Senior School News Archives - Page 70 of 138

I wanted to write to you to say that I am thinking of you today on what would have been your last day with us before you departed for exams. A year ago when I spoke to the Leavers of 2019, I never for a moment imagined the situation we would find ourselves in today. Over your time with us, you will have absorbed not only information, knowledge and skills but most importantly Woodbridge School’s values, culture and history. Take that experience and use it to make a difference in the world. We have seen in the last few months since lockdown the need for real intelligent adaptability. My hope for you is that you will harness your education from Woodbridge, your creativity, your courage, your voice, to make a difference to the world you are about to step into.

As a year group, staff have always been struck by your unity – how cohesive and supportive you are of one another. You have been a real beacon to your peers in the younger years and there will be a void to fill with your departure. I wish I could have thanked you for being such a brilliant year group in person; as an alternative I have created a short clip below to add some thoughts instead.

You will forever be the class that forged a new way forward. In these uncertain times I have every faith in stepping out of these hard times because of you.

With all best wishes,

Miss Norman

Ensemble performance is impossible in the current lockdown, but with the expertise of Mr Shepherd and the editing skills of Mr Turner we have managed to combine Swing Band in to the toe-tapping jazz ensemble that we all know and love.

Mr Shepherd came up with the idea and developed the arrangement. He also meticulously contacted all members of the band helping them to perfect their parts and explaining how to go about producing a recording to a click track. Slowly but surely the parts started to come in and Mr Turner set to work!

The finished result is superb and is summed up perfectly in Mr Shepherd’s post to members of Swing Band: “You have all played your parts so well, resulting in a stunning performance and something to be proud of. I hope it will become a treasured memory for you all of this highly unusual situation.”

Let’s see what Paul Simon makes of it!

Our LAMDA students received a staggering set of results from their March exams. 41/42 were awarded a Distinction. We couldn’t be more proud of all the students and Mrs Lockwood, Ms Franklin and Mrs Robinson.

Year 7-9

Phoebe, Zhou, Nancy, Mae, Archie, Esme, William, Milo, Ruiying, Charlotte, Rufus, Lala, Georgia, Justin, Indie, Jame, Charlotte, Oliver, Ariana, Caitlyn, Isobel, Oliver, Poppy, Sasha, Alexander, Eloise, Alice and Harry.

Year 10- 13

Kia, Lakisha, Sophie G, Sophie H, Bea, Ruben, Julia, Guy, Tom, Olly , Ella, Gaia, Luke and Emily

Following on from my email dated 18 March 2020 I would like to provide an update. As you can appreciate, this is an ever changing process and I will let you know anything further as the situation develops.

Firstly, can I say how proud I have been of our boarding students. It has been an unsettling experience with everything going on around the world whilst our students have been far from their homes but the care and support offered by Mr and Mrs Pineo together with our teaching body has meant that each boarder has felt reassured.

Those boarding students who have stayed with UK guardians over the Easter holiday will be allowed to return to the boarding house for the start of the summer term on 20 April 2020 provided that they have not had to self isolate since 5 April 2020. As with the children of our key workers, they will be able to access our curriculum and day school whilst being part of the care we are offering to our key workers.

Those students who remain with their families overseas or in Great Britain will be able to continue to access our curriculum and teacher support via our remote learning programme.

As a school, we are awaiting further clarification about how our GCSEs and A Levels will be awarded and I shall be in touch with further information on this area in due course. Mr Simon Stafford, our Head of Finance, will also be in contact soon to clarify any queries there may be about fees.

I am keen to have our boarding family all back together again and look forward to being able to update you with more detail on when this will be. As mentioned, however, the situation is constantly evolving and changes may occur to the arrangements I have outlined here. I will be sure to update you as necessary.

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.

Further to the Government announcement concerning school closures I write to confirm that Woodbridge School will move fully to remote learning with effect from Monday 23 March until further notice. More detailed information will be issued by Mr Hayward-Bradley and Mrs Mitchell in the next 24 hours in relation to the specifics of how this will work for both the Senior and Prep schools.

If you are employed as a key worker, as defined by the Government, and will struggle to find childcare in order that you can attend work please contact me as soon as possible.

Senior School

Thursday 19 March will be our last teaching day in school with buses departing at 4.15pm.
Friday 20 March will be a dedicated planning and training day for all teaching staff. Students will be able to work from home to familiarise themselves with the remote learning platforms and bringing themselves up to date with any work outstanding.
Timetabled lessons for students will therefore commence online on Monday 23 March.

