Session 3 ORA students staying in St Catharine’s College had a buzzing two weeks full of exciting activities and lessons.

Arrivals Day

Arrivals Day welcomed many new and returning students to stay at St Catharine’s, who were greeted warmly by staff and peers alike. Welcome talks got things off to a whirlwind start, informing students about the upcoming activities in the next two weeks. Icebreaker activities in the evening enabled everyone to get to know each other better and feel at home in the gorgeous city of Cambridge.

City Tour

A tour around Cambridge quickly got students acquainted with the city and introduced them to many of the famous sites, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Mathematical Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, to name a few. Following this exciting and exhausting afternoon walking around the cobbled Cambridge streets, students teamed up for the renowned St Catharine’s quiz in the evening.

The room was loud, the teams were ready and the questions were raring to go as students settled in for an evening of curiosity and queries. It was a wonderful night and a very close call for first and second place. The knowledge of the students was impressive, and the staff were pleased to hear the laughter continuing late into the night.

Punting

Punting around Cambridge was another entertaining activity enjoyed by students. As a traditional pastime in both Oxford and Cambridge, everyone was excited to float down the river and see the sights of the city as they went. The chance to immerse themselves in English culture was appreciated by many of our international students, who took turns punting the boats and laughing with their friends as they almost collided!

The wildlife was abundant on the warm river and the sun shining, making the afternoon a true feat of British tradition.

Sports Day

The weekend saw the arrival of Sports Day and the competition was fierce! Students competed in a range of running races and team events, causing some friendly rivalry and well-deserved prizes.

Continuing in the sporty atmosphere, many of our international students loved being able to watch the England and Croatia World Cup match. Though the result was disappointing for England, the excitement during the game was unparalleled and students loudly celebrated every goal.

Kinky Boots

To experience the best of London’s culture, students zoomed to the West End to watch Kinky Boots, a fun show filled with songs by the amazing Cyndi Lauper. There was lots of loud singing and daring choreography and students sung all the way home!

Great Debate

Near the end of their visit, students participated in the Great Debate, showing off their keen debating skills. It was remarkable to see how far the students had come together and how confident they were with their arguments, showing their hard work over the past two weeks. The debate was a great success and students should be proud of their performances.

Graduation

With Graduation came the end of Session 3 for ORA students staying at St Catharine’s. An exciting party rounded off the evening and it was clear that students thoroughly enjoyed their last evening together.

We hope to see many of the wonderful pupils returning next year for another unforgettable ORA Summer School.