Month: April 2015

Sat around a table in an unfamiliar school, we all listened intently as Mr Edwards briefed us about what was coming in the next three days.  He explained about the way in which the classes were taught and difficulties some of the students might have, but all the eloquence in the world could not fully prepare us for journey on which we were about to embark.

The next morning whilst waiting nervously at the secondary school reception, the students began to arrive, ready and refreshed after their Easter Holidays. Having been greeted by Sam, a student who made sure that we were all stood up straight with our arms by our sides, the trepidation was palpable. The head, Eleanor, quickly whisked us away to our classes for the morning, anxious glances and wishes of good luck being exchanged all the way.

Entering Purple 3, a sixth form class, any worries I had previously harboured were quickly squashed by the warm hug that enveloped me. Sitting down with the girl, we began with the morning routine of greeting everyone, using both sign language and vocal communications, before completing a fire safety workbook. Next I was directed to cooking class and the rest, as they say, is history…

Meeting for lunch each day the 10 of us chatted excitedly, each eager to share the morning’s tales and find out about how things differed between the primary and secondary schools. Whilst everyone’s stories varied – from dance, painting or cooking, to swimming, ICT or forest school – an overall feeling was shared. We were all inspired by both the students and the staff at the Bridge School.

Finding more similarities than differences between ourselves and the students, we made not only memories but also friends, making us wish that the trip had been longer. Exhausted but extremely content, the bus journey home enlightened me to the fact that working at the Bridge School was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences I have ever had, and I would love to go back and do it all again.

Thank you to Mr Edwards, Miss Tattoo and The Bridge School staff for making such an amazing trip possible.

After successfully winning a regional round at the start of the year, the Year 10 team consisting of Emily Barker, Kitty Chang Leu, Abigail Crane and Gabriella Zins were invited to the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Mathematical Sciences for the Year 10 Maths Feast, Final Celebration Day.

The group solved challenging problems on combination locks, the history of mathematics and origami as well as attending a lecture on set theory where the content was later tested on.

As this was a celebration day of maths there was no overall winner but Woodbridge did beat all the other top schools to win the round on set theory and were presented with a book on numbers for this fantastic achievement.

In the morning Mr Trett arranged for a tour around the colleges of Cambridge and attached is a photo of the group at the Mathematical Bridge crossing the River Cam (The arrangement of timbers is a series of tangents that describe the arc of the bridge).

Emily had a hugely successful Easter course with the National Youth Choir Girl’s Choir culminating in a concert on Good Friday at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre as part of their Chorus Festival. Well done Emily!

Minnie Wayman competed in the Suffolk County Swimming Championships last month and she has qualified for the ASA East Region Championships in 50m Backstroke.

This weekend she competed at Newmarket in another qualifying meet and has gained a further two regional times in 200m Backstroke and 200m Butterfly.

She is therefore hoping to compete at the end of May in the ASA East Regional Championships at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

Congratulations Minnie and best of luck for the ASA East Regional Championships!

James Brown and his horse One Way came 3rd at Burnham Market International Horse trails in the Under 18’s novice section on 3 April. He narrowly missed 2nd place by 2 seconds on the cross country course; that was how close the competition was, many riders having already ridden for the British junior eventing team last year.

This is a good start for James this season as it was a qualifier for the Eastern Region.  James is hoping to be selected for the Under-18 championships at Weston Park again this October for the Eastern team, having been part of the Eastern Region team last year that came 2nd at the championships.

Congratulations James!

Photo courtesy of Matt Nuttall Photography

OWs Laura Silovsky (left), Alice Verrill (right) and Will Loftus received their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards on Wednesday 11 March at St James’s Palace in the gloriously warm Spring sunshine.

HRH Duke of Edinburgh was in attendance and was in top form, chatting freely to the young people and cracking jokes.

The awards were presented by Jim Rosenthal, the sports commentator, who read from his own Gold DoE Expedition record book from fifty years ago. He spoke of the trials of his own expedition and of the crucial teamwork, camaraderie and commitment needed to complete the trip, and specifically of the enhanced self esteem and self confidence that some of his group acquired after battling through such brutal weather conditions together. That, in particular, resonated with Ali and Laura as they had trudged in such bitter Lake District weather themselves!

Congratulations to you all!

The New Wolsey Young Company’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”, featuring Flora Douglas, Francesca Ottley and Dominic Crane in the major roles of Abigail, Elizabeth and Judge Danforth, started showing last week at The New Wolsey and is already receiving rave reviews.

The production runs until 25 April. Tickets and details can be found at The New Wolsey website.

Congratulations to the following, who were successful in the recent ABRSM music examinations:

Grade 1: Joshua Bell, Guitar & Toby McNally, Alto Sax, both with Distinction;

Grade 2: Dylan Nicholls, Guitar; Alfred Franklin, Trumpet, Toby McNally, Piano & Hal Ottley, Trombone, all with Merit;

Grade 3: Katy Garnett & Amy Knight, Singing, both with Merit; Jemima Hill, Singing, with Distinction;

Grade 4: Charlotte Bowers & Iona Murland, Flute, Nancy King, Singing; Alyssa Hedley, Natalia Reed & Emilia Vaes, Singing, all with Merit; Jonathan Ferguson, Percussion, Ianthe Hill, Violin & James Phelan, Trombone, all with Distinction;

Grade 5: Charlotte Dinwiddy, Flute; Oliver Bacon, Trumpet, Brendan Bennett & Jemima Hill, Violin and Joanne Garnett, Clarinet, all with Merit; Medomfo Owusu, Theory with distinction and Violin with merit

Grade 6: Will Martin, Clarinet with Merit & Isabelle Cory, Clarinet with Distinction;

Grade 7: Owen Butcher & Lewis Chinn, Trombone with Merit;

Grade 8: Poppy Hill, Alto Sax; Ella Carter, Singing & Harrison Cole, Flute with Distinction.