Weekly Mailing to Parents and Carers
Friday 27 November 2020
Dear Parents and Carers It’s really important that we are made aware of any students who have tested positive for COVID-19 immediately on receipt of the test result. Parents and carers can either:
We also need to know if your child is isolating because either they or someone in the household or support bubble has symptoms or has recently tested positive. It’s important that we understand who has symptoms, the date on which the symptoms began, and if they’ve accessed a test for Covid-19, when the date of the test was.
Please also find below this week’s important information for Parents/Carers and students as well as updates on school events, activities and opportunities for your reference. I wish you and your children a very relaxing weekend. Ms Jo Butler Headteacher |
Good News |
Bristol Global Goals Centre Competition WinnerWe were delighted to learn that one of our brilliant Year 9 students, Martha, was a winner in the Bristol Global Goals Centre exhibition competition. Earlier on in the year students were asked whether they would be interested in being pioneers and coming up with ideas and suggestions for possible exhibitions that could be installed at the BGGC in the centre of our city, which is due to be opened in the early part of 2021. Students worked with Dr Verity Wright through Google Meets during the lockdown period to learn about a range of issues and to discuss ideas and suggestions for what could be the most engaging way to share information with visitors to the exhibition. Martha, along with several other fantastic Year 9 students including Esme, Daisy (whose entries were voted as 'highly commended') and Adrianna attended a virtual awards ceremony on Monday 23 November attended by the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees. Mya-Rose Craig, otherwise known as Birdgirl and the Lord Mayor, Cllr Jos Clark concluded the ceremony. Peaches Golding OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, was also in attendance. The challenge was to design a fun, interactive space for people to discover the social and environmental impacts of the fashion industry and also find positive ways to respond. The entries were all marked according to 3 key criteria:
The judges loved Martha's idea for a patch station to design and print a patch on a 3D printer and actually going inside a massive T-shirt to start your journey of discovery about fashion. Huge congratulations to our students for taking part and making such a positive contribution to an exciting exhibition that will be opening soon! |
House News |
Design the School Christmas Card Competition!!**DEADLINE MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER**!! Every year we run this competition and we are always impressed with the standard of entries. The competition is open to all year groups and is a House Competition! The winner will receive an Amazon voucher to the value of £20 and printed copies of their design, and the runner up will receive a £10 Amazon voucher. See the poster for further information on how to enter here. |
Important and New Information for Parents and Carers |
Sign- up to your SENECA Parental Account and help our school!! - SENECA is a brilliant resource for your child and you!!Please find below information on supporting your child using the digital platform SENECA. We are aiming to get at least 200 parents to create accounts so that as a school we gain greater access to a range of support from SENECA. Currently we have a low number of parents signed up so we cannot gain access to these enhanced features. You may be aware that many Faculties are using SENECA Learning to support our students’ digital learning. 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. SENECA also provides free parent accounts. The free parent accounts allow you to track your child’s learning and help make conversations about school and learning easier. SENECA’s parent accounts also allow you to learn alongside your child if you wish to do so. This might be helpful in supporting you to work with your child on areas of their school work that you are less familiar with. We are aiming for more parents to create a parent account as this will enable us to access further opportunities from SENECA and the Department of Education which will help all students at Cotham. We are aiming to have 200 parents and carers create accounts so that we can link more closely with SENECA. You can sign up for a free SENECA parent account here: app.senecalearning.com/parent Seneca have made this handy 2 minute video to help you get started. Or you can read how to get your free account if you’d prefer. If you have any questions about how SENECA works, you can get support from the SENECA team using the live chat on their website or you can email them at learnmore@seneca.io. There are also three free webinars offered throughout this month which will provide further support to parents explaining the benefits of SENECA, to get tickets for the SENECA webinar click this link GWR Christmas and New Year ServicesFollowing the announcement of the five day Christmas travel period, we thought it would be helpful to let you know about their Christmas and New Year services.
