Windsor Girls’ School

26 April 2019

International Taekwon-Do ‘Recently, from 1 - 8 April, I went to Italy, alongside the England Taekwon-Do team members. This was to compete at the Taekwon-Do European Championships 2019, in Rimini, Italy. I was selected for three events and even though I didn't win any medals, it was a wonderful experience, as it was my first time taking part in the European Championships. I am very thankful for all the support I received from my family and friends. The days were very long. We had to get up very early and get ready to have breakfast at 6:30am, and then go to the stadium by coach, but got back around 8pm. It was very tiring but I got used to

Continued on Page 4

Dear Parents and Carers We hope you all had a good break over the Easter holiday and are refreshed ready for the new term. Over the last two weeks our students and staff have continued to be busy taking part in revision sessions in school in preparations for the coming examinations. Some examination components have been taking place this week and students have been working hard to complete their MFL oral examinations. Elsewhere in school, there has been PE moderation and a new extra-curricular schedule, rehearsals for the school productions of ‘Billy the Kid’ and ‘Wind in the Willows’, choir practice, and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award participants preparing for their practice expedition. This weekend, the Food Technology Department are travelling to France with a group of students to experience French culture and learn more about the country’s cuisine. This is a great opportunity for students to learn beyond the classroom and to learn techniques which they can incorporate into their own creations. We are entering the examination season, with the final touches being added to coursework, controlled assessments and practical work. The first written examinations begin before half term and, therefore, students taking examinations will be busy focusing on revision. This can be a stressful time for students and parents and it is important to let us know if your daughter is in need of support or advice. Our experienced staff are here to help. You may find the following article helpful when supporting your daughters through the next few months: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-exam-stress/# Mr P Griffiths and Mrs E O’Carroll Co-Headteachers

Windsor Girls’ School @WGSWindsorGirls

Windsor Girls’ PE @WGSPE

PE Instagram wgs_pe

Windsor Girls’ LRC @WGS_LRC

WGS Science @WGS_Science

WGS MFL @WGSMFLdept

WGS Geography @GeographyWgs

WGS Aspiring High @WGSAspiringHigh

WGS English @WindsorGirlsEng

Windsor Girls D of E @wgsdofe

Windsor Music @twbsmusic

Friends of Windsor Girls’ @FriendsofWGS

Year Information

Year 9 Teachers are currently writing full reports for students in Year 9. They will be coming home over the next few weeks. On Thursday, 9 May we will be welcoming a Holocaust survivor to school to speak to students about his experiences. We are very fortunate that they are able to visit us as a number of Holocaust Ambassadors are unable to carry out visits to schools due to their age. Students may want to discuss some of the content of the talk with you at home.

Year 10 The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze participants will be undertaking their practice expeditions this weekend and the weekend of 10 May. We wish them well.

Year 11 Art examinations will be taking place next week. Intervention sessions are ongoing and students are reminded to check their schedules and continue to access the additional support on offer.

As the weather improves, students are reminded that the optional part of the uniform is the school jumper. We will monitor the temperature in classrooms and give students permission to remove jackets as necessary. Students are also asked to bring a water bottle to keep hydrated. Prize Evening will take place on Thursday, 27 June 2019.

SIXTH FORM Year 12 need to return their Work Experience forms by Friday 3 May. Forms should include as much detail as possible about the students’ placement which will be taking place the week beginning 1 July. We are delighted to welcome Emma Murphy, from the Bank of England, to school on Wednesday to speak to Year 12 during period 5. The session will take place in the Drama Room. Year 13’s next motivational assembly will be held on Wednesday, 1 May, this is a change from the usual Tuesday slot.

YEAR 13 JOBS FOR THE WEEKEND Redo/resubmit exam questions and essays. Ask for feedback and

don’t be afraid to pester.

Complete first submission of Vocational work - edit and resubmit

for higher grades.

Ask if you need help or are not getting the information you need.

Remind your boss that you will not be available at

key points.

Keep your eye on the prize!

