Month: November 2014
Netball Tournament Results:
Woodbridge School 7 – 4 County Upper
Woodbridge School 15 – 2 Thomas Mills
Woodbridge School 8 – 4 Ipswich High
Woodbridge School 14 – 2 Bungay
Woodbridge School 15 – 3 Thurston
Overall: 2nd place
Even though it was a cold & dreary morning, the squad of 11 put on a superb performance. Our main rivals, from last year – County Upper, were the team we wanted to beat as it is normally a close call. Obviously, luck was on our side and gaining a convincing win against them in the first match paved the way for the next game against Thomas Mills, where there were great displays of shooting and defending all the way down the court.
Our next game against Ipswich High was going to be the toughest, as we had beaten them in the 1st round, but knew with one of our shooters missing, one of our ex-players playing for them and most of their team playing for local clubs we had to work hard. The girls put up a great fight and played with determination and pure tenacity. We were 3 – 2 up at half time but unfortunately we could not hold on to the lead and we let them take control and beat us. Although our heads went down (especially as this team had never lost any matches in these tournaments), the girls soon composed themselves as they knew they still had everything to play for as it was the top 2 teams who go through to Regional finals in January.
Luckily, our next game against Bungay saw us again, take control; defending and shooting superbly, with our 5th and final match against Thurston, which we won. A great team performance from Olivia W & Imogen C (Captains), Laura M, Bella C, Verity J, Imogen B, Ella B, Esmee S, Ellisse M, Tara K and Freya C. Thank you also to Miss Richardson for scoring and all the parental support from the side-lines – we could not have done it without your encouragement and shouting!!
We look forward to the Regionals on Saturday 31 January at Hassenbrook School in Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex.
Gallery:
Results from Saturday 15 November:
Woodbridge School 13-1 Thomas Mills
Woodbridge School 6-8 Culford
Woodbridge School 6-8 Ipswich High
Woodbridge School 6-7 County Upper
Woodbridge School 10-2 Hartismere
This was a great display of netball from girls from two years (8 and 9) coming together and playing as a team. Everyone in the 10 girl squad played brilliantly and gave their all. We started well against Thomas Mills and Maddie F was on fire with her shooting. Maud P, Mia K and Mollie B defended well and Joanne G and Maddie F looked like they played together all the time.
They were very unlucky to lose against Culford especially as we did go ahead 3-0 but the pressure told and they came back at us hard and converted everything. Again another close math against Ipswich High was unlucky but Eleanor Berridge and Chloe Outen played brilliantly. County Upper was the closest game and although Flora J and Mollie were brilliant they managed to creep ahead. Emma H proved her versatility as a Centre or a Wing Attack and all of the Year 8 team stepped up to the mark so well.
We were convincing winners against Hartismere so it was good to finish on a high as the girls played really well but it just shows that one goal makes all the difference.
Well done.
The U14s departed from Woodbridge at 7am with some smart new shirts, with their names and chosen numbers printed on the back, and some sweatshirts. What would the day bring? There were nerves and discussions on the bus during the journey to the amazing facilities at UEA in Norwich, but most of all there was great excitement.
We warmed up and with a growing parental following went into our first match against Norwich. They started at a great pace and we looked like we had left our heads, and running legs on the bus….a lack of marking, discipline and pressure enabled Norwich to score unfortunately and then we were on the back foot. The girls fought well in the second half but we couldn’t make up the deficit and unfortunately a 1-0 loss was the result.
After some discussions about what went wrong and a more positive outlook we took on the Perse. A different team stepped onto the pitch; determined, playing as a team, attacking and within 30 seconds Flora Johnston had scored a great field goal from the left post. This gave the whole squad the lift they needed and with a shift in positions due to an injury we looked like we wanted to win and played with width, attacking up the right hand side of the pitch. Georgia Harrold kept her cool in front of the goalkeeper to score a fantastic goal after a great passage of play from the defence. Florence Jackson was sound at the back, helping to keep Sophie and Issy (our two goalkeepers) calm and unbusy. The Perse team then came back but we quickly replied with another good goal from Georgia Harrold. Maddie Felton and Maddy Craig got in some great positions up front and Maddy Hall made a nuisance of herself too, which was excellent to see.
So, one win under our belts….
