Pre-Prep News Archives - Page 3 of 19

We have embedded Mindfulness throughout our School.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is all about learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Rather than worrying about what has happened, or might happen, it trains us to respond skilfully to whatever is happening right now, in the present moment.

What are the benefits of Mindfulness?

It gives the children ‘mindfulness’ as a life-skill. The children use it to –

to feel happier, calmer and more fulfilled
to communicate more effectively with others
to help them concentrate, focus and make good decisions
to help cope with stress and anxiety
to support performance such as music and sport

How do we practise Mindfulness at Woodbridge School Prep?

The Paws b curriculum created by the Mindfulness in Schools Project is taught to Year 3. It has been carefully crafted by classroom teachers and mindfulness experts to engage young children. It is taught with striking visuals, film clips and activities that bring mindfulness to life without losing the expertise and integrity of classic mindfulness teaching.
In Years 4, 5 and 6, we revisit the curriculum to consolidate the learning.
We practice as a whole school every Monday morning in assembly.
Teachers refer to mindfulness practice in the classroom and around the school.
Pupils know how to access this skill when necessary. They use their own mindfulness practice in school and at home. They share their experience of good practice.

Mindfulness in the News

Josephine Lister, writer for HundrED states that ‘by targeting emotional and cognitive capabilities at a young age, you instil a way of behaving and being that can carry on throughout adult life. Schools have a particular responsibility to include mindfulness in their weekly classes, as school is one of the first points of stress in a child’s life.’

A study by Place2Be (a leading children’s mental health charity) found that ‘56 per cent of British children worry about something all the time.’ Another study found that ‘one in eight children between the ages of five and 19 have at least one mental illness, with depression and anxiety being the most common.’ Research published in the health journal Mindfulness, found ‘eight weeks of weekly mindfulness lessons improved children’s grades, and reduced aggression, stress and social anxiety.’

Launching the Government’s initiative to teach mindfulness in up to 370 schools throughout England over two years, Damian Hinds, former Education Secretary, said in February 2019: ‘As a society, we are much more open about our mental health than ever before, but the modern world has brought new pressures for children, while potentially making others worse.’

An article written in ‘The Telegraph’ by Maria Lally reads ‘Imrain Hussain, director of policy and campaigns for the British charity Action for Children, says: “Services like these can lessen the anxiety, pain, and anguish that some teens go through, but also reduce their need for intensive support further down the line.” The services he is referring to here include mindfulness.‘

Mindfulness is also implemented at Woodbridge School Prep through other areas:

Anti-Bullying Week and Child Mental Health week

9^th November 2020

In the run-up to Christmas, pupils and staff at Woodbridge School – from both the town’s Senior and Prep Schools – have set themselves a new #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Challenge. The aim is to cover as many miles as possible over a two-week period, from today [9th November 2020] to 20^th November 2020, to raise much-needed funds through sponsorship for local community charity, Home-Start in Suffolk, and to promote mental wellbeing at this very difficult time.

Every member of the Woodbridge School community, including pupils, teachers and staff across both sites, is being encouraged to set their own challenging distance goal, and will be asking their friends and family to sponsor them.

The #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Challenge is the brainchild of Melissa Shanahan, History teacher and Deputy Head of Lower School at Woodbridge School, who explains her motivation behind the campaign:

“This year, more than ever, we have seen the importance of pulling together as a community, and helping those around us. I wanted to do something to bring our School community together as a team, working towards a shared goal, as we always do, and the #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Challenge seemed a great way to be able to get fit – which we all know is important for mental wellbeing – and to raise much-needed funds.

“Home-Start will be working tirelessly over the next few weeks to ensure that no local family goes without food or presents this Christmas, and we are proud to be able to support them in their vital community efforts.”

Shona Norman, Head of Woodbridge School, said:

“Here, at Woodbridge School, we are proud to be continuing the legacy of our founder, Thomas Seckford, in supporting the local community. We have a long history of working with our neighbours to help to make a difference, and we look forward to really getting behind this #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Christmas Challenge to raise as much as we can for one of our most important local good causes, Home-Start in Suffolk, in a safe and COVID-secure way.

