Achievement | Diversity | Respect

13 October 2023

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 16 October 2023 is Week A

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

Headteacher's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers

Please find our weekly mailing.

I wish you all a relaxing weekend.

Kindest regards,

Ms Jo Butler, Headteacher

Headteachers Welcome 13/10/2023.mp4

Positive feedback of the week 👍

Year 8s have been amazing this week. We have managed to show a large number of prospective parents around during open morning tours, the Year 8s have been very informative and the parents have spoken very highly about them.

We have also interviewed students for the Student Leadership Team and we have picked 6 students who will represent the whole of Year 8. We know they will be amazing and well done to them for being interviewed very professionally.

Ms Buckley - Year 8 Learning Co-ordinator

Hello

I’d like to pass on my thanks for the open evening last night. It was great to visit Charnwood for the first time and meet many enthusiastic teachers and students.

Thank you for making it an informative and interesting evening.

Kind regards

Year 11 Parent

Thank you

Word of the Week

KS3

Word of the Week Quiz

KS4

Word of the Week Quiz

New Announcements

Google Classroom email summaries for parents and carers

On Monday 4 September, we re-enabled Google Classroom email summaries for parents and carers. If you were receiving the summaries last year the emails will automatically resume. If you are a new parent for a new student, you will receive an email invitation via the email account that the school holds on record for you. You have 120 days to accept the invitation before it will expire. When you accept the invitation, you can select whether you have a daily or weekly summary of all the work set for your child and the status of all tasks set.

To outline: the parental aspect of Google Classroom is an email summary

This will be sent to you on either a daily or weekly basis depending on the option that you selected when you signed up. You can check and amend the frequency of your emails by visiting https://classroom.google.com/gs. If no work has been set for your child since your last email, you will not receive an email until the next piece of homework is set. Google has written a comprehensive user guide which can be found here. There are also answers to the most common parent and carer queries below.

I have downloaded the Google Classroom app and am being asked for a class code - What does this mean?

Unfortunately, the Google Classroom app can only be used by Students at this time. The parental aspect of Google Classroom is an email summary of the work set. Google are proactively developing Classroom and the app may be available for parental use in the future.

The set work in my email summary refers to some attachments or links but I cannot see them, what do I need to do?

The parental aspect of Google Classroom is currently an email summary - This will not include attachments or links which have been uploaded to your child’s assignments. This is normal behaviour. If your child logs into Google Classroom they will be able to see all of the attachments and links that are needed to complete the task.

I have lost my invitation link and have not signed up - Please can you invite me again?

If you have misplaced the invitation link, please email us on GCSupport@cotham.bristol.sch.uk with the name of your child and their tutor group and we will resend the invitation to you.

It has been another eventful week in our Black History Month celebrations at Cotham!

Black History Month

BHM in the Cotham Curriculum - teachers have been working hard to review the taught curriculum for this month, embedding a wide range of learning around black history which students will experience in all courses and all year groups. As we approach the end of BHM, we will share some summaries with you so that you can continue these conversations at home!
Our Black Excellence art project is beginning to take shape. Students have been collaborating on a continuous line drawing to exemplify Black Excellence in Bristol's history. There are also opportunities for students to contribute to written narrative pieces. They should speak with their art teacher if they want to get involved; it is open to all students, even if they are not ‘good at art’.
On Tuesday, we had a visit from the iconic Guy Bailey OBE, the Bristol Bus Boycott 'Spark'. Guy came to deliver workshops with Year 10-13 students, ably accompanied by Julz Davis (Bristol Creative Disruptor) and author Lillieth Morrison who co-wrote the Paul Stephenson autobiography. The sessions focused on living history and the role of the boycott in establishing equalities laws for all protected characteristics. We were especially excited to get an exclusive viewing of Guy's Pride of Britain Award, presented to him just days before.
The Bristol Bus Boycott Exhibition has been up this week in our Post 16 library, celebrating the life and work of Paul Stephenson, alongside all the boycott pioneers.
The Humanities research challenge has been launched on year group Google Classrooms. Students have been given a wide range of resources to access, featuring incredible stories of inspiring black women to explore. There are rewards on offer for those who submit responses!