Next it was Spalding High and we again started really well, with Mollie Biddle, Mia King and Flora Johnston linking well in midfield. Chloe Outen made some great interceptions and fed the ball well to our midfield to lead to a goal mouth scramble and Georgia Harrold placing the ball past their goalkeeper. Harriet Spence played well in the centre of our defence and cleared the ball excellently. We then gained a penalty corner and Flora Johnston put it home, again from that position on the left post, something she is now perfecting. Issy Cory made some great saves, and Sophie Little proved that there is not much to choose between them. Two goalkeepers who have great skills and who their whole team have total faith in, a rarity. The game finished 2-0 which meant we were to meet Framlingham in the finals.
The girls were suitably nervous and this was a Framlingham team that have not lost a match or had many goals scored against them, if any. However, we went into it knowing we had nothing to lose and went from the first whistle with the tactics of trying to get a goal and then see how they reacted under pressure. In the third minute Mollie Biddle put an ambitious ball through to Maddie Felton up front and after one save from the goal keeper, the ball went in! Elation!! The girls could not believe it, and I don’t think Framlingham could either. The girls kept their head and for the next 25 minutes defended like Trojans. Eleanor Berridge was outstanding on the right and this was equalled by Zara Lye on the left, but the whole of our defence were fabulous and gutsy, under pressure. They kept coming at us, and had numerous short corners but Issy and Sophie kept goal brilliantly. The parental support was screaming from the side lines, and Miss Rix and I could hardly watch. The time was counting down but on the 27th minute we succumbed and they scored. The girls were brilliant to keep their heads and not let them score again before the final whistle went. It did, which meant penalty strokes.
The girls volunteered to take the strokes, a brave thing to do, and I totally respect each one of them; Mollie, Georgia, Mia, Chloe, and Flora. Sophie went in goal after her excellent result in the strokes against RHS as in the county round. Flora stepped up, scored. Fram, scored. Mia, scored. Fram, scored. Georgia, unfortunately missed with their goalie saving the ball with her body. Fram, scored. The pressure was on……. Mollie’s shot was saved and then Sophie save one of theirs brilliantly. A chance! Chloe stepped up and her shot hit the post. It was all over but as Framlingham leapt for joy so did our girls, so pleased with their performance and making Framlingham really work for their place at the regional finals on the 22nd November. We wish them lots of luck and hope they can bring back the national trophy for Suffolk.
Our girls can be so proud of themselves; they did themselves and the School proud. We talked about how if we had won against Norwich the day may have had a different outcome and how we have to focus from the first whistle; a lesson worthy of learning.
Thank you to all the parents who came to support and Georgia Martin for coming up for the day even though she had been in hospital the night before! It is a perfect example of how close this year group are and how well they support each other. Very well done girls. There will be more chances in this competition in the years to come.
Love in a Box is an exciting idea that gives children in the orphanages of the Ukraine and Moldova, who don’t normally receive Christmas presents a box full of marvellous gifts. Every year pupils at The Abbey and Queen’s House are given a leaflet with ideas of what to put into the box and an option of what age they would like to send gifts to. This year a total of 103 boxes have been given in and as we speak they are being loaded onto lorries to start their journey abroad. An example of items you can put in the box are toiletries, stationery, toys, sweets, hats and gloves. I think Love in a Box is an amazing idea that gives under privileged children a Happy Christmas.
By Amy G 5E
The Reception children took part in their first Harvest Festival last week. As the service began they carried their fruits and vegetables into chapel to present to Reverend Wilson. The chapel was well attended with parents, grandparents and siblings all joining in. The children particularly enjoyed singing “Oats and Beans” with accompanying actions.
At the festival we raised a fantastic £315.54. The good news is that it will be doubled by the UK government as part of their Hunger Stops Here Appeal, this means our donation will make twice the impact for helping to stop hunger! We therefore raised the grand total of £631.08.
On our recent trip to China in October 2014 to Taicang Senior High School, we were surprised at the huge differences in culture. For the students, being thrown into everyday life staying with a family, gave them an interesting and individual perspective. Even within the Chinese families there were many differences, such as their level of understanding and speaking of English and their daily routines. All the families have, however, welcomed their guests with warm hospitality and a genuine interest in them as individuals.
