Redmond on our team, the pool of local knowledge increased considerably and he pointed out many interesting features of the building and spoke Italian better than those of us who cobbled it together from bits of French, Spanish and Latin. Particularly interesting, other than the combination of architectural styles, is a small but much revered statue of St, John the Baptist. It is customary to throw coins at the foot of this statue, a custom the boys were keen to honour. It was probably with choirboys in mind that a strong pyrex screen had been erected in front of the delicate statue.

Retreating from St John's we returned to our boardings to prepare for the evening parish mass at which we were singing. We had been in communication with a troup of Scouts d'Europe from the parish and were keen to meet them. Consequently all the scouts in our party were in uniform and I am sure we made a smart impression on our hosts. The mass itself was celebrated by a special Monsignor from the Vatican, brought in at the request of the Parish on account of his linguistic skills and scouting experience. After some strong singing (though stronger was to come) we were welcomed in their function rooms and distributed among tables of talkative Italians. Next was the     which was completed with a larger open (and more explosive) fire than one expects to see in inner Rome. The boys learnt a variety of new games and songs in rather strange English (such as the wonderful  'I say do you know dog') and in return Mr. Crawford sang one of our classics, 'J'avais un camarade.' All in all a warming experience and good networking for our scouts.

The next day we had ...

(to be continued, and photos to be added ...)