What are you Reading?

Pick up a Book!

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”

 Mason Cooley

Before we were ordered to close the school, Miss Dodds was preparing for our students to 'Spring into Reading'!  Our current situation presents us all with the perfect opportunity to read.  The aim of the tree was to identify which book you wanted to read next, so that you are always planning ahead for your next reading experience.

Which book are you currently reading?

Will you read something else by the same author or are you going to seek out something new?

Email Miss Dodds to tell her what you have been reading and make a recommendation to other students, if you enjoyed the book.  

I will then blog your recommendations!

Week 1

Supporting our Community

Our school is currently open to those children whose parents are needed in front line services, during this crisis.

We have developed a programme of activities, including completing the work on Frog, set by their teachers.  Staff are coming in based on a rota, so that the majority can remain at home each day.  We are clear about the messages coming from central government; if a child can be looked after at home then they should not come into school.

I have written to all of our students, including Year 6, reminding them to remain safe on line and to support their parents during this very challenging period.

I trust that you are all keeping well and that by working together to beat this virus, we will be back in school at the earliest opportunity.

Best wishes

Zoe Johnson-Walker

Home Working

Just like the adults are students are learning how to work from home.  This, as they are discovering, is not that easy to maintain but once you have a focus on interesting and in some cases practical or active learning task you can have fun.  It is great that you are sending in examples of the work that you are doing.

 Brownies with melted chocolate chips!

 Researching the Jiangsu province of China

Year 10 poster on radioactivity

Art homework, creating a formal elements butterfly

Be Ready Year 6 almost Year 7

This is a favourite activity in assembly, written by Mrs Smith.  Everyone has to participate, so why not learn the words now and be READY!

On the 12^th day of Winston my new school gave to me      

          12 different teachers

          11 Achievement points

          10 clubs to join

           9 new friends

           8 different tests

           7 bits of homework

           6 books to read

           5 ONION RINGS

           4 login passwords

           3 Rs of Winston

           2 Peer mentors

           and a reason to want to Party

A Different Type of Week

Working from Home

Miss Shlackman's Year 8 class sent her this on Friday following the work they completed from a ‘Blues Music’ PowerPoint she set them to do.  The aim was 'Curing the Blues' by working together over Skype.  The work demonstrates real resilience and resourcefulness!

Key Stage 3 Students
Science Challenge

Art at Winston

Students have been creating prints over the past two days. They have all worked very hard and all created some really successful outcomes!

Year 11 Celebration

Celebration Assembly

The Winston spirit of 'we can' was in force across Year 11 yesterday, following the announcement from Boris Johnson that schools will close today and that examinations are cancelled.  It took eight hours to accomplish what normally takes weeks to create, a brilliant Leavers Assembly.

We started off in the Sports Hall, signing shirts and taking photographs, as well as having the favourite lunch of chicken and chips!  The students then moved to the Main Hall, where Mr Harrington-Tucker and the students had put together a programme that 'rocked' the hall!!  Staff and students were sorry that a number of students could not join us today but we know that there will be opportunities in the future to say goodbye.

It has been incredibly difficult for both students and staff to accept that Year 11 has had to finish in this way but I hope that the students feel that they have had a good send off.  They are amazing young people of whom we are rightly proud.  Our Headgirl, Lucy, gave a great speech and Mateo, Headboy joined us via a video, as he is self-isolating, followed it up with wise words.  It was an emotional moment and the students applauded their leaders for the great job that both have done.  I would like to add my personal thanks to Lucy and Mateo, they have been outstanding.

Thank you Year 11 for your hard work, respect and sense of fun.  We wish you well.

If you scroll to the end of this blog.............

Challenging Day

Thursday 19th March: Rising to the Challenge

Coronavirus is challenging every level of leadership across the country and we are no exception.  It has been important to remain calm for the sake of our students, as panic is unhelpful.  This is when you realise that, as a leader, you cannot please everyone!  However, decisions that I have taken have been considered and I have taken the views of the senior team into account, as no one person has all of the answers.

My whole staff team have been outstanding and are focused on doing the very best for our students.  They will be in school next week ensuring that your children have plenty of work to do and interesting tasks to complete.  We want to help parents to manage the next twelve weeks (as stated by Boris Johnson today), we are aware that this period of time will place a strain on families.

Year 11 have been brilliant!  Although they are in shock, following the announcement regarding examinations, they have appreciated being able to come into school today and they have, under the direction of Mr Harrington-Tucker, organised a Leavers' Assembly in just a few hours.  These events are so important to our students and I am pleased that they will have this opportunity, in what we all see as worrying times.  Sadly students who are self-isolating cannot join us but there will be other occasions before Awards Evening to get together as a Year Group.