Parent Bulletin – Friday 15th July 2022 Key Dates Monday 18th July Y7-10 Awards Evening, 6.00pm Thursday 21st July Early Finish, 1.00pm SEPTEMBER 2022 Thursday 1st September INSET DAY CLOSURE Friday 2nd September Year 7 & Prefects only Monday 5th September All students return
Welcome to the final bulletin of the academic year. We have ended the year on a high with a return to every event (and more!) that used to run prior to COVID. We were determined to make sure the events happened as we wanted students to have these valuable school experiences. We had to make some very late decisions during the week regarding the planning of these events due to the staffing challenges we have experienced around the rise in COVID but somehow we have managed to make everything run! I am sure you can all remember your school sports days and our Year 10s were the only year group to have ever experienced a Winton sports day before this year! The weather proved a challenge but most students were sensible and adhered to drinking water, applying sun cream, wearing a hat and sitting in the shade when needed. It was a lovely atmosphere and participation from students was very high. Thanks to Mr Ashworth and the team for all their work.
On Tuesday “Community Day” took place - once again we had some challenges due to the cases of COVID . This meant that each day, and even on the morning of, “Community Day” we had to make changes to staffing and groups...no mean feat for the entire school! This meant that some students completed community activities on the school site whilst others (around 500!) were out and about at infant schools, care homes, litter picking, delivering leaflets, food banks, helping local museums and many many more community based activities.
Here are just a few of the comments sent through to me about our students on “Community Day”: “Thank you so much for coming out today and doing all of the gardening. Everyone is saying what a lovely job you all did! We look forward to seeing you next year. Activities Co-ordinators, Rothsay Grange Care Home “I just wanted to let you know that we were really impressed with one particular individual today: Archer R-G. He got stuck into the LSA role today and worked really well with one of our SEND children to help him create a PowerPoint presentation, all of which he would not have been able to do independently. He came back to class after lunch and without prompting, helped the child to get a laptop, set up from the morning and continue with the task.” “I work at Morrisons daily, the local shop on King Arthur's way. Today we had the pleasure of having several of your students come into the shop to buy drinks and snacks while they were litter picking on the estate as part of your community day. Every single one of your students who came into the shop were well mannered and polite, their behaviour was exceptional and I feel I must reach out to you and let you know they are a credit to your school”
“Can I say a massive thank you to all the staff and students for their brilliant efforts today at Roman Way. They all worked so hard and have left us with three amazing murals, some very colourful school lettering, a tidy and sorted Forest School area and a sorted out Inclusion Office. We could not be more pleased-it was really useful to have that help! The art students are so talented...I hope they realise that their work will be on our walls for years! The D+T students who made the lettering and the spacers have done a really professional job and used their imaginations so well in making all the letters so bright and colourful. The students were a real credit to Winton-so polite and mature-what lovely young people you are nurturing! The staff we met today could not have been more accommodating. They were enthusiastic and nothing was too much trouble-again please pass on my thanks. Again, please pass on our thanks to everyone involved and thank you for the great organisation that made the whole experience a delight.” Such lovely comments about our students and how they conducted themselves when they were off site.
Today and for the last two days we have been taking students to the cinema paid for by the school as a thank you and a well done. We had hoped to take them slightly further afield but again staffing challenges as well as issues with booking coaches meant that this was not possible this year. However students seemed pleased with the trip and a good time was had by all. We have the remaining students attending the cinema next Thursday.
We finish next week with our awards evening on Monday to celebrate those students who have worked hard this year and have been nominated by staff. Bus provided by Hampshire We received an email on Wednesday to say that Pikes would no longer be running the bus service to Winton and Harrow Way. We have expressed our disappointment at being told this information so late in the term. Hampshire County Council is responsible for providing the bus service and we have been in touch with them. They are now sourcing a different company to provide this service. As soon as we have any information we will pass this on. Year 7 Tech Days Unfortunately we have taken the decision to cancel the Year 7 Tech days planned for next week due to the very hot weather. Please be aware that school finishes at 1pm on Thursday 21st July. The students attending the cinema on Thursday will be dismissed from the cinema. PE kit can be worn all of next week and due to the predicted heat on Monday and Tuesday please make sure your child comes to school with a water bottle, sun cream and a hat. We will be encouraging all students to stay out of the sun at break times and physical activities will be kept to a minimum. All that’s left to say is thank you for all of your support this year. Whilst it has been a “normal” year it hasn't quite been the case that everything has been normal, as we have still had to manage a number of COVID problems such as short staffing but we have got through it! I am fortunate to have staff who
go above and beyond for the students at Winton and who in the last two weeks have, at incredibly short notice, had all their plans changed for the following day with many stepping in to lead and run activities in the absence of other staff. Their willingness to “get on with it” has really made a difference. A reminder that our new Year 7 cohort will start with us on Friday 2nd September at 8.35am and will finish at 3.10pm and all other year groups are due to return on Monday 5th September at the normal time. Have a wonderful summer. Mrs Jones
We are aiming to hold a parent, guardian and student information evening before October half term and are currently waiting for GB Sports Tour to offer us some dates when they will be able to send a representative from their company. The evening will be an opportunity for you to be made aware of what clothing and accessories will be required for the Ski Trip. As soon as we are given a date we will be in contact again. Thank you for your continued support.
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Year 7-10 Awards Evening, Monday 18th July, 6pm Early Finish, Thursday 21st July, 1pm
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Thursday 1st September 2022 Monday 31st October 2022 Friday 25th November 2022 Friday 16th December 2022 Friday 10th February 2023 Friday 30th June 2023