“As we enter a second lockdown period, it is especially important that we do all that we can to keep our minds and bodies healthy and active, so whether it is a sponsored run, walk or cycle, every little counts!”

Ali Watson, Fundraising & Marketing Manager at Home-Start in Suffolk, said:

“We have been really busy throughout the pandemic. The Coronavirus has had a huge impact on Suffolk families; and we have seen many families, who have never experienced difficulties in the past, struggle in a number of ways, particularly with financial hardship and isolation. We appreciate everything that Woodbridge School is doing on our behalf and we wish you all the very best with the #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Challenge.”

Woodbridge School has been working with Home-Start in Suffolk for some years. It is the county’s largest family support charity, with the vision that every child in Suffolk is given the best start in life because of the love, support and guidance they receive from their parents, guardians or the people performing the role of their parents. https://www.homestartinsuffolk.org/families

To find out more about Woodbridge School’s #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Challenge and to donate, go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=1211384&newPage=true#

For further information on Woodbridge School, visit www.woodbridgeschool.org.uk

To learn more about Home-Start in Suffolk, go to https://www.homestartinsuffolk.org/

Photo caption: Pupils and staff at Woodbridge School are pulling together to raise much-needed funds for local community charity, Home-Start in Suffolk. The newly-launched #Woodbridge4Woodbridge Challenge aims to cover as many sponsored miles as possible over a two-week period, from 9^th to 20^th November 2020. [Credit: WOODBRIDGE SCHOOL]

5 November 2020

To view Woodbridge School Prep’s ‘Mindful Moments’ videos, visit the YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/woodbridgeschool

As England enters a second COVID lockdown period, Woodbridge School Prep has today [Thursday 5 November 2020] launched a new ‘Mindful Moments’ campaign. The School will be making a range of ‘Mindful Moments’ videos publicly available on its YouTube channel and across social media – featuring simple-to-follow Mindfulness techniques, such as breathing and reflection – to promote health and wellbeing during lockdown, not just amongst its pupils, but also parents and the wider community.

Nicola Mitchell, Head of Woodbridge School Prep, said:

“The ability to be calm and ‘in the present moment’ is such an important ‘life skill’, and we want to share how our Mindfulness practices at Woodbridge School Prep may be able to help many more people, as we all prepare for the challenges of the second lockdown that we are facing this year.

“From Reception and throughout the School, Mindfulness is embedded into our curriculum to support the wellbeing of both children and staff. We also know that our parents have benefitted from the workshops that they have attended with us. We hope that, by sharing our regular ‘Mindful Moments’, the wider Woodbridge community may also benefit during this difficult time.”

Mindfulness, as taught at Woodbridge School Prep, for pupils aged between 4 and 11, is about ‘learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Rather than worrying about what has happened, or might happen, it trains us to respond skilfully to whatever is happening right now, in the present moment’.

At Woodbridge School Prep, Mindfulness practice is a core part of its curriculum and culture. Teachers refer to Mindfulness practice in the classroom and around the school, and pupils know how to access this skill, wherever they are and whenever they find it necessary. They use their own Mindfulness practice in school and at home, and share their experiences of ‘best practice’, learning from each other.

Children at Woodbridge School Prep practice Mindfulness as a whole school, led by Head of Wellbeing, Kirsten Theobald, every week in assembly (either in the Hall or virtually), and Year 3 pupils follow a curriculum designed by the ‘Mindfulness in Schools Project’. The programme has been carefully crafted by classroom teachers and Mindfulness experts to engage young children, and is taught with striking visuals, film clips and activities that bring Mindfulness to life, without losing the expertise and integrity of classic Mindfulness teaching. This is followed up with a refresher programme in Years 4, 5 and 6, to revisit the curriculum and consolidate the learning.

