Month: October 2017

The U14A team continued their unbeaten run of fixtures with a 5-0 win over Ipswich High away on Thursday. A squad of sixteen payers all contributed to the success with five already having run the cross country at RHS in the morning! An early goal in the first five minutes by a drag flick on a short corner by Molly Marshall was followed by a second duplicated move half way through the first half. Julia Long was to score the third on the left post. In the second half Emily Whyte scored first and then Molly completed her hat trick, executing another drag flick this time in open play. The girls nominated Molly player of the match and Julia also received several votes. Cecily Royal-Dawson worked hard up the right side of the pitch making good crosses, while Katie Bellhouse created lots of space for the team. As usual the central midfield players Clara Simpson and Ella Walker worked skilfully and tirelessly to support the team. Ariane Bilgen, Olivia Bedford, Jess Elmer and Eleanor Wright were secure at the back with Issy Eaton in total control in goal. Jo Dunmore, Ashleigh Wildbore and Lottie Edmunds worked hard in midfield to create opportunities for the team. A great squad effort well done to all!

The Girls’ 1st team topped off a good first half of the season with a great win over King’s Ely.  Woodbridge started strongly with India Lawson scoring the opening goal five minutes into the match thanks to Georgia Harrold’s skilful feed.  But the early goal led to a slightly unguarded relaxation which allowed King’s Ely a scent of a chance which they took, punishing Woodbridge with two goals in return – once from open play and once from a penalty corner.

Half time gave Woodbridge a chance to regroup: plans were made how to deal with King’s main play maker; the press was fine-tuned; and a much more determined Woodbridge team took the field.  The forwards worked incredibly well together and linked up perfectly, in particular India, Georgia and Victoria Williams. Kiya Smith showed good positional play and decision making; and Poppy Fletcher can be very proud of excellent play on debut. Woodbridge equalised early, with Victoria deflecting the ball into goal, after good play again by India and Georgia, herself on the score sheet soon after.  At the other end of the pitch Woodbridge did very well to break down play, make last ditch tackles, save and clear away chances for King’s, with Joanne Garnett, Chloe Outen, Eleanor Berridge, Sophie Little and Mollie Biddle all making crucial interventions.  Meanwhile in midfield Georgina Warren and Mollie Biddle were impressively influential, distributing the ball well.

With the defence secure, and with the team growing in confidence, Woodbridge killed the game off when India scored the fourth goal and Victoria followed with a fifth after a great solo effort 6 minutes from the end: a perfect pass cut through the King’s defence to find Victoria on the half way line; she wove her way past two defenders and finished with a perfectly timed strike rocketed into the back board.

The team reflected on a great win: in particular Georgia Harrold worked very hard, played an excellent match in different positions and had a hand in almost every goal; Poppy Fletcher deserves a mention for playing so well on debut, seemingly showing no nerves; Victoria Williams had an outstanding game; but it was India Lawson who was voted player of the match for a magnificent performance.

This first game of the season was a skilful and exciting one. Home side Langley was well prepared with a strong squad; Woodbridge travelled with a relatively young squad ready to challenge hard. And challenge they did as our boys held the lead into the second quarter thanks to exciting quick breaks by Chisom Oguamanam and superb defence by Olly Wroe. The middle sector of the game however, was dominated by Langley and their outstanding ball carrier whose pace and athleticism was difficult to handle. The strength of “the bench” and the physicality of the home side in the end proved to be the deciding factor in the result as Langley won by 39-27.

The Junior 1st Hockey team finished a very impressive fourth out of twelve at the U13 County Cup. The team produced their best hockey of the term, with some great team play and very impressive individual performances. The afternoon started with two solid 0-0 draws against OBH and Finborough, Woodbridge dominating most of the play in these matches, and defending so very well. Woodbridge turned their dominant play into a 1-0 win against South Lee: first, captain Katie Norman, Annie Nicholass and Chloe Macmillan all being influential in forcing a rebound, for Beau Barrington-Hibbert to put away the goal – a perfect example of teamwork; later on, Katie was unlucky to have a goal disallowed, which would have been the icing on the cake for a near perfect game from her; and Ruby Vinton made an excellent last minute save to secure the win. Next up was the tough team from Orwell Park, who had been doing well all afternoon. Woodbridge can be very proud of their play: going 1-0 down, the girls strove for an equaliser which just wouldn’t come, only for Orwell Park to score a counter attack goal which was always the risk. 0-2 was a very respective losing margin to a team which put more than 5 past every other opponent. The last pool match was against Ipswich School, and was a must-win for Woodbridge to progress. Ella Smith scored the winning goal, pouncing on a rebound at a short corner, a just rewarded for an afternoon of top play by her. Annie Nicholass also excelled during the pool stages of the competition.

