Achievement | Diversity | Respect

17 March 2023

Parent Weekly Mailing

Keep us posted - It would be great if parents/carers could let the school know of any student achievements outside of school. We would like to find out what students are doing in their own time and celebrate their achievements. Email us: weeklymailing@cotham.bristol.sch.uk

Week commencing Monday 20 March 2023 is Week A

Standing Items are now located at the bottom of the mailing.

Headteacher's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers

Please find this week’s mailing with important information for parents/carers and students as well as updates on school events, activities and opportunities for your reference below. With very best wishes for the weekend.

Kindest regards, Ms Jo Butler, Headteacher

Thank you for the positive feedback 👍

A lovely piece of feedback we received recently from our local shopping Centre Manager re: one of our students' good behaviour.

Well Done!

There is a young man who attends Cotham, I would say he is in first or second year (in old money) and I see him almost every day on the train home as we both go to and from Lawrence Hill. He is such a nice young man. Absolutely everyone on the train seems to like him and say hello to him and I noticed him as he always waves to the train driver every day, which is such a nice touch. He is a model of good behaviour.

Local Shopping Centre Manager

Do you know our three school values?

Achievement

Progress- at Cotham every child matters and no child is left behind.

Academic, creative and sporting excellence - high standards of teaching; ambition for every student ; a top school in Bristol for examination results.

Potential - hidden talents, confidence and character are developed aided by excellent staff, facilities and opportunities to try new things.

Celebration - of student successes inside and outside of school.

Diversity

Environment - warm and welcoming; the school community is richly diverse and cohesive; we embrace our differences and are a school that gives its students and staff the tools to do so positively.

Curriculum - we develop curiosity and knowledge about the world and each other through our broad and inclusive curriculum.

Openness - we believe in being open with students and their families, colleagues in our school and beyond, sharing information and ideas to raise standards and life chances.

Respect

Caring for Others – staff understand that children only have one childhood.

Safe and Happy - all members of our school community have this right;

Empathy - we treat everyone as we wish to be treated ourselves.

Honesty – we act in a courteous and respectful manner in our dealings with everyone.

Social responsibility – we maximise our positive impact on the people in our communities while minimising our footprint on the world.

Word of the Week

Word of the week

Required

Required is an adjective

It means: ‘needed; officially necessary’

New Announcements

New Cotham Climate Committee

Do you have any unworn and unwanted clothes, shoes or fashion accessories? Then we need your help! The newly formed Cotham Climate Committee have been approached to help Avon Wildlife Trust who are starting up a charity shop aimed at tackling fast fashion. This will open as part of the Sparks Bristol centre opening in Broadmead in May. We have been asked to help collect stock to help get this up and running.

The items themselves need to be fashion items only that are clean and undamaged. No toys or household items please. Students can bring these into tutor time from Tuesday 21 March. Collection will run up until Friday 21 April. Please promote this at home - this is a really worthy cause and a great opportunity for our school community!

Brand New Friday Evening Performing Arts Academy Launching Soon At Cotham School

The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts offers OUTSTANDING performing arts tuition for 4–18 year olds. Due to popular demand PQA Bristol will be opening a new academy on Friday 5 May at Cotham School from 5.15pm- 8.30pm. Having ran their Saturday academies on Saturdays at Cotham for several years, we are celebrating our 15-year birthday with a brand new academy!

This is a special academy session for FREE dedicated to welcoming new students, friends, and siblings.

Our main academy focuses on our 3 core modules - Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama, and Film & Television!

If your child is aged 6-18yrs and loves to sing, dance, act, perform, make new friends, and have FUN, then check out our website and book your place at our Open Day!

RESERVE YOUR PLACE ON AN OPEN DAY!

If you would like anymore information please contact :

Call or text Carly on 07421023706

Email: carly.bond@pqacademy.com

We can't wait to welcome you all to PQA!

Cotham Netball Trip to Team Bath Superleague

On Friday 10 March students who have been attending Cotham Netball Club were given the exciting opportunity to watch Team Bath versus Surrey Storm at Bath University.

We travelled by minibus to Bath University and arrived at 6.30pm ready to find our seats and watch the teams warm up. Team Bath produced plenty of fight, flair and belief during the first three quarters, with just a goal or two separating the teams in a couple of periods as they made the visitors work hard for their 55-45 advantage. However, Storm raced away during a one-sided final quarter which they won 25-9 to seal an 80-54 victory, their biggest win of the season to date.

