Contribution to Our School
Our assembly theme this week is that of 'Respect', organised by Mrs Harper. The focus was on respect for young people in our school, with a disability. Students were asked to join those on the stage, to participate in everyday tasks, which are more challenging for young people managing with a disability; to help the students develop some empathy with the needs of others and respect for the coping strategies that they have to develop. These amazing young people, who presented the assembly, are a credit to our school and I believe that Winston students celebrate the inclusive culture nurtured at Winston.
Contribution to the Community
Two students from Year 7 took part in a midnight walk to raise fund for the Sam Beare Hospice. As the youngest members of the 'Lets Do It' Team, they took advantage of the lowering of the participation age to raise funds for this very worthy cause. Congratulations girls for making a difference to our community.
A National Contribution
Winston Dancers Perform ‘The Freedom Game’ at the Royal Albert Hall
On Tuesday 12th May, nine Winston students
travelled to London to take part in a Surrey community performance celebrating
the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. This
performance involved over 1100 youngsters, adults, abled and disabled in a
production which had taken 7 months to complete. The result was a resounding
success and once again the students of Winston ‘did us proud’!
Sam, Jodie, Rachel and Katie were selected to be part of the
elite dance company, whilst Katie, Lilly, Sophie, Fareen, Esme and Ziran joined
Kings International and several primary schools to match up the community dance
platform.
Katie and Fareen describe their experience:
After 4 months of intensive rehearsal, we performed ‘The
Freedom Game’ at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 12th May in front
of Prince Edward.
The 6 of us; Fareen, Sophie, Esme, Ziran, Lilly and I
started intensive rehearsals in January. We rehearsed every Friday for 1 ½
hours and during that time, we got some precious and hilarious memories! We
nailed our parts and were very excited for the performance. Then suddenly, Tuesday
was upon us. 5am start, 11pm finish! Our day was rehearsing, laughing and
running trying to find our way through the maze of the Royal Albert Hall!
The performance was an opera explaining the freedoms we have
fought long and hard for, and to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna
Carta. This was not the only performance, as there will be two more
performances in June in front of 1000 VIP guests, including the Royal Family,
which will be held at Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed.
At 7pm, the show started. As soon as we were in the arena,
it felt like we were coming straight off again! We all just wanted to get back
out there! Act 1 went smoothly with no mistakes! In the interval, I had an
amazing opportunity to meet and socialise with Prince Edward and his wife,
Sophie. Our main topic of conversation was getting lost in the Albert Hall and
I did confess that we had run the whole way around by accident which he though
was quite amusing!
After this fantastic experience, it was time for Winston to
take to the stage. We were the only dancers in the arena and we had to do a
dance about Freedom from Slavery. This included lots of lifts that we executed perfectly.
Then after running around like headless chickens bringing beacons in, all that
was left was the final! After an amazing ending, a balloon drop and bows, it
was over. Easily the best experience of my life!
Well done to everyone who took part whether it be acting,
singing or dancing, everyone did great and good luck to those who are performing
in front of the Queen at Runnymede later this month!