Woodbridge made it through to the semi-final to face Framlingham Prep, the eventual winners. It was another gutsy performance but the win was not to be. Having already put everything in, the last match of the day against Barnadiston was a tough affair. Tired legs and minds resulted in Woodbridge losing their structure and discipline in the press and Barnadiston took advantage of this to win 1-0.

Well done to the team for superb hockey, especially in the pool stages. In particular Ella Pitt was voted the player of the tournament, and was very impressive in defence and midfield; Ella Smith was excellent too, also showing how much she has learnt so far this term; Katie Norman was consistently good as we have now become used to; and Ruby Vinton was praised by everyone at the event for her goalkeeping. Woodbridge School is very proud of how the team represented the school: they were great ambassadors for young sportswomen.

Lily Constantine takes up the story: We all boarded coaches on our visit to Norfolk: our destination, The Green Britain Centre, Swaffham. This is the home of Europe’s largest wind turbine which you are allowed to climb. Wow! What an incredible feat of engineering, although we were all trembling in fear of heights! But by the time we got to the top the view was absolutely breathtakingly worth it. In total we climbed 67 meters (300 steps!); while we were climbing we found out that the person who designed it was Sir Norman Foster, who was the architect of the Gherkin and the Wembley stadium in London. After our descent we were lucky enough to view the world’s first wind powered vehicle. The whole day was a perfect mix of excitement and information, and we all learnt a lot more about how to enhance the power of wind.

Congratulations to James Phelan for winning the history society’s debate entitled, ‘The Worst Natural Disaster in History’. James fought off stiff competition from Chester Wigzell, Oliver Reid, Tom Jarvis, Joshua Cole and Eliza Kilburn with his passionate and convincing argument in favour of the events of 1816, the so-called ‘year without summer’. Thank you to Dominic Ellice-Freeman for so ably chairing the event.

A 7.30 start and miserable weather weren’t enough to dampen the spirits of the Young Enterprise team at the Framlingham Sausage Fest last Sunday; in just a few hours, nearly £350 was raised as part of the business’s first fundraising venture.

Exemplary planning and punctuality were integral to the group’s success and kept the stall and raffle running smoothly throughout the day. Joshua Bradbeer, Daniel Hempstead, Callum Sycamore and Jess Bowers were responsible for the stall’s successful setup, while later Jude Ashken and Cavan Fawcett helped to manage customers and promote the business during the day. Lily Proudfoot and Ella Holliday worked the crowds determinedly and pulled every passerby towards the stall, while Sebastian Lamb and Nathan Little worked to promote their product and provide market research for their team.

The company is now looking to start producing their products, and look forward to the quiz night fundraiser on the 8 November, Queen’s House hall from 6.30-9.30. Tickets are available from every member of the team, priced at £5 each.

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot! Year 6 Taster Afternoon – FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 4 November

from 2pm until 4.30pm

Woodbridge School

We are delighted to be hosting our first themed taster afternoon at Woodbridge Senior School on Saturday 4 November from 2pm until 4.30pm. The theme is seasonal – Gunpowder, Treason and Plot!

We have introduced the event to enable children to enjoy a classroom experience at Woodbridge Senior School alongside children of the same age who are potentially going to be joining Year 7 at Woodbridge in September 2018. The children (whether currently at The Abbey, our Prep School, or another school) will be able to make the first steps towards forging new friendships which we hope will ease their transition from Year 6 to Year 7.

The afternoon comprises exciting and stimulating sessions for the children along the Guy Fawkes theme (delivered by our academic staff) and presentations for parents (from Neil Tetley, Headmaster, and Nikola King, Deputy Head Academic).  Neil and Nikola will provide an overview of all aspects of the Senior School including an insight into Learning@Woodbridge which is our individual approach to teaching and learning that supports the achievement of excellent academic results.

The afternoon commences in the School Hall at 2pm and the full schedule is detailed below:

2.00 – 2.15pm 

Welcome in School Hall.  Children will be allocated to their groups and introduced to each other by their group leaders (Woodbridge School Sixth Formers).

2.15 – 3.55pm   

Children in activity sessions and parents in talks.

3.55 – 4.30pm   

Children and parents reunited in the School Hall for informal afternoon tea with Woodbridge academic staff.

