We can barely believe it. It feels we have only just said goodbye to our wonderful Program 1 students, and already it is time to welcome another group of incredible teenagers to the Reach Cambridge family!
I regret to report that the students have had the absolute quintessential British summertime experience today: it’s been grey and raining since last night..! Still, the Reach Cambridge spirit cannot be dampened, and Arrivals Day has gone in the usual blur of orange T-shirts, suitcases and smiles. Teams Heathrow and Gatwick left Cambridge in the small hours of the morning to meet students at their respective terminals, whereas Teams Downing and Trinity Hall remained behind to welcome those travelling independently or with their parents, as well as the groups from the airport when their coach arrived. As soon as our students were shown to their rooms and settled in, there were snacks, games and plenty of getting-to-know-you chat in college, before groups were taken around a rather soggy Cambridge on an orientation tour. This was also a chance for our three Combination students (who have stayed on from Program 1) to meet their new friends and even help out with showing them the sights of the city.
Huddled against the rain, those not staying at Trinity Hall made their way over there for dinner. For many of our students, this was their first experience of the beautiful 14th-century college, which boasts more of a botanical atmosphere than one feels when surrounded by Downing’s (equally beautiful but distinct) neo-classical architecture. After dinner, students gathered in the Lecture Theatre for a brief welcome talk, led by Program Coordinators Precious and Scott. They were then introduced to their supervisors and escorted back to college to settle into their corridors. There will be more Icebreakers to look forward to tomorrow, but, as some of our young people have travelled from as far afield as China and Saudi Arabia, we’re sure our students will feel much more refreshed after a good night’s sleep!
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~by Rosalind, Summer Marketing Coordinator & member of Senior Staff team
Team Heathrow ready to meet our new arrivals – Instagram @reachcambridge