Coming up next week:

Assemblies for Year 7-11 next week will be delivered by Mr Dunkley and our student leaders, they will focus on our young people as living history. A Year 12 assembly will be delivered by Professor Shawn Sobers, Director of the Critical Race and Culture Research Group at UWE.
On Monday some of our amazing Year 9 and 10 students will be delivering their TED talks on their chosen local history themes. Many have chosen to celebrate one of the Seven Saints of St Pauls and have been expertly coached by a number of staff and local influencers, including Jen Reid.
On Tuesday we are welcoming the Boycott Bus onto the school site. The bus, decorated in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the boycott, will be driving onto our playground and a group of Year 8 students will take part in an immersive workshops while some of our talented Year 11 artists sketch the scene!
And the big one: We are excited to welcome students and families to our African Caribbean Celebration Evening on Wednesday 18 October. This free event will have live music, fantastic speakers / performances, catering from Glen's Kitchen and the launch of our 2023 Black History Month Student Film. Tickets are going fast, so please follow THIS LINK to RSVP if you are hoping to attend.

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Student Executive Leadership Team

Over the past couple of weeks we have been interviewing students for the exciting new opportunity to be part of our Student Executive Leadership Team. We have had over 120 applications across the 3 year groups currently applying and only 18 spaces to fill! Learning Co-ordinators and Behaviour Managers have been conducting interviews in order to select the students who will be part of the SELT at Cotham School. As a Student Executive Leader, students have the opportunity to serve as a role model for fellow students, fostering a sense of community and responsibility within our school community and supporting the upholding of our Cotham School values of Achievement, Diversity and Respect. Their duties will include assisting staff and organising events and activities that enrich the experiences of their peers.

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House Events coming up

Gamma House are holding their annual Spookfest event in the hub on Tuesday 31 October. It is the first time in Spookfest’s history that the event will actually be held on Halloween so we hope the extra spooky vibes will lead to lots of money raised for Gamma’s House charity-Bristol and Weston’s Hospital Charity. Students can purchase spooky goods and cakes from the Hub at breaktime so please bring in cash on Tuesday 31 October.

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Monkhouse - School Uniform

Our school uniform supplier, Monkhouse is offering a huge 20% off everything in store and online between Monday 16 October 2023 - Sunday 22nd October 2023. If you need to top up on any uniform or P.E kit items or need a refresh on your everyday essentials and stationery, now’s the time to shop. Use code DEAL20 at checkout or in store. www.monkhouse.com

Year 7

The Year 7 team would like to congratulate Tutor Group 7 BOP for achieving the most house points in Year 7 during the month of September. Students in 7BOP have been awarded an amazing 1250 house points since starting at Cotham.

The Year 7 Team would also like to congratulate Tutor Group 7EW for their outstanding achievements and attitude to learning since starting Year 7 in September.

Year 8
Year 8s have been showing prospective parents around and they have been doing a great job. They have been able to answer many questions that the parents have asked. Especially the Thursday tour students who are also our Student Leadership Team, they could have probably done the tour without me!

Ms Buckley - Year 8 Learning Coordinator

Year 9

This week Year 9 SELT (Student Executive Leadership Team) decided on the charity they would like to support going forward (The Malala Fund - an international, non-profit organization that advocates for girls' education). Each member of the team presented a charity they felt strongly about and the group made a final decision together. Each student presented their charity brilliantly and this provided a fantastic opportunity for the student's to display their skills in public speaking and communication

Mr Farmer - Learning Co-ordinator

Year 10

A big shout out to Mubaarak 10KBO who this week has the highest number of achievement points in Year 10, Mubaarak received a Mrs Arnold's super LC bar. Well done Mubaarak, keep up the good work!

