Issue No 5 4 October 2013

Newsletter The Windsor Boys' School

£559 raised at Macmillan coffee morning £559 raised at Macmillan coffee morning The Macmillan coffee morning. A difficult event to organise, with tables to set up, posters to put up and of course, Krispy Kreme doughnuts to order. The event ran, despite some last minute worries and issues, really well, with both the Parents coffee morning and doughnut selling at break and lunch running without a hitch.

The parents coffee morning was a worry: would any parents be able to make it? Fortunately, many did, and from the excited chit chat and empty coffee cups and plates, the morning seemed to be a success.

The doughnut sale was less of a worry. Windsor Boys’ loves their doughnuts! Over 720 doughnuts were sold at break and lunch, most within the first ten minutes. It was like a rugby scrum at the counter! It wasn't just boys; teachers bought their fair share of tea, coffee,

cake and doughnuts.

The day ran really well: It was a pleasure to have organised this event along with the rest of my senior prefect team. Well done to all those guys, and all those who supported Macmillan by eating a lot of doughnuts! Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. Macmillan Cancer Support's goal is

to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer in the UK. We at Windsor Boys’ did our share, raising £559 for a worthy cause! Until the next event,

Uno Animo

James White Head Boy

A note from the HeadA note from the Head

Yes we canYes we can

The theme of the week, as the term progresses and students settle down to serious study, has been all about the power of

positive thinking. Students reflected in assembly on Barrack Obama’s famous words ‘Yes we can’ as an attitude to learning

and to success in all endeavours. Combine such affirmation with the collaboration encouraged by Uno Animo, and we have a

school where students are working hard and playing hard.

The senior prefect team and the student leadership have launched themselves wholeheartedly into their responsibilities.

The successful Macmillan Coffee Morning described on the front page just shows how energy and humour can be harnessed

for good causes. The student council have been exploring ways to increase real democracy and consultation across the school

community that would put politicians to shame. They have also responded to the call to identify areas in the school for

development, with many interesting ideas.

Teachers have been working hard teaching and assessing students in all their subjects. The pupil grades will be available to parents from the 25th October through the Sims Learning Gateway. You will be able to see the academic progress grades of your son in all subjects for the half term. The next progress review is at the end of December. New Year 9 parents have just been sent log in details by post which should arrive soon. If you are a parent from other year groups and have misplaced the log in, please email cblockley@twbs.co.uk. We are holding our Open Evening for prospective parents and students this coming week on Wednesday, 9th October at 7pm.

It is a chance for the school to give itself a buff and a polish, and present its best side to those thinking of choosing it for their

son’s future. Teachers have asked many students to come back in the evening to help out with tours, displays and demonstra-

tions. Please sign and return the consent form if your son has been asked to help. To enable staff to set up properly we are

closing the school early; your son will be able to leave the school site at 12.45. Food for lunch will only be available at short

break.

Following feedback from a meeting of the Friends of Windsor Boys’ School (our PTA) we are going to streamline the way

parents can make contact with their sons’ subject teachers using email, which was generally felt to be the most convenient

way in this modern world. Full details will be available on the school website in due course.

Have a good weekend.

Gavin Henderson Headteacher

4 October 2013 The Windsor Boys' School

Sixth Form Open EveningSixth Form Open Evening

Thursday 14 November 2013Thursday 14 November 2013

Starting at 7.00 pmStarting at 7.00 pm

The Windsor Boys' School

4 October 2013 The Windsor Boys' School

EnglishEnglish

A.S English ‘Shakespeare Day’.

As part of the AS English course, two sets of boys will be attending a lecture, workshop and performance of Edward II at the Globe on Monday 14th October.

The trip is intended to enhance the boys’ understand-ing of the social, cultural and historical context of the time in order to inform their coursework essays on Shakespeare’s Henry IV part 1 and Marlowe’s Edward II.

Organised by Mrs Griffiths, it promises to be a full on cultural submersion into the world of the Elizabe-thans.

Music Music

On Monday 30th Septem-ber we held our first concert of the year in conjunction with girls from Windsor Girls’ School. It was a lovely evening of music from students in Years 9 and 10. The quality was outstanding and I was so proud of all the performers for standing up and playing. Their music making was of the highest quality and there is some real talent for the future amongst them. I hope that they all continue to play and perform and I am very lucky to get to work with such wonderful young people. Performers from TWBS were:

Year 9:

Tom O’Hara – Flute & Piano Arun Matthau - Piano Matthew Mitchell - Trumpet James Matthews – French Horn Chris Hart - Clarinet Arun Tah – Violin Victor Lovato – Voice Sam Chevis – Cornet

Year 10:

Sam Matthews. - Double Bass James King - Trombone Sam Bowles – Trumpet

Well done to all performers.