The benefits of Mindfulness are far-reaching, and children at Woodbridge School Prep use it to:

– feel happier, calmer and more fulfilled

– communicate more effectively with others

– concentrate more fully, focus and make good decisions

– cope with stress and anxiety

– prepare for sleep and benefit from a better rest

– support performance, such as music and sport

Photo caption: Woodbridge School Prep pupils practise Mindfulness – chest and tummy breathing. [CREDIT: WOODBRIDGE SCHOOL PREP]

To view Woodbridge School Prep’s ‘Mindful Moments’ videos, visit the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/woodbridgeschool

This time of year can bring a nervous energy as the allocation of school places is eagerly anticipated but this year there will understandably be further queries and concerns given the Government imposed school shut down.

At Woodbridge School Prep we are in the fortunate position of being able to continue our curriculum provision through our online remote learning platform and our inspirational teachers who have been working so hard to ensure innovative and well-structured lessons are available to all. We understand that there is a balance to be struck between computer-accessed learning and practical activities and also the demands on parents working from home and supervising learning. We need to remember that we are genuinely all in this together!

The occasional interruption from a toddler during a video link or an audio call is to be expected and will probably add to the human connections that we are missing during this time.

Staff at WSP have planned for online interactive lessons, assemblies and live tutor time but, in addition, each lesson also has a clear lesson plan so that those who are unable to access the live timetable can make sure they do not miss anything if they need to access their learning at a later date.

Our usual curriculum, as detailed in our Long Term Plans, will be delivered so that children will be ready for the new academic year having covered the objectives of this year, despite the interruption of normal service. In addition to the core subjects there have been ingenious plans made for the continuation of lessons such as PE, Music, Drama, Spanish, ICT, Science, Food Technology, Engineering, Mindfulness, Forest Schools and House Competitions.

Our brand new, purpose built Pre-Prep Building has now been completed we are all very excited to move in and welcome our new Reception intake in September. New pupils are being assessed remotely for occasional places that are available in some year groups during this time, and we have a fun, remotely-interactive, session planned for Reception assessments that was postponed earlier in the year. As we look forward to welcoming some new students as the Trinity Term begins, should you have any questions about the possibility of a place for your child at Woodbridge School Prep, I would be more than happy to have a conversation with you and take you on a virtual tour.

Our community has been incredibly supportive of each other during this time and we really are working on a ‘business as usual’ format. Routine, focus, positivity, support and expectation all have a part to play in ensuring that our children, parents and staff are able to navigate the next few weeks and months as we prepare for a return to normal as soon as possible. I don’t think we will take the magic of school days for granted again for quite some time!

Nicola Mitchell
Head of Woodbridge School Prep

Last Monday we started the week with an assembly about Teamwork. One of the examples I used was that of geese flying in a V formation. The leader has to make the most effort due to air resistance and the theory is that this formation is used to save energy. The system is a good one as there is no constant leader and all the birds take their turn in being at the front.

However, if you look into it further; flying in a V is not just about staying in the right place, according to the blog Not Exactly Rocket Science, National Geographic, by Ed Young, it is also about flapping at the right time.

What is quite incredible is that this skill is learnt and not inherent, a fact that seems extraordinary.

There is irony to the fact that, this time last week, I had no idea of the position we would all find ourselves in today. We are in unprecedented times with minute by minute decisions being made in order to preserve the health of our nation.

At School we have pulled together, much like the geese, and in V formation are taking it in turns to be experts in our field to guide our community through the air turbulence.

What is also clear, however, is that it truly is not just about the leader it really is about everyone ‘flapping at the right time’. Never before has it been so vital that staff, parents and pupils pull together to ensure stability, continuity and progression as we continue our migration forwards.

We were not taught the skills to deal with this situation but, just like the geese, we can learn them.

Teamwork truly is the order of the day!

Thank you to everyone who has asked questions and given feedback, we hope we have ironed out any immediate issues. Further information will follow in a day or two about the Trinity Term learning, in the meantime, please keep safe and well.

Mrs Mitchell
Head

Following on from my letter of last week, the Government has now clarified the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend. As you know, staff have been extremely busy, and will remain so, providing education remotely for those children with us who are working from home.

As Head, I am asking for your assistance and help in adhering to the Government guidelines.

Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision. I have attached advice from the Government which outlines the categories for key workers:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Nicola Mitchell and I have already received some contact from parents who fall into the above categories for key workers. If you have not done so then please can you email me by 3pm today so that we can support those in our care. We will only be able to assist those who have made themselves known to us by this time.

