Enrichment at Winston

English A' level Workshops

On Tuesday 29th September, an eager number of Year 11 students enjoyed a day of English A' level workshops generously provided by Woking College staff.  The stimulating sessions focused on: English Literature, English Language and Creative writing.  English Literature students got to grips with the Romantics while English Language students concentrated on how language could be manipulated to reinforce gender stereotypes.  Language students had fun creating descriptions of super-heroes that did not fulfil the usual conventions! 

Ruth, Assistant Head of English at Woking College, said that she was impressed by our students' knowledge of language terms.  The feedback from students was that it was a really interesting day and gave them an insight into A 'level lessons.  Richard Vardy, Head of English at Woking College, will return to Winston on 20th of October to inspire and enthuse our Year 10 students about studying for English qualifications at Woking College.

The Royal Marines at Winston

The Royal Marines were at the school on Wednesday . Mrs O’Brien and Mrs Ballam’s Year 10 students had great hands on  experience on how to prepare the type of  healthy food that the Royal Marines promote. Colour Sergeant Mike Beaton  explained to students how important the role nutrition and  physical health plays in being successful in all fields of work including school.

The practical element of the day was put into immediate practice with all students preparing the dish that  Colour Sergeant Mike Beaton  cooked during the  demonstration. The students were attentive, respectful and really engaged with the Royal Marines.

We have been fortunate to have been offered the possibility of a whole day of events with the Royal Marines. The day  will involve all year 10 GCSE PE students as part of  their GCSE success relies on an understanding of healthy diets and learning how to push their bodies physically in order to strengthen muscle, as well as stamina.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the session and Colour Sergeant Mike Beaton commented to  Mrs Vadi that he was `impressed with the way they just got on with the work and were independent. They’re a credit to the school”

National Theatre Connections

As I have mentioned in a previous blog, Mr Penfold and Mr Harrington-Tucker have been tasked with directing a show for the Connections 500 Theatre Festival held by The National Theatre in London. This weekend they were both in London for a director’s workshop.

The script that Winston will be performing was called “Eclipse” by Simon Armitage, a name known to all GCSE English students. On Saturday the Mr Penfold and Mr Harrington-Tucker  met him and were able to speak to him about the intentions of his work.

It is amazing that Winston will be one of 500 companies from colleges, universities and schools. For Winston to be part of such a huge festival is fantastic.  The team are working towards a show here in school as well as a performance in London next year. This is a superb opportunity for our students, as so few schools are selected to take part.

The picture attached is Winston's Directors with Simon Armitage and the Director of one of our sessions.

Parents at Winston

Parents on Tour

Year 6 parents have the opportunity over the next few weeks to tour the school on a working day.  Having booked a session on line, through our website,  parents and students are able to walk the school, with a member of the senior team.  They are free to explore any areas of the school and going into classrooms to talk to staff and students.  We have been running up to four tours each morning, with the opportunity to see lessons in action, lesson change-overs and experience the improved facilities.

If you have a child in Year 6 and would like to see around the school, please go to our website and book a tour.

Parents Enjoy Lunch

 It was great to welcome some of our year 7 parents to lunch with their child on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  Parents were able to see our new catering facility in action and select ahot meal from the servery.  All commented on the excellent food.
If you missed the opportunity this time, I am planning two dates in the spring term, details to follow.

Parents at Information Evening

We have invited parents to attend an information evening related to the year group their child is in, to provide useful details of the year ahead.  Subject leaders for Maths, English and Science presented specific information regarding their courses and key resources were highlighted.  If you missed the session then log into Frog to find the presentation.

Making a Contribution

MacMillan Coffee Morning 

Staff at Winston held a coffee morning in aid of MacMillan during the Friday Inset Day, which was incredibly well supported.  As you can see there were hundreds of cakes to choose from and we raised £400 (and rising) for the charity.

