Congratulations!

 Outstanding Language Learning 🌍

I was delighted to meet five Year 7 students this morning, to present them with certificates for their exceptional work in their French and German lessons.

Corina:  has worked exceptionally hard in German throughout the term. Above and beyond her excellent class and homework she has created a vocabulary and grammar book and has been looking up a variety of vocabulary under different themes. She is to be congratulated on her enthusiasm and commitment in German! She is a Language Leader for German. 

Larisa: has worked hard and contributed enthusiastically in German. She has been very focussed and engaged in her learning and has completed a lot of additional work on Linguascope. She is a Language Leader for German and a Japanese Club prefect.

Ellie: has worked exceptionally hard and has contributed well in German lessons. Above and beyond her excellent class and homework she has completed lot of extra work on Linguascope and Duolingo. 

Zakarin: has worked exceptionally hard and has shown great enthusiasm for German. She has always tried her best and has consistently produced work of a very high standard. 

Juul: has stood out as a talented, enthusiastic and committed linguist who has worked hard and has produced work of an exceptionally high standard. She is a Language Leader for French and a Japanese Club Prefect. 

Future Stock Market Millionaires?!

Year 10 GCSE Business students have been set a challenge: they each have £10,000 to 'spend' on shares on the stock exchange. This is an opportunity to look at what influences share price and how politics across the world changes confidence levels and therefore, outcomes.

They will track their shares and their decisions, over the next half term and the student who makes the most (imaginary) money will win a prize!

Pumpkin Competition

Well done to all staff and students who entered the pumpkin decorating competition – all the entries were fantastic, and it was a close vote between a lot of them! 

 The winner of the student pumpkin competition (as voted by the staff) is: 

Fantastic Mr Fox with Toothless only one vote behind!! 

Well done to Ellis, Mollie, Grace & Lilly from 8ERE and Phoebe  Yr 9 

Both teams will receive a prize. 

The winner of the staff pumpkin competition (as voted by the students) is: 

Pennywise created by Miss Reynolds 

Winner's prizes will be handed out after half term.  

There will also be a small prize for everyone that entered which can be collected from the Library. 

Thanks to everyone for taking part, enjoy your half term break!  Miss Dodd

Pumpkin Competition

We have had lots of fantastic entries so far - including some from staff! Monday 19th October will be the last day for any entries as Miss Dodd wants to display them next week before half term. There will be a separate competition for student and staff entries, and the students will be able to vote from next week for their favourite staff pumpkin! Entries have included Fantastic Mr Fox, Harry Potter, Coraline and Jack Skellington!

Following on with the spooky theme, Year 8 have been working hard during tutor time to come up with their own scary stories based on some classic scary story tropes. Stories have included an eerie woods, old abandoned houses, and mad scientists; well done Year 8! 

Outstanding Geography Homework!

Mrs Eyre set the following homework for her Year 8 class:

Design a device that might be used to measure an element of the weather:

1)      Temperature

2)      Wind speed

3)      Wind direction

4)      Rainfall

5)      Cloud cover

Useful web sites :

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/met-office-for-schools/other-content/other-resources/weather-station/index

Alex designed and made an anemometer.  He used a 3d printer and some electrical components to produce his device, having first considered how to measure wind speed and the implications of the circumference of the circle of his design.  The mathematical problem solving is impressive, as is the final product, which has a digital display.

Alex, in Year 8 has been awarded a Headteacher's Commendation for 

an excellent piece of Geography homework. 

Latin at Winston

Year 7 & KS3 Latin students were invited to attend a virtual talk by Roman Mysteries author Caroline Lawrence. Lawrence spoke about the hero's journey in myths and movies, and notably how every hero needs a weakness; every journey an obstacle, and every saga a lesson to learn. Her insights into the writing process were fascinating, and those that tuned in from home were inspired and intrigued by the experiences she shared.

Students will find a collection of Caroline's books in the Discovery Space.

Feedback from a parent: 'I just wanted to say thank you for arranging this and let you know how much Phoebe and I enjoyed it yesterday - it was so interesting!'

Hello Yellow

 Hello Yellow Day

Hello Yellow Day is a day dedicated to mental health awareness. It helps educate people about mental health, where to get help if they need it and how to relate to others who may suffer from a mental health problem.

The wellbeing team in each year group have been very busy creating ideas to make this day a special day here at Winston. Here are some of their ideas and activities planned - we'd love you to take part:

• Poster competition - already completed and posters are up around the school. The winner will be announced on Friday 9th;
• Tutor group bunting activity - this should already be in your tutor wallets. Please encourage your tutees to write a kind supportive message on these and display them in your tutor rooms;
  
• Yellow badges will be made available on Friday;
• A wellbeing booklet has been created by the senior wellbeing team. Please use any of the activities during tutor time and then on Friday, students can take them home. The winning poster is featured as the cover.
• The wellbeing leaders and staff may wear an item of yellow clothing on Friday
• Individual wellbeing teams are making a short film to introduce themselves to their year group
  
• Year 7 - are wearing selling yellow wrist bands (wellbeing leader Mrs Kovic)
• Year 8 - 'Humans of Winston' item (Miss Wade)
• Year 9 - challenge cards -5 wellbeing challenges to complete on the day (Mrs Armstrong)
• Year 10 - planting seeds/bulbs of yellow flowers to bloom each season (Mrs Alexander)
• Year 11 - wellbeing booklet / photo booth (Mrs Thomas)

There are so many thins that you could do to improve how you are feeling for example:

Mindfulness exercises, physical exercise, listening to music, meditation or yoga.  Perhaps you could try some colouring!

Why is colouring beneficial to your well-being?

●     Colouring is a creative form of self-expression which promotes relaxation.

●     Colouring is also a form of meditation and releases endorphins.

●     Colouring has been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Thank you to everyone involved in raising our awareness today and everyday, that being kind to each other and to ourselves is very important.

Have a great weekend! 

 Life at Winston

Miss Dodd has launched a pumpkin decorating competition!

Can you compete with these?

It would be great to extend our display in Discovery Space.  Take part and show us what you can do!

Extending the spooky theme, here is an excellent piece of Year 7 work; a gothic advert.

Music at Winston

We may not be able to sing or play wood or brass instruments but that leaves a huge range of activities including guitars and keyboards, as well as the Mac Suite to support music learning.

In Design Technology students were making a container and had to design the lid and wrapping, 

using the computer.