Tuesday, 22 October 2013

FUND RAISING EFFORTS BY THE TEAM MEMBERS




FUND RAISING TARGET £5000



LUCY HUMPHREY'S FUND RAISING DAY 


On July 7th 2013, I had a 'Fun Day' at my home. The idea started out as just having a 'Pamper Evening' for some friends and family members, but it soon grew into a full day for everyone. I wanted to do something a little bit different, compared to a cake stall or car boot sale. A family friend had a similar charity day last year during the summer, which gave us the original idea. The day started at 2pm through until the evening and included fun games and events such as:
-Raffle.
-Bingo.
-Guess The Teddy Bear's Birthday.
-How Many Sweets In The Jar.
-Guess The Weight Of The Cheesecake.
-Face Paints.
-Nail Painting.
-Table Tennis.
-Snooker.
And much more.
Thankfully, all the prizes were donated by friends and family. We had food and drinks inside, with donation pots dotted aroundcc.
We also sold some homemade jewelry, cards, bookmarks and other items, which my mum (Chris Terry) and I made ourselves.

We couldn't have asked for better weather and it was a lovely day, with lots of brilliant memories with friends and family. 
Together we raised £303.26.
Thank you to everyone.


Lucy Humphrey :)






LONDON TO BRIGHTON BIKE RIDE


On Sunday 16th June, a group of 18 cycling-enthusiasts ventured to Clapham Common for the 2013 London-Brighton bike ride. The day began with a pre-5:00 am wake-up call and the majority of riders congregated at Calthorpe Park School to load the bikes into the hired van and to get onto the minibus to Clapham for our scheduled 7:30am start.  



By the time the team had arrived in Clapham and were set up to begin it was just after 8:00 am, this was still however over an hour earlier than last year, with the hope to leave Brighton before dark this year!

As expected, the first 16 miles were predominantly stop-start, partly due to the army of cyclists attempting to compete with London traffic, but also the sheer amount of cyclists participating, estimated at 28,500, undoubtedly meant initial slow progress. This was naturally a little frustrating, but perhaps it’s a good way to ease the cyclists into the challenges ahead!

Part of the attraction of the ride is all the numerous rest stops along the route, which transcend through quaint villages in rural areas to larger towns, yet for this special day the locals come out in force to cheer the cyclists and offer a wide variety of refreshments, which the majority gladly consume. It is this sense of a community atmosphere that marks the London to Brighton bike ride out and is surely a reason why it regularly has such a high number of participants.

The OST riders all went off at differing paces, but the challenge of the infamous Ditchling Beacon remained an inevitability, with some managing to cycle the 1 mile-long assent but it is certainly no mean feat to walk up the hill (known as the Sussex Everest), which is arguably more strenuous for the body!

After Ditchling begins the 7 miles descent into Brighton, which for the earlier riders was managed relatively quickly, however a few notable crashes from other riders, considerably delayed some OST riders by up to an hour and a half.

However all of the OST cyclists arrived safe and sound, if a little achey, with a united sense of achievement and relief. The earliest OST riders arrived at 14:00 with the last arriving at 17:30, so a very commendable effort from the whole team.

We were so fortunate to have minimal rain despite the gloomy forecast and were lucky to arrive in Brighton to the sight of bright blue skies with the Sun’s glare off the sea, which only added to feelings of euphoria for completing the bike ride.

The OST team has successfully raised over the target of £1500 and should therefore be very proud not just of completing the ride but for the fact that the money raised will go along way to supporting the communities in the North and East of Sri Lanka.








CURRY EVENING



Just when we began to wonder if people would come out for this years' curry night, we then thought we may run out of curry! (Well, no, run out of curry - never! ) We had such a brilliant evening, if you weren't there you really did miss out!
Our fantastic, dedicated team did - as usual- a tremendous job. Everyone made light work of cooking, (special thanks to Baba whose expertise was invaluable) setting up and clearing away. Andrew and Danny made short work of the washing up much to the relief and gratitude of everyone! Thanks too, to those who made curries of various varieties that were so delicious.
The comments received afterwards were very encouraging and we are so thankful to all who made it so rewarding, not least when we recall who it was we were doing this event for. It is such a privilege to be part of this amazing life changing work for people who have so much less than ourselves and yet to be blessed so much when we take up the invitation to be of service to them.
Maybe we should hold two curry nights a year?...............mmmm ....now where did I buy those curry leaves?




SLUG WALK 2013

The slug walk held on Monday 22 nd July 2013 raised £1250 for Ocean Stars.






VOX CHOIR CONCERT

Sameena Ramsden raised £405 for ocean Stars with a Raffle she did for Ocean Stars at the annual Vox Choir Concert.

SAINSBURY'S BAG PACKING DAY

Jack Tyler organised a bag packing day @ Sainsbury's in Fleet and raised £240 for Ocean Stars.




