Category: School Blog

It’s been a fantastic second day at Kilbowie and the children have made the most of the wonderful weather – it got to around 18 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky.  Just wonderful.

The children were woken to dance music blaring through the loud speakers at 7.30am this morning.  The children had to make sure their rooms were nice and tidy once they showered and got dressed as the Kilbowie staff were inspecting the rooms to make sure they were tidy.  Most of the children have done a great job at keeping rooms in order, but a few beds could have been neater!

Breakfast consisted of toast, cereal or porridge and some lovely hot tea to wake us up.

After a bit of free time, the children met their instructors to get ready for the morning activites and headed off to get their kit.  Group 1 and Miss Thomson were going Gorge Walking with Dave and Group 2 were taking part in Bushcraft with their instructor Chris, one of the other instructors, Keith and Mr. Clark too.  All of the children took part and tried new things, making their teachers very proud -themselves too.

Lunch was Macaroni and cheese or Tomato pasta with a cold option of filled rolls, with plenty of fresh fruit and crisps.

After lunch, the afternoon activities were Climbing for Group 1 with Dave and Group 2 worked with a different instructor (also called Chris) and went canoeing.

For dinner, we enjoyed Chicken or Quorn bites or Vegetable rice.  It was sticky toffee pudding for desert.  As the weather is so hot, we decided to forgo chips and instead walked into Oban for some Ice Cream from ‘The Pokey Hat Shop’  in Oban Harbour.  It was Mr Clark’s pleasure to treat the children as they have behaved so well this week.

The instructors came in the mini-bus to collect us but many of the boys wanted to walk back as it was such a good night – Mr Clark and Miss Thomson enjoyed the walk back too.

We arrived back in time for the night line – the highlight of Kilbowie.  The children follow a rope course wound through the forest area in the grounds.  The children tried really hard not to peek and most of them got all the way round without looking once.  Of course, it doesn’t help when the teachers are accidents giving the wrong instructions or pretending there’s obstacles that might not be there….

Finally, after a long day we enjoyed some sandwiches for supper, had a quick tuck shop and then settled to bed.  It’s all quiet now and everyone’s asleep, ready for an exciting day tomorrow.

We’ve had an amazing first day at Kilbowie – the sun is shinning and the children have been outdoors all afternoon.

We have a very smooth journey to Oban and not one person was unwell.  We stopped for a snack at the Green Welly near Crianlarich before making our way on to Kilbowie.

We arrived about 1pm and headed straight in for lunch.  After that, the children headed to their dorms to make their beds and unpack.  There was a fire drill practice and then the children got to meet their instructors.  The children in Group 1 have Dave as their instructor and Group 2’s is Chris.

Group 1 headed off for a nature walk and then had the opportunity to jump off the jetty into the sea.  Group 2 got to scale the climbing tree in the grounds using ropes and harnesses.  Most of the children reached the top to ring the bell and abseiled back down.

After a bit of free time in the games room, it was time for dinner.  Tonight’s menu was Sweet and Sour Chicken or Fish and Potato wedges all served with a pitta pocket and salad or veg.  For desert we had Lemon Drizzle cake which was delicious.

After we had tuck shop, we made the most of the glorious weather and headed outdoors to play two ‘scavenger hunt’ style games and then it was time for supper of sandwiches and juice.

The children have been an absolute credit to the school and their families – they have been exceptionally well behaved and supportive of each other.  They’re having fun and each and everyone of them has achieved something they hadn’t before today – wether it was climbing a tree, jumping in the water or making their own beds.

The forecast for tomorrow is hot and sunny again – we might take a wander down to Oban Town Centre for some Ice Cream and take in the scenery.