Category: Senior School News
Our enormous thanks must go to the Venerable Ian Morgan, Archdeacon of Suffolk, for leading this year’s Service of Remembrance, and in particular for his deeply moving address. His grandfather, Sergeant David Morgan, eighteen, fought across the fields sweeping down from what is now the Tyne Cot cemetery. He did something virtually none of his peers managed. He survived. And in so doing he gave life to Ian, and a deeply grounded sense of indebtedness in remembrance that, in Ian’s words, only really found true voice and understanding three years ago when Ian stood with his back to Tyne Cot, and in front a landscape of freshly ploughed fields as far as the eye could see, under which lay so many young men like David, but who were not so fortunate. Ian wept then; I think many of us joined him on Sunday. Ian’s message, made all the more poignant by Mr Smith’s readings and reflections and Mrs Davis’s poetry: Remembrance is so important – to help understand the present and guide our own choices and behaviour; that peace is made not bestowed; and that the blessings are given by God to the peace-makers, not the peace receivers. Today’s elderly may be (nearly) beyond use, but the young are not – and to you falls the challenge of creating that lasting peace we all crave.
The sun came out as we stood together at the School Memorial – cadets and staff, parents, friends, OWs, servicemen and women; the bugle sang so beautifully; the cannons fired; words of remembrance were cast to the Autumn breeze; and the leaves fell into the silence, to carpet the ground like the memories of the OWs we honoured.
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.
We are excited and delighted to announce that there will be a Christmas Fair taking place on Saturday 8 December so please do put the date in your diaries!
Christmas is a wonderful time for us to bring the whole Woodbridge School community together, and our Fair offers the perfect opportunity for a marvellous afternoon of fun. There will be plenty to entertain everyone, including a fabulous Santa’s grotto for the younger children, fun and games, arts and crafts, delicious food and drink, as well as some fantastic stalls for Christmas shopping.
We would love to hear from you if you would like to take a stall at the Fair, to sell your products or run a fun festive activity. Please email samanthaihenacho@gmail.com or contact your year group rep if you would like to get involved.
We will be delighted to see you there!
Even a short journey can dull the senses… and so it proved as our journey to Orwell Park lulled us into a slow start which the opposition exploited. One goal down so early on woke us up, though: we reorganised quickly, Perdi and Alice leading the way with some good runs forward; meanwhile strong defensive work from Millie and Jasmine, and Matilda rock solid in goal whenever she was the only person in the defensive circle, kept the opposition at bay. All seemed set fair for a very close encounter, only for Orwell to steal a second goal on the break just before half time. In the second half we came out with much more assertion and Olivia and Isla played really well, Olivia getting in some great positions up the pitch and Isla clearing the ball from our defence. Havannah played brilliantly in defence as did Kitty who made some fantastic attacking runs up the right hand side of the pitch. Evie and Poppy held the ball well in the centre of the pitch, and Orwell had barely any further chances (those they did were well covered by Faith in goal). We did, though… and many of them… it’s just that on this occasion we couldn’t put any of them away! It was a fantastic second half and one which bodes well for next week against RHS.
Well done girls, and our thanks to all the supporters who came to watch.
The U14A team played a fast competitive game away to Ipswich High School. With several players unavailable for various reasons it again showed the strength in depth of a squad still able to field such a strong team. Helen in goal had a particularly busy time making save upon save; the defence worked hard with Lucy taking quick 16-yard hit outs and Amy working tirelessly in front of her to move the ball up field; and the two Ellas on the right also had fine games.
A decisive first-half break saw all Bea’s hard work rewarded with a goal to put Woodbridge ahead, but the opposition really put the pressure on in the second half, and were a last rewarded in turn with a late equaliser for a final score of 1-1.
This was a fine team effort full of hard work.
Daniel has been shortlisted by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, in the Armistice 100 Schools Poetry Prize competition organised by the University of Lincoln. Daniel’s poem will feature in a book and he has been invited to attend an awards ceremony at the University of Lincoln where Carol Ann Duffy will announce the competition winners and launch the book containing the winning and shortlisted poems. Huge congratulations to Daniel.
Robert has been selected on the basis of performance and commitment to a programme of training and competition over a period of several years, and establishes his status as a UK Squad sailor who will hope to represent Great Britain at major international events in the forthcoming years. Congratulations to Robert!
Pupils experiment with food colouring and milk in a popular experiment known as ‘magic milk’ where they see the effect of adding an emulsifier on immiscible liquids (two liquids that don’t mix!).
I think I speak for all of the students who went on this trip when I say this has impacted all of us for life. Our experiences were all independent and touching in a multitude of ways. We, as a group, had the chance to interact with such different characters, from babies up to young adults, and each imprinted their happiness and loving on us individually each day we spent there. Our time was short but packed full of special moments that will undoubtedly stay with us. The children, no matter what needs they had, were constantly engaged and happy – and only ever wanting to share that with us. We couldn’t help but feel our hearts melting. And the staff looked after us brilliantly, and were patient and very helpful when we felt out of our depth.
As a group we were able to come together and get to know each other which in turn helped when we cooked a meal together in the school on the last night. This trip was a transformative experience and has really opened our eyes to the benefits of being put outside of our comfort zone and devoting a bit of our holidays to helping others. It’s been a truly valuable life experience.
Anna, Year 12
Our intrepid Young Enterprise team recently seen, selling goods and carrying out market research in Framingham at the sausage festival.