On Thursday 13th March, Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Snowdon, Miss Buckle, Miss Garlick and I set off on a 5-night trip to Rome and the Bay of Naples with 39 students drawn from Years 8 and 9. It was an amazing trip that everyone really enjoyed. The girls have written about the trip and we’ve included lots of photos from the visit too – Mr Ramsdale, Senior Assistant Headteacher.

Rome

The Trevi Fountain was truly a sight to behold; its large size was quite impressive and the several statues adorning it were impressively intricate. We saw the monument at night, in the still busy but darker surroundings of Rome, and were allowed to go and indulge in the nearby ice cream shops and other tourist/souvenir shops. At night, I think that it was even more impressive, as the lights illuminating it, added more depth in the lit areas and contrasting shadows. It was sort of surreal to be walking by and standing in front of such a well-known tourist attraction and was overall, a beautiful experience. Heidi

I really enjoyed my time in Rome. The Trevi Fountain was absolutely brilliant! I got so many good pictures with my friends there and overall, it was just beautiful. Rome was very interesting in general, and I’d love to go again and see all the historical buildings. Catherine

We visited St Peter’s Basilica. Inside, laid a glorious building built by Roman Christians. Saint Peter the Apostle was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. He was also the first Pope. The Basilica is an amazing church in the Vatican City. It’s also known as the biggest church. Inside the Basilica you can also see a few covered bodies of the past great Popes. Each group had a tour guide who showed us through the amazing building.  Zahraa

The food was great in Rome! We had pizza, gelatos and many other treats. On one of the mornings in the hotel, some of us had a take-away breakfast. We had pizza at lunch one day, and it was delicious! To drink, I had a Fanta, and it tasted even better than back here at home. I also had some gelato – mango flavour. We also went to a very fancy McDonalds that was there! For tea at Rome, we had even more pizza and some chips. Another night we had delicious lasagna. Ruby

On the third day in Rome, we went to the Colosseum. I think this was the best part of the trip because of all the information we found out about it. The Colosseum was once used to host fights to entertain the public. These fights were between people, slaves or even a mix of both. We learned that the space had a capacity for 65,000 spectators at a time and it was one of the main ways of entertainment at the time. It was a spectacular sight and I believe everyone should try to visit it. Lowri

The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Rome and stepping inside feels surreal. You can almost hear the cheers of the crowds from ancient times. The architecture is fascinating, with its massive arches and intricate details. Then, when you head to Palatine Hill, it’s like walking through history. It’s one of the oldest parts of the city and offers stunning views over the Forum and the Circus Maximus. The ruins of the imperial palaces are impressive and you can really immerse in the atmosphere of what life was like back then. It’s a perfect spot to capture the essence of Ancient Rome. It was an unforgettable experience! Deeya

On our first night in Rome, we were given homemade Margherita pizzas with a side of chips and water. I can’t even begin how to describe how delicious they were. It was stringy as you picked it up but not soggy, telling us it was freshly made. On the Friday, we ate lasagna with a side of potatoes and either a bowl of fruit or a slice of cake. The lasagna looked warm and creamy, the potatoes were glazed in an oil and the fruit bowl was filled with oranges, pineapple, grapes and more. The cake was soft and moist. Out of the two dinners we had in Rome, I preferred the pizza and chips because in my opinion it looked more appealing then the lasagna but still a good meal. Jennifer

Bay of Naples

The island of Capri was beautiful, from the little shops to the outstanding views. We learnt a lot about the history of Italy from our tour guide and enjoyed some Italian gelato on the dock. It was a beautiful island and it was incredible to see in person after seeing all the pictures online. Sadie

The island of Capri was a wonderful experience. The weather was absolutely amazing and the views were breathtaking. The story of the red chilli pepper was something to make everyone laugh and it was overall such a fun a great experience. The island was full of lemons. The people were amazing! Zainab

When we got off the boat at Capri, we walked up the dock and into a little cafe. After that, we got on mini buses where our tour guide took us up a path lined with small shops and to a lovely viewpoint looking over the entire island. After that, we explored a little more, before going to find lunch. We then got back on to the mini buses and onto the boat. Elizabeth

Mount Vesuvius was a great experience and I thought I wouldn’t ever climb a mountain but I did it! The start of the walk was hard and my legs were hurting but once we got to the top, it was beautiful and the view was amazing. I enjoyed it a lot and hope to get to experience something like this again. Ayesha

I really enjoyed my visit to Pompeii. It really opened my eyes as to how life would have been during and after the volcanic eruption which destroyed the city and killed hundreds of people within seconds. The bodies preserved made me reflect on life nowadays and how advanced technology is. I feel fortunate to be living on a small island, free of any volcanoes. The remains in Pompeii were just spectacular which were entire buildings uncovered from piles of ash which enveloped the town. The city of Pompeii is really unique and I really enjoyed my visit here. Micah

The hotels were both in beautiful spots and the first was extremely spacious with so many vast areas to explore and provide everything you needed. The second hotel was so close to the water which had lovely views and it also had a really nice lobby area to wait around in. Sadie

The food was really good. When we first got there, we went to a restaurant where I got a pizza and they gave us these doughnut-like desserts drizzled in white chocolate and topped with Oreo’s. Both were so nice! There was lots of gelato shops dotted about and lots of local shops to stop of to buy lunch or a drink. Thank you for the trip – I loved it! Eva

I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Herbert who organised this whole trip but unfortunately was not able to come. Phoebe

This week students in years 9 and 10 watched a live webcast with a holocaust survivor organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Mala Tribich, born in Poland in 1930, gave an engrossing and articulate testimony of her experiences of the holocaust and how her family had been brutally persecuted after Nazi invasion in 1939. Mala shared her experiences of persecution and discrimination under the Nazis, including her experiences of life in a Jewish ghetto and Nazi concentration camps. If you would like to read more about Mala and her experiences click here: Holocaust Educational Trust – Mala Tribich MBE, or to watch her testimony click here:  Remember Their Words – Eyal Booker meets Holocaust Survivor Mala Tribich MBE

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

On Remembrance Sunday, students from Penwortham Girls’ High School took part in the ceremony held at Penwortham War Memorial. The Head Girl and two Deputy Head Girls, Hattie, Sophie and Elizabeth, laid wreaths at Penwortham War Memorial on behalf of the school on Armistice Day and on Remembrance Sunday. They also read the names of those soldiers from the local area who lost their lives during the First World War during the Remembrance Sunday service alongside students from Priory Academy and All Hallows Catholic High School. It was fantastic to see so many students from school at the event, whether they were representing other organisations such as the Scouts, or those who had come with their parents.

In school, the school charity council members have been raising money for the British Legion by selling poppies. Assemblies this week have focused on the significance of First World War Remembrance. At 11am on Armistice Day a two-minute silence was observed by all in school, followed by a recital of the Reveille by Mrs Little.

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for History