Mr J Manwaring, Director of Music

Careers CarouselCareers Carousel

On Wednesday 2nd October, eight Year 11 students were invited to take part in the 3 rd annual British Airways Think Big Conference at the BA Head Offices at Waterside, Heathrow.

Students spent the day completing tasks which were designed to encourage teamwork and promote individual learning. To begin the day, students were placed into mixed teams with students from schools such as Churchmead, Slough and Eton and Windsor Girls School respectively.

Each new mixed team, named after famous world cities, began their day by being given 10 pieces of A4 paper and told they must build the tallest free -standing tower they could, and the longest self -supporting bridge, from the resources given. After a healthy bit of cheating from some quarters (mostly from the other teachers table!), the winning tower was over 2m tall, and bridge over 2m in length. Entries from all tables were very innovative and obviously set a clear indication of how the day would progress.

Students then spent the rest of the morning meeting the apprentices from British Airways. As well as being given a tour of the very impressive Waterside complex, the BA apprentices spent the morning taking students through many innovative tasks designed to promote the areas within the business which they work, from customer service to engineering.

After lunch, the day culminated with a quiz based up-on the skills the students learnt throughout the day plus a Q&A with the BA apprentices and the Director of Operations for British Airways. Once again, our boys represented themselves, and the school, with the utmost dignity – embodying the term ‘Uno Animo’. At one stage, one student from TWBS posed a few difficult questions to the BA director on the use of pricing and tax issues which have been recently in the news!

Another fantastic Think Big experience for our boys - one which all the boys left enthused and enriched by the world of real world business.

Mr P Higgs

Progress Review DatesProgress Review Dates

The Progress Reviews will be uploaded and available for

viewing on:

25th Oct Academic Progress Review 1 Uploaded

20th Dec Academic Progress Review 2 Uploaded

HALLOWEEN Quiz NightHALLOWEEN Quiz Night in aid of the GCSE Computing & Physics in aid of the GCSE Computing & Physics

Trip to NASA (2014)Trip to NASA (2014)

Thursday 24th October 2013

7.00 pm in the School Hall

Quiz Master: Lord Ford

(Mr Rooke, Head of Ford House)

Tickets: £15.00

Includes a real Fish & Chips supper

and BYO drinks

Fancy Dress optional

Everyone welcome (boys, family and friends)

Tickets went on sale this week and can be bought

from the boys on the trip, the School Office or

Mrs Millns (Department of ICT & Computing)

The Windsor Boys' School

4 October 2013 The Windsor Boys' School

VacanciesVacancies

Required for January 2014

Science TeacherScience Teacher

We require a Science teacher, able to teach GCSE and Btec in Years 9—11, looking for a flexible job which could be part time or full time, short term or permanent depending on the candidate.

The three Sciences are taught as separate subjects at GCSE and Advanced Level.

Food TeacherFood Teacher

We require a teacher to deliver GCSE Catering and Hospitality to students in Year s10 and 11 and Life Skills cooking to students in the Sixth Form. Knowledge of the Welsh Board GCSE specification is desirable but not essential. This is a temporary position in the first instance and could be full time or part time.

Drama Teacher to cover maternity leaveDrama Teacher to cover maternity leave

We are looking for a part time teacher of Drama to work .6 of a timetable. The job requires a specialist in practical and written Drama, teaching Year 9 through to Year 13. The successful applicant should be well versed in planning and delivery of engaging drama lessons.

Further details and application form will be available on the website later next week.

School PhotographsSchool Photographs

The annual school photographs will be taking place on Monday 14th October . This is an ideal opportunity if you wish to use these photos as Christmas pre-sents for relatives, therefore, please ensure that your son comes to school in the correct uniform and looking his best.

Pupil AbsencesPupil Absences

Please call the school number absence line on 01753 716060, Option 4 to report your son’s absence. Please do not call Keep Kids Safe.

On your son’s return to school please ensure that he returns with a letter explaining his absence.

The Windsor Boys' School

4 October 2013 The Windsor Boys' School

SPORTS ROUND UPSPORTS ROUND UP

RugbyRugby

A busy week of rugby started with 6 teams out against Reading School. As was the case last week all teams playing away from home were unsuccessful in the pursuit for a win, with the 1st team coming closest. Leading 14-12 approaching the last play of the game, a series of conceded penalties allowed Reading School into kicking range and the Reading fly half held his nerve to win the game for the home side 15 -14. Mr Paul said it was a "bitterly disappointing defeat but we learnt some valuable lessons about closing out a game. Our attention now turns to Desborough in the second round of the NatWest cup." At home the U16's recorded their first win of the season with a dominant display. Welcoming back both Josh O'Reilly and Austin Hay from their 1st XV call up the week before, the U16's were clinical in attack and resilient in defence emphatically winning 47 -5. Further success came from the ever improving U14A's; finding themselves behind for most of the game, they fought back from 12 - 27 to win 31 - 27 and keep their unbeaten run going.

