Summer 2024
A Word from Mrs Childs
How the year has flown by! They say time flies when you are having fun and life is fun in the Prep School. Although it is possible to learn when one is not happy, extensive research supports that we learn far better and far more efficiently when the chemicals in the brain are dominated by ‘happy’ ones. And so we aim to support the children’s well-being the best we can to ensure they have the greatest chance of their best learning.
At the time of writing, the whole of the Prep School from Reception to Year 6 has just been on a trip to Brightlingsea, packed full of wonderful learning experiences. Just last week our Year 4 to 6s embarked on a residential trip together, further developing key life skills such as resilience, team working and being able to ‘live’ with others, as well as learning new skills in such activities as climbing, archery and kayaking. These sorts of trips are an integral part of life here in the Prep and I am sure will be remembered for a long time. At the end of this term, we say bon voyage to our wonderful Year 6s. They have been an excellent example to the rest of the Prep this year and just two weeks ago, took the lead roles in the Junior Production. It is so
important for the children to have others to aspire to and it is wonderful being part of a ‘through school,’ which means that our older students can continue to be role models as they move into the Senior School. We wish them all the best in the next part of their learning journey and look forward to hearing more about it.
We have packed so much into this academic year, providing numerous opportunities for the children to grow personally as well as academically and it has been a pleasure seeing our children flourish. At this time of the year, I like to say a public thank you to all the amazing staff who work in and with the Prep and for all our parents who ensure the children have the best time. These opportunities don’t just happen by accident, so thank you for your hard work.
We look forward to the return in September and making more memories together. To one and all I wish the best of futures.
Amanda Childs (Mrs) Head of Prep
D-Day – 80th Anniversary
A Turning Point in the War Fittingly Marked Across the St Jo’s Community
Deputy Principal and historian, Mr Sacha Cinnamond, needed a map room of his own this term as he masterminded with colleagues a D-Day 80th Anniversary commemoration at St Joseph’s College, an immersive D Day event at the Prep School, and trips for St Jo’s History students to the Normandy landing beaches and to the French and Belgian battlefields. The Prep boys and girls, wonderfully costumed for the event, thoroughly enjoyed their lessons with the senior school specialist, and rose to his challenge of matching solutions to the multiple problems facing General Eisenhower, Admiral Ramsey and General Montgomery.
They also tackled Lindy hop dancing, rock bun baking and drill. The children practised hard to perfect some of the songs that saw Britain and the troops through their darkest hours, then reprised them at the Commemoration evening, when they got proceedings off to a heart-warming start.
The evening included performances, readings and poetry, with students and staff recreating some of the most touching moments of the campaign, including new Head Boy Oliver Edwards reading his own research on the role played by the Suffolk Regiment.
Newly-graduated OB Euan Chalmers, who spent a year as a professional chorister, made a welcome guest appearance in the College choir, before playing poignant and stirring pieces on the bagpipes prior to the lighting of the beacon.
The beacon, fashioned by staff and students of the Engineering Department, is of monumental proportions and an outstanding fireworks display was required and provided to match its scale.
St Jo’s History students at the landing beaches of Normandy
The D-Day beacon - a perfect way to end the D-Day commemorations at the college
Carry on camping
Years 4, 5 and 6 all headed out with excitement and a little bit of trepidation to Birch Hall Adventures near Frinton for their residential trip. They need-not have worried as within minutes they were all throwing themselves into their activities.
All year groups had different programmes so that they have something to look forward to each year whilst having the comfort of knowing where they are going to. Year 4 stayed in the bunkhouse and Years 5 and 6 under canvas, many having never camped before.
Three days were spent on a programme of activities which included climbing, low ropes, kayaking and sailing, to name a few. There was also plenty of time for making fires – and cooking our lunches on them - as well as climbing trees and just spending quality time together. The world certainly is our classroom.
