Category: Senior School News
It’s a busy time in School for sports, especially as Sports Day took place this week. Meanwhile in cricket we’ve various matches from our U12B, Junior 2, U14 and 6-A-Side teams to report.
Woodbridge U12B vs. RGS – Match Report from Mr Simpson
Fielding first and with several younger players from our Prep School representing the U12A team, the bowling was accurate and very effective, with every bowler contributing in the attack and restricting the scoring prowess of the RGS batters. Wickets fell evenly throughout the innings and with the support of the fielders the RGS batting team were restricted to 87 runs.
The Woodbridge team then went in to bat and despite the regular loss of wickets, the score continued to climb, with the help of some (at times) rather frantic running between the wickets. In the end, Will and Dexter’s partnership of 25 ensured that the team reached its target of 88 with 3 overs to spare and with 3 wickets remaining.
A fantastic result for a very young side.
Woodbridge Junior 2 vs RHS – Match Report from Mr Simpson
Woodbridge batted first on a glorious afternoon opening with Angus and Liam, who made steady progress. Making their way to 33, before in the 8th over Angus was bowled, quickly followed by the loss of Liam, Arlo and Harry, meaning that the team were 40 for 4 from 10 overs, a quick rebuild was required. Up stepped Theo and Charlie who steadied the ship before putting together a partnership of 38 runs in 6 overs, Charlie was out with the score on 78, before Oliver came into bat and with Theo move the score to 110 from our 20 overs, Theo finishing on 22 not out.
In reply, the RHS batters started quickly with 11 off the first over and pushing to finish the game quickly! However, some strong bowling from Charlie, Angus and Arlo ensures that from the next 6 overs, just 10 runs were scored, putting the pressure onto the RHS batters to score quickly or lose the game. The bowling continued to be excellent and the runs just never came. Wickets started to fall and the Woodbridge side were in control throughout the match, and with the bowlers sharing the wickets around the RHS team finished their overs 25 runs short with 8 wickets lost.
A comprehensive win on a glorious afternoon.
6-a-side week – Report from Mr Simpson
Three teams took part in the 6-a-side competition at St Joe’s this week, the U13 boys, U13 girls and U12 boys. The tournaments were all about fun, enjoyment and learning; playing a new style of the game and trying new things, whilst testing skills.
Every day the students were tested and equipped themselves excellently; they were a credit to the School and the learning that has taken place over the last nine months of cricket. The results…well if I’m honest I didn’t write them down – it was a conscious decision because the main objective of the week was fun and enjoyment, which all children and myself had plenty of!
Well done all that took part in the week.
Woodbridge U14 Girls – Match Report from Matt Davis
It was unfortunate that our opponents were terribly delayed on their journey to us and so we had to play a slightly reduced match. Woodbridge bowled and fielded really well and managed some sharp run-outs. Thanks to some excellent batting we easily over-hauled Culford’s score by 7 wickets. A very good match after a long wait – and the team even got their photo taken with Australian professional cricketer Peter Hatzoglou who will be playing in the Hundred later this summer.
Last week our Drama department organised an enrichment day for a number of Year 7 and 8 students who have demonstrated skills and dedication in Drama this academic year. A workshop, led by Annie Eddington, an external facilitator, focusing on this Summer’s Shakespeare On The Lawn, Twelfth Night took place in School.
Having secured an MA in the Contemporary Practice of Shakespeare at the University of Essex where she went on to teach Drama undergraduates, Annie has also been building a career as a freelance facilitator. Working on numerous projects for theatres around the region including the National Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Colchester’s Mercury Theatre and Bury’s Theatre Royal, students enjoyed an immersive experience benefitting from Annie’s expertise, experience and encouragement.
One of those students that took part was Year 7’s Annie, who reported on the day.
Annie
A group of Yr 7 and 8 students took part in a workshop on Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’. It was run by Annie who has a degree in Shakespeare. My highlights of the day were firstly an exercise where we were given a character’s name and had to create a freeze frame in response, which helped us capture the character and their traits. Another fun activity was reading a speech in a group, memorising a line each and then using a physical action to enhance the line further.
