Afternoon Activities

A core of Afternoon Activities is offered throughout the school year including dance, football, basketball, volleyball, arts and various instrumental lessons. In addition, a variety of fun, academic, sporting and artistic activities are also offered every term. The list of activities is published in the Parent Circular at the beginning of each term. If children wish to participate, parents should contact the Afternoon School Coordinator. We offer an Afternoon Activity bus service which leaves school after activities finish at 4:30 p.m.

Building Values

Winpenny School has a long history of participating in community projects and helping others. From the traditional Harvest Festival to Christmas donations, the Winpenny community regularly comes together to support people, working with local organisations and Mexican communities. Our Mission at Winpenny School is to develop curious, independent, responsible, and creative learners who are well educated. By participating in these community activities, our children have the opportunity to demonstrate these qualities.

Harvest Festival

Every year in October, we hold our week-long collection for the Harvest Festival. This is a traditional British celebration at the end of each year’s harvest season. The event is typically celebrated by collecting baskets of fruit and vegetables which are then donated to communities in need or the elderly. This is a tradition that Miss Marian brought to Winpenny School. Donations are collected by House Captains in the cafeteria each morning and stored there until they are delivered by Winpenny Secondary School students.

Christmas Collection & Donation

Every Christmas Winpenny families and the founders of Winpenny School donate presents and school materials to communities in need. To promote the spirit of Christmas and the holiday season we ask each child at Winpenny to donate two items from the following list: book (in Spanish), toy, sweater, jacket, warm hat, gloves, scarf, blanket. Children are invited to select two used items in good condition from their own bedroom for a child in this community. To consider the environmental impact, we do not wrap the items but instead, neatly fold and tie them with natural fibre. To personalise their gifts, children may include a short message written in Spanish or a picture.

Trips

We aim that every child will go on at least one day trip in and around Mexico City during the year. These visits are to provide children with direct, first-hand experiences that ignite their curiosity and interest in the units they are studying. Day trips often make excellent Entry or Exit Points for units. Additionally, in Grade 6 to Grade 10 children make annual residential trips to different areas of the country. These form an integral part of our curriculum, and all children are expected to​ ​participate.

Buddy System

Every month we welcome new children to Winpenny School. New children are always given a ‘buddy’ to be their friend, look after them at break and show them around school during their first few weeks. Buddies are Winpenny children who if possible, speak the same language as the child starting school.

Duties​ ​of​ ​a​ ​buddy​ ​include​ ​the​ ​following:

  • Showing new children around the school, introducing them to other children and members of staff e.g. Principal, Heads of School, Deputy Heads of School, School Counsellors, teachers, and the School Nurse.
  • Eating lunch with new children, socialising and including them; helping them connect with other children in their Grade.
  • Showing new children the cafeteria, music rooms, art studio, library, IT room, and other areas of interest.
  • Lining up with them as they go into class and making sure they get to the right bus or the pick-up line after school.

Circle Around the Child

The term, Circle Around the Child, is used for the group of adults in school responsible for ensuring that all children thrive, academically, socially and emotionally. This team includes the School Counsellors, Heads of School and Deputy Heads. The Circle Around the Child hold weekly meetings in both the Primary School and Secondary School to track every child’s progress. At these meetings, strategies are put in place to support children to achieve their full potential. Every child’s progress is reviewed at least three times a year. If parents have a concern they are welcome to set up an appointment.

English Language Support

We advise children who arrive with little or no English language skills to have tutoring after school. The school will endeavour to appoint a Winpenny teacher to help. In the classroom, teachers use strategies for English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners in every lesson. All teachers are given training about teaching EAL learners at the beginning of every year.

In addition, teachers are also encouraged to use cooperative learning strategies to develop children’s talk in the classroom. We recommend that all children have a basic home language/English dictionary. The school organises regular book sales so that families have the opportunity to buy books in English.

