Month: November 2018
Woodbridge Editions are currently on show at the University Of Suffolk School of Art, Design and Humanities. https://www.uos.ac.uk/content/school-art-design-and-humanities
You can see the prints exhibited on week days in the Café Cat, Arts Building, Long Street, University of Suffolk. Recently the prints have also been on sale at the Old Jet market and at Vanil in Woodbridge. They will be for sale again at the December Christmas Market at Old Jet on Saturday 1 December, and the Woodbridge School Christmas Fair on Saturday 8 December. Please support our students (who get 50% of the profits) by buying a print. They would make an excellent present!
Congratulations to our National schools ‘A’ chess team of Oliver, Saif, Marina, Katarina, Jake and Toby who on Wednesday night qualified for the National stages of the competition by winning a quadrangular match at The Bishop’s Stortford High School. The team won all three matches, against our own B team and THBHS A and B teams 4-2, 4.5-1.5 and 6-0 respectively. Oliver and Toby won all three games, but every player came up with valuable points when needed.
Unfortunately the B team lost its three matches, but narrowly missed a draw against our own A team and were close to winning against TBHS ‘B’, losing 3.5-2.5. The team was Sam, Thomas, William, Milo, Henry and James. All games were played in fantastic spirit, and the majority lasted close to the full 1 hour time limit.
Don’t forget the Woodbridge Junior Open is scheduled for next Sunday 2 December, with entry forms available from Mr Hunt or outside B1.
Last week three of our pupils, Daniel (as one of the shortlisted poets), Joshua and Tara as guests, attended the awards ceremony for the Armistice 100 schools poetry competition at Lincoln University. Daniel takes up the story:
This was an amazing event with the Poet Laureate Dame Carol Ann Duffy and Imtiaz Dharker, poet, artist, filmmaker and Queen’s Gold Medallist for poetry, announcing the winning poems of the competition.
I was so pleased to be chosen as one of the few that were highly commended, receiving a certificate and the anthology book of our poems. It was also great to listen to the winning poems and hear what other students have written about such an emotional and important subject: such great ways of writing about it that were truly inspiring.
Lincoln was a lovely city and university, really beautiful at night by the river, with the cathedral looking benignly down from the hill. The ride back was lots of fun too. Who doesn’t love being stuck at Peterborough for two hours? Still, all in all, it was an amazing experience and I’m so glad we were able to attend.
It is an astonishing testimony to the care and energy that Mrs Brown and her team have given to our Careers Fair since she brought it into being just a few years ago that it is now considered the best East Anglian venue for many of our stallholders. Exhibitor numbers continue to rise, with some 10% new this year, and a further, sometimes overlapping, 10% or more with direct Woodbridge connections (often OW employees keen to return a favour!). Over sixty companies helped teenagers from all over the county research their futures, and the Dome was buzzing throughout the four hours with a wonderful sense of purpose and possibility. Universities, colleges, professional institutes, companies, charities and more all were delighted to offer advice, and could not have been more pleased with the constant footfall of those keen to listen. I wonder how many futures will prove to have been influenced by this opportunity? I wouldn’t be surprised if it proves to be hundreds. Our thanks go to all the exhibitors for joining us, and our congratulations to Mrs Brown, Mrs Kneebone, Mr Edwards, the catering and caretaking staff, and all the teaching staff and prefects who ensured it ran so perfectly on the day.
All the winners from Woodbridge Young Poets 2018 had the opportunity, as part of their prize, to read their poems at the Poetry in Aldeburgh Festival, which this year took place from 2nd to 4th November. On a bright chilly Sunday afternoon they filled the Peter Pears Gallery with the twin wonders of youth and poetry. The audience was spellbound by the readers from both Junior and Senior categories. Violet’s winning poem in the Junior category, ‘The Tower’, seemed particularly fitting in the space as it considered the effect of place and architecture on the human heart, Aldeburgh being a place of world renown poetically. All those who read there will realise how special this opportunity was and no doubt feel glad they took it.
The U14A girls’ hockey team had a great game at home against Ipswich School. Missing some influential players, Bea away ill and Katie having to step out after the first half, the team pulled together well to play some fine passing hockey. The opposition had quite a few short corners and it was the first one, in the first half of the game that caught us out. Thereafter, Woodbridge had the majority of the possession but could not convert the pressure into a goal and the final score remained 0-1. Maddy, playing centre midfield, was voted player of the match; and both Ellas also played very well alongside Lucy at centre back.
With a squad of 12 for the 7-a-side game against RHS all the J4 girls experienced some game play. Caitlyn was voted player of the match in goal, making several super saves, while Lucia, coming up from J5, played exceptionally well, proving her promotion was well deserved. Captain Eloise worked hard in left midfield for her team, while Sophia made some dangerous attacking runs. Indeed, everyone made valuable contributions to the game; well done girls, despite the narrow defeat!