But by far my most favourite part of the day was the last exercise where we were given the chance to get into groups to act out a scene from the play, using all the skills we had learned throughout the day. It was great to see other people’s work and get lots of ideas from one another! Overall, the day was great fun and there were tonnes of learning opportunities! Annie was so enthusiastic, and was such an inspiration to everyone at the workshop.
Thank you to Miss Mayes and Mr Williams for making the workshop happen but most of all thank you so much to Annie for teaching us lots of new skills and inspiring us for the future.
Over the last two weeks, Year 10 RAF cadets have been travelling to RAF Wittering, having secured cadet flying in Grob Tutors; the first time in over two and a half years this has been able to take place due to Covid restrictions. Two of those cadets, Charlotte and Hugh, report on what has been one of the most exciting experiences of their cadet training.
Hugh
We set off early, unsure whether we would be able to go gliding or not due to the surrounding hailstorms. However, after we arrived, the good news came that we would be able to get in the air and the day began. Parachutes on, we were pulled up in our gliders to 3,000 feet. The view all around was outstanding and the lack of any engine made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I got the chance to fly the glider throughout and it had to be one the best moments of the year.
Charlotte
After a long drive, eight of us arrived at RAF Witterring, excited and ready for action. Luckily, it was a perfect day for flying; clear skies with an absence of wind. From the moment we arrived, we learnt the basic safety procedures and got kitted up. Accompanied by the ground crew singing ‘Highway in to the Dangerzone’ from Top Gun, we took off in our planes (Grob Tutor 115) and reached 2,800 feet and a top speed of 140 Knots. With our professional pilots , Phil and Mac, we did a variety of aerobatics including a loop de loop, took control of our planes and pulled 3G. The views were outstanding. It was a day to remember!
Series 5 Woodbridge Editions launches in March 2023, at a public show in Woodbridge – as well as online. The project has been run successfully for the last four years, with new prints each year, and the initiative enables our Year 13 (age 16 to 18) A Level artists and photographers to produce and sell professional quality limited edition prints. Receiving 50% of the value of their sales, matching the average commission a gallery would take, students earn money and knowledge from the project! If you’d like to see past work please visit our shop, to date we have 53 prints available to purchase.
Alongside the creation and production of the prints to a specific deadline, the initiative also provides students with the opportunity to learn and focus on self-promotion, networking with clients and understanding the process of selling art – including how gallery contracts work.
In order for this project to be successful and viable we do rely on sponsorship, and this year we have launched a crowdfunding campaign to provide funds to support students. Having previously sought a single patron each year, working with both individuals and galleries, the decision has been made to move to a crowdfunding model this year, given its community focus in line with the project which focuses on helping individuals who are part of a bigger community of artists.
There are various ways you can make donations, all of which are gratefully received, these include using this link https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/woodbridge-editions as well as that on our Instagram bio should you follow us on social media https://www.instagram.com/woodbridge_schl_art_department/ Donating to this project makes you an integral part of this partnership, and any contribution large or small will be hugely appreciated.
If you don’t follow us on Instagram already, please do, we will be posting daily and sharing the story of the project from genesis to the present day, using Old Woodbridgian voices, affiliated artists and current students. We’d appreciate it if you could like and share our reels if you’re able to, this will help to boost our audience and hopefully increase donations.
What a feast for the ears last week’s trip to Snape Maltings was! Students were treated to performances from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, including Shostakovich’s best ever symphony, No.10 on a beautiful balmy night. Students loved listening out for the secret message hidden in the music which they’ve been learning about in lessons (even if they did lose count of how many times the brilliant D-S-C-H theme occurred). Alice adored hearing what the five superb French horns of the BBC Welsh sounded like – inspiring stuff! Hopefully she can channel their energy and gusto in this weekend’s Gala Concert!
Year 9’s Noah reports on the pieces played and the evening.
“We left by minibus at 6.15pm – an intrepid seven students from Years 9 to 12 and Mrs Kent in the driving seat. It was a warm evening but the concert hall was well air-conditioned.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales had their blazers off, ready to play, not only to those of use lucky enough to be there, but to everyone listening to BBC Radio 3’s live concert. The first piece was the shortest – Elizabeth Maconchy’s ‘Proud Thames’, the overture to the Queen’s coronation in 1953. It was a graceful piece utilising the whole of the orchestral palette.
