Building friendships in a fun day of supportive teamwork
FUN and games with a purpose saw more than 200 Sixth Form Centre students take part in the school’s annual team-building day at the Les Maingys Activity Centre.
Sponsored by EY, this was a chance for the teenagers to get to know their fellow tutor group members better, since their daily gatherings usually last only 20 minutes.
Led by staff from the school, EY and Outdoor Guernsey, the activities on offer for the all-day event included several indoor challenges, such as creating the tallest tower out of wooden blocks, while outdoors there was a similar challenge but with crates, and trying to get a marble as fast as possible from one end of a field to the other without dropping it, using short pieces of plastic guttering as well as other tasks and playground games.
Among the new students at Les Varendes campus was Flynn Jones, 16, who took his GCSEs at St Sampson’s High and was now studying media, geography and computer science.
‘I’m enjoying it,’ he said of the day. ‘It’s good to get to know my tutor group and actually talk to them.’
Some groups had been encouraged to dress in costume, although the International Baccalaureate students ended up having to remove some of their outfits, since as well as being a bit hot, they made it hard to take part in some of the more active challenges.
One who managed to keep most of her outfit was Zeh Hurwitz who, along with her friends, was dressed based on local pubs. Zeh had chosen The Mermaid Tavern in Herm. A former Ladies’ College student, she had moved schools to take the IB and she was enjoying taking part in the activities.
‘It’s been great,’ she said.
‘It’s always fun to bond over games and to see what people’s specialities are.’
Although team building was the aim of the day, there were also prizes at the end of it for the best team and best individual.
EY Guernsey managing partner Richard Le Tissier said the company was delighted to be sponsoring the day.
‘We hope all the students enjoyed the day and wish everyone the best of luck with their studies over the coming year,’ he said.
Les Varendes High School and Sixth Form Centre principal Kieran James said the day was a key induction and enrichment opportunity.
‘It allows our new students to get to know each other and their tutor well, and to build friendships through a day of fun and supportive teamwork,’ he said.
