Amazing Students

'Twelfth Night'

I enjoyed an excellent evening of Shakespeare, at the Schools' Shakespeare Festival.  Our students, performing Twelfth Night, joined 35000 other young people around the country performing a thirty minute version of one of Shakespeare's plays.  This inspiring festival helps to make these works accessible and audiences all over country and encourages students to appreciate one of our great writers. Our students were exceptional and delighted the audience with their performance.  I would also commend The Samuel Cody School, as every year their students create a memorable experience.

'Star Runner'

I was delighted to meet Aimee, who had participated in a race at the weekend in Seville.  She was competing in the under-16 age group and came second.  This is an outstanding achievement.  Well done!

Assembly: Anti-Bullying

The ABC Committee have been raising awareness, this week, about their work in the school to combat bullying. This large, active committee work with staff to challenge those young people who cause distress to others.  As a school we are committed to dealing with bullying behaviours.

PSHCE

Year 7 students have been considering the question: 'What are the ingredients for a 

perfect friendship?'

Great Work!

Super Heroes at Winston 

I never know what will walk through my office door each day and today was no exception!

The Science Department decided to dress up as super heroes to raise money for Children in Need.
 

They then disappeared off to save the world again; or was it the next lesson?

Year 7: My Family

Year 8 Geography

 Year 8 History

Students were analysing and then rehearsing arguments in preparation for a mock trial of Louis XVI.

 Finally...

I cam across Miss Harris, wearing a Geography appropriate coat! Mrs Eyre tried to convince me that the school should purchase these as standard uniform for the department.

A Busy Week!

Inset!

Tuesday 10th November was a training day for all staff.  We started in the morning with a session around the Prevent Agenda; helping staff to understand the issues and considering how to engage students in discussions regarding the sensitive issues of radicalisation and involvement in extreme groups and their activities. All of this work is underpinned by our focus on fundamental British Values, which are mirrored in the Winston Way.

11.00am on the 11th Day of the 11th Month

Mr Drake played the last post at 10.57am, on Tuesday 11th November and students then stood in silence to honour the sacrifice made by so many men and women, during conflicts around the world.

At Wellington Again!

This time students were able to participate in an Oxbridge event on Tuesday 10th November, Inset day, accompanied by Mrs Colloff. 

The students really enjoyed the experience and found it quite inspiring. None of them realised that over 50% of under graduates starting at Oxford or Cambridge this year came from state schools, so they feel that it is not something that is out of their grasp. Certainly gave them food for thought; it would have been great to have taken more students but spaces are limited, however, there are other opportunities provided both in school and beyond which reach the wider audience, including the visits we have been fortunate to have from the Master of St Peter's College, Oxford, Mark Damazer.

Diversity

This has been our assembly theme this week, led by Mr Mcleish and has raised awareness of and celebrated the diversity in our country, community and school.  Students were given the opportunity to reflect on how the increased diversity of cultures in our country, has enriched our experience.

Year 7 Parents in Maths Lessons

Being a parent is hard work and it can be very challenging when you are faced with homework!  The Maths Department are running sessions to help parents understand how we teach maths at Winston.  Sadly only a few parents joined us on Thursday evening, however, those that did enjoyed an informative, fun session.  We hope to see many more parents next time.

Winston Remembers

Winston at Ypres

On the Friday we left school at 5am in order to make the most of the day!  We visited Tyne Cot cemetery (the largest Commonwealth cemetery) and Langemarck Cemetery for German soldiers who dies in WW1.  We also visited Essex Farm cemetery which is where Private Strudwick, the 15 year old soldier, is buried.  It is also the place where John McCrae wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields'.  The students enjoyed exploring a real German trench with dug outs and they could look over the top of the trench down the hill to where the British trenches would have been.  The day ended with 3 students, Thomas Kieckbusch, Bethany Cook and Faiza Parvez laying a wreath at the Menin Gate as part of the daily remembrance service; we also made time for a quick visit to the infamous chocolate shop!

After a night in a hotel the students explored the Somme region.  We visit Lochnagar crater at La Boiselle.  The crater was created when the British set off explosions under the German trenches via tunnels they had dug.  It is said that the German trench was blown 300 feet into the air, the crater is considered to be a grave and people are not allowed to walk in it.  We also visited the Ulster Memorial for Irish soldiers and Theipval Memorial.  Students visited Newfoundland Park which is where Canadian soldiers fought in the Somme.  There are trenches there that have been left since WW1 and students got a real feel for how deep they were and what it could have been like to live there.  The German front line is also available to explore so it was interesting to learn about how a battle played out at the Somme.  Finally, students were given a guided tour around the Arras tunnels.  These are old mines that are under the town of Arras and were used to house soldiers for 10 days before the battle of Arras. 
The behaviour and conduct of our students was commendable and we all thanked Phil the coach driver for being brilliant!

 Woking Remembrance Parade

Rachel and David, Headgirl and Headboy, led a group of our senior prefects at the Woking Remembrance Day Parade, on Sunday 8th November.  I would like to thank everyone for taking part.

Our School

Assembly this Week

Mrs Markham led our assemblies this week on the theme of remembrance.  She asked students to consider why we remember and then contrasted the views of Harry Patch; a WW1 who did not want to remember, with the war graves and the ceremony at The Menin Gate Memorial,Ypres. Students were presented with opportunities to reflect on the different types of memorials and to think about what they would remember during the 2 minutes of silence on 11th November.  Our students, led by David and Rachel, Headboy and Headgirl, will take part in the Remembrance Day Parade in Woking on Sunday, organised and accompanied by Mr McLeish.

A New Frog!

 The students in the photograph below were getting to grips with the new, improved version of our VLE, Frog. Mrs O'Brien and Mrs Cochrane were helping the students to problem solve their way through the new software, with the aim of ensuring that the programme is as user friendly as possible.  All parents should have a Frog login, which helps you to access letters, information and homework.  The notice boards are very useful and it is great to see the achievement points that your son or daughter has gained.

Library News

Mr Fisher, our Librarian has reported that 1000 books have been borrowed by students so far this term; in fact as of right now students have borrowed 1075 books since the start of the autumn term!

There is more exciting news regarding the library to follow in the next few weeks.  

Watch this space!

Friday Period 5!

Everyone Hard at Work.

 Design Technology: Designing a money box.
 

 Year 8 completing the money box.
 

 Year 8 students with their finished item.
 

 Students discovering that resistant materials can be just that, resistant!
 

 Mr Drake and a Year 7 PHSE Lesson.
 

Planning and making music to accompany a scary film!

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