Tutoring After School

Recommendations for tutoring are only made by the Team Around the Child. If a child requires tutoring after school, the school will endeavour to appoint a Winpenny teacher to help. Tutoring takes place from Monday to Thursday between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. A standard fee is set by the school which should be paid in advance to the cashier. Tutors provide regular feedback to parents on the progress being made. If a parent would like their child to receive tutoring, they should contact the school.

In addition, children in Grades 1 to 5 are given extra, one-to-one reading support with a specialist English teacher. Teachers are also encouraged to use cooperative learning strategies to develop children’s use of English in the classroom. We recommend that all children have a basic home language/English dictionary. The school organises regular book sales so that families have the opportunity to buy books in English. We advise children who arrive with little or no English language skills to have tutoring after school. The school will endeavour to appoint a Winpenny teacher to help.

Special Days

The following days and events are either celebrated or remembered each year. In addition to participating in organised activities, children may be asked to come to school in costume or special clothes. Winpenny teachers and Room Parents also participate.

Independence​ ​Day

  • 15th​ ​September
  • Children dress in Mexican​ ​costume​ ​or​ ​green, white and red
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​Assembly

Harvest Festival

  • The end of September/Beginning of October
  • Secondary School students make a food collection
  • Secondary students deliver food parcels to people in need in local communities

Halloween​ ​and​ ​Día​ ​de​ Muertos

  • 31st October
  • Children wear an appropriate​ ​costume
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​Parade
  • Ofrendas ​

Christmas

  • The end of November/beginning of December
  • Kinder and Primary students present Christmas concerts or plays
  • Secondary students spread holiday cheer to communities in need

Friendship Day

  • 14th February
  • Children dress in red, pink or white
  • Class activities related to being a good friend
  • Primary School Talent Show
  • Secondary students sell roses and treats to celebrate friendship

World Down Syndrome Day

  • 21st March
  • Children wear odd socks to celebrate diversity
  • Assembly related to Down Syndrome awareness and diversity

Easter Egg Hunt

  • Last Friday before Spring break
  • Kinder students decorate egg shells and participate in the traditional egg hunt

Secondary School House Sports Day

  • The end of March/beginning of April

Winpenny Day

  • March/April

​World​ ​Book​ ​Day

  • 23rd April
  • Kinder and Primary School children​ ​dress​ ​up​ ​in​ ​favourite​ ​book character​ ​costumes
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​ERIC
  • Class​ ​activities​ ​related​ ​to​ ​books​ ​and​ ​stories

Children’s​ ​Day

  • 30th​ ​April
  • Kinder children can wear their favorite clothes or costumes
  • Children wear House Colours
  • Primary School Sports Day

Mother’s Day

  • 10th May
  • Kinder children serve breakfast to their mothers
  • Mother’s Day cards

International Students’ Day

  • 23rd May
  • Secondary School students enjoy a fun day out of school

House Spelling Competition

  • The first week in June
  • Primary children participate in a team House Spelling Competition

Father’s Day

  • The third Sunday in June
  • Outside activities for fathers of children in Kinder
  • Father’s Day cards

For each event, we will choose the most appropriate school day to celebrate.

Afternoon Activities

A core of Afternoon Activities is offered throughout the school year including dance, football, basketball, volleyball, arts and various instrumental lessons. In addition, a variety of fun, academic, sporting and artistic activities are also offered every term. The list of activities is published in the Parent Circular at the beginning of each term. If children wish to participate, parents should contact the Afternoon School Coordinator. We offer an Afternoon Activity bus service which leaves school after activities finish at 4:30 p.m.

Building Values

Winpenny School has a long history of participating in community projects and helping others. From the traditional Harvest Festival to Christmas donations, the Winpenny community regularly comes together to support people, working with local organisations and Mexican communities.Our Mission at Winpenny School is to develop curious, independent, responsible, and creative learners who are well educated. By participating in these community activities, our children have the opportunity to demonstrate these qualities.