The Junior 1st hockey team played their first home match of the term, against RHS. The girls started very well and quickly dominated. As early as the third minute a fabulous bit of team play put Woodbridge ahead: Ada transferred to Isabel, wide to Steph at the right midfield, back to Maddy at in the middle, two touched and into D, where Libbie had the perfect first touch, second touch into the goal. A dream start for Woodbridge! As the game progressed RHS built more pressure and Ruby had to make telling saves. Lexie was aggressive in her marking when she went on at centre midfield and gave Woodbridge more control again, not allowing RHS’s key player to dominate any more. With time running out in the half RHS won a series of corners, and as the final whistle went the ball scuttled over our line to make it 1-1 at half time.
It all made for an even more determined start to the second half. The girls would not be defeated. In the second minute good play by Maddy and Georgina opened up space for Libbie to run into the D and score into the far corner: a very well taken scoring opportunity, with Steph on hand to just to make sure it went in. And then Woodbridge scored a third halfway through the second half. This time it was Maddy with a great strike from the right hand shoulder of the D. It was heading on target and Steph made sure with a final touch at the far corner. But Woodbridge had to dig deep to maintain the advantage as RHS kept pushing, getting circle entries and threatening the goal. The defence held strong and the attackers worked very hard to assist and counterattack. The final whistle went, bringing relief and joy to a squad of players who gave their all and deserved the good result. The player of the match was again tough to decide with many vying for the honour: this time it was congratulations to Libbie!
The girls’ first hockey team made its second trip of the season to Cambridge to play in the England Hockey National U18 Competition. This time it was for a round two match in the National Plate against The Perse… and for victory! However, it was all but plain sailing…
Woodbridge dominated the opening minutes, with Georgia making threatening runs into the D, winning a string of corners only for none of the routines to work. With time passing and Woodbridge trying different combinations to convert their possession into goals, it was The Perse who struck first via a penalty corner. This goal against the run of play only added to our girls’ frustration; but Mollie, Ianthe, Flora J and Harriet regained control for Woodbridge in midfield and at last Ianthe converted a great chance from the top of the D. Scores were level at half time but Woodbridge knew they should be dominating more.
The second half saw a much improved team, better urgency and organisation in the press and much better passing in midfield and defence with Annabel moving around the pitch in order to help with distribution. In the last 15 minutes of the game The Perse struggled to keep Woodbridge’s passing at bay. Chances came and went, but few gaps could be found in a crowded D, and The Perse cleared off the line when required until a great passage of play, starting at the back between Maud and Joanne, saw the ball go into midfield, out wide, and back in to Georgia who fed a good first time pass to Ianthe who took the chance well. But, oh woe, at the other end there was a well taken field goal, again against the run of play, to make it 2-2! Woodbridge, led by Victoria now, kept pressing but could not get the winner in normal time. It was down to penalty strokes. Sophie L put Woodbridge on the front foot by saving the first two penalties from The Perse. Annabel calmly stepped up to put Woodbridge ahead only for the second stroke to hit the post. So close! Sophie saved again… Ianthe slotted her stroke. The Perse got the next one in to keep them in the game, but up stepped co-captain Mollie, who had been a very calm influence throughout the match, to give Woodbridge the win!
Annabel, Flora J, Mollie and Sophie L all had player of the match nominations, Mollie B ultimately taking the award for this match.
Out thanks go to The Perse for a match played in excellent spirit.
The Girls’ 1st hockey team started the second part of the hockey season on a high with a good performance and win against Ipswich High School.
The match was the first one of the year under lights and made for a great atmosphere. It was fast paced with Woodbridge moving the ball well and putting pressure on Ipswich High in their defensive areas. The team dominated most of the first half and consistently built pressure which they converted into good chances and goals. First to score for Woodbridge was Ianthe from a second phase penalty corner play. Next, Georgia made a great run on the right hand baseline and deceived the GK, popping the ball in at the near post. Just before half time Flora J rounded off a good personal first half performance with a shot from the top at a PC to make it 3-0.
Woodbridge did the hard work in the first half so could feel confident going into the second half. In trying to be even more expansive and move the ball around, it opened up more opportunities and space for IHS to attack. The defensive unit of Annabel, Maud and Eleanor were up to the task, and Sophie L in goal made the necessary saves to keep her clean sheet. Woodbridge came close to scoring on a number of occasions in the second half. Mollie B and Ianthe continued to dominate the midfield and Harriet played some excellent hockey up the right hand side. Georgia, Sophie G, Kiya, Poppy and Victoria were relentless up front and played great attacking hockey, though without further reward.
Deciding the player of the match was tough as every player again contributed to the victory. In the end the honours went to Sophie G and Ianthe as joint players of the match. Well done all: hard work, team spirit and excellent attitudes justly rewarded.