Laois students make memories in Paris
Heywood CS students enjoying a visit to Paris
HEYWOOD CS students made memories to last a lifetime on a wonderful trip to Paris before the Christmas school break.
Eighteen Leaving Cert French students enjoyed the sights, sounds and incomparable atmosphere of Parisian streets during a four-day visit, when they were accompanied by teachers Ms O'Shea and Ms Guest.
The group went straight to the Louvre on arrival, followed by a walking tour that took in the magnificent Tuileries Gardens and Place de la Concorde before a visit to the Christmas Markets after dinner.
Students stayed in a hostel in the 11th district and visited some of the capital’s most iconic sights, including the Eiffel Tower, le Musée d’Orsay, the Champs-Élysées, Stade de France and Montmartre.
Teacher Olive Guest said a visit to Notre-Dame cathedral on a Sunday evening was probably the most memorable of all, as students were able to walk around the famous medieval building, admire the restoration and follow the evening service in French.
In a statement issued by the school, Ms Guest said: ‘It was a truly special moment.’
On the fourth and final day, students strolled along the bustling Champs-Élysées after their French class in the morning, before a ramble through the Marais district as far as the impressive Place des Vosges, the capital’s oldest planned monumental square.
After some last-minute shopping in Paris, the tired but exhilarated group reluctantly said to the City of Lights and caught a flight home, eventually arriving in Heywood at midnight.
Students were filled with stories and reminiscences and a greatly expanded French vocabulary following their action-packed and educational trip, which was a major highlight of their final year at the Ballinakill school.