The next piece was William Walton’s Cello Concerto featuring Laura van der Heijden on cello. She was a former winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year. This was a romantic but rather turbulent rollercoaster of a piece and, as it was dedicated to Walton’s wife, we speculated on the relationship they had!
After the interval we were treated to Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, one of the most renowned pieces of the twentieth century. This was a fascinating piece as we discovered he had hidden his name within the tune and used it as a motif.
Overall, the performance was a delight to listen to and inspired all who went. Thanks to Mrs Kent for organising!”
Next Wednesday sees the return of a full Sports Day in School for Years 7 to 12! Events will take place between 10.30am and 4.00pm, with presentations made at 4.15pm. Families and picnics are most welcome, with hot and cold drinks, ice creams and muffins available to purchase on the day (normal School lunch will of course be available for students). Ahead of Sports Day, runners competed in middle distance races at the Senior School track last Sunday, 12 June, our Head of Athletics Mrs Scahill reports on the races and asks the question – which house got a great start to Sports Day from Middle Distance Day?
Ali Scahill, Head of Athletics
Students from Years 5, 6, 7 8, 9 and 11 got off to a great start with Sports Day as runners from our Prep and Senior School took part in the middle distance run day. Racing 2,000m, 3,000m and 5,000m races on the School track on Sunday 12 June, these races form part of Sports Day but there is no set time to run them.
The is the first time these races have been held on a Sunday, unfortunately participation was lower than usual due to other commitments held by students, however there was still a great turnout. Younger runners started off proceedings with the 2,000m race, this boys’ race was won by Year 6’s Digby with guest player Hamish coming in 2nd place. The girls’ race was won by Year 6’s Alice, with Year 5’s India nicely in 2nd, Year 6’s Marina in 3rdand Year 5’s India in 4th.
The 3,000m race for Years 7 to 9 saw Year 9’s Angus win the boys’ race with Year 8’s Sam in 2nd place. Year 7’s Romily and Felicity ran the girls’ race neck and neck until near the end, when Romily pulled ahead to win by five seconds, with Year 8’s Eloise 3rd Year 8’s Auriela 4th, Year 7’s Sophie 5th and Year 7’s Issy 6th.
In the seniors 5,000m Year 11’s Henry won the boys race with Year 13’s Kit 2nd, Year 10’s Bruce 3rd and Year 10’s Oliver in 4th place.
Year 11’s Ruby won the girls’ race with Year 12’s Amy in 2nd place.
Well done to all the runners for turning up on a Sunday and not staying in bed! And a big thank you to Mr Goddard for organising, and the parents for helping and supporting.
House results: Annott 22, Burwell 39, Seckford 21 and Willard 10.
On Wednesday our Junior 1 Girls cricket team met and played against RHS on our main cricket pitch in School. Mr Walsh reports on the match, the players and score in his report.
Woodbridge vs. RHS – Match Report from Mr Walsh
On a glorious sunny Wednesday afternoon the Junior 1 Girls cricket team had their last game of the season at home against RHS.
Woodbridge won the toss and chose to bowl first. Some fantastic bowling and an early wicket helped restrict RHS to a low total going into the final overs. The last over was down to Year 7’s Amelie P whose job was to keep RHS from scoring. Not only did she do this but she managed to take 4 wickets in a row, an incredible achievement, which meant she finished with figures of 5 wickets for 15 runs.
With a target of 103 to chase, Woodbridge started extremely well with Year 7’s Frankie F playing some lovely straight drives. RHS took some quick wickets but this meant Year 8’s Bea M came to the crease and showed some great shot selection and running between the wickets scoring a well-deserved 21.
Woodbridge managed to get the total with a couple of overs left and the match was captained fantastically well by Year 8’s Lily M.
Well done to all the girls involved in the team throughout the term.
Rehearsals continue in School this week for this year’s Shakespeare On The Lawn performance of Twelfth Night, and we recently had the opportunity to meet and speak with Year 9’s Noah and Isaac who have been casted as Feste and Malvolio respectively. With continued warm weather the opportunity to rehearse on the Chapel lawn where the performance will take place has been wonderful and certainly helps students understand the setting as well as imagine the staging which is yet to be put into place.