A massive thank you to Mrs Madigan for organising the trip and Mrs Baynton for driving the minibus.

PI Day - 14 March

Tuesday 14 March was Pi Day and as part of our celebration of this incredible number, we laid down a challenge for students all in aid of the Omega House Charity - Children's Hospice South West. Students were asked to memorise as many digits of Pi as possible and enter our Pi day competition. The winner would not only bag themselves a treat, but also get to pie one unfortunate Head of House!

Huge congratulations to Red in Year 8 who successfully recited Pi to over 120 places! A massive thanks to the Omega Prefects, Mr King, Mr Udall and the maths department at large for promoting and helping to run the event and to everyone who took part and came to support!

Chess Tournament Results

Big congratulations to our Year 7 and 8 chess teams who took part in the tournament at Bristol Grammar School on Monday. 40 teams took part and our three Cotham teams came 15, 17 and 19 out of 20 in their sections. All were playing in a competition for the first time, so a respectable result! Well done to all.

Purple Day Loan Lanyards Missing

We have realised that we are missing many purple day loan lanyards. Could you please check at home and your bags and return to Student Reception or your Learning Co-ordinator as soon as possible please.

VOI

As you may know, VOI have launched an electric scooter scheme within the city. Unfortunately over the course of the last few weeks, we have been made aware of students using these scooters in the local communities.

Without the proper knowledge of navigating traffic and the rules of the road, not to mention safety equipment, these scooters are potentially very dangerous. This is why the VOI website contains very specific information regarding who can and cannot use these scooters. The website says that all users should be over 18 and hold a current driving license, two criteria which our students obviously do not meet. More information can be found here.

Please make sure your children are aware of the dangers of using these scooters and the restrictions in place to maintain their safety

Holiday Hub Programme in Bristol

The Easter school holidays are just around the corner. Holiday Hub provides free and healthy meals and activities for children and young people from Reception to Year 11 during the Easter, Summer and Winter school holidays. Free places on the programme are for children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals. We would like to encourage parents and carers who receive certain benefits, whose children do not already receive free school meals, to apply through the Bristol City Council website to benefit from Your Holiday Hub programme this Easter, and to access free and healthy school meals during term time too. Applications are quick and easy.

Recent changes in government guidance around free school meals mean that pupils who were eligible on 1 April 2018, or who became eligible since then, continue to receive free meals up until March 2025, even if their household is no longer eligible under the benefits/low-earnings criteria. After that date, they will still be able to access free school meals until the end of their current phase of primary or secondary education, even if their household no longer meets the eligible criteria.

Pay It Forward Campaign

‘Pay It Forward’ is an international movement which promotes the undertaking of random (or not so random) acts of kindness. ‘Pay it Forward’ can take many forms, a general donation which we can decide how to use in order to assist our students in the best way possible. Also a donation to help us provide access to extra-curricular activities which carry extra costs that some families cannot afford to pay. Such activities at Cotham include music instrument lessons, sports clubs, e.g. Badminton, Cue Theatre (drama) club, Duke of Edinburgh, Rucksack Club and any school trip which is not part of the curriculum.

All Things COLOUR

All things COLOUR with Year 10 this week- experimenting with the new medium of Brusho in response to Artist Will Nolan.

Bristol Author and Actor Visits Cotham!

Year 7 students were lucky enough to have a session with Bristol-born author and actor Joseph Elliott. His visit was a big hit, with students asking varied questions and voting on how they would behave as characters in Joseph’s books. Joseph talked about his novel, The Good Hawk (the first of his Shadow Skye trilogy), its events and the issues it raises. His discussion touched on different subjects, including Joseph’s diverse characters and our students were engrossed and enthused as a result.

Joseph Elliott’s books are available to borrow in the Cotham library very soon and there are a number of signed bookmarks there. Also coming soon, options to buy his books at discounted prices on Wisepay.