Harvest Festival

Every year in October, we hold our week-long collection for the Harvest Festival. This is a traditional British celebration at the end of each year’s harvest season. The event is typically celebrated by collecting baskets of fruit and vegetables which are then donated to communities in need or the elderly. This is a tradition that Miss Marian brought to Winpenny School. Donations are collected by House Captains in the cafeteria each morning and stored there until they are delivered by Winpenny Secondary School students.

Christmas Collection & Donation

Every Christmas Winpenny families and the founders of Winpenny School donate presents and school materials to communities in need. To promote the spirit of Christmas and the holiday season we ask each child at Winpenny to donate two items from the following list: book (in Spanish), toy, sweater, jacket, warm hat, gloves, scarf, blanket. Children are invited to select two used items in good condition from their own bedroom for a child in this community. To consider the environmental impact, we do not wrap the items but instead, neatly fold and tie them with natural fibre. To personalise their gifts, children may include a short message written in Spanish or a picture.

Trips

We aim that every child will go on at least one day trip in and around Mexico City during the year. These visits are to provide children with direct, first-hand experiences that ignite their curiosity and interest in the units they are studying. Day trips often make excellent Entry or Exit Points for units. Additionally, in Grade 6 to Grade 10 children make annual residential trips to different areas of the country. These form an integral part of our curriculum, and all children are expected to​ ​participate.

Buddy System

Every month we welcome new children to Winpenny School. New children are always given a ‘buddy’ to be their friend, look after them at break and show them around school during their first few weeks. Buddies are Winpenny children who if possible, speak the same language as the child starting school.

Duties​ ​of​ ​a​ ​buddy​ ​include​ ​the​ ​following:

  • Showing new children around the school, introducing them to other children and members of staff e.g. Principal, Heads of School, Deputy Heads of School, School Counsellors, teachers, and the School Nurse.
  • Eating lunch with new children, socialising and including them; helping them connect with other children in their Grade.
  • Showing new children the cafeteria, music rooms, art studio, library, IT room, and other areas of interest.
  • Lining up with them as they go into class and making sure they get to the right bus or the pick-up line after school.

Circle Around the Child

The term, Circle Around the Child, is used for the group of adults in school responsible for ensuring that all children thrive, academically, socially and emotionally. This team includes the School Counsellors, Heads of School and Deputy Heads. The Circle Around the Child hold weekly meetings in both the Primary School and Secondary School to track every child’s progress. At these meetings, strategies are put in place to support children to achieve their full potential. Every child’s progress is reviewed at least three times a year. If parents have a concern they are welcome to set up an appointment.

English Language Support

We advise children who arrive with little or no English language skills to have tutoring after school. The school will endeavour to appoint a Winpenny teacher to help. In the classroom, teachers use strategies for English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners in every lesson. All teachers are given training about teaching EAL learners at the beginning of every year.

In addition, teachers are also encouraged to use cooperative learning strategies to develop children’s talk in the classroom. We recommend that all children have a basic home language/English dictionary. The school organises regular book sales so that families have the opportunity to buy books in English.

Tutoring After School

Recommendations for tutoring are only made by the Team Around the Child. If a child requires tutoring after school, the school will endeavour to appoint a Winpenny teacher to help. Tutoring takes place from Monday to Thursday between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. A standard fee is set by the school which should be paid in advance to the cashier. Tutors provide regular feedback to parents on the progress being made. If a parent would like their child to receive tutoring, they should contact the school.

Special Days

The following days and events are either celebrated or remembered each year. In addition to participating in organised activities, children may be asked to come to school in costume or special clothes. Winpenny teachers and Room Parents also participate.

