Performance Space Progress

 Out of the Ground!

Significant progress has been made this week and we can now all appreciate the shape and scale of the new facility.  The bricks have arrived and the roof and concrete floor slab are planned for next week!

Thank you to Justin Coll and his team for the time-lapse video below. 

This film is also currently being shown on the screens around the school.

A World of Science

 Splitting ionic compounds

10C4 and 10W2 took part in the demonstration of the Hoffman voltameter and the colourful electrolysis. Mr Spain used brine and UI indicator to demonstrate the splitting of an ionic compound, and how negative and positive ions form either acidic or alkali solution at either end of the electrode. During the Hoffman Voltameter demonstration the Year 10 students engaged well , applying their knowledge when explaining the test for hydrogen and oxygen , the products of splitting water.

Chip Pan Fire

Dr Gonzalez demonstrated the hazards of a chip pan fire to 11W1. 3ml of oil was allowed to overheat and catch fire and 5 ml of water was used to attempt to put the fire out. The students were amazed how much damage can occur if water is used to extinguish oil-based fires.

Table Salt

9WE and 9CG observed the "MAKING SALT" demonstration for their GCSE requirements . Mr Spain produced table salt by burning sodium metal and reacting it with chlorine gas . The students had to remember the states of the elements plus the product and their correct colours during the reaction to gain maximum marks in the future.

Magdeburg Hemisphere

As part of the year 8 curriculum , 8WT were invited to play and witness some wonderful effects of the power of air pressure. Mrs Blatch demonstrated the Magdeburg hemisphere and the "Coin and feather" experiment to the pupils. The students all had a go at trying to separate the two hemispheres after the air was removed via a vacuum pump. No such luck. Mrs Blatch also attempted to show that sound does not travel in a vacuum , therefore no one could hear them scream in space .

Performance Space Takes Shape

 At Last!

The steel arrived on Friday and the work has begun to construct the frame of Performance Space.  There will be plenty for the students to observe next week.

Shortly the windows and panels will be removed from the front of the Churchill Suite, as a major step forward is taken to create this new facility.

Further up-dates next week!

Broadening Experience

 

German Penpal Letter Exchange

In November I made contact with a former Winston Churchill School language assistant who now teaches at a school in Germany and we decided to take part in a letter exchange project with our students.

I selected my class 8CE and they spent some time writing letters in German to the students that they had been paired with.  The students included general information about themselves in their letters, giving details about their appearance, family, pets, free time activities and the weather in the local area – all great revision of vocabulary covered in Years 7 and 8.

8CE rose to the challenge of this task and produced some fantastic letters which I posted to the teacher in December.

We were all thrilled to receive a package containing 32 letters when we returned to school after the Christmas break and 8CE were delighted to open their envelopes and read their replies.  Some students were lucky enough to receive photos of their pen pals and of their families and pets too.  

The students in 8CE undertook this exciting opportunity with a very positive attitude and here are some comments from them about the experience.

Mrs Sweetman

MFL teacher

‘I found writing the letter both fun and challenging and I was excited to get the letter back.’ Jayden

‘It was fun and a new experience.’ Max

‘My pen pal was nice and funny!’ Marytess

‘I found writing to a pen pal fun and it was exciting to talk to someone in Germany!’ Jack

‘My pen pal seems a lot like me. I would like to continue talking to my pen pal – Adim seems like a nice person to talk to.’ Hayden

‘I was excited to receive a letter from Germany.’ Abi

‘It was interesting to find out about how they live in Germany.’ Matthew

‘It was fun writing a letter in German to somebody as you could actually talk about yourself in German – it felt like real life.’ George

‘I found getting a letter from Germany cool.’ Ellie

‘I found writing the letter fun because I was applying my German and it wasn’t just a learning task. It was great getting a reply!’ Jack

‘My pen pal sounds nice and kind of similar to me.’ Agnes

‘My pen pal had very good English.’ Jack

‘Me and my pen pal have lots in common.’ Charlotte

New Themed Menus

This was the first run of the Ruby Railway concept, delayed as another impact of Covid!.  Our canteen manager Carol has a menu book full of options and this was just six examples from an extensive range. 

The development chefs came in today to prepare and cook the food.  They helped with the presentation  and train the canteen staff to make it in future.

The plan is to create a themed day each month, introducing students to a variety of foods from different cultures.

 One plate is a vegetarian version and one is a meat based menu.

Enjoying Our Learning

 Book Fair at Winston 2022!

The day is finally here, after much anticipation...the Scholastic Book Fair has arrived at Winston!

After a busy morning setting up shop, a few classes of Year 7 and 8 students came down during their English lesson, to have a browse of the fantastic variety of books. Needless to say, the books have proven very popular with our students, evident by the number of purchases and orders placed! 

I'm sure the rest of the students are looking forward to coming down to the Book Fair in the coming weeks, to make some exciting purchases! Come down and have a browse, there really is something for everyone...

Ms Turner

Discovery Space Manger

Experiencing the Fitness Suite

With weather conditions extremely cold and surfaces frozen in the morning, Year 7 were unable to go outside for netball.  Instead they experienced their 2nd time in the Fitness Room at Winston. They could all recall how to use the cardiovascular machines safety and correctly, supporting and checking each other. They then developed their knowledge focusing on 6 of the fixed weight machines. Some could recall the muscles being used where most could identity the muscle groups in use. Once again they worked together to ensure the machines were being used correctly. We can’t wait to go back in there in year 8 when they will have a block of time in this amazing facility. 

Working Together

 Winning the Winston Way!

On Wednesday the 12th January our U13 girls faced the first round of the county cup against Magna Carta. The game got off to a quick start and Winston put out a very strong performance, winning 10-0. Player of the match was awarded to Chloe, whilst Ava scored a double hat-trick! Katie also played her first full half scoring a goal in her first couple of minutes on the pitch. The team will travel to Weydon for the quarter final so keep an eye out for their next result! 

Electrolysis of Water

"10W4, 10W3 and 10C3, this week, were introduced to electrolysis of water. The Hoffman voltameter was used to split water - with the addition of some sulphuric acid -  into Oxygen and Hydrogen gas.  Mr Rose with the help of Mrs Blatch demonstrated the squeaky pop test by lighting the hydrogen gas in a test tube for some classes, while other classes observed  the gas bubbled into some soapy water to create a small fire ball. 10C3 were the lucky ones to witness and hear the loud bang that was created by mixing the 2 gases together.

Our new technician, Miss Buttery , pictured below  setting up the equipment for the experiment ."

Supporting Woking Hospice

I am delighted to report that we have sent a cheque to Woking Hospice for £1152.61.  This was raised during the staff football match, which you can see in a previous blog and from a recent mufti-day.

Thank you to everyone for contributing to this important cause.

Progress at Last!

 Performance Space

We are now waiting for the delivery of the steel structure!

Adding Colour to Winston

In the second half of the Autumn Term students have been planting spring bulbs around the school site. These bulbs were kindly donated by Edwins's Garden Centre in Mayford.  This activity was undertaken by a number of different students but a huge thanks goes to 8 JDO who made a sterling effort, Now it's down to mother nature to do her job and hopefully we will have so lovely daffodils in the spring as long as the bulbs are not eaten by the squirrels!