Achievement    |    Diversity   |    Respect


10 January 2025

Parent and Carer 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 13 January 2025 is Week A

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Standing Items are located at the bottom of the mailing

Headteacher's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!  

We hope the festive season brought you joy, laughter and precious moments with loved ones.  We are delighted to welcome your children back to school. We are all looking forward to a new year of learning, growth and exciting adventures together.  

With very best wishes for a relaxing weekend.

Kindest regards,  

Ms Jo Butler, Headteacher

Positive Feedback of the Week 👍

"please pass our thanks to all of your staff for always making him feel safe and for helping him finally find his voice". 

Thank you

Announcements and Reminders

Term 3 Extracurricular Clubs Timetable

We are excited to announce that the enrichment timetable for Term 3 is now available.  This schedule outlines the exciting extracurricular activities and clubs your child can participate in at Cotham School.

We have some new additions (highlighted green) this term, so please encourage your child to have a look.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our teachers listed on the timetable or Ms Martina Veale (Assistant Headteacher) - vealem@cotham.bristol.sch.uk


Term_3_Clubs_A3_Main (3).pdf

World Hijab Day Celebrations

World Hijab Day celebrations will take place on Friday 31 January.  To mark this occasion, students will be allowed to wear any colour hijab (head covering) or any coloured scarf around their necks to school.  More details to follow on all the activities that have been planned.  To support this, if you have any spare hijabs at home that they no longer need, please can you send them into school and ask your child to give them to their Head of Year or pass directly to Mrs Khan in C108.

Dance at Cotham

Firstly a huge thank you and congratulations to all those students who have worked so hard every week rehearsing and leading dances for the Winter Sharing.  Congratulations on your exceptional work and performances.  You were all amazing!

Dance Opportunity!

If you are in Years 7-11, and you would like to take part in a great dance opportunity, Horison Dance Company takes place after school at Cotham, Thursdays from 5:00pm - 6:30pm.

Please look at the attached poster and link with the QR code for further information.

I would really encourage you to join this group, if you would love to do more dance.  The group has produced amazing dancers who take dance at exam level at Cotham and many have gone on to dance at degree level. 

Career Pilot

We are delighted to announce that Cotham School has been awarded the prestigious "Career Pilot Super User" certificate!  This recognition signifies our commitment to providing students with the best possible support in their career exploration and planning journeys.

Career Pilot.pdf
Cotham School Super User Certificate .pdf

Bristol City Leap Green Jobs

Cotham School are collaborating with Bristol City Leap to introduce 'Green Jobs for the Future'. 

Employees from Vattenfall and Therma Mech are coming into Cotham School to support a workshop to a group of Year 9 students on Tuesday 14 January 2025.

Careers Team

Cue

Does your child love acting and/or musical theatre?

CUE is Cotham’s theatre company which offers competitively priced acting and musical theatre classes with 3 performances throughout the year.

Weekly Mailing CUE

Adjustment to Escalation of Non-Attendance to Detentions

We have made a slight adjustment to our procedures for non-attendance to an after-school detention, if students have had to be removed from a lesson for disrupting learning.  If a student does not attend their ASD40 after school on the day that they were removed from the lesson, they will have their sanction escalated to a Headteacher Detention on a Friday.  This is a minor change to before when students were given a second chance to attend their after-school detention the next day. 

Important: Failure to attend the Headteacher Detention will result in a one day suspension from school. For more detail and context as to why this decision has been taken please see the Headteacher's letter sent by email earlier today.

Basketball Community Hub

We are excited to introduce the Bristol Flyers Community Hubs - a fantastic opportunity for your child to develop their basketball skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Let's help your child: 

PQA Bristol - Half Term Workshop

Experience the magic and dicover your inner performer.  Join the Pauline Quirke Academy for a thrilling 3-day performing arts workshop this February half term!

Dates: Monday 17 February 2025 to Wednesday 19 February 2025

Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Venue: Cotham School, BS6 6DT

Ages: 5 years and above

Reporting Absence

If you are reporting the absence of your child, you must notify attendance on a daily basis.  Please fill out the Year 7-11 absence form which is on our website.  Absence must be reported by 9.00am, otherwise it will result in an absence message still being sent home.  If there is no response to the message, a follow up letter requesting reason for absence will be sent home.

Year Group News

Year 7

Year 7 Disco Wednesday 29 January 2025

Cost of the ticket is £2.  Tickets will be available on WisePay from Monday 13 January 2025. 

Tickets will also be available to buy at lunchtime (cash only) in the HUB on Wednesday and Thursdays from 15 January 2025 to 16 January 2025.

There will be a tuck shop available at the event, and this will be cash only.

Money raised will go towards supporting the Year 11 Prom.

Year 8

Great start to Term 3 for Year 8!

Year 8 has started 2025 off fantastically and we are proud of both the engagement in the classroom and improved behaviour over this first week back after the winter holidays! 

Mr Dehaan

Final rounds of Tutor Football

We are fast approaching the final rounds of the tutor football tournament as each tutor group has been battling it out on the AWP on Wednesday and Thursday mornings despite the chilly weather! 

Congrats to 8BOP and 8RBI who picked up the first wins of 2025 this morning 👏🏽

Year 9

New Year Wishes and Important Dates for Year 9

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a great holiday season with your loved ones.  As we welcome 2025, we are excited to continue supporting your child in their academic journey.