Independence​ ​Day

  • 15th​ ​September
  • Children dress in Mexican​ ​costume​ ​or​ ​green, white and red
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​Assembly   

Harvest Festival

  • The end of September/Beginning of October
  • Secondary School students make a food collection
  • Secondary students deliver food parcels to people in need in local communities

Halloween​ ​and​ ​Día​ ​de​ Muertos

  • 31st October
  • Children wear an appropriate​ ​costume
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​Parade
  • Ofrendas ​

Christmas

  • The end of November/beginning of December
  • Kinder and Primary students present Christmas concerts or plays
  • Secondary students spread holiday cheer to communities in need

Friendship Day

  • 14th February
  • Children dress in red, pink or white
  • Class activities related to being a good friend
  • Primary School Talent Show
  • Secondary students sell roses and treats to celebrate friendship

World Down Syndrome Day

  • 21st March
  • Children wear odd socks to celebrate diversity
  • Assembly related to Down Syndrome awareness and diversity

Easter Egg Hunt

  • Last Friday before Spring break
  • Kinder students decorate egg shells and participate in the traditional egg hunt

Secondary School House Sports Day

  • The end of March/beginning of April

Winpenny Day

  • March/April

​World​ ​Book​ ​Day

  • 23rd April
  • Kinder and Primary School children​ ​dress​ ​up​ ​in​ ​favourite​ ​book character​ ​costumes
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​ERIC
  • Class​ ​activities​ ​related​ ​to​ ​books​ ​and​ ​stories

Children’s​ ​Day

  • 30th​ ​April
  • Kinder children can wear their favorite clothes or costumes
  • Children wear House Colours
  • Primary School Sports Day

Mother’s Day

  • 10th May
  • Kinder children serve breakfast to their mothers
  • Mother’s Day cards

International Students’ Day

  • 23rd May
  • Secondary School students enjoy a fun day out of school

House Spelling Competition

  • The first week in June
  • Primary children participate in a team House Spelling Competition

Father’s Day

  • The third Sunday in June
  • Outside activities for fathers of children in Kinder
  • Father’s Day cards

For each event, we will choose the most appropriate school day to celebrate.

Independence​ ​Day

  • 15th​ ​September
  • Mexican​ ​costume​ ​or​ ​colours​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Mexican​ ​flag
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​Assembly

International​ ​Day​ ​of​ ​Peace​ ​(United​ ​Nations)

  • 21st​ ​September
  • Class​ ​activities​ ​related​ ​to​ ​conflict​ ​resolution​ ​and​ ​peace;​ ​the​ ​absence​ ​of​ ​war​ ​and​ ​violence

Halloween​ ​and​ ​Día​ ​de​ ​los​ ​Muertos

  • 31st ​October
  • An​ ​appropriate​ ​costume
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​Parade
  • Ofrendas,​ ​hot​ ​chocolate​ ​and​ ​pan​ ​de​ ​muerto

Friendship Day

  • 14th​ ​February
  • Children dress in red, pink or white
  • Class activities related to being a good friend

World​ ​Book​ ​Day (UK)

  • First Thursday​ in March
  • Children​ ​dress​ ​up​ ​in​ ​favourite​ ​character​ ​costumes
  • Whole​ ​School​ ​ERIC
  • Class​ ​activities​ ​related​ ​to​ ​books​ ​and​ ​stories

World​ ​Earth​ ​Day

  • 22nd ​April
  • Children​ ​wear​ ​‘Earth’​ ​colours:​ ​brown,​ ​blue,​ ​green​ ​and​ ​white
  • Whole​ ​school​ ​event​ ​e.g.​ ​litter​ ​free​ ​lunch
  • Class​ ​activities​ ​related​ ​to​ ​looking​ ​after​ ​the​ ​planet

Children’s​ ​Day

  • 30th​ ​​April
  • Non-uniform day
  • Class​ ​activities​ ​related​ ​to​ ​children’s​ ​rights,​ ​learning​ ​about​ ​and​ ​helping​ ​children​ ​around​ ​the​ ​world
  • ​Talent​ ​Show​ ​

Mother’s Day

  • 10th ​May
  • Kinder children serve breakfast to their mothers
  • Activities with mothers

Father’s Day

  • Third Sunday in June
  • Activities with fathers

For each event we will choose the most appropriate school day to celebrate.