In our Assembly this week we celebrated with the students who have been selected to lead our Student Executive Leadership Team. We had 28 Year 10 students apply. The quality of applications were outstanding and 12 students were invited to interview. It was not an easy task choosing the final 6 students. Well done to all those who applied and huge congratulations to the following students who were appointed as the Student Leaders. I am excited to start working with them.

Lila 10FRA

Gen 10SME

Rosie 10JWO

Vismaya 10CG

Zoya 10CG

Karina 10CG

Year 10 - Inter Tutor Bake off is back

On Friday 20 October, 9 Year 10 students will take on the challenge to see which tutor group has the best baker. Look out for more information next time.

Year 10 Rugby World Cup

Year 10 have been following the Rugby. Each tutor group had 2 teams to follow. As we go into the quarter finals, the following tutor groups will be rooting for their teams.

Argentina and Fiji - 10JWO

Wales - 10SME

Ireland - 10KD

France - 10LN

New Zealand - 10FRA

South Africa - 10LBE

England - 10CG

Year 10 Bus Boycott Assembly and Workshops

As a part of our BHM activities we were incredibly honoured to host Mr Guy Bailey OBE at our Year 10 Bristol Bus Boycott assembly and workshops run by the amazing Mr Julz Davis. It was incredible to listen first hand to this amazing leader who was part of the initial group that sparked the Bus Boycotts here in Bristol and trailblazed for racial equality not only in Bristol but throughout the UK. ar 10

Year 10 - Clickety Click - 66

Year 10 Bingo afternoon - 36 students had a fun filled afternoon, pulses were racing, excitement built as they waited for that last number for a line or a full house. The atmosphere and behaviour was amazing. I even found out that I had a new talent as a Bingo caller! Well done to Archie and Rory who won on a line and 1 other lucky student in 10FRA Luka, Moataz and Selena who each won a full house.

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Year 11

Year 11 have engaged really well in preparations for further education, applying for college and sixth form places with excitement. A positive start for Period 6 upgrade lessons, students attending are very enthusiastic to improve and progress.

Mr Thomas - Learning Co-ordinator

Year 11 Parent/ Carer GCSE Information Event (Online)

This resource will be live on Thursday 19 October and can be accessed via the school website. You will receive an email and a text to inform you when this is available for you to view. This resource will give valuable insight into the resources that are available to you and your child, revision techniques and how you can support your child in preparation for their upcoming examinations.

Virginia in Year 11 won player of the match on Sunday with Ashton under 18s - girls, against Wotton Rovers. Her team won 4.3. Virginia scored the 4th goal off her left foot playing Central Forward position. This is Virginia's first goal she has ever scored as she normally plays left defence. Well done Virginia!

Year 11 Careers Passport to Success Events

Over the past 2 weeks we have hosted a wide range of external businesses, apprenticeship schemes and further education providers at our PASSPORT to SUCCESS events for all our Year 11 students. Students attended a carousel of activities and presentations to help them further explore their future aspirations and opportunities. All our visitors were incredibly impressed with how our students conducted themselves and the Year 11s were excited to explore so many options and opportunities. This has also provided a real sense of focus for our students. A big thank you to Ms Paice and Ms Kaur for organising and facilitating this amazing event.

German Trip to UoB

On Thursday 12 October, 21 students in Year 11 and 6 A level students attended the Bristol University German Careers Fair. Students were able to explore a wide range of careers linked to the the study of German and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thanks to Ms Bingham for facilitating this wonderful trip.

Year 12 Philsophers - BEP

Several of our Year 12 Philosophers attended the first BEP Philosophy Society of the academic year on Wednesday of this week. Huge thanks to QEH for hosting several BEP schools and their student presentation on Unusual Arguments for the existence of God, which aligns with what Year 12 are studying in their A Level Philosophy at the moment. A great time was had by all and we look forward to hosting our own event in February 2024.

Summer Reading Competition Results

Congratulations to the summer reading competition winners 2023 - Winners will each receive £10 Amazon Vouchers

Vismaya - 10CG - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll

This book is one of my favourite books, it is so descriptive and imaginative. When reading this book you feel intrigued by the odd and mysterious characters and ideas.

