QEH takes America by Storm

16 boys and 4 staff, from the Junior and Senior Schools, have just returned from the ‘Future Problem Solving International Competition’ at Michigan State University.

They not only represented Bristol but the whole of UK and Europe against some 2,000 students from around the globe, including all the North American States and teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, China, Singapore and Hong Kong.

 

The boys were challenged to solve a futuristic problem about a pandemic in 2035 in Africa. They were also expected to act out their action plans in a four-minute presentation.

Ms Bronnie Dullroy, Head of Gifted & Talented, who led the team says: “Despite this being our first venture one boy, Will Hammond, was able to carry off first prize for a team in the Alternates Section and our Year 8s, came third in the Intermediate Section for their presentation. Our Year 6 Junior team also did us proud coming 6th worldwide in the Dramatic Presentation component.”

Competition over, the boys then joined various other countries in producing a Variety Show. Some QEH boys were part of an International Competition Choir, some joined the Aussies and sang ‘The Aussie BBQ Song’ while some very brave boys joined in with some super exuberant pupils from  Texas to do a Banana song with acrobatics dance and singing.

Mr Ryan, Deputy Headmaster (and cheerleader), adds:  “The whole experience was a massive eye opener for the boys. One boy distinguished himself by wearing the traditional QEH blue coat uniform, acting as flag bearer in the opening ceremony - and the uniform was commented upon as being “cool”!
Our boys with their English accents and impeccable manners were a magnet for the American girls who just thought they were so “cute”.”

All this on top of a whistle stop tour of New York with baseball with the locals in Central Park on Memorial Day, a Mets game at their new stadium, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, live TV appearance in a pedestrianised Times Square, a meal at ESPN where even the loos have TV screens and breakfast in a genuine Broadway diner where two films, Michael Clayton and Meet Joe Black had been filmed. Now George Clooney and Brad Pitt can boast that they have eaten where QEH has!