Please note the following important dates:  

We look forward to seeing you at these events. Wishing you and your family all the best for 2025!

KS4 Pathways Event

This will be taking place on Wednesday 15 January at 5.30pm-7.30pm.  Presentations will be in the main hall at 5.45pm and 6.45pm.  All visitors should arrive via visitors reception on Cotham Lawn Road.  There will be an opportunity to visit the different subject areas.  We look forward to seeing you then. 

Mrs Khan

Year 10

Work Experience Extension - Celebrating Diversity 

We welcomed Year 10 back this week with an assembly celebrating our key value of diversity at Cotham.  The message was well received and there will be a number of initiatives this term to imbed and celebrate this core value.  We have had a high number of students who have submitted there placements for work experience. However,  there are a number of students who have not. The deadline has therefore been extended to the Friday 24 January 2025. 

Year 11

Great Start to Term 3

It has been good to see Year 11 students return to term 3 fully engaged and ready for learning.  I have been so impressed by their behaviour and commitment in getting ready for their mock exams due to start Monday 3 February.  We have assemblies booked in the next few weeks to inform students on mock exams, revision and preparation.  Information will also be shared in tutor time and on google classroom. 

Mrs Arnold 

Period 6

Period 6 has now started for Year 11.  Students who have been selected will have received their timetables via letters gone home to parents.

Students will be informed via tutor slides every week and will be given stickers to go on the back of their lanyards. 

Period 6 is compulsory.  If your child is unable to attend please can you inform Mrs Arnold.

Please note that Period 6 will be NOT be running on the following dates:

Shout out

Year 11 Drama Star of the week is Felix for an excellent start to term 3.

Well done Felix!

Luke Wheaton Legacy Trust Apprenticeship Event

Weston College are currently working in partnership with the Luke Wheaton Legacy Trust to organise a careers evening to be held in at the North Bristol Rugby  Football Club on Wednesday 29 January 2025 (4.00pm -7.00pm).  Luke Wheaton sadly lost his life in the tragic Avonmouth accident in 2020, whilst completing an apprenticeship.  Please find the link attached here to book your place.

TLT Solicitors - Apprenticeships Open Event

TLT are hosting an in-person Apprentice Open Evening on the Tuesday 21 January from 5.00pm-8:30pm.  This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to explore apprenticeship opportunities at TLT, a leading law firm.

Please find the signing up link attached here.

North Bristol Post 16

Update

Health and Wellbeing Community Event

We are holding a Health and Wellbeing community event on Wednesday 15 January from 11.00am -12:30pm in the Barton Hill Settlement (Terrace Room).  The purpose of this event is to share with Post 16 parents/carers the support available in school, give advice about how to support young people at home and to sign-post additional resources within the community.  All parents and carers received an invitation via email yesterday with a sign up link.  Please contact skinnerk@cotham.bristol.sch.uk with any questions.

UWE Raise The Bar Trip

Students who have been invited to the UWE 'Raise the Bar' Conference need to hand in their permission slips to the Post 16 Reception by the end of the school day on Monday 13 January 2025.

Subject Announcements

STEAM

Food Science 

Welcome back to a new year.  We hope you have had a lovely break and got the chance to share some delicious food with friends and family.  On the last day of term 12 students were chosen as Star Bakers for their exemplary behaviour and attitude to learn in Food Science lessons during Terms 1 & 2.  Star Bakers were rewarded with a hot chocolate, whipped cream and marshmallows.  As we start the new year, Miss Burt will be keeping her eyes out for the next Star Bakers. 

House Announcement

Happy New Year 

I am thrilled to welcome everyone back to school!  Last year was a massive success for Omega House.  I can’t wait to build on that excitement.  We had a fantastic Santa Dash where students competed against their teachers and raised money for Cancer Research UK—a truly remarkable event!  Additionally, we hosted our first inter-house staff sports competition. This year, we have many more exciting opportunities planned, and I can't wait to get started. Here’s to another incredible year ahead!

Be Present Today to Have Potential for Tomorrow!

Well done to Gamma House for securing the highest attendance!!!

Literacy

KS3

Word of the Week

Accumulate

'Uh-kyoo-myoo-layt'

Meaning:

To gather together or collect an increasing number of things (verb)

Example:

I aim to accumulate as many house points as possible. 

The snow began to accumulate quickly.


Synonyms:

Gather, collect, build up, stockpile

KS4

Word of the Week

Flourish

'Flurr-ish'

Meaning:

To grow or develop successfully (verb)

To wave something to attract attention (verb)

A bold gesture (noun)

Example:

The team flourished this season after the change in coach.

“I passed” she yelled flourishing her exam results.

With a flourish the teacher welcomed them into the classroom.


Synonyms:

Thrive, prosper, develop

Brandish, wave, flaunt

Digital Literacy Corner

Topic: Monkey App...

The Monkey App state that “individuals who are under the age of 18 are strictly prohibited from using Monkey”.

What is Monkey?

Monkey is a live video chat that connects users from across the globe. Monkey state that they are an alternative for Omegle (which we always advised children not to use due to safety concerns).

What do I need to be aware of?

Reporting/Blocking Features

Further information

Standing Items