Cue Bristol Youth Theatre Group presents 'A NIGHT OF MUSICALS'

Monday 20 March 7.00pm in the Dance Studio

Tickets £2 pay on the door (cash only)

Everyone welcome

Work Experience webinars to take part in (with permission from parents/carers)

Thursday 20 April: Focus on NHS caring careers: End of Life Care Nursing - NHS Improvement

Friday 21 April: Be Inclusive at Bentley - Bentley Motors

Wednesday 24 May: Insights into accountancy - Azets

Tuesday 30 May: 'Tips and Hints' for those considering a career in Finance – Caxton

This week’s Discovery Workshop highlights

Date: 26/04/2023 10-11am

Industry: Music Industry

Booking deadline: 31/03/2023

Opportunity ID: 4635

More information here

Date: 27/04/2023 10-11am

Industry: Animal welfare

Booking deadline: 31/03/2023

Opportunity ID: 4089

More information here

Date: 23/05/2023 10-11am

Industry: Leisure & tourism

Booking deadline:

10/05/2023

Opportunity ID: 4791

More information here

Date: 19/07/2023 11-12pm

Industry: Apprenticeships at Uni

Booking deadline:

23/06/2023

Opportunity ID: 4125

More information here

STEAM Art Bytes

Art Bytes is a national art and EdTech programme for primary, secondary and SEN schools, combining an inter-school art competition with a bespoke virtual gallery. It is based on 10 years experience in the North West and is proven to nurture talent, raise ambition and develop confidence, as well as support mental health and help develop vital skills for future employment. Our Year 9 students now have their own portfolio page on their website please see here. A panel of judges will begin shortlisting the top three artworks from each school. In April we will ask that you vote for your favourite ART piece which will then feature in the Virtual Gallery.

We are delighted to be one of 250 schools in the UK that will receive Alaska pink salmon, courtesy of the Food Teachers Centre and Alaska Seafood UK - 10,000 salmon fillets are being sent to schools! Our school is one of the lucky schools.

It’s part of the Fish Heroes project, which encourages young people to learn about, cook and taste fish. Pupils will also be learning about the health benefits of fish in the diet (did you know that we are all recommended to each 2 portions a week?), as well as aspects of sustainability. Children in the UK eat just 84g of fish/fish products a week, of which only 21g is oily fish - way below recommendations.

Students in Year 10 GCSE Food will be cooking Salmon and Tarragon Tarts and Salmon skewers with flat bread, learning new food skills which they will be able to use in the future. As part of the lesson, they will also be able be to taste the fish. We hope to upload the photos and recipes in our next mailing.

We know that it will be an amazing experience for the students - from the delivery, cooking and tasting of Alaska pink salmon.

If you want to find out more, go to:

https://foodteacherscentre.co.uk/fish-heroes/
https://www.alaskaseafood.org

This week saw Year 11 complete their final dishes as part of their Non Examined Assessment which is worth in total 50% of their final grade. Due to exam regulations we cannot show you the final photographs, however please see the photos from 2022 Year 11 - the brief was to create dishes on a chosen celebration of their choice or to create meat free dishes.

Art Works at OTR Bristol

Art Works at OTR Bristol (a young people's mental health charity) have an opportunity for young people to join them on a visit to the Arnolfini to see their current exhibition, 'Adore.'

for : 16-25 year olds

on : Tuesday 21 March (next week) 4-5:30pm

at : Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA (we will meet outside the gallery and walk in together)

ArtWorks have organised this trip as they know that experiencing creative things together can increase our sense of wellbeing and provide tools to support mental health.

The session will involve a tour to explain all about the exhibition and the artist. There will be time to wander around and then an opportunity to sit on some beanbags together and chat/write/draw responses to the exhibition. You can find out more information here, as well as the link to the sign-up form.

Adore - A4 Poster.pdf

Post 16

Futures Bulletin

There really is something for everyone in this week's bulletin; Please read through and take part in something.

If you are thinking of going to University NOW is the time to be booking up your Open Day visits. They are always free and they are ready to roll out the red carpet for you. You will learn so much from a visit to a University. We have 4 locally to go along to and find out more about courses and get some inspiration.

Year 12 PES

Year 12 Virtual Online Parents’ Evenings will be running on Thursday 23 March 3:45pm - 6:45pm for lessons taught at both Cotham Learning and Redland Green Learning Communities. This event will be held virtually, via our online Parents Evening System platform. Please follow the link regarding booking and attending appointments.

Year 12 Progress Reviews

Progress reviews were sent home this week. Based on this data, new Upgrade+ cohorts have been allocated. This will appear on individual timetables from next week and the workshops will begin on Monday.

