Winston Needs You!

It is Your PTA

Please support the few, as they raise money for the many.  

The benefits for your child could be huge if we all worked together.

Join us on...

Next Boot Sale: Sunday 1st November 2015

Book a table or come along and buy!

Globes and Ghouls!

Library Comes Alive

To say that it's been busy in the LRC so far this term would be an understatement. Years 7 and 8 have all been introduced to the LRC's new online library platform, ReadingCloud, during their LRC English lesson. ReadingCloud allows them to search the LRC catalogue, provides useful websites to help with their homework, share their views on what they're reading with their peers and even renew their loans from home. Have students shared it with you yet?

Year 11 have been using form time up looking at the prospectus of each college, before they go to open evenings and start making their applications. 

Footfall outside of lessons has increased as clearly the LRC has become the place to be, with students packing the room every day, choosing to spend their free time to read and study. Book loans have rocketed too, with 16% of all students having borrowed nearly 800 books in 6 weeks!! 

And the current display has gone down a #trickorTREAT, with students "daring" to pick up a horror book. 

3D Globes

Below are some of the amazing pieces of homework produced by Year 7 this week. They have really risen to the challenge of creating three-dimensional globes. We have had cakes, papier mache and even pumpkins!  

Well done Year 7!

Parental Tours

Over 230 families have toured the school in the last few weeks, with the aim of finding information to support their decision regarding a school for their child.  It has been a pleasure to meet the parents and their children and to address the questions that they have about the school.  There have been a number of very pleasing complements about our students and our staff and a view that was reinforced time and time again that there has been a huge improvement in the provision and culture at Winston.

Year 7 English 

When on tour with parents this week, I came across this group of Year 7 students preparing for an assessment.  They were very quick to point out how challenging the work was and how hard they were having to work.

Year 8 in Science

The Stream were engaged in some research work in Mr Hough's Science lesson, using the tablets to prepare definitions and then they had to justify the terms they had developed.

 

A Week at Winston

Supporting Chelsea Ladies!

Mr Hough organised a trip to watch Chelsea Ladies play Glasgow on Thursday evening.  The club donated the free tickets and the students were given free flags.

The students were excellent, as always, and enjoyed the game.

The Ladies won 1-0 against Glasgow Ladies and play them in the return leg on Wednesday.

  Making a Contribution

Hollie, in Year 8 participated in a Swimathon; this is her comment:

“I swam in a charity swimathon on Sunday and did 128 laps, I came second overall and I am still counting up how much money I raised.”

Well done Hollie!

9C1 in Food Technology

Mrs Vadi 9C1 class  were set the challenge to investigate the diet of a professional sports person. They then set out to plan and make a dish that they felt met the nutritional needs of a British Rugby player. The dish had to reflect findings within their investigation. The results include a soft Tofu Burger with tomato relish, herb crumbed cod with roasted vegetables and tomato salsa, Zucchini linguini with avocado salad and dressing, smoked mackerel salad, high protein low fat chicken curry served with basmati rice, Super food salad with blueberries, roasted chicken coated chicken with cous cous, and salmon teriyaki served with rice and spinach, to name but a few. The final step was to analyse the nutritional content of their dish and reflect on its suitability. The quality of written work seen was excellent as was the practical outcomes. Mrs Vadi was impressed with the pride that they had shown in all aspects of the task. The class wanted to produce their best and definitely did so, as the photographs below show.

Technical Challenge

All Year 11 Design & Technology Groups, as part of theory Thursdays, worked in a very hands on approach to complete a challenge. They were provided with a list of instructions, just like the 'Bake off technical challenge' and then the students weere able to work independently or in pairs to create a trophy. The joining methods or finishes to be applied were not specified, so students used the skills they have mastered since starting the course to create their outcomes. After 50 minutes the classes came together with their trophies, to be judged by Miss Blackman and Mrs Brown. The winners were then given the award of star maker!

The activity was fun but had a serious purpose as it prepares the students to answer an exam question, where they have to give the detailed manufacturing instructions of an item.