Later on this afternoon, Mrs Mitchell and I will be in touch with those who have registered to confirm what support will be in place next week.

Since my last communication and the government announcement on Friday, a number of pupils and families have taken the precaution to self isolate following an assessment of their symptoms. We are dynamically risk assessing each case and the risk of exposure to our wider community and can confirm that to date there are no tested confirmed cases. As a community, we are sending our thoughts to those affected during this difficult time. I am most grateful indeed to all those who are using the parent portal to update us on their respective situations as this is an essential way for us to communicate, remain aware and inform our planning.

This week, both the Prep and the Senior School will be setting in motion a ‘Remote Learning Trial’. This is in preparation for any school closure, should this occur, and to therefore ensure continuity of education:

Senior School

On Tuesday (17 March), Year 12 will have a remote learning trial day, but this will take place in school. On Tuesday evening, there will be no after school activities and no prep. Instead, there will be a Senior School remote learning trial evening from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. More information will follow about this including detail of what is being shared with pupils today.

Prep School

Mrs Mitchell will be in contact with regards to plans.

May I also ask all parents to have a plan in place for the possibility of your child being sent home due to illness. If you are not able to collect your child in person then you must have somebody on standby (not aged 70 or above) who will be able to do this for you in your absence.

Please find attached an updated list of events that have been postponed and/or cancelled. As previously advised, all sporting fixtures have now been postponed for the remainder of the term. Individual emails will be issued with regards to events where payment is a factor.

I appreciate that this is a worrying time for everyone but please be assured that the School is being proactive in its approach for every eventuality and, as a community, will support you as much as we can. You are not alone. If you have any concerns or queries then please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.

I shall be in touch again this week with further updates as they come through.

Shona Norman
Head

I wanted to give you all an update on the situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus. We are following advice and guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) as it is released to protect Woodbridge School as best as possible. At the moment, the Chief Medical Officer has described the risk to the UK as low.

As you are no doubt aware, the Government has updated its Coronavirus guidance which now includes Italy and the information can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

If you have returned from these specific areas since 19 February please make us immediately aware:

Iran
Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the
Government of Italy (see attached map)
Special care zones in South Korea as designated by the Government
of the Republic of South Korea
Hubei province (returned in the past 14 days)

We will discuss the next steps with you in terms of school attendance and the advice from the Government is that you should call NHS 111, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms.

If you have returned from the following areas since 19 February and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111:

Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini),
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar

If you have a cough, or fever or shortness of breath and have visited any of the following areas in the last 14 days

China
Thailand
Japan
Republic of Korea
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Singapore
Malaysia
Macau

Stay indoors and call NHS 111 informing them of your recent travel to the city.

As news of the virus continues to change dynamically I will keep you updated as to how it affects our school.

Woodbridge School has put in place some precautionary measures to minimise the potential spread of the infection:

We have postponed visits from prospective parents, agents and pupils from China and any affected countries until further notice.
All students from affected countries have been instructed not to travel over the February half term but stay with their local guardians and host families.
We have also placed restrictions on all other visits to and from affected areas, including those by staff.
If a parent or carer still decides to require their child to travel, anyone returning from China will be required to spend a period of 14 days in the UK before returning to school, and will self isolate during this time.

It is highly likely that restrictions will still be in place at Easter, and everyone must now plan for that eventuality. We will keep you informed of further developments and should the virus begin to spread within the UK, this guidance will be updated in accordance with the Chief Medical Officers’ requirements.

The whole of Woodbridge school community is being fully supportive of those with family and friends in affected areas and we are well aware of the significant burden of any restrictions that the School makes. Please be assured that the health and welfare of each and every member of our community is our primary concern.

I am extremely grateful for your ongoing support and engagement at this difficult time. I shall continue to update you as the situation develops.

Best wishes,

Miss Shona Norman
Head

A message from Graham Watson, Chief Executive of Seckford Foundation:

I am pleased to announce that the Board of Governors of the Seckford Foundation has appointed Clive Schlee as its new Chairman, succeeding Roger Finbow who retires from the role at the end of February. Clive will bring a broad range of experience to the Foundation, after spending the last sixteen years as Chief Executive of Pret A Manger.