Prep News
Pupils Thrilled to Go with the Flow
The Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children were very excited when members of Suffolk Fire & Rescue Services dropped in, bringing some of their impressive fire fighting gear with them. An interactive lesson allowed the boys and girls to understand the role of the fire and rescue service and why the officers are dressed and equipped as they are. They were thrilled with the fire engine in attendance and delighted that each could take a turn battling pretend fires with the hoses. Our plants also enjoyed the process - getting a good dousing! Thank you to the team who took the time to answer our pupils’ many questions.
That Put the Colour in Their Cheeks
Thank you to all the volunteers - from Prep right up to Sixth Form - who helped make the Nursery Colour Run such a delightful occasion for the young participants. Children from Ipswich Private Kindergarten and Oakland Hall Nursery joined our own mini Joeys having an absolute blast as they ran through clouds of colour! Thank you, too, to all the staff and parents who joined in the fun… and did the laundry afterwards!
Sweet Motivation Behind Orwell House Bake Sale
Bake sales are a staple of school charity fundraising as they are extremely popular with the customers! Orwell held a House bake sale this term and it was a great success. The pupils were raising money for The Little Princess Trust, which provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions. One of our children had very kindly donated her hair to this extremely worthy cause and Orwell House decided to boost her collection pot for transforming it into a wig.
Prep Sport
St Joseph’s College Prep School Sports Review 2023/24
It has been an amazing year for Prep sports at St Joseph’s College, marked by numerous achievements and unforgettable experiences. Our football and netball teams participated in several festivals, showcasing their talent and teamwork. The highlight of the football season was the participation of our U11 boys in the prestigious first team rugby festival at Rosslyn Park, where they demonstrated exceptional skill and sportsmanship.
Our netball teams also shone brightly, with the girls getting the incredible opportunity to watch England Netball play at Wembley, inspiring them to reach new heights in their own games.
The exposure to top-level play has
undoubtedly fuelled their passion and ambition. A significant highlight of the year was the Barcelona sports tour, where our Prep pupils engaged in high-performance training sessions. This tour not only improved their skills but also broadened their horizons, offering a taste of international sports culture and competition.
St Joseph’s College Prep pupils made their mark in the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) competitions, competing fiercely in football, rugby, and netball. Their hard work and dedication were evident as they represented the school with pride and excellence.
Overall, 2023/24 has been a year of growth, achievement, and inspiration for Prep sports at St Joseph’s College. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to nurture the talents and aspirations of our young athletes in the coming years.
Let’s Celebrate Art for All
Whilst it’s true that the arts are always celebrated at St Joseph’s College, undoubtedly they receive an extra boost in the Summer Term. For one thing, it is the time of year when our public examination candidates put the finishing touches to their coursework and present it for adjudication.
Our A-level and GCSE Drama students have impressed those lucky enough to preview their work. Our Oracy and LAMDA results have been excellent. Particularly noteworthy among the latter were the grade 8 (Gold medal) exams taken by international Sixth Formers Joseph, Hannah and Jimmy. Their hard work, determination and flair for speaking in public has been rewarded with fantastic results and valuable UCAS points.
Similar dedication to their craft has been demonstrated by our GCSE Dance candidates. A Dance Showcase allowed parents and friends a glimpse of the varied work they have been choreographing and rehearsing. At the Summer Concert singers and instrumentalists performed with confidence, while Cabaret: A Night on Broadway ramped up the glamour for performers and audience alike.
Our fine artists, photographers and textiles artists impressed parents and visitors lucky enough to drop in to the GCSE and A-level exhibitions, where the wide variety of work on show
was inspiring, challenging and original in equal measure - everything from animation to weaving. Workshops during the Arts Festival have ranged from public speaking to face painting. Numerous dance styles have featured, including classes in street dance, lyrical dance and ballet. Some of the workshops were open to parents, including Paint and Prosecco, ABBA and Dressing the Mannequin.