OCEAN STARS VARIETY SHOW

Held on Saturday 19th October the show raised £500 for Ocean Stars.






Calthorpe Park students to visit Sri Lanka

15 students and two teaching staff from Calthorpe Park School in Fleet will be visiting Sri Lanka for 10 days this October as the culmination of a year’s planning.
A key activity during the stay will be to work with Pulliyadimunai Secondary school in Batticaloa. Calthorpe Park has been in contact with the school since 2011,   and the students, from Years 10 and 11, have been organising resources and activities to use with the Sri Lankan students. Equally the Fleet students will use their resources in local Nursery Schools in the Eastern Sri Lankan town, to play with the children there who live in some of the poorer and more remote areas.
The group will be first flying to Colombo, and firstly enjoy some sights, including the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala, The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and a game of cricket with a local school. Then they proceed east to Batticaloa to complete their community project.
The visit has been organised in association with Fleet-based charity Ocean Stars Trust (Registered Charity 1110022) which has been providing support for shattered Sri Lankan communities since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. For further information about the Charity, please visit www.oceanstarstrust.com  The charity was established in January 2005 by Fleet resident Dilanee Bunter who was born in Sri Lanka.  
Apart from the fear of spiders the students are all “full of excitement” about their trip. Rachel Angel Teacher in Charge said “I am very proud to be part of the first ever group of pupils from Calthorpe Park School to visit Sri Lanka. I am sure it is going to be a life changing experience for us all.”



TRIP ITINERARY

CALTHORPE PARK SCHOOL – OPTION I

TOUR OF SRI LANKA - 0CTOBER 2013
25TH OCT          AIRPORT / PINNAWALA / KANDY – THILANKA HOTEL
(Friday)
AM                    Welcome on arrival and transfer to Negombo
Refresh and breakfast at Paradise Beach Hotel and proceed to Pinnawala. Visit the Elephant Orphanage and visit the baby Elephants bottle fed with milk. Thereafter witness the Elephants bath in the river. LUNCH at Pinnawala
PM                    Leave for Kandy and check-in to hotel
Kandy is the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka which was finally ended to the British in 1815. Dinner and overnight stay             

26TH OCT          KANDY / MATALE / DAMBULLA – THILANKA RESORT & SPA
(Saturday)
AM                    After breakfast, visit the Kandy Temple where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is placed in a chamber. About 1000 devotees worship the temple every day. Kandy city tour and the market place, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. It was a pleasure garden for the queen of King Wickramabahu III in 14th Century. Later it was established as a botanical garden by the British in 19th Century.  
                        Thereafter visit a Tea Plantation and a Factory at Geragama.
PM                    Leave for Dambulla and check-in to hotel for late lunch
Visit Dambulla rock caved temple
Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay

27TH OCT          DAMBULLA / CRICKET MATCH / MINNERIYA / DAMBULLA
(Sunday)                                                          – THILANKA RESORT & SPA
AM                    After breakfast, leave MPS Village Grounds
CRICKET – TWO 10 OVER SOFT BALL CRICKET MATCHES WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOYS. PLAYERS WILL BE MIXED BEFORE THE SECOND MATCH.
                        Lunch at the grounds
PM                    Afternoon at leisure by the pool
Dinner and overnight stay


28TH OCT          DAMBULLA / POLONNARUWA / BATTICALOA
(Monday)                                                         – BRIDGE VIEW HOTEL
AM                    After breakfast, leave for Batticaloa and check-in at hotel
At Leisure
PM                    MEET THE TEAM FROM OCEAN STARS AND PLAN THE REST OF THE 03 DAYS IN BATTICALOA.
                        Overnight stay

29TH, 30TH & 31ST OCT  BATTICALOA – BRIDGE VIEW HOTEL
(Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday)

AM/PM             VISIT THE SCHOOLS AS PER OCEAN STARS SCHEDULE
                        Evening return to hotel for overnight stay

01ST NOV          BATTICALOA / MAHIYANGANA / KANDY / COLOMBO
(Friday)                                                           – CINNAMON LAKESIDE
AM                    After breakfast leave for Colombo via Kandy
En-route visits the beautiful sceneries and the famous road with 18 beds up to Kandy. Lunch en-route
PM                    Arrive in Colombo and check-in to hotel (Approx. 4.00pm)
                         
02ND OCT          COLOMBO / CITY TOUR – CINNAMON LAKESIDE
(Saturday)
AM                    Breakfast at hotel
Colombo city tour and visit the interesting places such as the Old Parliament, Galle Face green, Gangarama Temple, New Parliament complex , last minute shopping.
PM                    At Leisure by the pool side
                        Dinner and overnight stay (PIZZA NIGHT)

03RD OCT          COLOMBO / AIRPORT – DEPARTURE
(Sunday)
AM                    Breakfast at hotel
                        Transfer to airport in time for the departure flight.

END OF TOUR BACK HOME!!



