Y12 Granada Trip Exceeds All Expectations
You are not a drop in the ocean,
You’re the entire ocean in a drop
(Rumi, 13th-century Persian poet and Islamic scholar)
As we move tentatively towards a semblance of normality and embrace the wider community experiences that make St.Julian’s educational approach so unique, there’s a buzz of expectations as trips and events start to enter into the school faculties’ conversations.
One that was always going to re-emerge was the Granada trip, the legendary Learning Event that brings the Year 12 cohort together through an IB core perspective. Initially scheduled to start at the beginning of the next academic year, it was nevertheless strongly encouraged to be brought forward by the infectious altruism of the new Head of Year, Mr Jack Hudson.
What would normally take about four months of planning was squeezed into a mere four weeks, inevitably helped by the experience of previous trips but also by the irrepressible energy of our Procurement Officer, Mr Nuno Pereira.
There was palpable excitement amongst the students as the departure day approached. The 07.00 am time seemed painful to most, however, all were present (in body more than in mind) and boarded the buses more or less on time as we headed east towards Spain and to our first lunch stop five hours away in Sevilha.
The city of Granada, as well as the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, became the backdrop of a truly challenging and thought-provoking week.
Students navigated the high valley above the village of Quéntar and walked down to Granada along the ancient Camino de Santiago-Mozárabe, one group in the company of a newly acquired canine friend, Alejandro (who had to return to the village in our second bus!). In the city, students delved into the wonder of the Alhambra, explored the marvel of the Albacin and experienced four inspiring, practical workshops.
The myriad of sights, sounds and, dare I say, ailing tendons gave way to some of the most meaningful and reflective group sessions that staff on this trip have ever been a part of. With a deeper insight into what makes up the core of the IB, specifically TOK and CAS, the year group proved that they not only embody many of the qualities of a well-rounded learner but also embrace the journey ahead.
On behalf of Mr Hudson and myself, we’d also like to give a special thanks to the head of TOK, Ms Rebecca Baker, for her passionate pursuit of knowledge and the incredibly talented and supportive team of staff on this Learning Event.
Bernardo Savill
CAS Coordinator and Trip Lead
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