Senior sports
Football
ESFA National Cup Winners
For the second year running, a St Joseph’s College Football team won the final of the English Schools National Cup. Our U15 boys travelled to Hawthorns Stadium, home of West Bromwich Albion, for the final against Clifton High School, Bristol, and won 1-0.
The boys’ coach, Mr Henman Mason, said: ‘Their hard work throughout the season has given them more and more self belief. With each progression they made in the competition, you felt as though the group were becoming more comfortable and confident, solving problems on their own and driving standards from within the group.’
Well done team, coaches and supporters!
The U15 boys also won the East region Independent League for the second year running. The U18 boys also won the league in their own competition. And our U18 girls finished their season as winners of the Suffolk county cup for the second year in a row.
Portman Road
Back in March, the ITFC Women’s squad played their first game at Portman Road stadium, where they met Chatham Town. The squad featured seven athletes from St Joseph’s College: two current students, Sixth Formers Evie and Leah, and five Old Birkfeldians, Summer Hughes, Sophie Peskett, Kyra Robertson, Nina Meollo and Maria Boswell, who captained the team
Playing in front of a record-breaking 10,000-strong crowd, our girls rose to the occasion with a spectacular 5-0 victory.
The St Joseph’s College community came out in full force to show their support. Staff, family and friends filled the stands, with the cheering rising to a crescendo as the goal count increased.
Cricket
The Summer Term has produced a number of excellent performances and notable achievements, both individually and collectively from the St Joseph’s College cricketers. Four College cricket teams have qualified for cup finals, a first in the same season. The 1st XI Boys finished as Regional Finalists of the National T20 Plate competition, defeating Langley, Culford and RHS along the way.
These Senior cricketers have had a very successful season; a testament to their outstanding camaraderie and commitment to the cricket programme over the academic year. The Lashings game again proved a fantastic experience for players and supporters, uniting the College cricket community with current and former students as well as some true greats of the game.
The U15 Girls have had another amazing season, this time eclipsing last year’s group by winning the County Cup final and being crowned worthy Suffolk champions. Their meteoric rise over the past 12 months has been remarkable. The U15 Boys also enjoyed an impressive cup run, finishing county runners-up with many match-winning performances. The U12 Boys have also reached their finals day. The team is composed of highly talented sports stars of the future. With 70 games played and 30 to go, at time of writing, Cricket is and remains a prominent part of the Summer sports calendar here at St Joseph’s.
Staff in the Spotlight
Louis Andrews: Executive chef manager of St Joseph’s College for contract catering company Thomas Franks.
My passion for food came from cooking for my father when I was caring for him as he had MS. The smiles and happiness he gave me when I cooked for him gave me the incentive to start working in kitchens, so, from the age of 14, I started by working at Talbooth Restaurant in Dedham. After my father passed away, I decided to pursue a career in catering to continue putting smiles on people’s faces. I received an offer from the Talbooth to do my apprenticeship Level 2 and 3 in professional cookery. I continued working there for six years, learning my trade and working my way up the ranks.
I then decided to move to London to work for Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge at the Corinthia Hotel. The move was a new challenge for me - I’m someone who likes to be tested and I thrive off high pressure environments. It helped me to develop discipline, skills and a passion I never knew I had.
Outside of work, I also enjoy snowboarding so I decided to combine the two by working in the French Alps after London. I could spend plenty of time on the slopes.
I consider myself very fortunate to have been offered the job here at St Joseph’s College, where I can make a real difference to the development of the students. I want to make the Refectory a happy and fun place for our students to be and to develop their taste buds with a range of different menus. It is a long journey and a huge challenge to take on but there is so much more to come from myself and the kitchen team going forward.
Outside of St Jos my hobbies include football, rugby, playing the trumpet and performing arts.
Old Birkfeldians Carrying the Values of St Joseph’s College to the Front Line of the National Defence
Having recently registered as an Old Birkfieldian, Lindy Rodwell got in touch to ask whether I might write an article for the newsletter. So here I sit, in the British High Commissioner’s Residence in New Delhi, reflecting on what I might write almost 41 years after I left St Joseph’s. No, I am not the High Commissioner. That is my wife who is also called Lindy!