Our mornings gave the teachers and students time to share their experiences of the night before and time to observe and participate in lessons. We had the opportunity to learn a Chinese folk song and practise our skills of calligraphy. Lessons began at 6.45am with the whole class reading aloud an English novel, and many classes have over fifty students yet appear to concentrate throughout, and when asked, will stand to recite their answer without hesitation! To aid their concentration all pupils (and form teachers) have to run around the grounds for 15 minutes twice a day, but also have a nap on their desks after lunch! Possibly a practice Woodbridge could adopt? They also have dance music (that is ballroom not rave) in between lessons and compulsory eye exercises. All students do at least four hours homework every evening and our students said this has inspired them to work even harder than they do already.
All parents at Taicang School have very high expectations of their children to achieve academically, which makes us appreciate just how lucky we are at Woodbridge; that we also nurture and value the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of our students.
After a gentle start, the week gathered pace with a visit to the beautiful oriental gardens of Suzhou, formally owned by ‘The Humble Administrator’. The ancient buildings such as ‘The Hall of Distant Fragrance’ and ‘The Floating Green Tower’ were surrounded by lotus and azalea blossoms which were abundant at this time. The first week culminated in a whole day in Shanghai with everything from the incense infused spirituality of the Dao Temple, to the intensity of bartering in the manic shopping markets. Shopping for snacks can be hilarious also, when you realise that mixed in with your individually wrapped sweets, you have chicken feet and candy floss meat!
The high point of the second week was a visit to Yu Mountain. Overlooking the city and vast countryside, breathing in the fresh mountain air and listening to the old people playing music and singing gave everyone an empathetic, spiritual feeling towards the Buddhist monastery only metres away.
We all agree that what we gained from this trip was more than just a holiday; not only did we see another country we gained real insight into another culture.
A good solid performance was put in by the U14s over the weekend versus a team that they will meet on Thursday at the regionals. We started well and although the possession was about 50/50 we took the opportunity just before half time to convert a short corner from Mia K.
In the second half Eleanor B, Flo J, Zara L, and Harriet S kept the defence tidy and Issy C made some good saves. Georgia H put some great balls through to Maddie F up front and made their goal keeper stay on their toes. Mia K played well and drove into the circle on a number of occasions but we couldn’t convert the pressure unfortunately. Flora J played very well, distributing the ball all over the pitch. Well done, good omens for Thursday as Norwich are in our group!
Vine is a video-sharing service and app that allows users to make 6 second videos and share them online with their friends and the rest of the world. Vine videos are often funny, heart-warming, exciting, cute etc. BUT parents do be aware that the Vine app has a 17+ rating on the app stores (Apple and Android) and so is not appropriate for younger school-age children, despite its popularity with year 8 and 9!
As with Instagram, SnapChat is incredibly popular with school age children. It is a service that allows users to take a picture or short video and send it to another user. The recipient has up to 10 seconds to view the image, after which it is deleted. This instant-gratification-with-no-long-term-consequences nature of SnapChat has been its most appealing feature, but this does have downsides that have been widely publicised – particularly to do with young people sending sometimes inappropriate images of themselves to people they know. That it is easily possible for the recipient to capture and store the images they’ve received has been less widely known until recently. This raises the possibility of images that the sender thought would be instantly deleted being shared and getting much wider distribution – with the inevitable embarrassment and reputational damage that may result.
Here’s a useful guide for parents all about SnapChat from the folks at SnapChat themselves. Students might like to read it too.
http://www.connectsafely.org/wp-content/uploads/snapchat_parents_guide.pdf
A recent article I posted on Fronter for the pupils to read:
SnapChat is in the news – thousands of pictures leaked online – with more to come.
As we’ve been pointing out for some time now, SnapChat isn’t anywhere near as safe and anonymous as its users think it is. On Sunday 12th October 100 000 images from SnapChat apps were leaked online via a forum, with many more pictures to be released over the coming months. Hackers say that they’ve got 13 GB of users’ data to give away – is it yours? If you must use SnapChat, stick to the OFFICIAL APP – do NOT use clones or 3rd party apps with SnapChat.
Instagram is an incredibly popular app and service amongst smartphone users in general and school-age children in particular. It does need to be used with some care, however. The advice I’ve given students via Fronter is as follows:
Check your privacy settings: MOST USERS should keep their posts private. Remember that this affects other users – if your posts are not private, their pictures can become public when you like them. This upsets people.
DON’T put your snapchat/kik/BBM usernames on your public Instagram profile. This is asking for trouble.
How do I make my account private? Follow this link to find out: http://help.instagram.com/116024195217477
Advice for parents: http://help.instagram.com/154475974694511/
Safety tips from Instagram: http://help.instagram.com/369001149843369