Rudolph Lamps

 A Bright Idea: Rudolph Christmas Lamps

To finish the year, the DT department put together a mini, Christmassy project for the Y10’s: building their own red-nosed reindeer lamps.

No plugs to plug.

No cables to untangle.

No sleigh to pull.

Just plywood, a magnet, and a self-contained micro-LED.

The project allowed the students to use design templates; experiment working with manmade boards (in this instance, plywood); use different finishing equipment (from sanding to staining); and understand electrical circuitry when stripped back to its essential elements. 

Further, they were able to consider their work in a broader context by looking at the manufacturing process for similarly designed goods, understanding how businesses such as IKEA conceive, create, and construct new products using equivalent skills and processes.

It’s a lot of theory, but wrapped and packed into a fun, festive project: bright ideas and bright reindeers.

Mr Martin

D/T Teacher

Christmas Wishes

 Merry Christmas

From the Winston Family 

The holiday period can place families under pressure and create so many expectations that are challenging to fill.

I believe that eventually we all learn that the most precious gift we can give is time.  Time to our family and friends, as the world slows down to respect this special time of the year.

Regardless of your beliefs, make time to listen and laugh, to share and be there for each other.

I wish you a lovely Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Zoe Johnson-Walker

Headteacher

Footnote: Thank you to Bisley, our building company for the beautiful Christmas Tree.

Music Christmas Advent Finale!

Open Each Door!

Miss Fletcher’s Year 10 GCSE Drama class would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas! 🎄

This term has been packed with creativity, commitment and confidence as students have explored key Drama practitioners and their techniques, developed their performance skills and supported one another through rehearsals and practical devised mock exams. From devising to refining vocal and physical skills, the class has shown real enthusiasm and teamwork over the term.

As we head into the festive break, we are proud of the progress made so far and excited for what’s to come in the new year, including further practical performance exams.

We hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved rest, time with family and friends, and plenty of festive cheer. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Miss Fletcher and 10E GCSE Drama!

Miss Fletcher

Teacher of Drama and Performing Arts

 

 

Christmas Music, Latin and Food!

 

Musical Advent Calendar

15th-24th December

This week the videos feature Session Band, Big Band, our Young Singer winners, Guitar Ensemble, and Orchestra.

Mr Drake

Director of Music

invenentes domum

This half term, Year 9 Latin students have been exploring the concept of 'home' through Homer's Odyssey. Is it a place; a person; a feeling? Is it the same for each person and circumstance?

They have explored multiple characters' perspectives and captured their impressions on fabric squares, which will form part of a great tapestry to be displayed a Royal Holloway University, who partnered with us in this project. A group of students will be invited to the University in the Summer term to connect with other schools who have also participated. 

We were very happy to welcome Miss Legg this morning, for the final part of the project, where students worked in groups to represent a moment from the story: exploring characterisation, themes, and modern application of the big ideas the story presents.

We were so impressed by the collaboration and ingenuity of these students. They planned quickly, and executed their ideas artfully.

As we break up for Christmas, this is the perfect time to consider what 'home' means for you and yours? Is it the place you are now, or somewhere you're hoping to be? Is it the people your with, the table you will join around, the laughter you will share?

felices ferias!

Mr Fisher

 Developing New Skills for Christmas

"We are cooking up a snowstorm in the Food rooms this week. After many weeks of hard work towards their coursework and practical lessons, the year 11s had a lesson on piping (and patience!) by trying their hand at making a gingerbread sleigh. They did a smashing job for their first attempt! Well done year 11s!"

Mrs Cookson

Food Technology Teacher

Celebratory Hot Chocolate! 

The Year 10 Team celebrated 16 Year 10's who achieved the Silver Achievement Award this term. The students have worked incredibly hard, shown great effort, and supported one another along the way. They were rewarded with a well-deserved treat of hot chocolate and cake! 

We wish to celebrate more students in the Spring term! 

Miss Shahid and Mr K

Christmas in the Outdoor Environment

 Making the most of Learning Outside

Students have been getting very creative on the run up to the Christmas break. Using material foraged around the site students have learnt how to make their own willow wreaths and attach on some beautiful Christmassy foliage. They used jute twine to tie it all together which means that once the festivities end these wreaths can be composted entirely without cost to the planet and without spending anything (twine aside). We're sure you'll agree they were a huge success.

Wildlife watch continues! Our female frog is a regular to our Wednesday mornings now, and work on a hibernaculum by the pond is now complete. 

Students are keeping tally of the birds that visit the school grounds and this Tuesday morning we were thrilled to find some Egyptian Geese had come to inspect our allotment. This brings the number of birds our students have spotted collectively to 23. We are really looking forward to the RSPB bird watch next month. 

November saw a generous donation of seeds and with it some broad beans! So students have sown some for some early harvests next year and we also have sown a few in a jar to watch how they germinate. 

Students have been testing their team working and trust this week as well as their talent for knots as they made a double decker hammock on the allotment after a half term involving a lot of hard work and achievement. 

And a few more joyful photos of students working wonderfully around the school. 

Mrs Exworth and Ms Bates

Guess Who!

 Image of this Week!

Taken during Year 11 Celebration Assembly.

A Christmas Concert

A Musical Celebration

 On Tuesday 16^th December the Music Department held our annual Christmas Concert. This year over 190 students took part in the concert (a record number) which featured performances from: Orchestra, Big Band, Choir, Bella Voce Singers, Brass & Sax Ensemble, Keyboard Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and String Ensemble. A sell-out audience of over 350 were treated to some exceptional performances, including three soloist and ensemble items. 

To round of the first half Jacob performed the Metallica song Orion on guitar accompanied by Big Band, and then in the second half Ellis sung Once Upon A December with Orchestra and Karis performed A Town With An Ocean View on Flute, again accompanied by the Orchestra. 

The quality of performance from all of the groups was excellent and the Music Department would like to congratulate all of the students who took part. 

The concert was the final performance of a very successful Autumn Term which has also seen a Year 11 Tech event, an Autumn Concert (which featured over 140 students), 6 weeks of Primary Orchestra, and our annual Young Singer of the Year (which featured a record 23 soloists and two choirs). 

After Christmas we have another busy term ahead with the whole school production of the Addams Family, a Y10 Music tech event, and Primary Choirs Day all before February half term, and then three recital evenings (Y8, Y9 and KS4) and Battle of the Bands before Easter.

Mr Drake

Director of Music

I would like to add that this is the most impressive concert I have enjoyed at Winston. The quality of the music and the technical challenge that our students now embrace was outstanding.

Well done to our students and the staff for all of the hours of hard work that needs to go into making this such a successful evening.

Mrs Johnson-Walker

Headteacher