Having been a company member in two past whole School musicals, Noah who plays Feste is also a superb singer and musician. Working with Miss Weston separately to rehearsals, he’s quickly and skillfully learned the song he will perform, Come Away Death. “As well as learning the song we’ve been recording the backing track, it’s great to have the opportunity to not only act but to sing in the performance. Rehearsing with Miss Mayes and Mr Williams gives us all the opportunity to not only go through our lines but to understand them from a language and staging point of view – we often run through the same line several times, each of us offering our thoughts and interjection about meaning as well as position on stage and movement. It’s great to be able to work collaboratively with them, as well as the other students involved in the play.”
Isaac echoes Noah’s thoughts about rehearsals, “Working together means we each have an opportunity to consider and suggest the best way to communicate with the audience, as well as understand what it is we’re saying and trying to convey. Playing Malvolio is a real pleasure, I’m nervously excited as this is my debut performance, but he’s a great character to play – I’m learning a lot about him, and about me!”
Twelfth Night will not only be watched by fellow students, family and friends this year, but by Old Woodbridgians who played parts in the first production of this particular Shakespeare at School. Invited to attend the event with our Head of School Miss Norman and Stephen Cole (President of the OWs) it’s sure to be a delight to watch and to reminisce.
Audiences at the The Seckford Theatre were treated to a visual and musical delight with the Prep School Wind in the Willows performances this week, from children in Years 5 and 6.
Set in the English Countryside, along the river bank, on the open road, underground and in the Wild Wood, the ever-endearing story of true friendship between animal friends was told in style on a clever set and with a large locomotive and a working motor car no less!
Ratty (Amelie), Mole (Freya) and Badger (Annabel) patiently stand by their friend Toad (George) as his latest passion for motor cars gets him in serious trouble and eventually lands him in jail. Dramatically sentenced to 20 years by the Chairman of the Board of Magistrates, the jailer’s daughter comes to the aid of the sorry Toad with an ingenious plan – in return for a few ‘bob’ of course!
After an elaborate escape from jail dressed as a washerwoman, with a ride on a barge and help from two train drivers, Toad eventually makes it back to his friends only to discover that the pesky Wild Wooders have taken over Toad Hall. But no fear, Toad’s loyal friends have a plan.
Outwitting the army of weasels and stoats with a surprise attack during a party, the fab four take back Toad Hall and reinstate it to its rightful owner – a humble and thankful Toad.
Talented musicians playing on the sax, cornet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, bass guitar, keyboard and drums brought the story to life through the musical numbers supported by a wonderful chorus of Year 5 singers who sang with real energy and enthusiasm.
Clearly a lot of work and effort went into rehearsals both on stage and behind the scenes, by students and by staff, and everyone involved should be extremely proud of the production.
Poop Poop!
With our Gala Concert taking place this weekend on Sunday 26 June, School is buzzing with rehearsals and nervous excitement for all of those taking part. Year 11’s Esme will be singing solo, Pie Jesu, and we met with her recently to ask how she’s feeling and preparing for the event.
“Pie Jesu is a solo I’ve sung before in a chorister competition, so I’m feeling confident that I know the piece well and am excited to sing it again. I sang a solo in last year’s concert, so although I always feel nervous before I perform, I know it’s a great opportunity that I’m going to really enjoy. Performing with an orchestra is definitely a challenge, but having rehearsed with them all, I feel it’s a wonderful opportunity to do something that I love.”
Esme takes lessons and exams in singing, percussion and LAMDA. Outside of school her musical passion continues as she learns and plays the guitar and piano. Esme loves Musical Theatre, having performed in many shows with Theatricool Performing Arts and the Colchester Operatics Society, at various local theatres including the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. She is currently rehearsing for their production of Fame.
130 performers (including our parent choir) will come together on Sunday at Ipswich Corn Exchange, promising to be a spectacular and very special event, our Director of Music Mrs Emma Kent will be conducting throughout. Tickets are now selling fast and we hope you can join us. Tickets are available directly from the Ipswich Corn Exchange by clicking here.