Last Thursday, 37 of our secondary students embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Songhua Lake Ski Resort in Jilin Province, where they spent four days honing their skiing skills and enjoying the spectacular winter landscape. Under the guidance of qualified and experienced instructors, our students made remarkable progress on the slopes, whether they were first-time skiers or refining their technique on more challenging runs.
The resort proved to be an excellent choice for a school trip, offering a safe and well-equipped environment for our students to develop their skiing confidence. When off the slopes, they enjoyed a variety of fantastic restaurants, with the local Dongbei cuisine being a particular highlight. Of course, their meals were generously supplemented by snacks and treats, with some students showing an impressive knack for acquiring supplies—none more so than Celine, who somehow always had a seemingly endless stash on hand.
What stood out most was how much genuine fun and laughter we shared with our students throughout the trip. There were many moments of unexpected hilarity, with students revealing a dry wit and sharp sense of humour that kept both staff and peers entertained. For teachers, getting to know students in a non-academic setting is the essence of these types of trips.
One of the most impressive aspects of the trip was the level of sophistication displayed by some of our students when given free time to organise their own meals. Our Year 6 girls, in particular, approached dining with a remarkable level of etiquette and refinement, selecting a variety of well-balanced meals and handling themselves with grace. Meanwhile, our Year 8s took a more direct approach to fine dining—gravitating straight towards KFC.
Of course, it wouldn't be a school trip without students losing thousands of items along the way. A special shout-out to Lincoln and Raymond, who, in their excitement to be sharing a room together, managed to misplace 13 different belongings within the first day alone.
There were also some incredibly sweet and memorable moments, such as when Isabel saw snow for the first time, reminding us that experiences we sometimes take for granted can be truly magical for others. Sunny, Vivian, Kristine and Anna showed a lot of bravery and kindness helping each other through a challenging situation. The determination and resilience of our students was particularly commendable. Many of them took fall after fall, only to get back up and try again. A special mention to Junwoo, Jun, Cici, and Kayla, who, despite being completely exhausted by the third day, pushed themselves to get back on the slopes on the final morning and give it one last effort.
Beyond the skiing and the humour, what truly stood out was the maturity, organisation, and enthusiasm of our students throughout the trip. They listened carefully to instructions, navigated new environments with confidence, and fully embraced the freedom and responsibility given to them. They represented our school impeccably, showing respect for one another and the resort staff, and ensuring that the trip was a positive experience for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to all the staff who helped make this trip a success, and to our students for making it such a memorable and enjoyable experience. We look forward to many more adventures in the future!
