NSSW Monday

 Year 7 Students Interviewed Year 9 Students

By: Ali, Sonny, Suri, and Maariya

A sunny Tuesday morning, 21^st June, on Winston Churchill School’s field and tennis courts, a range of team-building activities took place. These activities were run by the Army and encouraged students to use skills to work as a team. We, a group of Year 7s, interviewed Year 9 students who were participating in the team-building exercises, students seemed extremely passionate about the activities. 

On asking a few groups of students, we found out what skills they believed they were building on. One student said, “It was very enjoyable, and it helped me develop my communication skills”. 

We feel that this was an extremely beneficial experience for Winston Churchill School and the students within it. We thank the Army for coming in and helping to build on our skills and team-work abilities.  

Year 8 Students Interviewed Year 10 Students

By: Ayesha, Sophie, Connor, and Louie

Today at Winston Churchill School, Year 10s participated in many different sporting activities. 

A morning full of sporting activities. For the first activity of the day, the year 10s played tchoukball, one student said, "It is a very enjoyable sport". Another student said "I also enjoyed it. It helps me to work on my team building skills". 

For the second activity, year 10 students played AFL. We interviewed two students who said, 

“It’s an entertaining sport to play.” 

“The sport helps with teamwork.” 

When we watched the students play AFL, most of them seemed to be having fun and getting involved with the sport. 

For the third activity the students were playing Corf ball, they were all getting involved. Some of them said “It is an amazing sport.” others said, “It is an inspirational sport, and it is helping us building skills.” 

Overall, the session looked like great fun and was enjoyed by the students. It helped to build on their teamwork and sporting abilities. The sun also helped to make it such a nice morning!

Supporting Our Community

 St Johns' Fete 🎈

Mr Drake took a number of Year 10 students to perform at St Johns Fete on Sunday. The group consisted of Paola, Dom, Finn, Bayley, Josh, Jack, Thomas, Eloise, Luke, Emily and Lydia (and Mr Bimson). They were absolutely brilliant, performing twice during the afternoon. They had to battle the weather, which provided bright sunshine, pouring rain and gusts of winds which scattered their music but they kept on playing.

Gardening at The Vyne 💮

Miss Exworth supported the Knaphill local community by organising groups of our students to help to clear and develop the site, outside of The Vyne Community Centre.

As well as digging and clearing out the site, the students made bird boxes and homes for hedgehogs as well a a bug hotel!  They were supported by a team from RHS Wisley and were able to learn a great deal about plants and wildlife and how to support their environment.

1. Councillor Hassan Akberali and Miss Exworth at the opening of the garden.

Year 8 Learning Together

 Year 8 Activities

WOW, what a start to the last half term for year 8s.  While 100+ years 8 were experiencing challenges on a water sport based trip to Newquay the remaining 180+ students had 2 days of bespoke activities.

Split into 2 main groups, they all experienced a team building and Winston Skills challenge day on the field.  Lead by Mr Doul and a team of teachers Year 8 had to work with others to complete a variety of tasks such as 'follow the rope' This activity is a great trust activity where groups experience visual sensory deprivation as they navigate their way around a course and learn to appreciate the importance of other senses and, as importantly, learn to rely on team-mates for support. Designed to help develop trust and communication within a group, participants must follow a trail through the woods, negotiating obstacles along the way and all without the ability to see using blindfolds. Participants were grateful for the support of their teammates and equally, they provided support in turn. The team solved problems, use analytical skills, took responsibility and were safety aware of themselves and others.

“ Build the Bridge”  Using a range of given different materials the group should try to build a bridge in limited time.  Then, put a cup on the finished bridge and carefully pour water in it until the cup is full or the bridge collapses.

“Shape Circle” where students form a specific shape using rope.  While all holding onto the rope circle, some students are blindfolded this relies on engagement from all involved and excellent communication skills.

Miss Stubbs said 'With the shrinking carpet, everyone had fun and used innovative skills by playing other teamwork games with it.'  

On the following day all students took part in a STEM challenge set by Mr Queshi and a team of  teachers.  They had to plan, design and make a catapult in groups using cardboard and some other materials such as hot glue, wire, elastic bands and masking tape.

Mr Eaton said “it was a fantastic couple of days. I saw some excellent teamwork and was very impressed at the level of ideas some groups came up with for their catapults”

 

At the end of the day the catapults were put to the test and judgement was made regarding both design and effectiveness.  Throughout the day students constantly analysed what they had done and actively tried to make changes to ensure their design was fit for purpose. They demonstrated a variety of Winston skills in this STEM challenge and for some, their resilience was really put to the test.

 

 

Fascinating Science

 Diffusion

" Winston's Science teachers and technicians always trying to bring something new and exciting to the students. Last week , Mr Spain's year 7 classes were lucky to experiment with diffusion in micro-scale. They observed the diffusion as the colour change took place front of them."

Reaction Rate of Catalysts

"On Friday, 10W3 investigated the reaction rate of catalysts. Mr Rose adapted the iodine clock demonstration into a class practical with the help of the science technicians. The class was able to observe the time difference between the use of catalyst and non-catalyst by turning a solution from a milky colour to black and timing the reaction rates. "

Effects of Silver Nitrate on Copper

" This week , 9C2 and 9W3 investigated the effects of silver nitrate on a coiled copper wire. The students in Mr Philcox's class witnessed the slow process of the copper wire dissolving in the silver nitrate solution. The precipitate is pure silver metal , showing like little silver tree branches on the copper wire. "