I was a pupil at St Jo’s from 1974 to 1983. I spent two years at Oak Hill and then the remaining seven years at Birkfield where, somehow, I finished up as the Head Boy. In thinking about what I might write I have leafed through several back copies of the OB newsletter. In so doing, there seems to be a theme running through all of these which, after a 40-year career in the Royal Air Force, really resonates with me. That theme is the importance of values in the way in which we try and live our lives. I certainly didn’t realise it at the time, but those nine years at St Jo’s instilled a set of values in me which have guided me and are very similar to the values espoused by my Service – the RAF.
As previously mentioned, I left in 1983 and much to my parent’s frustration joined the RAF almost straight away instead of going to university. Like many of the pupils of that time, my father was serving in the RAF and I had grown up surrounded by aeroplanes and with a fascination and passion for all things flying that I still have today. St Jo’s had provided me with a fantastic all-round experience and education, but I just wanted to get on with my flying career. In retrospect, that might not have been the most sensible approach. Three years later, of the 20 student pilots who started training on my course, only nine of us passed and ended up with a set of wings. In those days military flying training was brutal with a less than 50% pass rate. These days things are much better with pass rates above 85%! Given that
in my last job, part of my portfolio was the oversight of training for the RAF, I probably would say that. But turning to those values.
The first value I recognise is that of respect. From my first day at OakHill, and particularly as a boarder, it was an immutable fact of life that you had to try and get on with everyone else. Brothers Mark, Charles and Bede, although quite strict, were also incredibly kind to a very homesick 10-year-old. I always remember that and how they instilled in us a generosity of spirit to be kind to each other and treat one another as we would want to be treated.
The next value was honesty, integrity and selfdiscipline. Telling the truth and trying to do the right thing even if you didn’t always succeed and it is difficult. On moving up to Birkfield, I remember Brother Mark as a fantastic role model. He always called us out if we were not behaving properly and even things like reading quietly before lights out, getting ready in the morning in silence, and taking pride in making your bed properly, were really valuable lessons for later in life.
Being part of an inclusive team was always important at St Jo’s. Whether it was sport, which I absolutely loved,
being part of a House, choir or society. The notion of there is something bigger than you and trying to make sure that everyone was included is something I remember. St Jo’s was a ‘Team of Teams’, to quote some modern leadership speak, that gave all of us at some point the opportunity to take on leadership roles. Leadership, unlike management, is all about people and to my mind getting them to do something either individually or collectively that they probably would not do on their own. I had a go at all sorts of things that I would never have done on my own. Finally, we were all encouraged to try and be the best we could be at whatever we put our mind to and, although competition was encouraged, it was all about just trying really hard. The school motto was/is ‘Fides, Labore et Tenacitate’ – ‘Faith, Hard Work and Tenacity’. The Catholic wrapper and the La Sallian ethos all played to this and now, on reflection, it was always about finding and unlocking whatever talents we may have had.
So, as I look back now, with more than 40 years of perspective, I had no idea how St Jo’s had equipped me with many incredibly valuable soft/life skills. I retired from fulltime service in the RAF five years ago as the Deputy Chief of the RAF and the Board Member
responsible for people, training, education, capability and infrastructure. In the interim I had commanded at every level, spent the first 10 years as a helicopter pilot on the Chinook Special Forces Squadron, served in a myriad of conflicts and wars and gained five state awards (including two for gallantry). I am now pursuing a portfolio career with a number of board roles (including chairing a children’s hospice charity) and pursuing my passion of teaching people to fly.
None of that would have been possible had it not been for the grounding and priceless set of values and skills that I acquired as a young man at St Joseph’s College, Ipswich. To the staff and pupils who educated and mentored me in so many ways. Thank You.