International Taekwon-Do the routine after a few days in Italy. As a whole team, we were one big family and everyone was very supportive when one of us was to compete. My favourite part was watching all the other countries shout their chants, as they were all very catchy and you would know it by the end of the day. The last day was very memorable, because everyone had the chance to meet other countries and the Greeks always do their traditional dance and get everyone to join in. Overall, England came in 6th place, which is a huge achievement and intensive training will start on Sunday, for the upcoming World Championships in Bulgaria during the summer. I hope to compete in many more international competitions in the future.’ Chantal Bundalian, Year 11

Ski Trip Information Evening

There will be an Information Evening on Thursday, 16 May, for parents and carers of students who will be going on the Ski Trip. The meeting will begin at 6:00pm and will be held in Room 63.

PE Kit Request Year 11 Leavers The PE department would love any old kit that you wish to donate - especially skorts or jogging

bottoms. These can be handed in to the PE office.

Individual Health Care Plans Individual Health Care Plans (IHCP) are for students who have long term medical conditions or require regular medication. IHCP's are for both physical and mental conditions. Examples may include diabetes, epilepsy, coeliac disease, frequent nose bleeds, asthma, and depression. They are to be completed by the parent/carer and are reviewed by the school on a regular basis. Parents or carers are responsible for informing the school of any changes to their daughter's condition.

Big Questions

‘During our weekly Big Questions Club meeting, I volunteered to speak about a subject that I am very passionate about! That being: the power of maintaining a positive mindset. The key points from my presentation were that it is essential to focus on the positives in life in order to get you to fulfil your ultimate life purpose. In reality, you are what you think. That being said, everyone is capable of expanding their mind in order to thrive with endless opportunities and perhaps even change their life around. It was lovely to be able to speak in front of the group members. Everyone is welcome to partake in our discussions, just don’t forget, they are held every Tuesday in Mrs. Jenkins’s room!’ - Polina Vekchina, Year 11

RBWM Achieving for Children RBWM have recently launched a new website which includes information on Achieving for Children services and SEND Local Offer. Achieving for Children has been created by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to provide their children’s services. The website is designed for parents, carers and young people who are looking for information on activities, events and services in Windsor and Maidenhead. www.rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk

Year 11 Prom

Confirmation of the details of this year’s Year 11 Prom, as follows:

Venue: Windsor Race Course

Date: Wednesday, 3 July

Time: 7pm – 11pm

Dress: Formal

Ticket price: £40 One guest per WGS student (must be under 18) and must provide photo ID. Students are responsi-ble for the behaviour of the guest that they bring. In order to secure the venue on our preferred date, £40 per ticket needs to be paid to the cashier by cheque no later than Friday 10 May. Payment can also be made on line. You will find a link to our online payment portal on our website under the heading ‘School Information’. Your daughter should request login details from the cashier. Based on the numbers and commitment, we will then continue with the Prom planning. Tickets will be issued on Book Return Day – Friday, 21 June. We are very much looking forward to the event which promises to be a fantastic evening. Miss J. Edwards

PE Extra-Curricular Activities

British Airways has announced that applications are open for its 5-day work experience placements. The placements are across the 26 departments of the airline. The programme is designed to assist young people not only with careers advice and guidance, but also to develop and exercise their skill base and to prepare them for a working environment. Throughout the placements, students will spend dedicated time with a mentor, learning from the experts in the industry. Applications for a 5-day placement between September and December 2019 will close at midnight on Sunday, 5 May 2019. Please apply through the online portal on the following link: https://careers.ba.com/emerging-talent Information on BA’s highly accredited apprenticeship programmes can be found on the same link. Students can also sign up for job alerts on BA’s careers website: https://jobs.ba.com/jobs/alertregister/?alerts=1

Work Experience Opportunity

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Before School 7:30 - 8:10am

After School 3:15 - 4:15pm

Rounders Back Field

Dance Sports Hall

Athletics Fixtures

Badminton Sports Hall

GCSE PE Revision

GCSE PE Revision

Athletics Club

Back Field

Basketball Sports Hall

SSCO

Careers

WINDSOR TEACHING ALLIANCE

Thinking about training to teach?

Come to our Secondary Open Morning on Wednesday, 1 May, at 9:30 am

On Thursday, we were pleased to welcome Allison Giles (Careers and Enterprise Company) and Monisha Bhalla (Veenus Travel) to school to lead a staff training session based on careers education. Our own staff were also involved in the planning and delivery of the session which aimed to develop careers education across different subject areas and to increase networking opportunities.