Clive helped to grow Pret into a billion-pound business with strong values and over 500 stores in ten countries. Prior to that he spent 17 years in restaurants and financial services at Jardine Matheson & Co Ltd, the Hong Kong based conglomerate. He is also Chairman of Itsu, the London based sushi chain.

During his career, Clive has a track record of giving back to the community. He championed the Pret Foundation, greatly increasing its income and starting to offer jobs and accommodation to the homeless in addition to distributing unsold food to hostels every night.

Clive spent much of his childhood in Suffolk and has lived in Bromeswell for over 20 years. Following his retirement from Pret in October last year, he plans to spend more time in Suffolk and hopes to use his business experience to help the local community.

Roger Finbow, our current Chairman, said: “It has been a great privilege to be Chairman of the Seckford Foundation over a ten year period which has witnessed many changes in the fields in which the Foundation is active. I am delighted that Clive has been appointed to succeed me and am confident that he will find the role as challenging and enjoyable as I have.”

Clive Schlee said: “It is an honour to be able to serve the Foundation as it plays such an important role in the lives of so many people in Woodbridge and Suffolk.”

I am sure that you will join me in welcoming our new Chairman to the Foundation as he begins to immerse himself in the broad range of our work. There will be opportunities to thank Roger for his huge commitment to the Foundation in due course.

Graham Watson
Chief Executive, Seckford Foundation

This time of year brings around the annual league tables, grade analysis and comparisons between types of school in a bid to find ‘the best’. I should note here that we are delighted with the results of our Senior pupils who now take the next step on their learning journey with a box filled on their CV.

How do we reflect though on how we teach and how we prepare our students to take control and responsibility for their own learning? When it comes to exams, ultimately we can fill heads with knowledge but utilising this information, synthesising and being able to access intelligence is another matter altogether.

We are preparing children for a dynamic world. There are uncertainties and changes that we could not have predicted a decade ago. A deal or no deal for Brexit; how would our students be preparing their businesses in this time of uncertainty? Micro-plastics in the Arctic; how are our future generations going to preserve the planet? Million dollar prizes for computer game competitions; what jobs are valuable and worthwhile? How will our students measure ‘success’?

Last year I was fortunate to meet and listen to the author of Cleverlands, Lucy Crehan. Her research has taken her around the world on a quest to find out what can be learnt from other countries and their systems.

What shines through in her research is that, “Teachers’ belief and expectations have a powerful effect on student outcomes in themselves.” This was highlighted in the news this week as an inner city school in London which through its methods ‘which aim to instil private school-esque order’ has done particularly well in said league tables.

Setting high expectations is one thing but imposing them is another. Crehan discovered that in Finland teachers are motivated to continually increase their own knowledge and aim high which impacts positively on their pupils. Whilst in Japan they overtly teach ‘moral education’ discussing the kind of people they want their students to be. In China they focus on praise for effort and not just achievement whilst also allowing for practice so that learning becomes intuitive – just like learning to serve in tennis.

So how does all this impact Woodbridge School Prep? We are constantly evaluating and reflecting on what we teach and how we teach it. The battle cry of the so called ‘Tiger Mother’ highlighted by Crehan in China, is that parents understand that nothing is fun until you are good at it and to get good at something you have to work.

The difference at Woodbridge Prep is that we aim to inspire the children to work because they want to, not because they have been asked to. This means a diet that includes a range of motivation, different experiences and types of learning . You can only inspire young children if they know that they can trust you and that you are on their team. We have high expectations because we know every individual has untapped potential. They will not all achieve the same results in years to come but we want them to want to learn, to follow what they love, to be able to react to an ever changing world in a positive way.

The Canadian approach to motivation leans on building a strong sense of community and at Woodbridge School we most certainly have that in abundance. So CleverChildren can they be made? We can certainly ensure that every individual is valued, encouraged and has the opportunity to excel. As we continue to reflect on and develop our methods we all continue to learn and grow together; I would prefer CleverSchool.