Services will run normally on 23 December. On Christmas Eve late afternoon and evening services will be amended to prepare for their usual closure on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
On Christmas Day Network Rail Western will start work on two major improvement projects for the West of England. They will install a new signal gantry at Bristol East in preparation for the replacement and remodelling of Bristol East junction. This is critical for the introduction of MetroWest services. Replacing the old junction will also improve performance reducing delays and minimising the length of disruptions. This is a very major piece of engineering and work will continue through the year, with the full replacement and remodelling of the junction over the summer.
In addition, work will start on Christmas Day on the restoration of Bristol Temple Meads station roof and rewiring. Scaffolding will be installed which will close platforms 3 to 6. As well as restoring the roof, including the architectural stonework, the station improvement work will include a new eastern entrance. The restoration is due to be completed by early 2023. There are more details on our website.
The impact of the work on rail services is limited. There will however be buses on some local routes on Sunday 27 December. Trains continue to run on other routes, but will operate to an amended timetable. Amended timetables will then operate on all routes via Bristol Temple Meads from Monday 28 December to Sunday 10 January.
Customers are reminded to check their journeys before travel on www.gwr.com and they are asking that tickets are booked in advance. There is a web page with information to help customers travel with confidence. Let's have a scam free Christmas!Cyber crime is relevant to all of us and in the spirit of goodwill, we thought it would be useful to publish some helpful guidance for students and parents from ‘One West Specialist Professional Services’. Creative Opportunity for all Year GroupsJump into the Christmas spirit! Students can learn how to design their own laser-cut Christmas decorations and remix a Christmas tune. Join the Jump Studios team from Knowle West Media Centre for a day of festive creativity. There are two different sessions to get involved in, and both are designed for young people aged 10-16. Sessions are free and will take place online via Microsoft Teams. Bristol Plays Music Instrumental LessonsWe are now able to once again offer peripatetic music lessons from Bristol Plays Music teacher. Almost any instrument is available and the students can be an absolute beginner or a grade 8 instrumentalist - all skill basis are catered for. If your child is a pupil premium student or if you feel that the financial implications would stop you signing up for this, we have the funding to offer these lessons free of charge. The details of this are explained in the registration process but any queries, please contact geogheganr@cotham.bristol.sch.uk The registration details and a how-to guide are below.
Here is a How-to guide should you need help through the system. KS3 and GCSE ScienceIf you would like to further support students working at home with their classwork and homework as well as revision we have a stock of revision guides for all year groups. Please order on WisePay through the school website. School Library UpdateOur library is currently closed to students but we are offering a Click and Deliver service for textbooks. All lower school textbooks are being issued via the class teachers. Post 16 students must arrange their own textbook loans by using these booking forms: Year 12 (Collection Point is the Study Hub in Charnwood) Year 13 (Collection Point is the Y13 Upgrade in Charnwood). All students are able to make requests for all other library books by using our library software AccessIt or by emailing us directly. Click here for a step-by-step guide about how to reserve a book. Library books can currently be returned to:
Alternatively, we have ebooks and audiobooks which are available 24/7 from home. Click here for more information. This platform includes lists of useful resources including our new Wellness ebook collection here. Click here for information to support students with Dyslexia when accessing our ePlatform. We are also following the Bristol Teen Book Award for Year 9 and above. For information about where to find the titles click here. The physical books are all available from the school library. Word of the WeekEach week at Cotham School we promote a Word of the Week. This is to help students expand the range of vocabulary they use. Please find the word for the week ahead by clicking here. |
Reporting Student Absence |
Parents and Carers can report student absence in 3 waysParents and carers can either:
|
Covid 19 |
