Kingswood School Boarders' Bake Off Weekend and Burns' Supper

The weather outside has not very pleasant, but fortunately our activities have been indoors this weekend. Mrs Wright, the Head of Boarding, has orchestrated a baking competition a little like the very popular BBC TV programme called the 'Great British Bake Off. Westwood pupils were challenged to make different flavoured fairy cakes with the icing and decorations to have an 'Eco' theme.  Mrs Mainwaring masterminded the Westwood boarders' baking which took place in pairs. The results were spectacular and the concentration and effort on the designs were also impressive to witness. I am sure you will feel hungry just looking at the photos! Mrs Mainwaring and Rose also made a 'special entry' in this competition.  The pupils also had great fun performing various 'baking mannequin challenges during the afternoon'.  The participants will have to wait until next weekend for the feedback from Paul, Mary, Mel and Sue (aka Miss Wright, Mr Skinner and Mrs Ruddell) on the designs, taste and texture.

 Mrs Mainwaring setting the challenge!

 Key ingedients for the 'Eco' designs to follow.

Rachel: Just checking it tastes okay

 In the oven!

 Looking good

Yuma and Mink drafting designs on paper.

 Karen making the cakes more uniform, after all this is a competition!

 Sophie just checking the consistency of the icing.

 Needs more icing sugar, Miss!

 A study of concentration as Jonny gets to work on his designs.

 Wow!

 Recycling bin motif

 Leaves being carefully cut out.

 Sasha mixing carefully.

 Mrs M showcasing her moon theme

 Karen working on his toppings!

 Isabella checking out what Polina and Sasha have made.

 Jonnny very pleased with his flower themes - very intricate designs!

 Sophie, you will have to wait the judges have not arrived

 Mrs Mainwaring's Creation Story

 The judges in action

 Mary very pleased with this bake.

 Paul yet again taking chocolate sponge!

 Nervous wait!

Stop it, Paul! Mr Skinner cannot resist a second helping!

Those who did not bake enjoyed games of basketball and badminton, before whole House matches of 'benchball' which the boys narrowly won 2-1. It was good thing energy was used in this way as the cake makers have enjoyed 'tasting' their creations and we all enjoyed the Burns' Night Supper. A Scottish tradition to remember the life of the famed Scottish Poet, Rabbie or Robert Burns born in January 1796.  The pupils enjoyed some traditional Scottish food Haggis, 'Nips (turnips) and Tatties (potatoes) with a delicious dessert before a Ceilidh (Scottish Country Dancing).

Action photos from a tense game of Benchball!

The Burns' Supper was delicious and the pupils danced very enthusiastically!The catering team did us proud!

 Staff even had a go at providing the air required to get a sound out of the bagpipes!

 You need to work harder!

 Nino, stop laughing and get puffing!

 Lots of energy on show!

 You can just make out Johnny, Oscar and Tae-Tae.

Another top weekend in Westwood!

Sunday Trip to Explore @Bristol

This week our weekend trip was to the very popular science centre in Bristol down on the waterfront.

As well as many interactive displays there is the country's only 3D planetarium.  Here we saw a 3D prsentation of the Winter Night Sky.  We will be looking out fore Jupiter at about 7.30am tomorrow morning low in the SE morning sky.

The children stand outside the planetarium.

Nino orders his morning pint directly from the cow.  Who was generally quite passive.

Happy New Year from Westwood!

It is lovely to have all the boarders back in Westwood. The first weekend included girls' netball against Monkton Prep and St. John's on the Hill, whilst the boys played hockey also against Monkton Prep. Over the holiday, Mr Hollywell invested in a PS4 for the House and this has been a real hit!

 Rupert taking on Sunichi in a game of Fifa 2016

Last night's film was Independence Day Resurgent and this went down very well, as did the sausage rolls and chocolates! This morning some boys ventured over for some indoor football in the sports hall before a delicious brunch - not good for those whose New Year's Resolutions include trying to lose weight!

We headed to Bristol this afternoon to see an interesting performance of Hans Christian Anderson's  Snow Queen, recently popularised by Disney and possibly now better known as Frozen.  The Old Vic in Bristol is the longest continuously-running theatre in the UK and it has been recently redeveloped. The performance was a mix of serious drama, pantomime, musical and puppetry. The Snow Queen puppet was very effective and scary, with a clever voice over.  The pupils enjoyed the performance and a good supply of theatre snacks! The small cast of ten kept us all entertained. A great day out.

 Off to Bristol for a play!

 Excited faces!

Just before the play starts!

 Snacks being consumed!

We like a spot of culture!