Support Year 11

Year 11 students, initiated by Ally Munday, have decided to hold a fund raising day for SANDS, the Still Birth and Neonatal Death Charity, on 16th October.  Please support them to make this day successful.  As well as holding a mufti day, they intend to launch balloons from the field, to raise further funds.  Please help us to make a difference.

Rugby at Winston

Winston hosted a number of rugby tournaments in the last few weeks, involving up to ten local secondary schools, in various age groups.

Opportunities to Perform!

The Drama Department at Winston are offering students the opportunity to perform in at least three productions this year, in professional theatres.  Every year group is encouraged to participate and audition, with the younger students taking the opportunity to learn from our more seasoned performers!

Twelfth Night

As part of the annual national celebration of the works of Shakespeare, Winston is participating in the Shakespeare Festival for Schools.  This year we will take a production of Twelfth Night to the Camberley Theatre on Monday 16th November 2015.  There will also be a school performance on Thursday 12th November, at 7.00pm.
The Shakespeare Schools Festival is the UK’s largest youth drama festival and enables over 1,000 primary, secondary, and special schools to stage abridged Shakespeare productions in their local professional theatre. Winston students will be some of the 35,000 young people who will take to stages across the UK.

Les Miserables

 At least 180 students, representing evey year group, including the new year 7s, auditioned for parts in this challenging production.The cast list has now been published and work is underway.  The production is held at The Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking, showcasing our school in the community, in the week beginning 1st February 2016.  More details to follow.

National Theatre Connections

We are delighted to have been selected to participate in this festival and now eagerly await the decision regarding the play we are to perform and the venue that has been assigned.  Last year students from Winston performed at the Soho Theatre in London.  This is an amazing opportunity for our students.

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual festival of new plays for youth theatres and schools. The 2015 Connections cycle involved:

• 10 Writers
• 255 Youth Theatre Companies
• 5,000 Young People
• 684 Performances
• 27 Partner Theatres
• 25,000 Audience Members

Connections began 20 years ago when teachers and directors told us that they wanted exciting and challenging new plays for young actors. Since then the NT has commissioned and published more than 140 plays for Connections, giving young people aged 13-19 across the UK and Ireland access to the very best new writing for theatre.
Connections gives young people experience of professional theatre-making. Their experience mirrors that of a company producing a new play in any theatre in the country. They create marketing campaigns, design sets and costumes, operate lighting and sound boards, stage-manage their performances.

The Wow Factor!

Travelling in Style!

Thanks to some very careful financial management, our time expired white mini buses have been replaced with these exceptionally distinctive new buses.  Student safety is at the heart of decision making and these vehicles are fully equiped to transport our children in style.  Maintaining them should also be cost effective over the first few years.

The Hall and the Stage

Awaiting the final transformation. Watch this space!

New Social Space

The site has been opened up and the areas of astro-turf have been extended so that students are now able to enjoy more space.  To ensure that this is comfortable some re-cycled, heavy duty benches have been installed.  This, together with the external severy, completes this aspect of site development.

An Inset Day Construction Challenge!

Our new canopy!

The LRC 

The LRC is now being use for sessions every day.  It is great to see the facility being used to promote and support reading throughout the school.

Proud of Our School

Open Evening

Winston welcomed Year 6 and their parents to Open Evening on Thursday.  I held a session in the hall to outline the expectations of the school and the commitment required, from both students and parents, when joining  Winston.  The Head Boy and Head Girl, David and Rachel, spoke confidently about their experiences and this was followed by a presentation from Phoebe and Jake, members of Year 8, reassuring parents and students that they will quickly settle into our school.
Hundreds of students acted as tour guides for our visitors, including 107 from Year 7 and 120 from Year 8. They received a large number of compliments regarding how smart they looked and how passionate they were about their school.
My thanks goes to everyone, staff and students, for the commitment shown to ensure that this was a successful evening.
We now look forward to welcoming back the same students and parents to Winston on a working day, so that they can see the school in action.
Below are just a few photographs giving a flavour of the experience.