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Duke of Edinburgh Award Year 9 There will be a meeting on Monday 12th July at 2.40 in the Churchill Suite for any Year 9s who wish to find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Award which they can do in Year 10. The meeting should last about 30 minutes. Year 10 Please note you will get your blue record book back before the summer holidays. You will then have until Christmas to get all other sections signed up and handed back in to qualify for the award. Any year 10 Dof E participants who have not yet done a skill could take part in this football refereeing course.

Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2010 This weekend 82 Year 10 students completed the final expedition for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. They walked 10 miles on Sunday carrying all of the equipment that was required for the overnight stay at the top of Box Hill. They completed the weekend with a further walk of 5 miles on Sunday. Despite the blisters, aches and pains the students had a great time and showed a really positive attitude. They worked well in their teams and were able to improve their navigational and campcraft skills. Well done to all those who took part. Each group must hand in a project and short diary immediately after ½ term to Mrs Sweetman.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening 2010 On Tuesday the 30th of March 2010 a number of Year 11’s were proud to collect their hard earned bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards at the HG Wells Centre in Woking. The evening began with a large number of Winston Churchill pupils wondering around in awe of the round tables and balloons and looking almost as lost as we did on our expeditions as we searched for our tables amongst the other collections of people. But unlike our expeditions we didn’t have to rely on map reading, as we spotted Ms Dixon and Mrs. Sweetman and were given our places at our tables. As everyone took their places the Woking High School Jazz Band, conducted by Steve Godwin, performed a few uplifting pieces to introduce the evening. Afterwards Neil Freeman, Chairman of Woking Award Forum, welcomed the Mayor of Woking and the Mayor of Runnymede, and the guest speaker, Garry Richardson, a BBC Sports Broadcaster, along with other dignitaries. It was Garry Richardson who presented our awards to our group but not before Samuel Brook and Jessica Burrage did a fantastic job on representing Winston Churchill, by reading their own summary of our journeys from Year 10 Autumn Term to this point. As each group was called to the front, everyone prayed that they wouldn’t trip up over the stairs or be the one to be asked a question by Mr. Richardson. As we gave our wobbly replies of “Yes of course I will be doing the silver award!” we realized that all of our dodgy route- planning and scrubbing of the cooking equipment was all for this point, we had finally been given what we deserved: our bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The evening continued, silver and gold awards (presented by the High Sherriff of Surrey, Rob Douglas) were awarded to those brave people as we all thought, “How on earth did they manage that?” When the evening came to an end, we all congratulated one another and were brought together for a celebratory photo. However, as we all stood there smiling in front of the other schools, I’m sure a few of us wondered who out of the group would actually go on to do the silver award? Alice Dillon Year 11

Practice Expedition a great success! Armed with compass, map and plenty of Haribo, Year 10 students took part in their practice expedition over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They had to walk from Gomshall to Leith Hill Tower, then to the campsite at Bentley Copse. Fortunately (and unusually!) it was good weather for walking and the students all managed to get to the campsite in good time to put up their tents and cook their meals. The next morning was an early start with putting down the tents and washing up the trangias (groan!). The groups then walked to Newlands Corner to be picked up by their parents. All groups did really well and we saw their navigation skills improve over the weekend; their team spirit was fantastic. Hopefully they learnt a lot from this weekend for their assessed final expedition on the 16th-17th May. Thanks to our volunteer walkers who walked with the groups on the first day; we appreciate you giving up your time to make sure the students didn't get too lost! Mrs. Sweetman, Ms. Dixon, Mr. Dyball and Mrs. Dudley

Year 11s receive their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards The Year 11s were rewarded for all their hard work over the last two years when they were invited to the Woking Duke of Edinburgh Award Presentation Evening. They received their certificate at the special awards ceremony, at which were present the Mayor of Woking, the High Sheriff and the Deputy Mayor of Runnymede. The students were asked questions about how they obtained the award and if they enjoyed themselves doing it – to which most answered yes! To achieve their bronze award, students had to complete 4 sections: expedition, service, skill and physical recreation. All 4 required commitment, perseverance and a sense of responsibility. As their supervisors, we were glad to have seen these students performing so well and finally getting their rewards. Well done!” Report of the Evening by Nicola Gow After planning, packing and then finally walking both our practice journey and our final camp, I think most of us were pleased when we heard the awards evening was finally coming around and that we were going to be rewarded for all our hard work. The presentation evening kicked off at around seven thirty on Tuesday 31st March 09. We all sat at the HG Wells Centre waiting for our turn. We all tried not to trip up the stairs and to receive our award before the mayor asked us about what we had done and we embarrassed ourselves trying to answer! Although it wasn’t only the pupils who were rewarded at the presentation; the teachers who had helped us through the award such as Mrs. Sweetman, Mr. Dyball and Mrs. Dudley were thanked for their hard work as well. Once Fullbrook band had played a few more times and we were introduced to other VIPs, the evening was nearly over. Silver and Gold Awards were handed out and we all wondered how they managed to walk for that long! Then it was time for the evening to wind down and for the mayor of Woking and the deputy mayor of Runnymede to deliver their speeches. Once they had spoken along with a few other people the High Sheriff delivered the final speech of the evening and encouraged many of us to persevere with our Duke of Edinburgh Award as her speech was inspirational. The High Sheriff supplied us with a perfect end to a great evening! By Nicola Gow 11SDU

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