Career Opportunities

Do you like to problem solve, are you interested in jobs that aren’t behind a desk and would want to continue to receive qualifications but earn as you learn? If so, we have a range of apprentice opportunities up for grabs which will set you

up for a career working in the wonderful world of water – a resource which everyone single one of us relies upon daily to survive. The water industry is exciting, fulfilling and no day is the same. The apprentices will be part of the teams who are the silent heroes behind-the-scenes, keeping taps running 24 hours a day, seven days a week to 2.2 million people in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. Operations Apprentice: Be part of the team which manages hundreds of water treatment works, booster stations, reservoirs and 9,000 miles of pipe across our supply area. The backbone of the business without which, taps would run dry. Leakage Apprentice: Make use of those detective skills to find those pesky leaks hidden out of sight underground. We have tough leak reduction targets to meet and while we’re fixing pipes all the time, this role is key to helping plug those pipes and ensuring the water we treat gets to where it should be going. During the two year course, both apprenticeship streams will see students gain a Level 3 Diploma Apprenticeship. To find out more, we're holding a series of open days across our supply area where potential apprentices can speak in detail about these roles available from managers and those who are either currently on the programme or have recently completed their apprenticeship.

Saturday 4 May: Boxalls Lane depot, Osprey Gardens, Aldershot, GU11 3QR - 10am to 12 noon.

Saturday 11 May: Arlington WTW, Arlington, Berwick, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 6SA - 10am to 12 noon

Saturday 18 May: Bewl Water Treatment Works, Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst, TN3 8JH – 12 noon to 2pm

If you are interested in attending one of the open days, please email the details through to jobs@southeastwater.co.uk. Further information on both apprenticeship schemes is available at: careers.southeastwater.co.uk The closing date for applications is 31 May 2019.

www.southeastwater.co.uk

27-28 April DofE: Bronze Practice Expedition 27-30 April Catering: Chateau du Molay 9 May Ethics: Holocaust Survivor visit, Year 9 10-13 May Geography: Slapton Sands, Year 12 11-12 May DofE: Bronze Practice Expedition 14 May Drama: Dead Dog in a Suitcase 16 May PE: Ski Trip Information Evening Friday 24 May Term 5 Ends Monday 3 June Term 6 Begins 11 June Geography: Hengistbury Head, Year 10 12 June Food Nutrition: Borough Market 14 June Geography: Hengistbury Head, Year 10 19 June History: Kew Archives, Year 12 20 June History: Imperial War Museum 26 June Geography: Field Trip, Windsor, Year 10 27 June Geography: Field Trip, Windsor, Year 10 1-5 July Year 12: Work Experience 5-8 July DofE: Bronze Assessed Expeditions Friday 19 July Term 6 Ends 11 July - 8 August Costa Rica 2019/2020 10 - 13 October Geography Italy Trip Easter Holiday PE: Ski Trip

May Wednesday 1 May Athletics TVAC Yr 9 & 10 Thursday 2 May Rounders Charters School Yr 10 Thursday 9 May Rounders Charters School Yr 9 Wednesday 22 May Athletics TVAC Yr 9 & 10 June Thursday 6 June Rounders Charters School Yr 10 Thursday 27 June Rounders Charters School Yr 9 July Monday 1 July Athletics TVAC Yr 9 & 10 RBWM Athletics Final

Upcoming PE Fixtures

Upcoming Events

PM Revision Sessions: 3.10 - 4.00pm (All Room 25) Miss Pearce (LPE); Miss O’Gorman (KON)

GCSE Science Revision Amended science revision timetable. All science revision sessions are held after school on a Wednesday, with the exception of sessions run by Miss Edward's. These dates are highlighted. Sessions run between 3:05 and 4:05, with the exception of sessions run by Mrs McKinlay, which will finish at 3:45. Rooming will be confirmed before the first session

GCSE Geography Revision

Key Exam Dates: Paper 1: Living with the physical environment 1h 30m 21 May 2019 pm Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment 1h 30m 05 June 2019 pm Paper 3: Geographical applications 1h 15m 13 June 2018 am