Another hard fought comeback came in the form of the 1st XV away to Desborough in the NatWest Cup. By admission Windsor Boy's School did not play very well in the first half and deserved to be 0 - 17 down at half time. But after a little soul searching and few harsh words, the 1st XV came out a different side, recording 21 unanswered points and setting up a mouth watering tie away at RGS High Wycombe.

The U15B also recorded a win against Halliford. During an end to end game, Windsor found themselves in purple patch scoring a handful of tries. Nonetheless when the game finished it still wasn't clear who had won the game. After a little calculation from maths teacher Mr Van Der Merwe, Windsor emerged 27 -26 winners.

Saturday 5th October - 10am kick-off

1st, 2nd, 15A and 15B (Away) vs St Georges, Weybridge, KT15, 2QS

16A, 14A and 14B (Home) vs St Georges, Weybridge

Monday 7th October - 3:30pm kick off

14A and 14B (Home) vs Halliford

FootballFootball

Having lost at home in the first league match of the season, the 1st XI travelled away to Henley College for a much needed three points. Missing both captain and Vice Captain, Luke Theobalds and George Bowles re-spectively, Windsor relied on the strike force partner-ship of the Jones brothers. Christian and Bradley duly delivered by both getting themselves on the score sheet in a vital 3 - 0 win.

BasketballBasketball

The basketball season got underway this week with games for the 19A, 16A and 16B sides. On Tuesday, the two U16 teams had mixed fortunes. The 16A's came up against a very strong Langley GS school team and with the Windsor Boys' School missing some key players, found it very difficult throughout the game to keep the ball. The 16B on the other hand, playing in the cup against Little Heath were victorious in a game that allowed some of the schools more social players to have a game. In what was a very well natured game, the likes of James King and Chris Fernandez scored vital points to put Windsor through to the second round.

Good luck to all the teams playing this weekend and I look forward to reporting on more success next week.

Mr J Clark, Director of Sport

The Windsor Boys' School

4 October 2013 The Windsor Boys' School

The Windsor Boys' School

4 October 2013 The Windsor Boys' School

There is no parking for Sixth Formers on site.

If your son wishes to park a motor cycle on site permission must be sought from the Headteacher.

Ensure that your son has cycle insurance and that it is securely locked in the cycle compound. We strongly

recommend that Cycle Helmets are worn.

Please do not park on the yellow zig zag lines directly outside the school gates.

Please do not drop off your son on the roundabout.

Please do not use the residents car park opposite the school.

Permission for Leave of Absence must be sought from the Headteacher only.

Important Reminders

Weekly Extra Curricular Diary:

Monday - TWBS Wind Band (7.45 am), Guitar & String En-semble (3.05 - 4.00 p.m.)

Tuesday - Theory Class (8.00 am), Windsor Upper Schools Choir (3.30 – 5.00 p.m.)

Wednesday - TWBS Big Band (7.45 am), Boys Choir (lunch), Les Miserables (after school)

Thursday - TWBS Wind Band (7.45 am.

Friday - TWBS Big Band (7.45 am)

We are planning a tour in April next year for all Singers & Instrumental players. If you would like your son to be part of this tour then please do get in touch ASAP

Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/windsormusic/

Twitter - @twbsmusic Email – music@twbs.co.uk

If you have any questions about instrumental lessons, curriculum or extra curricular events, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Many thanks

J Manwaring Director of Music – The Windsor Upper Schools

Forthcoming Events

7th Oct School Photographs

9th Oct New Year 9 Open Evening @ 7.00 pm

14th Oct The Friends of TWBS meeting @ 7.00 pm

18th Oct Inset

24th Oct Halloween Quiz Night

25th Oct Academic Progress Review 1 Uploaded

28th Oct Half Term (until 1st Nov)

11th Nov The Friends of TWBS AGM @ 7.00 pm

14th Nov Sixth Form Open Evening @ 7.00 pm

20th Nov Year 11 Parents Evening (A-F)

5th Dec Year 11 Parents Evening (L-W)

7th Dec The Friends of TWBS Uno Animo Dinner Dance

12th Dec Year 13 Parents Evening

20th Dec Carol Service—Windsor Parish Church @ 12.00

Academic Progress Review 2 Uploaded

End of Term