25th November
We hope you all made it through the unexpected snowfall on Tuesday morning and again on Friday morning safely.
We hope you all made it through the unexpected snowfall on Tuesday morning and again on Friday morning safely. For some members of our community it was a bit of a surprise to wake up to a winter wonderland scene; it seems the weather apps couldn't quite agree on what to expect! Despite the snow, thanks to the hard work of our site team who were up bright and early to grit the site, we were able to maintain normal routines and timings across the week.
Our school site is exposed, and students have to walk outside to get to the different teaching blocks. A number of students came to school last week without a coat; a blazer and optional v-neck jumper is not enough in temperatures close to zero! Please talk to your child(ren) about the importance of being appropriately dressed for the weather conditions when they leave the house each morning; hats and gloves are encouraged, especially if they could have a wait at a bus stop.
As a reminder, the website has details of how we will communicate information to families, should the school need to close due to adverse weather, heating failures, or other unforeseen circumstances. It also explains expectations around learning at home if the school is closed: TCS School Closures
Sixth Form Open Evening - Monday 25th November Tonight is the night! Mr Youngs, Mrs Smith, Mrs McMonagle and the rest of our Sixth Form team are really looking forward to welcoming prospective Year 12s to the open evening. Unfortunately, the building work is not quite complete. However, we are hopeful that we will show off part of the new Sixth Form spaces as part of the tour route. For further information please click here: The Cottesloe School - Open Evening.
Base Project
A group of students from different year groups have been working with Morgan Sindall, the construction company building our new classrooms, to develop ideas for upgrading the Base. The Base is a flexible space used for small group learning, our nurture group, and as a quiet area for neurodivergent students during breaks and lunch. While staffed by fantastic, skilled staff, the space itself could benefit from an upgrade. Students presented their design ideas to Mr. Jones and Norma Odain-Hines from Morgan Sindall.
To take the project forward, the next steps involve seeking donations, skills, and support from our local community to bring the vision to life. If you have anything you can contribute – be it resources, skills, or simply a helping hand – please email socialmedia@cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk. Huge congratulations to Daniel, Teddy, Sophia, Zachary, Sam, Danny, Maisie, and Josh for their fantastic work! For developing and presenting their ideas so confidently, they've each earned a Gold Thumbs Up badge.
The Parents Portal
A new online resource from Autism Early Support (AES) Buckinghamshire Council is launching a new, free digital platform designed to support children and families impacted by neurodiversity. The portal will be accessible for parents through online registration from 1 December 2024. It is free for families in Buckinghamshire. No referral or diagnosis is needed to access the portal. The portal is designed to provide a source of guidance and support to help parents support their child’s journey through school, home, and social life.
The service is for parents and carers of children aged between 2 and 17 years who:
- May have recognised differences in their child and are exploring neurodivergence.
- They may have Googled ‘Is my child autistic?’ and/or spoken with a GP, health visitor or school about their thinking about their child
- Have an autistic child(ren) (self-identified or diagnosed)
- Are awaiting an ASD/ADHD assessment for their child(ren)
It is a one-stop shop that helps parents and carers to:
- Access early help and broaden their understanding
- Gain trusted, consistent guidance and peer support
- Understand and be able to advocate for their child’s needs
- Save time and sense of overwhelm by the conflicting guidance and misinformation on the internet
- Have unlimited access on-demand 24/7, as and when they need it
- Feel less isolated and part of a community of support and shared experiences
- Recognise the value of building partnerships between their family and school
- Have resources they can share with their wider family, friends, and support services
“As part of our universal offer to families, we have now commissioned free access for parents and supporting professionals to an online support and guidance service for Bucks families; The Parent’s Portal by Autism Early Support (AES). It has been designed and created by AES which is a long-established local charity who specialise in early help and autism education” - Caroline Hart, Designated Clinical Officer for SEND in Buckinghamshire.
To find out more about the Portal, please visit this link: The Parent's Portal. This link will allow you to register from 1st December: Bucks Registrations | AES Portal
Uniform and Equipment
Black leggings are not part of our school uniform. A number of students have been opting to wear leggings recently instead of trousers or a skirt, stating it’s because it’s cold or their trousers/skirt is in the wash. A reminder of our school uniform expectations can be found here: Uniform and Equipment Please do get in touch if you have any challenges with regards to purchasing uniform.
Sport Fixtures and Results
Despite some fixture cancellations due to frozen pitches, our sports teams have been competing.
Basketball | Both our Under 13s and Under 15s boys basketball teams faced tough competition against Aylesbury Vale Academy. Both teams demonstrated strength and skills and were narrowly defeated.
Netball | Our Year 8 netball team secured a thrilling 7-6 victory over The Kingsbrook School.
Football | The Under 15 girls team faced a tough challenge in the district league against Royal Latin, ultimately losing 5-1.
Special Mention
A huge congratulations to Josh (9E) for receiving his county athletics badge for Bedfordshire. Josh has represented the county in both cross-country and track and field at regional and national levels over the 22/23 season and 23/24 season. We are very proud of his achievements.
INSET Day
A reminder that the school is closed to all students for an INSET day this coming Friday, 29th November.
Year 13
Well done to all our Year 13 students for completing their first round of A Level mocks over the last couple of weeks.
Year 12
Business and Economics students attended a really insightful talk by Martin Onderdonck on Thursday.
Year 11
The Sixth Form Open Evening is tonight! Here is the digital guide for the evening bit.ly/TCSSixthFormGuide. For more information on our Sixth Form, all department and subject information is available online cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/our-sixth-form
The year group are heading to the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury on Wednesday to watch a performance of An Inspector Calls, a play studied as part of GCSE English Literature.
Year 10
The year group is off to watch An Inspector Calls on Thursday afternoon.
Have a great week. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School