Symptoms and/or diagnosis of illnessesIn addition to Covid-19 symptoms and/or a diagnosis, we are asking all parents and carers to inform us if anyone in your household presents with symptoms or a diagnosis of measles, mumps, chickenpox. shingles or slapped cheek. These illnesses place some of our students and staff at higher risk if they have certain pre-existing medical conditions, are receiving cancer or autoimmune treatments or are pregnant. We appreciate your support with trying to keep our school community as safe as possible for all of its valued members. Polite reminder to Parents/CarersWith the number of COVID cases increasing, can we please remind Parent/Carers not to come into School unless you have a booked appointment with a member of staff. This is to minimise the spread of the virus to yourselves and members of the school community. Face Coverings in School - MandatorySome students (those without exemptions) are still coming to school without a face covering. This is very difficult for staff to manage and we do not have the funds to supply face coverings routinely. A reminder that from Monday 9 November, it became mandatory for all students and staff to wear face coverings in communal areas of the school. Please see the communication sent home last week here. Face Coverings outside of SchoolWe would like to ask parents and carers to insist to their children that they must wear a face covering on their journey to and from school and especially on public transport for their own safety and the safety of others. This is mandatory for all secondary school children and is causing damage to the reputation of the school when it is not followed as well as putting others at risk. We have received complaints from the public that some students have not been wearing masks on public transport or in shops. Lockdown Video Messages for CommunitiesAs part of the messaging on the national lockdown restrictions that came into place on Thursday 5 November, the Bristol City Council Equalities and Inclusion Team have recorded video messages in six different languages (Polish, Punjabi, Somali, Bengali, Urdu and Arabic) that cover the current government guidance, the importance of adhering to the rules and also information on where to find additional support. Click here for the council’s YouTube channel. Making a childcare bubble with another household – information for parentsGovernment has published guidance for parents on how to form a childcare bubble for children aged 13 or under with friends and family they do not live with. A childcare bubble is where one household links with one other household to provide informal childcare to a child or children aged 13 or under. They can provide the childcare in either or both of the homes from the 2 households. ‘Informal’ childcare means it is unpaid and unregistered. Once all children in a household are 14 or above, the childcare bubble arrangement must stop. !Very Important! - Reporting COVID information to the SchoolIt’s really important that we are made aware of any students who may test as positive for COVID-19. Parents and carers can either:
If you are contacting us to let us know that:
It is important that your message to us lets us know which scenario applies. In scenario 1 - 2, it’s also important that we understand the date symptoms began. In scenario 3-4 it’s important that we understand when the household members symptoms began In scenario 5, it’s important that we understand when the last date of contact occurred. COVID-19 SymptomsIt is of vital importance that if a household member thinks they may have coronavirus symptoms then their children and wider household members must self-isolate. This avoids the risk of wider transmission occurring. If a test result comes back positive then all household members must continue to follow isolation guidance and inform the school. Please find a useful chart from BBC News here. If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms started. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. Arrangements for provision of work for students who are isolating due to COVID-19The school will provide work for students in the following circumstances:
Each faculty will create a summary of the work that students should complete in these circumstances. A summary of this work will be posted to the Remote Learning portal on the Cotham School website. These summaries will not be shared with students. They are intended and produced to give parents and carers an overview of the lessons being shared and the work being set. The work and supporting resources for each lesson will be posted to students on Google Classroom. The school will be supporting teachers to provide resources:
Years 7,8,9 and 10. Each faculty will create work that students should complete in these circumstances. This will be a set of lessons that support our planned school curriculum. These summaries will be shared with students and parents (via the Remote Learning portal on the school website). They will not be posted to students on their Google Classroom. Years 11, 12 and 13. Work for students will be posted directly to google classroom.
