Latin keeps Growing at Winston

 News from the Latin Department

The Latin Department continues to grow from strength to strength at Winston. You may have seen in the news some schools having to limit or even cut this subject from their curriculum, Winston maintains its commitment to giving students opportunities to grow and learn, including through diversity of curriculum.

Latin is open to all at Winston. From the beginning of Year 8 all students have the opportunity to study Latin in or extra curricula. This year, around 150 Key Stage 3 students are studying Latin, and almost 40 students in Key Stage 4. The biggest cohort yet.

This week:

Year 10s are in itinere to completing the GCSE Language element of the course, with our final unit: the subjunctive mood.

Year 11 are working hard to be in omnia paratus, analysing the final text of their GCSE Literature module: Pliny the Younger’s account of his uncle. (A learned man who spent his time reading books and taking notes!)

 

Year 8s are laborantes diligenter translating stories set in the theatre getting to grips with singular and plural nouns.

  

And Year  9 have begun preparing for the Level 1 Latin Language exam, sat in the summer. But first –ficer  Imperatives!

sapiens qui prospicit as Year 9 students start to consider their GCSE options, we hope that they will continue to recognise the value, accessibility and fun of Latin.

There’s just as much happening outside of the classroom! Year 7 & 8 students enjoyed Percy Jackson Live! At The Other Palace on Wednesday. A fun, (catchy) musical take on the familiar story. As with many myths: young heroes on a quest in search of a magical object but ultimately find a sense of belonging and community with one another!

  

We’re looking forward to more extra curricula activities this term:

GCSE Latin Literature Conference

Latin Reading Competitions

UCL Greek Play: Aristophanes’ ‘Frogs’

Royal Holloway ‘Myth & Voice Workshops’

 

And of course Rome and Herculaneum 2025!!

vita in motu!

Mr Fisher

Head of Latin

Winston Loves Reading

 The Book Fair is Back!

The ever popular Scholastic Book Fair is back for 2 weeks in the Library from 20th-30th January. Students will have the opportunity to visit the Book Fair either with their English class (Year 7-10) or during tutor time (Year 11). Students will be made aware by their English teacher when their class will be visiting the Book Fair. This year, we are also hosting a 'Quiet Hour' for those students who may find the Book Fair overwhelming when they visit with their class. Students can purchase books at a discounted price, along with a range of stationery and notebooks. Payments can be made in cash or online via Scopay and orders can be taken until Wednesday 29^th January.

It is always lovely to see students engaging with their peers about the books on offer, pointing out books they've loved and would recommend or new books that they're excited to try. 

As always with the Book Fair, when students purchase books, we earn money as a school to buy new books which is a great way to be able to keep our Library stock up to date, as well as stock our new Book Vending Machine, which is a new reward for students and has created quite the buzz!

I can't wait to welcome the students to the Book Fair over the coming two weeks!

Happy Reading,

Mrs M Jones

Discovery Space Manager

New Year News Flash!

 Congratulations to the Music Department

Well done to everyone involved in our Music Department for the contribution you make to the creation of an inspirational offer.  From Mr Phillips, Business Manager who ensures that funding is available, Mr Coll, for establishing the Apple Suites and recording studio, Mrs Gosney for managing the finance, Mrs Drane for supporting the music tour, the Tech Team, there for every event and of course our students and teachers.  Music touches everyone in our school.  

This recognition is for everyone.

Message from the Headteacher

 

Christmas Message from Winston

There are so few times in the year when we stop and take a breath and think about others.  World events are causing uncertainty and fear for the future and supporting our children through this can be challenging, as we want them to feel confident and able deal with these events in a knowledgeable and considered way.

Christmas is one of those times when we make a huge effort to share our time, the greatest gift that we can give.

I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and we are all able to enjoy 

a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

 

Zoe Johnson-Walker

Headteacher

Team Work + Young Singer Film

Children Making a Difference

On Thursday 19^th December, the year 7s hosted a Christmas Fair to raise money for Woking Hospice. Each tutor group organised their own festive stalls – bake sales, pin the nose on Rudolf, ring toss, lucky dips and football skills were just a few of the things on offer. The children’s creative visions and dedication to their ideas really paid off and everyone who visited to join in the fun commented that the hall was ‘absolutely buzzing with excitement’. Festive decorations and music helped everyone get into the spirit. 

We were so busy, many stalls sold out of goods and prizes before the fair finished! The money raised was then swiftly counted and combined with donations from our Christmas Jumper day, ready for the total to be announced (to great applause) during Friday’s Celebration Assembly. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of the students and staff, we have raised an amazing £325.68 for Woking Hospice!

Miss Hazelwood

Year Leader

Young Singer of the Year

This competition celebrates the the well-trained voices of our students.  The competition is hard fought, as students perform a piece of their choice in the Performance Space.

In the second year of this event each performance reached a new level.

The winners were:

Best Newcomer: Oliver (Y7)

Lower School Singer of the Year: Grace (Y9)

Upper School Singer of the Year: Ayanna (Y10)

Young Singer of the Year: Ellis (Y9)

Congratulations to the winners and well done to everyone who performed in the competition, you were all fantastic!

Focus on the Positive

 Celebrating Our Unsung Heroes in Year 9

As the term draws to a close and the Christmas spirit grows, it's an important time to recognise our students and their positive progression. 

This morning the Year 9 team held a celebration breakfast for some of our students that have stood out to form tutors so far, this academic year and have been recognised for their positive attributions - 3 members from each form group were nominated! 

Students enjoyed some breakfast, hot chocolate and listening to some Christmas music, whilst catching up with the year team and friends.

We are immensely proud of the year group and are excited to see what's in store for them in the new year! 

Thank you to all our young people, who make the Winston Churchill School such a great place to be!

Merry Christmas! 

The Year 9 Team

Epworth Choir Concert at The St Mary of Bethany Church

On Wednesday 11th December, the Winston Churchill School Music Department were invited to bring a group of musicians to perform at Epworth Choir’s Christmas concert at The St Mary of Bethany Church in Woking. We decided to form a Woodwind Group Flutes: Susanna, Karis and Miss Shlackman Clarinets: Alessia and Matthew and Mrs Antony, Saxophones: Izzy and Theo. Milo provided jazzy accompaniment on the drum kit! After only a few rehearsals, we were ready to perform.

We arrived at the church to Epworth Choir warming up and rehearsing as we set ourselves up.

The concert opened with a few songs performed by the choir, some congregation carols and then it was our turn to perform. The group played brilliantly with members of the audience commenting on how ‘professional’ we were and how we had a ‘superb sound’.

A special shoutout to Milo who stepped up to do some last minute page turning for the pianist at the end!

Students were thanked for playing and received a box of chocolates.

We even managed to catch up with ex Winston Music Captains students Emily and Josh who were watching the concert and are still enjoying their music!

Miss Shlackman

Music at the Heart of our School

🎄🎄🎄 The Christmas Concert 🎄🎄🎄

You really needed to be there, at the Christmas Concert 2024.  Just when you think that it cannot get any better, it did!  Our staff and children came together to create a wonderful evening of music to celebrate their hard work and commitment throughout the term.  Over 200 children took part, playing in different assembles and singing in our huge choir, in front of a packed hall.  

Thank you to everyone who made it possible, to the Music Department, the Tech Team, to the Site team and the Music Prefects, as well as the PTA who organised refreshments.  Last year's Music Prefects returned and supported the whole event, including our guest performers, Athidh and Archie.