If you would like to book a place or find out more about the event please contact Mrs Clare Kneebone by email – ckneebone@woodbridgeschool.org.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you to a taste of what makes education at Woodbridge so special through our celebration of Gunpowder, Treason and Plot!

The school will be holding its annual Woodbridge Youth Poetry Festival from Wednesday 1 November to Thursday 2 November at The Seckford Theatre.

Following the success of our festival last year at which we welcomed the fantastic Mark Grist and Vanessa Kisuule, we are delighted to announce this year’s line-up for the 2017 festival.

Many of you will have seen Vanessa speak at Speech Day, so you will be aware of how inspiring and mesmerising she is. We can guarantee that you will find Lemn and Rebecca equally exciting!

Booking Tickets

To book tickets for the event, please visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/seckfordtheatre

Tickets are £5 each per evening, and pupils can enter for free.

Wednesday 1 November, 7.30pm

Lemn Sissay MBE

To watch Lemn performing his poetry, please click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Jc6BlW7Qo

We are delighted and excited to invite Lemn Sissay to the festival.

LEMN SISSAY MBE is associate artist at Southbank Centre, patron of The Letterbox Club and The Reader Organisation, ambassador for The Children’s Reading Fund, trustee of Forward Arts Foundation and inaugural trustee of World Book Night, and an honorary doctor of Letters. He has been a writer from birth and foremost he is a poet.

Lemn is author of a series of books of poetry alongside articles, records, broadcasts, public art, commissions and plays. Sissay was the first poet commissioned to write for London Olympics.  His Landmark Poems are installed throughout Manchester and London; they can be seen in The Royal Festival Hall and The Olympic Park. Sissay’s installation poem what if was exhibited at The Royal Academy alongside Tracey Emin and Antony Gormley. As a radio broadcaster Sissay makes documentaries for the BBC. He is a regular contributor on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live and also contributes to the BBC’s Book Panel.

Sissay received an MBE from The Queen for services to literature, and an honorary doctorate from University of Huddersfield. He is also Chancellor of Manchester University.

Thursday 2 November, 7.30pm

Vanessa Kisuule

To watch Vanessa performing her poetry, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b-B4G8lQdk

We are delighted to welcome back to the Festival the wonderful Vanessa Kisuule, who wowed audiences at last year’s festival and as the School’s Speech Day speaker this year.

Vanessa Kisuule is a writer and performer based in Bristol. She has performed at an array of renowned poetry events and venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The British Library, Blahblahblah at the Bristol Old Vic, Tongue Fu and Chill Pill in London, as well as many festivals including Shambala, WOMAD, Wilderness, Secret Garden Party and Glastonbury. She has worked with the Southbank Centre, RADA, The Bristol City Council and Warner Music and had her work featured on BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Gal Dem Magazine, Dazed and Confused, Blue Peter, Sky TV and TEDx in Vienna. Her debut poetry collection ‘Joyriding The Storm’ was published in April 2014 by Burning Eye Books and her second collection is due in 2017. She was the recipient of The Jerwood Micro Arts Bursary in 2017 to undertake extensive dance training, and also received the prestigious Leverhulme Arts Scholarship in 2017 from Bristol Old Vic.

Rebecca Goss

We are delighted to welcome fantastic Suffolk based Poet Rebecca Goss.

Poet Rebecca Goss grew up in Suffolk and returned to live in the county in 2013. She lived in Liverpool from 1992 – 2013, where she studied English at Liverpool John Moores University. She completed an MA in Creative Writing at Cardiff University, then taught Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University for some years.

Her pamphlet ‘Keeping Houston Time’, came out in 1997 with Slow Dancer Press.  Her first full-length collection The Anatomy of Structures was published by Flambard Press in 2010.  Her poems have appeared in many literary journals, anthologies and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Arts online.  She is a previous recipient of an Authors’ Foundation Grant from the Society of Authors. Her second collection titled Her Birth was published in July 2013, by Carcanet/Northern House. It was shortlisted for the 2013 Forward Prize for Best Collection and won the Poetry category in The East Anglian Book Awards in 2013. In 2014 she was selected for The Poetry Book Society’s Next Generation Poets.

In Year 2 this term pupils have been learning about places in Spain. They have also created their own passports and learnt some really useful Spanish vocabulary about people and places in an airport. Pupils have been using their thinking skills to work out the words in groups. During the last lesson of this half term, pupils re-enacted an airport scene. It was great fun and they all spoke lots of Spanish too! Huge thanks to Mrs Hutchinson for all her help and well done to everyone in Year 2!

Mrs Verona