All public examinations have been cancelled in May and June 2020 and we will update you with further information relating to this as it comes through. I realise how distressing and unsettling this will be for our community who have been working so hard in preparation. I will ensure that I make it a priority to share with you information pertaining to this as it is made available to me.

Prep School

Thursday 19 March will be our last teaching day in School with buses departing at 4.15pm.
A separate communication will follow from Mrs Mitchell with regards to the detail of the remote learning arrangements.

As you can appreciate, the last four weeks have been a challenge and so I would like to thank personally the many families who have made contact to express their gratitude and support of our staff at this difficult time. We remain grateful for your ongoing support and I am highly proud of our community in its entirety. Pastoral care is at the heart of all that we do at Woodbridge School and I absolutely will be working with staff to ensure that this extends to remote learning.

If this tumultuous period has taught us anything it is that communities such as ours will come together in strength and face with courage and positivity whatever comes our way. The Woodbridge School virtual community is no different and will remain dedicated to educating our children until the real doors of the School can be opened again.

Ms Norman
Head

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

The efforts of the Woodbridge Sports department in their fundraising for the WoodenSpoon Charity.

Yesterday (11 March) Mr Devir, Head of Rugby at Woodbridge School met with John Winders, President of the Eastern Counties Rugby Union. To open a ‘Learning Kitchen’ at the Porch Project in Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Derek Grimwood, Porch Project Manager described the new facility as “Somewhere where young people and their family will be able to learn about food hygiene and healthy eating across the family unit.”
The kitchen is just part of a larger upgrade to the centre, which was established to in 2009 give people between the ages of 11-20 somewhere to go and socialise.

The School helped raise the money with WoodenSpoon ambassadors Ollie Phillips and Tamara Taylor at a Dinner and Silent Auction back in November 2019 which raised an amazing £4,500.

Pupils were also treated to master classes from both Ollie and Tamara which has led to more Girls rugby wit hour first fixture on 26th March 2020.

Well done to Mr Denvir and the team for all their work in fundraising for such and excellent cause.

Isobel S reports from MUN Felsted

On Sunday 8 March nine students from Sixth Form went to Felsted School for a Model United Nations conference. We were split into two groups to represent the nations of Belgium and Greece.

On the first day we worked in our committees and debated a variety of topics relating to our chosen committee. In the Economic and Social committee, we discussed the economic impacts of climate change. Over the two days we discussed a variety of topics from climate change to the reintroduction of the USSR.

On Monday morning, we then joined up into groups of councils and debated a range of topics together. Then in the afternoon, we were given an emergency situation to resolve, involving Russian involvement in the Baltic countries. The resolution, written by the Woodbridge students representing Belgium, was debated by the entire conference, which is a very impressive feat.

Well done to Freddie W for winning best delegate in the security council, and thank you to Dr Ruggiero for organising this fantastic trip!

It’s been a busy few weeks for the newly formed CCF Signals Section.

On 7 February nine cadets drawn from across all three sections took their Radio User Assessment: this required the cadets to take three online assessments in the space of 2½ hours, scoring at least 70% in each to pass… they all did!

After this, Cpl Edward went to the home of the Royal Signals at Blandford, Dorset to take a one week course to fully qualify himself as a signaller. At its conclusion it was announced that Edward was the top student on the course: many congratulations to him on this excellent result.

After this success, Edward went straight into teaching the team that had been selected to take part in the National Signals Competition, Exercise Rolling Thunder.

This competition is hotly contested by signals units from all over the UK, with sixteen teams coming from as far away as Scotland and Northern Ireland to compete.

Our team, consisting of Cpl Edward (*centre*), Cpl Toby, AB Josh, OC Tim and OC George

Our team, consisting of Cpl Edward, Cpl Toby, AB Josh, OC Tim and OC George, put their minds to the task with gusto and after a 5½ hour drive from school to Dorset they prepared themselves for a competition none had ever thought they would be in.

At the end of an exciting day Woodbridge School CCF came 5^th overall, beating teams with much more qualified cadets in them, and in the Teamwork section of the competition the boys were awarded Bronze Medals.

Overall the cadets have shown that Woodbridge School is a force to be reckoned with; the organizing staff have said they look forward to seeing us at the competition again next year!

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