The writing is very original. I feel like I AM Alice and I get to go to Wonderland.

Karina - 10CG - The Client by John Grisham

An enthralling thriller that triumphs in beguiling readers with it’s well thought out plot and erudite scheme. John Grisham’s The Client is a must-read novel. It is an action-packed mob escapade. This novel knows how to throw a punch. In the first chapter we get a sense of the plot with homicide mixed with the vulnerability and the mind of a 11 year old child witness. After the demise of a US State Senator, the FBI are determined to recover the body whilst the killer wants the 11 year old child Mark silenced forever.

Will this book end in tears of joy or pain? This book is a bestseller and I would recommend it for all the crime readers out there. The Client is bound to be in your Top 5.

Artwork of the Week

This week Year 11 have been working on their Identity projects. One of our very talented students has experimented using different media to create these impressive portraits.

WOTW Y11 Mae.pdf

Life As A Solicitor - Webinar

Follow the link for free insight webinar with legal firm Dentons - Tuesday 21 November 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Bristol and District Badminton Club

Kingsdown Sports Centre are hosting a Badminton Club each Wednesday from 5pm-7pm starting on Wednesday 1 November for Years 7-11 (ages 11-16).

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Drama Kids Bristol

Formerly Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. New name, new logo, same great programme.

No audition required.

Book your 2 week trial online at

www.dramakids.co.uk

Contact your local academy:

Phone: Sky Young 07821 855 853

Email: bristol@dramakids.co.uk

Wednesday - Elmlea Lower and Upper Primary 5.15pm-6.15pm BS9

Thursday - Cotham High School - 6.15pm-7.30pm BS6

Friday - Downend Folk House - 4.00pm-5.00pm-6.00pm BS16

COLOUR Youth Theatre Letter.pdf

Online Safety Parent/Carer Session

Here you can find a recording and a presentation, as well as a useful links document signposting you to further resources from an online safety workshop for parents and carers that was streamed live this Wednesday evening. You'll learn about how to keep your child safe online, looking at current trends, understanding the risks, what you can do and signposting to further support.

Post 16

Student Leadership

We are very proud to announce our new P16 Leadership Team:

Student President:Tom

Vice President: Kate

Lead RESPECT Ambassador:Isabella

Leader of Charity and Events: Huda

Leader of Learning and Wellbeing: Emily

Leader of Environment and Sustainability: Herbert

Co Leaders of Equity and Diversity: Yumna and Sam

We would like to wish a huge congratulations to all members of the team for the brilliant campaigning they did. Watch this space as we will be reporting all of the brilliant things they will be putting in place as a team.

PUNC Week

Next week is Punc(tuality) Week. If students are late to lessons, their teacher will send them to Charnwood Reception to see a member of the Post 16 team to collect a late slip; if this happens multiple times students will be placed on a stage one contract. This is to support our students to avoid bad habits like lateness.

Respect Ambassadors

Respect Ambassadors (amongst other things) act as peer mentors to promote positive, healthy, respectful relationships and interactions. They also promote gender equality at Cotham School and NBP16. The new cohort was launched this week in Core Program. We would like to encourage as many students as possible to sign up using this Google Form. The first meeting will take place next week on Wednesday at 1:45 in G104.

Bursary

A reminder that the deadline for P16 bursary applications is Friday 20 October. Please direct any questions to Ms Dutton.

Year 12

Upgrade+

Some students will now find Upgrade+ on their timetable. They are compulsory sessions (approx. 4-5 hours per fortnight) of directed study where students will work in G101 with an Academic Mentor to improve their study skills through workshops and guided study.

Year 13

Please share information about ‘Next Step Bristol’ is a programme run by University of Bristol for Black, Asian or of mixed background young people. They will provide advice, and support to students through a series of webinars. Students will be guaranteed a contextual offer to study at UoB. (more information linked above).

Coming Up Soon...

