b'Back toTHE FUTUREAs part of our work this year to celebrate HGSs 160th anniversary, the fabulously creative and committed Year Councils and School Council have been busy leading the time capsule project which is looking ahead to the schools 200th anniversary in 40 years time by burying time capsules curated by the school councillors in year groups 7-10.Each capsule contains a letter to future HGS students which aims to give a flavour of the year group: what were their highs, what caused them grief, and more importantly, what were they buying from the dining room! Items which made it to the final cut included photographs, school ties, sports medals and memory sticks. The students had a marvellous time deciding what to put in and it was inspiring to see different year groups working together collaboratively to achieve the final result. Not surprisingly, there was much discussion about what technology would look like in the future and whether AI would have taken over.The capsules, including one for the staff with a letter written by Dr Bird to the future Head teacher, were buried on 26 May beneath the HGS flagpole, with a sign indicating their resting place. It is fantastic to think of our current students being invited back as grown men forty years in the future to unearth the treasure and relive happy memories of their school days. Esa Aslam 9H We boughtA SCHOOL!In the days of somewhat less stringentvery far removed from those which students health and safety requirements, the schoolnow enjoy on school trips! The dams and has enjoyed use of two of its own outdoorreservoirs of the Elan Valley were on the centres, both in Wales. The first was a smalldoorstep, and challenging mountains cottage leased from a farmer for a tiny rentsuch as Cadair Idris not too far away. The near the village of Llangedwyn, just over theold school was in a poor state from the border from Oswestry. It was convenientoutset though and, despite the DIY effortsCentre for accessing the Berwyn Mountains andof staff, in particular Mr Keith Morris (ain Betws-y-Coed, sited near to the impressive waterfall offormer Head of Geography and Head ofalthough you can still stay thereits Pistyll Rhaeadr. Larger groups from schoolLower School), it succumbed to the lackcurrent reincarnation is as the Vagabond could only be accommodated in tents in theof injection of serious funding and had toHostel. Likewise, Birmingham Education adjacent orchard though, with staff enjoyingbe sold in the early 1990s. Pleasingly, itAuthority has sold Ogwen Cottage (to the the luxury of the cottage itself! was a condition of planning consent thatNational Trust), where many students from In order to accommodate larger groups,the builders who purchased it had to retainHGS have enjoyed stays and activities such the school, in the mid 1970s, purchasedthe character of the original schoolhouse inas climbing, canoeing and hill-walking in the the old Victorian school in Llanddewitheir refurbishment. mountains of Snowdonia. Pleasingly though, Ystradenny in mid Wales, not far fromSadly, many schools and educationKEHGS students can enjoy outdoor pursuits the town of Llandrindod Wells. This couldauthorities are having to offload their outdoorat Whitemoor Lakes and through the Duke house groups of up to about thirty inpursuits centres. Bishop Veseys Grammarof Edinburgh scheme, for example.hostel-style accommodation, conditionsSchool sold its impressive Vesey HouseMr Jones5'