One Family, Many Gifts: The Woods Family

Like many other parents in SJK’s early days, Joan and Ted Woods took a very pragmatic approach when their two children attended SJK—if something needed doing and they could help, they would. An early example occurred when their daughter, then a student at SJK’s Waterloo campus, came home and said that the School was looking for ten families who could all donate a certain amount of money to purchase a new piano. Ted asked exactly how much they needed and decided they would donate the full amount, allowing the school to purchase the much-needed instrument.

That spirit of giving has continued for decades, along with the family’s deep involvement in school life. In addition to both of their children being proud alumni, their grandson is a graduate, and Ted has served on the Board.

Reflecting on their family’s experience, Ted shared, “Sending our children to SJK was the best thing we could ever do for them. A quality education at a school that instills strong values stays with them forever, and it has certainly helped them both succeed in their adult lives.”

Over the years, the Woods family’s generosity has supported the purchase and maintenance of the organ in the Chapel, and significantly enriched the music program, funding new musical instruments, bringing in professional musicians to work with students, and enabling student participation in more music competitions.

Ben Wright, SJK’s Band Director, applauds the family’s impact: “The Woods Family investment in both the Chapel and the music department has elevated the role of music at SJK and enriched the lives of our students in ways that will resonate for years to come.”

Having witnessed the School’s evolution over nearly 50 years, Ted remains inspired by its progress and grounded in its enduring spirit. "As someone who cares deeply about this community, I sincerely hope the School not only maintains its success but continues to grow and flourish, creating even greater opportunities for the students."

We are deeply grateful to Ted Woods, and we honour the memory of Joan, for their generous contributions of time, leadership, and resources—gifts that have helped shape the SJK community we cherish today.