Banana Schedule commences with revision sessions

Date Subject Topic Teacher

EASTER HOLIDAY

01/05/19 Physics FINAL REVISION / REQUIRED PRACTICALS

Mrs McKinlay

09/05/19 Biology FINAL REVISION / REQUIRED PRACTICALS

Miss Edwards

14/05/19 Biology paper 1

15/05/19 Chemistry FINAL REVISION / REQUIRED PRACTICALS

Dr Haynes

16/05/19 Chemistry paper 1

22/05/19 Physics paper 1

07/06/19 Biology paper 2

12/06/19 Chemistry paper 2

14/06/19 Physics paper 2

Unit Date Topics Covered

Paper 1

Tuesday 30 April Fieldwork/Paper 3

Paper 3

Tuesday 7 May Fieldwork/Paper 3

Wednesday 15 May Fieldwork/Paper 3

May Half Term

History GCSE Revision Monday Break 1 Exam Skills Support Miss Salter Wednesday Break 2 Content Support Miss Salter Thursday Break 2 Revision Support Mrs Peck

MONDAY After School - 3:15 to 4:00pm

Reminder – Use the PixL App

Date Focus Teacher

29 April Narrative American West CPK

6 May Trenches USEFULNESS CSR

13 May How far Q- Germany CPK

20 May Explain Q Medicine CRS HALF TERM

REVISION DAYS 3 DAYS Times to be confirmed CRS

EXAMs… P1- TRENCHES AND MEDICINE 3 JUNE P2- AMERICAN WEST AND ELIZABETH 6 JUNE P3 – GERMANY 11 JUNE

History A Level Revision

Extr

a-C

urr

icula

r A

ctivitie

s T

erm

4

M

on

da

y

Tu

esd

ay

W

ed

ne

sd

ay

T

hu

rsd

ay

F

rid

ay

AM

W

GS

Orc

he

str

a

Dra

ma R

oo

m

WU

S B

rass B

an

d

Week B

– T

WB

S 7

.45

-8.3

0am

L

ow

er

Sch

oo

l B

ig B

an

d

TW

BS

7.4

5-8

.30am

U

pp

er

Sch

oo

l B

ig B

an

d Y

12/1

3

TW

BS

7.4

5-8

.30am

B1

B2

A

rt C

lub

Mrs

Wri

gh

t B

ig Q

uesti

on

Mrs

Jen

kin

s –

Ro

om

24

A

rt C

lub

Mrs

Wri

gh

t C

ho

ir

Years

11,

12 &

13

B

oo

k G

rou

p -

LR

C

Week B

Ch

oir

Y

ears

9 &

10

A

rt C

lub

Mrs

Wri

gh

t

F

ash

ion

dro

p in

/catc

h u

p

Mrs

Pia

zza –

Years

10/1

1 R

oo

m 9

S

cie

nc

e C

lub

La

b 3

1

S

pa

nis

h d

rop

in

sessio

n

Week A

- A

ll Y

ears

S

pa

nis

h d

rop

in

sessio

n

Week A

- A

ll Y

ears

“W

ha

t d

o y

ou

th

ink

?”

Stu

de

nt

led

dis

cu

ssio

n g

rou

p

– R

oo

m 1

7

PM

R

ou

nd

ers

B

ack F

ield

D

an

ce4m

oti

on

Sp

ort

s h

all

D

eb

ate

Clu

b

Ms P

eak –

Years

9/1

0 R

oo

m 1

7

Bad

min

ton

S

po

rts H

all

G

CS

E P

E R

evis

ion

M

ind

fuln

ess M

ed

itati

on

Week A

– R

oo

m

Bil

ly t

he

Kid

reh

ears

al

3.3

0-5

pm

- T

WB

S

Ath

leti

cs F

ixtu

res

F

ren

ch

dro

p i

n s

essio

n

All

Years

– R

oo

m 6

G

CS

E P

E R

evis

ion

W

ind

in

th

e W

illo

ws r

eh

ears

al

3.0

5 –

6p

m

Ath

leti

cs C

lub

B

ack F

ield

B

illy

th

e K

id r

eh

ears

al

3.3

0-5

pm

- T

WB

S

F

ash

ion

dro

p in

/catc

h u

p

Mrs

Pia

zza –

Years

10/1

1 R

oo

m 9

Basketb

all

S

po

rts H

all

SS

CO

C

reati

ve W

riti

ng

Ro

om

15 o

r 19

B

illy

th

e K

id r

eh

ears

al

3.3

0-5

pm

- T

WB

S

W

ind

in

th

e W

illo

ws r

eh

ears

al

3.0

5 –

6p

m

F

ren

ch

dro

p i

n s

essio

n

All

Years

– R

oo

m 6