The school will strive to provide work for every student in each year group that is of the highest quality and which simulates the core stages of our usual lesson structure. NHS Test and Trace COVID-19 app – resources for schools, parents and young peopleNHS Test and Trace has launched the NHS COVID-19 app. The app has been launched to help control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It will do this by alerting people who may have been exposed to infection so that they can take action. The app is available to download on smartphones for anyone aged 16 or over. This means that some students in year 11, students in years 12, 13 and in further education colleges will be eligible to use the app and benefit from its features. In addition to the guidance for schools and further education colleges which we published yesterday, NHS Test and Trace has published guidance and resources to support the use of the app which are available to download. Schools and further education colleges may find the fact sheet for parents useful. Public Health England have produced this letter which explains when a person requires a coronavirus test and what the symptoms of coronavirus are. |
Student Wellbeing and Safeguarding |
St Giles Trust SOS + Gangs and County Lines Avon and Somerset Parent awareness webinarSt Giles Trust are offering a FREE parent awareness webinar about gangs and county lines on Wednesday 9 December at 5.00pm. 60 minutes + Q & A.
For more information and the link to book onto the event, please see attached leaflet. If you need extra support as a parent or carer please watch this videoThe last few months have been tough and we know some families are under more pressure than ever. If you need extra support either as a parent or carer or for your child, then please watch this video to find out more about support available or call the First Response team on: 0117 903 6444. Safeguarding Students who are self-isolatingProcesses for continuing to ensure the safeguarding of our students while they are self-isolating: If you have urgent concerns about the safety of a child, First Response (Bristol Children's Services) should be your first port of call. Information on how to make a referral can be found here or by calling 0117 903 6444 (or if the offices are closed call the Emergency Duty Team on 01454 615 165). If the child is at immediate risk call the Police on 999. To provide information to the Cotham School Safeguarding Team please contact our dedicated email address: safeguarding@cotham.bristol.sch.uk Where we have concerns about vulnerable students, we will aim to stay in touch with you by phone so please accept a phone call from a withheld number. Reporting Bullying and Safeguarding concernsWe have brought our methods for reporting bullying in line with the South West Grid for Learning. This means there is now a link to something called Whisper on our website here. Please use this to raise any concerns you have about the safety or wellbeing of a child. There is a function to do so anonymously. Safeguarding StudentsIf you have urgent concerns about the safety of a child, First Response (Bristol Children's Services) should be your first port of call. Information on how to make a referral can be found here or by calling 0117 903 6444 (if the offices are closed call the Emergency Duty Team on 01454 615 165). If the child is at immediate risk call the Police on 999. To provide information to the Cotham School Safeguarding Team contact our dedicated email address: safeguarding@cotham.bristol.sch.uk Where we have concerns about vulnerable students and families, we will aim to stay in touch with you by phone so please accept a phone call from a withheld number. Resources to support your child's wellbeing and online safety at this timeWe have set up a Google Classroom called 'Mental Health and Wellbeing' and, three times a week, are posting bitesize chunks of useful information, tools, resources and strategies to support your child with their wellbeing at this time. You and your child will receive an email alert every time that something new is uploaded to this classroom but please do browse the classroom with your child as we build up our resources. HappyMaps website - Providing resources for parents and carers around children's mental healthHappyMaps is a website providing a one stop shop of resources around children's mental health from babies to young adults and includes websites, videos, books, Apps and links to ways to find counselling and other support. The website was funded by NHS England with input from specialist services (CAMHS) and local charities and is supported by Bristol Mind. Please click here to view the website.