Monday, 21 October 2013

Ocean Stars

Wednesday, 15 May 2013



Meet the school team!


Meet our school team!




This is this the Ocean Stars Student team
this includes: Niamh Tyson, Amy Field, Ria Hasler, Lucy Humphreys, Imogen, Fiona Lincoln, Ryan Owen Davey, Jake Iverson, Sameena Ramsden
Jack and Peter Gallagher.

We have Put together a paragraph about ourselves and why we want to support Ocean Stars.

Niamh Tyson: Hi! I’m Niamh and I live in Fleet with my parents and brother. I am in Year 9 and will be in Year 10 when I go to Sri Lanka. I play piano and guitar and also do a lot of running and snow boarding. I like to go to Sri Lankabecause I would like to experience a new way of life and a different culture. I hope to become a better-rounded person and have a more positive outlook on things. Overall I am really excited about going to Sri Lanka.

Amy Field: I am 14 years old. I have competed for Great Britain in Gymnastics. I want to go to Sri Lankaand have the chance to experience new things and help people who need it. I feel excited. I hope to learn about not taking life for granted. I like spicy food.

Ria Hasler: I am 13 years old and I like sport. I want to go to Sri Lankabecause it will be an amazing experience to see a beautiful country and to help the people there. Because I want to do charity work when I am older this trip will be away for me to interact with new people and see how a charity works in a different country.
I hope to get first hand experience of working in a different country with new people. Also I would like to see if I find my future career on this trip.
My fear is that I won’t raise enough money to benefit all the children. I feel ecstatic and yey!!

My name is Lucy Humphreys and I am 14 years old. I live in Fleet, Englandwith my mum and dad. My birthday is on the 28th of December. I like drama and photography. I want to go to Sri Lanka because I want to help other people and I think it will be a life changing experience. I hope to come home an improved person and I hope that the trip will help me find my future while helping others. I am slightly worried about he creepy crawlies and early starts. Also I think I will miss my family. I feel passionate about the trip.

Hi I’m Imogen and I live in Fleet with my mum, dad and dog. I really want to go on the trip because I want to expand my knowledge of the country. I am looking forward to helping out the charity as well as learning more about the culture. I hope to become a well rounded person. My fears are about the cockroaches and insects. I feel excited about the trip.

My name if Fiona Lincoln and I am 15 years old. I have a sister who is 17 years old. I have a dog which is a Yorkshire terrier called Alfie. I play football for Fleet town girl’s under 15’s. I hope to get a scholarship to go to America. I want to go to Sri Lankabecause it will be really inspiring and I want to help others.
My hopes are to be inspired by the people I meet and my fears are the insects!! And missing my family. I feel grateful about the trip.

My name is Ryan Owen Davey. I am from Fleet and I am 15 years old. I like football, cricket and skateboarding. I like to experience different countries and see the world. I like to help others less fortunate. I hope to teach them some thing new and have a memorable experience. I feel exhilarated about the trip.

My name is Jake Iverson and I am 15 years old and from Fleet. I like football and skate boarding. I want to go to Sri Lanka because it will be an amazing experience and I want to help. I hope to teach the children something new aboutLondon. I fear being a country so different from England. I feel excited about the trip.

My name is Sameena Ramsden and I live in Fleet with my family. I am 14 but will be 15 when we go to Sri Lanka. I would like to go to Sri Lanka as I think it will be great opportunity for me and I would like to see how people live on the other side of the world. I am looking forward to teaching the children and helping them learn about England. I would also like them to learn something from me. My fear is missing my family and staying safe in a country so far away from home. I feel excited and passionate about the trip.

My name is Peter Gallagher and I am almost 14 years old. I want to go to Sri Lankabecause it will be the time of my life. I am looking forward to seeing the wild life and what life is like in Sri Lanka.

My name is Jack and I am almost 14 years old. I want to go to Sri Lanka because of the unique wild life and get the chance to see what life is like in another country.


Thank you for reading.





Tuesday, 26 March 2013



Welcome to Ocean Stars


What is Ocean Stars?

Ocean Stars is a charity helping children and their families rebuild their shattered lives in Sri Lanka.
The charity was set up in 2005 in response to the tsunami which took the lives of over 30,000 people in Sri Lanka alone and left thousands of innocent men, women and children suffering and traumatised. Today, Ocean Stars offers these communities a route out of poverty by supporting a range of educational and livelihood projects.




Reason for the Blog


Map Of Sri Lanka
pointing out the key areas Ocean Stars supports

In 2013 a group of students from Calthorpe Park School and members of the Ocean Stars Team are going on a trip to Sri Lanka.

We are currently helping to raise money for the charity and in October-November this year where the students will get a chance to see the work that the charity does and teach lessons to the primary and secondary schools.

We are writing this blog to help inform people about what we do and to tell the public about the great work that the charity does.

To find out more please follow this blog to keep up to date and visit the website at http://oceanstars.org.uk/home