UCAS convention

Year 12 students will be attending the UCAS exhibition at Westpoint Exeter on Wednesday 22 March 2023. This letter was sent out at the start of the week with more information. Places are first come first served so please book places as soon as possible.

Upgrade drop-in

Unfortunately we had to cancel our lunchtime drop in for students who identify as female on Wednesday last week due to the disruptive weather. On Thursday 23 March the Post 16 team will be holding a lunchtime discussion group in Upgrade from 1:10-1:40.

Futures Bulletin

There really is something for everyone in this week's bulletin; Please read through and take part in something.

Year 12 PES

Year 12 Progress Reviews

UCAS convention

Upgrade drop-in

Coming Up Soon...

Year 8 Parents Evening

Year 8 Virtual Online Parents’ Evenings will be running on Wednesday 29 March 3:45pm - 6:45pm.

This event will be held virtually, via our online Parents Evening System platform. Please follow the link regarding booking and attending appointments.

Grief Encounter South West’s “Forget-Me-Not” Walk - Sunday 26 March

Grief Encounter really want to encourage as many families, children and young people across the South West to walk in memory of a loved one so that they can benefit from the positive impact of walking and talking with peers about grief and mental health. This is also a wonderful opportunity to continue supporting those children and their families who want to keep the memory of the loved one they have lost close.

Join hundreds of people up and down the country and walk in memory of a loved one, to raise funds for bereaved children, young people and their families.

More information and to register can be found through this link: the forget-me-not walk - Grief Encounter

Performing Arts Spring Sharing

Performing Arts Spring Sharing Event will be taking place on Wednesday 22 March showcasing a range of Drama, Dance and Music talent from our pupils. The event will start in the Main Hall at 6.30pm, doors open at 6.15pm. Tickets are available on Wisepay at £3 or £1 for concessions.

Code with Giants - Free Computer Coding Workshop

We would like to invite students to the “Code with Giants” event - free computer coding workshops for children and teenagers 7 to 18 years old. The free workshops begin on Saturday 25 March and the theme of the lesson will be Cybersecurity.

Coding Giants is an international organization providing children and teenagers 7 to 18 years old with coding courses in 14 countries around the world including the UK. Their mission is to improve this world by offering affordable, high-quality coding education to every child in the world.

What they have prepared for the students:

7-9 years old: coding in Scratch and Minecraft Education
10-12 years old: Scratch coding
13-15 years old: introduction to coding in C# and Python
high school: introduction to coding in C# and Python

And don't forget from last time....

Monitoring your child's Home Learning

As a school we use Google Classroom to set all our home learning tasks for students. On this platform, we can set work with deadlines and attach digital resources and links to the assignments. Each subject has its own classroom that groups all work together for that subject making it easy to see. Students use their school google accounts to log in and check their work.

There are no specific parent accounts so to view all the home learning that is being set for your child you will need login using your child's school login details to access the platform.

Parent Email Summaries

We have enabled Google Classroom email summaries for parents and carers.

If you would like to receive the email summaries for your child please please email us on GCSupport@cotham.bristol.sch.uk with the name of your child and their tutor group and we will send the invitation to you.

Please see the above video for how to use Google Classroom effectively. This would be great to watch alongside your child.

Are you following us on Social Media?

We have been working hard to improve our use of social media to keep parents and carers more informed about what is happening here at Cotham. It is a work in progress and we are getting better so please follow us on our social media feeds to keep up to date. 😊

We are on instagram, facebook and twitter.

Digital Literacy Corner

Latest Parent Online Safety Cheat Sheet

Check in with your Friends

If one of your friends doesn’t seem OK, checking in on them can make a huge difference. One in every five children struggles with their mental health, so let’s make sure we support each other through any difficult times.

All - Checking in.pdf

Our latest GCSE Pod Usage

Welcome! GCSEPod is the perfect resource to help your child learn, retain and recall all the information they need to achieve their GCSE goals.

Learn more about GCSEPod Here

Pods watched this academic year

4,976

Number of Pods watched so far in Term 4

938

Most watched subject this week

Geography

Our latest Seneca Learning Usage

Seneca offers high-quality free online learning courses for students to study from a computer, tablet or phone. The courses are suitable for students aged 13 and above and cover KS3, KS4 GCSE and KS5 A Level subjects.

We are Premium subscribers to this service which unlocks further features of the platform.

Learn more about Seneca Learning Here