The Snow Dragons
As you will have remembered from previous blogs, Winston has been invited to perform in the National Theatre Connections Festival and in preparation the students gave the first performances of The Snow Dragon this week. They were joined by a representative of the Chichester Festival Theatre and
Jane Fallowfield, Associate Director of the
National Theatre. Jane spoke to the cast for approximately 20 minutes
at the end of the Tuesday evening production, having been very impressed with the performance and its staging.
“ Raggi and her friends spend
their free time in the woods and mountains around their sleepy fjord town
playing games of Vikings, dragons
and war. When soldiers occupy the town, they watch from their hut in the
mountains: their friends and families beaten, silenced, abducted... Let down by
the adult world they form The Snow
Dragons, ‘the last line of
resistance’ carrying out sabotage missions. But this is no game, and true
courage requires great sacrifice.”
World Book Day was absolutely jam packed at Winston!
It kicked off with the WBD Breakfast Party where Year 7 students, who have demonstrated their enthusiasm for reading right from the start of the year, coupled with the habitual LRC users were invited to enjoy croissants and hot chocolate as a reward. Which they thoroughly enjoyed!
Year 7 tutor groups listened to a special radio programme recorded
by students for the day which included discussion, drama and some impressive
language skills!
Before the bell rang for break time the whole school was involved
in Drop Everything And
Read.
It was Miss Perkins' and Mrs Ballam's turn in the chair sharing
excerpts of their favourite books at break time. The crowds have been growing
all week and we look forward to an even greater audience for Mrs Allen's and
Miss Elfaituri's reading.
Waterstones Woking set up shop in the LRC at
lunchtime giving students the opportunity to spend their WBD vouchers. All
students should have received these vouchers from their form tutor. They can be
exchanged for one of the £1 WBD titles or used to receive £1 off of any book at
most bookshops and supermarkets until 27th March.
Mr Fisher launched the Excelsior
Award today. Shortlisted graphic novels and manga books are on
display in the LRC and students are invited to read, rate and review them using
the forms on FrogOS and vote for their favourites. This will run until Easter,
the school that submits the most completed reviews will receive a prize from
the Award.
The school's focus on books isn't confined to a single day, we
celebrate books throughout the year and will continue to promote the advantages
of reading for pleasure across the curriculum.
Winston is a school that reads ... students and staff!
