October 2019

Oct 2019
St. John's College would like to make you aware of the latest College Choir CD, Magnificat, which was released on 25 October.  Magnificat, is available to buy, download and stream: (http://smarturl.it/Magnificat). Celebrating the Evening Canticles that play a significant part in the Choir's Evensong services, it is an Editor's Choice Pick from Gramophone magazine who commented, ‘Take one of today’s finest collegiate choirs, experiencing a truly golden period, and music that sits at their very heart, and the result is an album which embodies Evensong’s sublime power.' ‘This disc was
Oct 2019
398 children and staff took part in a national mindfulness ‘sit’ at Byron House and Senior House on 9 October to mark World Mental Health Day 2019. The Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) community invited teachers and pupils who regularly use practice mindfulness in schools to come together to raise awareness of the need for young people to develop skills to support their own wellbeing both inside and out. #SchoolsSitTogether is part of MiSP’s wider 'A Million Minds Matter' campaign to bring mindfulness to more children and more schools. Byron House Deputy Head, Ms Worthington,
Oct 2019
Mr Nick Penny, musician and instrument maker, spent the day with Form 2 (Year 4) with his workshop focusing on a fusion of DT, Science and Music. The children’s DT skills were put to excellent use as they developed their own ideas, chose appropriate materials and designed and constructed their own banjo/ukulele instruments from everyday recyclable resources. Mr Penny explained that he fell in love with the Paraguayan harp in the 1970s and travelled to Paraguay for lessons from a leading player. He shares his passion for stringed instruments from around the world through concerts and
Oct 2019
‘How do you view stressful situations, as a challenge or a threat?’ Cambridge-based Sports Psychologist, Helen Davis, posed this question to our Forms 5 and 6 during her inspirational ‘Think Believe Perform’ talk about how to become a more positive and effective thinker, in sports and beyond. Helen Davis provides Sport Psychology consultancy to help people of any age achieve their goals and sporting ambitions. The Sports Psychologist explained, “Many people spend hours physically training in their sport and rarely any time on the psychological aspect of sport, yet many reasons for
Oct 2019
Form 2 took part in a ‘Dancing with Dementia Patients’ project as part of their Responsibilities Development and as an extension of the school’s Outreach Development. Ms Worthington, Deputy Head of Junior Department, explained, “The aim was twofold: to provide Outreach Opportunities to Form 2 children to increase their understanding, compassion and self-awareness whilst also developing their sense of responsibility towards others in the local community. We believe that by doing this, children will be given opportunities to embody and develop the values of trust, compassion, love and
Oct 2019
The joyful sounds of the Harvest hymn filled the hall as the children celebrated this year’s charitable giving at St John’s in our Byron House special service. The food donations came flooding in and after the services the goods were delivered to the Cambridge Food Bank, a local charity, part of Newmarket Open Door. The charity redistributes donated foods and household products to disadvantaged people and operates a Shop ‘n’ Share scheme with donation boxes at Milton Tesco and Daily Bread in Cambridge. The monetary donations and the collection went to Jimmy’s Night Shelter, a Cambridge-
Oct 2019
Over 45 St John’s parents and visitors form other schools attended our Emotions for Learning (E4L) Morning in Byron House.  Parents watched aspects of the E4L curriculum and Mindfulness programme in action during the day, experiencing it with the children, as well as listening to key presentations from staff. As an extension of the E4L curriculum, Form 2V gave a Tai Chi demonstration, alongside their teachers from Cambridge Kung Fu. Tai Chi is part of the 'My Mind' curriculum for this year group which encompasses: 'Paws.b' Mindfulness, Tai Chi, Philosophy and Outreach projects. E4L was
Oct 2019
Several St John's pupils joined the Global Climate Youth Strike in Cambridge on 20 September as part of the week of global action. Those children involved were encouraged to write to Headmaster, Mr Chippington, outlining their own reasons why they felt strongly about taking part in the march. All pupils were accompanied by one or both of their parents. Other environmentally conscious children decided to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change outside the school gates with a display of homemade banners. One Form 4 child who took part explained, "We protested outside school and
Oct 2019
T2s were transported back to June 1897 and the reign of Queen Victoria via the drama-based presentations and workshops delivered by ‘History Off the Page’. This truly cross-curricular experience coincided with their classroom study of the Victorian era and the children experienced a range of sources including documents, artefacts, pictures and music, to bring to life this colourful period in history. Dressed head to toe in authentic outfits, the T2s were treated to hands-on activities and practical learning through storytelling and role-play. During the morning, the Big Room was
Oct 2019
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event, where the charity asks people across the UK to hold a coffee morning and raise money for people living with cancer. The event is central to the charity's fundraising programme, raising a staggering total of over £200m since its inception, with nearly £27 million raised in 2018. This year's Parents' Association Macmillan Coffee Morning took place in Whitfield House, the school’s boarding house, on 27 September and £826 was raised for the charity through generous donations and a raffle. Around 70 parents and

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