Second year students from Dalbeattie High school have just returned from a week-long trip to Normandy in north-eastern France organised by the Modern Languages Department.
Forty-three students stayed at a PGL site at Château du Tertre, near Ambrières in Normandy, where they had an opportunity to enjoy some outdoor activities and practice their French language whilst exploring the local area.
The young people enjoyed a wild, wet and windy walk across the causeway and sightseeing on the stunning island of Mont Saint Michel, which reminded many of them of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.
They also visited the historic walled pirate city of Saint Malo where they tasted some of the best ice-cream ever.
French pancakes (crêpes) were also popular on the trip but, although the majority of students braved the garlic snails, not many went back for seconds.
In smaller towns pupils tried out their French ordering drinks from a café and shopped at local markets.
A new addition to the itinerary this year was a visit to the Pegasus Bridge Memorial, as featured in the classic film the Longest Day, where they got a fascinating insight into the events at the early stages of D-Day in WW2.
Other historical visits included a WW1 cemetery near Boulogne and ruins of a Roman amphitheatre dating from the era of Astérix of Gaul in Jublains.
Despite all the cultural content, the highlight for most pupils is the opportunity to be away with their friends and enjoying games and canoeing, climbing and archery at the château.
Several conquered their fear of heights to scale the climbing wall but teachers were relieved that despite the best efforts of some students, they did not succeed in tipping the staff into the river during the water-based games.
