Kit Check:

Just a reminder that Kit check takes place this Friday. All students need to bring in all the items on their kit list. They can bring it in any bag as when they go on expedition it will be transferred into one of the schools expedition rucksacks. If you have any problems with getting kit please let me or crew leaders know so we can help.

Bag Packing:

Students will need to bring in all of their kit and food again on Wednesday morning 10th April ready for bag packing after school from 3.15pm to 4.30pm.

Expedition:

Students can come to school at the normal time on Thursday morning 11th April. We will be spending the first few hours doing route planning and basic map skills before we head out. Our Bronze practice expedition this year is taking place around Askern. We have some great routes for the students to learn the skills needed for their qualifying expedition. Students will be supervised by staff at all times on the practice / training expedition.

Return:

We will return to school Friday morning and spend time de-gunging equipment followed by a debriefing of their practice to make any changes, updates & improvements to their plans ready for the qualifying expedition. Students can be collected from school at the usual time.

Also, as it could be very cold during the evening & night students can each bring an extra blanket or thick coat that can be kept separate from what they have to carry. This doesn’t need to come to kit check.

If you have any questions please email me or speak with crew leaders.

Kate

Expedition food is planned and decided within each student expedition group. This is part of the training and planning process which should now have been completed by each group and checked by the adult supervising their group on Friday afternoons.

If you are unsure of what your child’s responsibility is in this process they can show you what they have been doing over the past 3 Fridays.

On the XP DofE website under ‘Expeditions’ is their year group ‘X23’. Here at the top of the page is a list of the 8 DofE expedition groups. These are the planning documents each group has to complete before going on expedition. Students can show you the planning they have been doing including what food they have chosen, a complete shopping list with prices & calories and when where and how they are shopping for their food.

Please don’t send your child with extra food, sweets or snacks other that what is on their menu plan.

If you have any further questions please contact me directly or speak with their crew leaders.

Many thanks

Kate

Just a reminder that X23 students will be having their DofE expedition kit checked on Friday afternoon this week (5th April).

Students need to bring in all the items listed on their kit lists. This can be viewed by clicking on  XP DOfE website:

Here you will find the Bronze kit list, information for choosing & borrowing kit and how students must present their kit for checking by expedition supervisors.

Many thanks

Kate

It has come to my attention that although I thought the DofE expedition dates were in the school calendar that actually they weren’t so apologies for my mistake.

The dates for the Bronze practice expedition are the 11th April to 12th April and the Qualifying expedition are 25th & 26th June. These dates are also mentioned in the ‘dates for your diary’ on the DofE website and were on the consent forms.

The practice / training expedition will take place locally in Askern. Students will do a supervised training hike to learn navigational skills and then camp overnight returning to school the following morning. The morning will be spent de-gunging equipment and then debriefing the expedition in preparation for the qualifying expedition in June.

Students have spent the last few weeks learning how to pitch tents, cook on the expedition stoves and plan their group’s menu.  Each group has to complete a Planning Document before going on expedition which proves to me, their expedition supervisor and assessor that they have completed the training and are competent to go on expedition.

Click Here to view an example of a group’s expedition planning doc.

This week students will be learning some basic campcraft skills, looking at equipment such as survival bags, trowels etc (ask students after Friday why each group carries a trowel……)

I hope this gives you a better insight into what we are doing in DofE sessions each week.

All students in X23 will need to bring in the items on their expedition kit list on Friday 5th April (1 week prior to expedition).

Expedition supervisors will do a thorough check to make sure students have the appropriate clothing, footwear etc.

This is an important part of the expedition process. Students that don’t have the correct kit could be at risk of not going on the expedition.

Kit lists are available on the XP DofE website or from the office.

Thanks

Kate

A polite reminder to let crew leaders know if students are needing a school dinner or a pack up for lunch on the 12th April when we will return to school from the Bronze practice expedition.

If students normally bring in a packed lunch this would need to be sent into school on the Friday morning and handed into the office for your child to collect.

If this is not possible then you will need to order them a school lunch before the 27th March. Lunches cost £2.50 and will be added to your parent pay account.

Please make sure crew leaders are informed whether your child is having a packed lunch or needs a school lunch before the 27th March!!

Any problems please let me know.

Thanks

Kate

We will be going on the practice expedition in 3 weeks time!

Please remember that students need to bring their own sleeping bag liner on expedition which was added to the mandatory kit list.

If you are wanting to borrow one from XP please email me before the 29th March so I have time to get them ready.

Thanks

Kate

[email protected]

I am currently in the process of finalising plans for us to offer the Gold DofE Award Level.

X21 students that are wanting to do their GOLD DofE Award can now purchase their welcome booklets. (Students must be a minimum of 16 years old).

Welcome Booklets cost £29 each which will be charged through your parent pay account. After the 1st of April the cost goes up to £31.

Booklets can then be collected from the school office and the Gold level will be added to the participants existing eDofE account.

When students have complete their Gold Award at XP we will happily reimburse this amount to your parent pay account.

If you have any questions about the Gold award at XP please email me, however further information will be posted shortly.

Thanks

Kate

[email protected]

Any outstanding medical & consent forms need to be completed & returned by this Friday at the very latest so that I can add them to the risk assessment.

Without this form students will not be able to go on expedition!

Many thanks

Kate

Students will return to school on the morning of Friday 12th April from their DofE practice expedition.

The morning will be spent de-gunging expedition equipment at school.

Students will therefore be in school for lunch.

If students normally bring in a packed lunch this would need to be sent into school on the Friday morning and handed into the office for your child to collect. If this is not possible then you will need to order them a school lunch before the 27th March. Lunches cost £2.50 and will be added to your parent pay account.

Please make sure crew leaders are informed whether your child is having a packed lunch or needs a school lunch before the 27th March!!

Any problems please let me know.

Thanks

Kate