Bristol Education Partnership (BEP) - ADHD and Homework Support Workshop: Tuesday 17 October at Bristol Grammar School

BEP are holding an evening in the 1532 Theatre helping to support your child with their homework – particularly focussing on those pupils with ADHD but everyone is very welcome – parents, pupils and professionals. You don’t need a diagnosis of ADHD to attend. Please email Ivy Fackayan: Ifackayan@bgs.bristol.sch.uk to express your interest and advise how many tickets you would like. Arrival from 5.45pm to start at 6.15pm. This event is aimed at pupils from Year 7 – 13.

Should you have any questions/queries please do not hesitate to contact the Head of Learning Support – Mrs Corinne Kempt ckempt@bgs.bristol.sch.uk

Concert - Friday 27 October, 7pm - 9pm in Memory of Eddie King Kinuthia

Elim Bristol Church is a Pentecostal community church based in Bristol, Stokes Croft and in response to the recent tragic passing of Eddie King Kinuthia, would like to dedicate their concert in October to honour Eddie's memory and raise awareness around knife crime.

Eddie's death is a catalyst for people in the community to wake up, go back to the drawing boards and ask what can be done to help the individuals involved in this lifestyle.

Precious lives are being lost amongst young people and it is becoming more evident that our community needs to respond in order to see change. Violence is not the answer as there is a choice for peace. We want to fuel that message to the community to stop this cycle so it does not happen again. This concert is not the final answer but it will be a step closer to ensuring young people know they can Put it Down For Peace.

What the concert will include:

Games
Live dance performance
Spoken word poems
An inspirational testimony from someone who has first hand been effected by knife crime.
Headline Artist: Limoblaze a UK based award winning musician, singer songwriter and well respected Christian artist in the gospel music community who has performed with the likes of Travis Green and Blessing Annatoria (Winner of The Voice UK 2020).
Performing act Tidez an up coming young Christian rapper who has performed at Big Church Festivals.

Please follow the link to book tickets. Concert to be held at:

E5 BRISTOL, 3-15 Jamaica Street, Bristol, BS2 8JP

Ages 16-21 (separate seating area for ages 13-15)

£8 online or £10 at the door

100 free tickets are available

For groups with 10+ people tickets are £5 each. (Please contact E5 CHURCH for a separate link to book this deal).

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October Holiday Club

At Kingsdown Sports Centre

Ages 5-12 , 9am - 3pm

Activities include Halloween themed sports

and arts and crafts, soft play.

Halloween fancy dress and other halloween activities.

£16 per day or £70 for the week

halloween hoilday club.jpg

And Don't Forget From Last Time

Cotham School Open Mornings for Prospective Parent/Carers and Students

We held our First Open Morning for Year 6 Students and their Parent/Carers yesterday. All of our 7 Open Mornings for September 2024 Year 7 entry have been very popular and are fully booked. Yesterday was no exception with over 40 people attending.

Our Open Mornings are a chance for Parent/Carers and their Children to have a look at our wonderful facilities and enter some of the classrooms and see a ‘live’ lesson taking place. Mr Farmer, Year 9 Learning Co-ordinator headed the Tour and we are fortunate to have our Year 8 students accompanying him, they are fantastic Ambassadors for the School and are keen to impart their knowledge of the School and can answer the many questions that both Parent/Carers and their Children ask. Everyone that came away from the Tour commented on their very positive impression of Cotham and our Students and how much they enjoyed the morning. If you or anyone you know has a Child that is starting Secondary School in September 2024, please ask them to visit our ‘Admissions’ page on our Website as we are releasing 2 more Open Mornings shortly. Dates before Tuesday 31 October when Applications for Secondary School places have to be submitted.

Year 11 Family Consultation Day

Booking for Year 11 FCD is now open. Parents and carers will have the opportunity to meet your child’s tutor for a 15 minute appointment to discuss your child’s engagement and well-being, participation in the wider life of the school, and to set targets for the remainder of the year. This event is in addition to our Year 11 Parents Evening last week when you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s subject teachers. Your child’s Learning Coordinator Mr Thomas will also be available to meet with you if that is needed. Mrs Begum, our Attendance Officer, will also be on hand to discuss any concerns you may have regarding attendance.