Air Marshal Sean Reynolds CB CBE DFC
Old Birkfeldian
Boarding
A Year to Celebrate in Boarding!
As the school year draws to a close, we reflect on an incredible year filled with achievements and memorable moments in our boarding community. Our boarders have thrived, and been supported in their academic and sporting pursuits. The commitment and enthusiasm shown by our students has been truly inspiring. Beyond the core curriculum and extra-curricular offers within the College, our boarders have engaged in a variety of enriching trips this term, fostering community and a sense of belonging.
Highlights included an exciting day at Colchester Zoo, where students marvelled at the diverse wildlife, a fun-filled round of mini-golf, and a traditional trip to the seaside. These outings not only provided enjoyment but also strengthened friendships and created lasting memories. Our in-house activities have been equally engaging, offering students opportunities to bond and develop new skills. Mindfulness sessions have helped students manage stress and enhance their wellbeing. The lively game of Fear Pong brought laughter and camaraderie, while the resurrection of our giant screen allowed students from various nationalities to come together and cheer for their
teams in the Euros. These activities have enriched our boarding experience, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the parents and staff who have supported our boarding programme throughout the year. Your dedication and care have been instrumental in creating a nurturing atmosphere for our students. On a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me during my 11 years in Boarding. I have cherished the wonderful experiences and families I have met along the way. As I step away from Boarding to return to my family home off-campus, continuing
in my role as Vice Principal Pastoral, I leave the Boarding team in the capable hands of Mr Sim, a seasoned leader, who will undoubtedly continue to guide and inspire our boarders. I wish him every success in his new role and I look forward to seeing the continued growth and achievements of our boarding community.
Mrs Rowlands Vice Principal Pastoral
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This year, St Joseph’s College has placed a renewed focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), recognising their profound importance both within our school and the broader community. This commitment to DEI is central to our ethos, ensuring that we foster an environment of respect, understanding and acceptance.
At the start of the year, our Anti-bullying Ambassadors took the lead in promoting a culture of safety and support. They engaged in extensive training on how to be effective: individuals who not only recognise bullying but also take action to prevent and stop it. They then shared their insights with the student body during a whole College assembly. This process not only addressed bullying, but empowered students to call out behaviours in conflict with our values and to actively contribute to a respectful and inclusive community.
In line with our ongoing DEI efforts, Mrs Rowlands, Vice Principal Pastoral, conducted an assembly this term focused on raising awareness of the nine protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010. These characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. They are fundamental to understanding the diverse fabric of our society. The assembly emphasised the importance of reflecting on the language we use, recognising and addressing ‘microaggressions’ and embracing our differences. It was a pivotal moment for encouraging students to be mindful of their actions and words and to understand the significant impact they can have on others.
Earlier this academic year, we welcomed Ms Veronica Kamanga-Njikho, a parent and a distinguished gender specialist working with UNICEF in Kabul. Ms. Kamanga-Njikho’s role involves advising on critical gender issues, from safe access to health and education to combating gender-based violence across the region. In her
inspiring talk, she shared her journey and the work she has undertaken. Her insights shed light on the importance of gender equality and the transformative power of ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender, has access to opportunities and protection from violence and discrimination. Looking ahead to the new term in September, our focus will shift to developing racial literacy within our community. This initiative aims to equip all members of the College with the knowledge, skills and awareness necessary to engage in thoughtful and informed conversations about race and racism, disrupting bias and increasing belonging. By fostering an environment where these discussions can occur openly and respectfully, we hope to build a more inclusive and understanding community.
The renewed focus on DEI at St Joseph’s College this year underscores our commitment to fostering an inclusive community that values diversity and promotes equity. Through the efforts of our Anti-bullying Ambassadors, assemblies on protected characteristics and ‘micro-aggressions’, and inspiring talks, we are making significant strides forwards.
If there is an area within DEI in which you believe you can contribute to our collective growth and development, please contact Mrs Rowlands at G. Rowlands@stjos.co.uk