Please click here to view this month’s online safety newsletter. Annual Online Safety Booklet including an overview of key parental controlsThis guide will help you set up parental controls to provide your child with a safer online environment. Please click here to view the guide. |
Subject Area News |
Visual Arts Work of the WeekClick here to view photograms created by Year 13 photography students as part of their experimental workshops. |
Key Stage 3 |
Coming Soon - KS3 Parent Information Evening - 9 DecemberLike the Y10 and Y11 Parent Information Evening, this event will be hosted on a webpage that will be launched live on the night of the information evening and will contain a welcome video recorded by a member of the Senior Leadership Team and a series of course specific videos from each of the school faculties. The course videos will give you all the information you need to know about each of the courses run by the school and how you can support students on these courses. The final information evening for KS3 is on 9 December. |
Key Stage 4 |
Year 11 MFL RevisionTo help students in preparation for the GCSE languages examinations there is a comprehensive revision plan which can be viewed here which students should stick to and complete the relevant exercises on the dates specified. There are a mixture of vocabulary challenges, grammar tasks as well as reading and listening example questions. They are of course free to complete as much as they wish. Year 11 Parents EveningYear 11 Parents Evening will be held on Thursday 17 December and will be an online event with virtual appointments made through our existing PES system. Further instructions on how to book appointments will be released to parents soon. Year 11 Open EventsThe Cotham Careers Team have produced the following list of virtual events for students and parents/carers to help you understand the variety of Post 16 education offers in the local area and schedule virtual open events into your diary as appropriate. This is a "live document" which we will continue to update as we gain new information, to view please click here. You may also wish to refer to information on the Bristol City Council website Options for education and training after 16 - bristol.gov.uk. The Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Programme (PHSEE)Year 10 will be receiving statutory lessons in relationships and sex education during Term 1 and Term 2. Please click this link for details on what will be covered. |
Post 16 News |
Year 12Students who would like additional academic support following their progress review, can self-refer for a 1:1 with one of our Academic Mentors. Our mentors run workshops covering a wide range of topics including time management, essay structure and note taking. Students should talk to Ms Musynska or Ms Dutton in Upgrade for more information. Year 13A big well done to Year 13 who sat their in-class mocks last week, they showed high levels of maturity and great commitment to their studies. Ms Skinner is arranging mop-up exams for students who were absent due to self-isolation. They will receive an email with the date and time of their rescheduled exam(s). All mop-up exams will be held in Upgrade from 1:45pm onwards next week. Please encourage students to make direct contact with Ms Skinner if they have any further questions. As a result of an additional mock week this year, we have extended the internal UCAS deadline to 11 December. Please encourage students to seek support from their tutor. |
Student Careers |
For careers and opportunities please visit our website and for the latest updates and information please click here. If you have any questions regarding student careers please email careers@cotham.bristol.sch.uk. |
Useful Links and Information |
Previous Weekly MailingsPlease visit our website to find information previously circulated within our latest weekly mailings. Early School Closures INSET days Homework GuidelinesThe school’s homework guidelines for Y7-11 can be viewed here The Year 10 Independent Study Timetable can be viewed here The Year 11 Independent Study Timetable can be viewed here Assessment Calendars 2020/21Please find Assessment Calendars for Y7-11 below. These outline school assessments for each year group. Please note that the dates provided are for guidance only and may vary slightly based on each individual class’s needs. GCSEpodClick here to access GCSEpod which contains lots of revision resources for most GCSEs. Students self register through the website using their name and school details. Diagnostic questionsClick here to access. This site contains self marking quizzes with lots of templates including some from a range of exam boards. It’s easy to make your own questions in Microsoft PowerPoint too. Students sign up with their school Google account using the G+ button to automatically create a school account. EdmodoEdmodo is an application that can be used on both mobile devices and in the web environment to create an online community of practice. Edmodo is a free social learning platform that allows students to access the course content uploaded by their teachers. SenecaAll students and teachers now have free access to Seneca - a revision and homework platform making studying more fun. Seneca is an interactive way to learn official course content. Their web app covers 150+ exam board specific courses condensing what students need to know for their exams. The software is able to identify gaps in learning. For instance, when you get a question wrong, the platform will repeat the topic in different formats and their smart algorithm has proven to make students remember topics 2x faster. Seneca is totally free for students, teachers and parents. You can sign up via senecalearning.com Library accessThe library system is available to access from home at https://uk.accessit.online/cth05/ . Please log in to the site to gain the full advantage of the online library resources, such as OneSearch. Please email us on library@cotham.bristol.sch.uk for your username and password. Free school mealsTo apply or check if your child is eligible for Free School Meals please click on this link. If you have any questions or need assistance please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Hopkins at Student Reception. Contact detailsPlease note the following contact numbers and email addresses if you need to contact the school:
|