Black History Month at Cotham

BHM subject posters final copy to print.pdf

Black History Month at Cotham

Last week saw the launch of our Black History Month celebrations at Cotham, with a range of exciting activities for our students to get involved with.

BHM in the Cotham Curriculum - teachers have been working hard to review the taught curriculum for this month, embedding a wide range of learning around black history which students will experience in all courses and all year groups. As we approach the end of BHM, we will share some summaries with you so that you can continue these conversations at home!
Last week also saw the launch of our Black Excellence art project, which is open to all students, even if they are not ‘good at art’. Students have been collaborating on a continuous line drawing to exemplify Black Excellence in Bristol's history. There are also opportunities for students to contribute to written narrative pieces. They should speak with their art teacher if they want to get involved.
In the main site and Post 16 libraries, students have been having their say in the #raceforpower conversation. This is running all month and students can pop along to either library to share their thoughts about creating an equitable future for Bristol and contribute to a giant birthday card for Martin Luther King to celebrate 60 years since his ‘dream’ speech. Loads of new books around the theme of black excellence also!
Assemblies for Year 7-11 this week were delivered by Ms Kelly and focused on Windrush, the Bristol Bus Boycott and our role in changing history. Year 12 had an assembly from Ms Skinner exploring this year's national BHM theme - 'Saluting our Sisters'.
On Wednesday, we had a visit from a group of Malcolm X community elders who came to share afternoon tea and stories with a small group of Year 8-9 students. Our incredible students worked hard to prepare the tea from scratch and one of our incredible Year 10s even regaled the elders with an emotional acapella performance of 'Lean on Me'. It was a really special inter-generational event and one that will stick with all involved for a very long time.

Coming up next week:

Assemblies for Year 7-11 next week will be delivered by Ms Ingham and focus on World Mental Health Day in the context of Black History Month.
On Tuesday, Year 10 will be taking part in a workshop with Julz Davis to explore the Bristol Bus Boycott as living History. There will be a further workshop for some Year 11-13 students after this, with an opportunity to further explore their own role in the creation of history.
On Tuesday, our very own Ms Kelly will be a guest on Sherri Eugene-Hart’s BCFM radio show ‘Real Women’, talking about Black History Month at Cotham and the importance of keeping the black excellence in Bristol's history alive in the hopes and ambitions of our young people.
The Humanities research challenge has been launched on year group Google Classrooms. Students have been given a wide range of resources to access, featuring incredible stories of inspiring black women to explore. There are rewards on offer for those who submit responses!
From Tuesday, students can pop along to the library at break or lunch to view the Bristol Bus Boycott pop-up exhibition.

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Student Absence - Reminder

Notifying the school of student absence - all info can be found on the School website

Parents and carers can report student absence in 3 ways.

Parents and carers can either:

- complete the absence form on school website

- email the attendance absence email at absence@cotham.bristol.sch.uk (Year 7-11) or p16absence@cotham.bristol.sch.uk (Year 12 and 13)

- telephone the attendance absence line on 0117 919 8000

Library Stationery Shop

Here is a poster with information regarding the items available in the library stationery shop.

The library is now running at normal opening hours.

STATIONERY SHOP AD POSTER.docx

On Line Safety Newsletter

Online Safety Newsletter Secondary October 2023_SECONDARY_PDF_Cotham.pdf

Digital Literacy Corner

What Parents and Carers Need to Know About:

Supporting Children To Deal with Upsetting Content

Find out what your child knows

Right Time Right Place

Keep it Age Appropriate

Emphasise Hope

Monitor Reactions

Consider Your Emotions

Set Limits

Take Things Slowly

Encourage Questions

Find a Balance

Build Resilience

Identify Help

Parents - UpsettingContent.pdf

Our latest GCSE Pod Usage

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Pods watched this academic year

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243

Most watched subject this week

Geography

Our latest Seneca Learning Usage

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