News list
Parents and friends of the School were treated to two Christmas musical feasts at our annual ‘Piazza Brass’ Concerts at Byron House and Senior House. Our brass players were also joined this year by many of our other talented young musicians to get the crowd into the festive spirit.
The St John’s Charities and Community Links Committee hosted its annual Christmas party for elderly people living in the Cambridge area to bring on the festive cheer. Committee members from both Byron House and Senior House provided merriment, conversation and entertainment for the guests. The Christmas party is part a rich and long tradition St John’s has of helping the local community.
On 14 November, 32 invited Sixth Form pupils delivered their vibrant performance of Twelfth Night, a Shakespearean comedy both revered and ridiculous, at the Shakespeare Schools Festival (SSF). Shakespeare originally wrote Twelfth Night for the close of the Christmas season and to lift spirits in the dreary winter months. The creative process of developing the play was thorough and challenging and few would deny its worth with the Headmaster, Mr Chippington, describing the production as ‘magnificent.’
Form 3 turned back the clock to 1536 and lived a day in the life of Tudor times in the reign of King Henry VIII.
With this year’s performance of The Tempest, the Young Shakespeare Company yet again provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to experience Shakespeare through direct involvement in one of his plays.
The work was performed by a cast of dynamic, classically-trained actors, with a passion for performing Shakespeare for younger audiences. This magical comedy was brought vividly to life around and amongst the children. The company specializes in including the whole audience to create such dramatic scenes as the storm on Prospero’s island and the dramatic confrontation
The stage could not have been set more perfectly for this year’s PA Fireworks night which took place on Thursday 3 November. The day was crisp and cold but, as evening approached, the temperature rose and it turned into a warm and dry evening for the display.
Over £1,200 was raised at the recent St John's College School Parents' Association Macmillan Coffee Morning. The coffee morning took place in the wonderful surroundings of the College Master's Lodge, the private home of the Master and his wife. Over 100 parents took part and enjoyed home-baked cakes as well as the chance to win two donated bottles of champagne in a raffle.
18th October 2016 was St John’s whole school ‘Refugee Day’; a programme of events organised to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and to generate commitment to practical action. The ‘Refugee Day’ saw a full day planned with workshops and visiting speakers including authors, poets, charity representatives and musicians, some of whom were refugees themselves.
Form 2 enjoyed a fun day getting to know each other on the St John’s playing fields at the end of their first week of term. The children were involved in a variety of team building activities and had to utilise their communication skills to work effectively as a team.
After a long summer break a group of Form 5 and 6 children were ready to hone their rugby and hockey skills with a mini tour to Edinburgh. The group of girls and boys had an initial training session at school before taking the train to Edinburgh to play against Loretto School, situated on the outskirts of the city, as well as Peebles High School.