Costello Together ENRICHING LIVES
Fortnightly Newsletter Issue 86 19 September 2019 www.costelloschool.co.uk
Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Colleagues and Friends… I was surprised to be reminded that I am indeed writing the preface for the first Costello Together of the academic year – it feels like we have been back for an age! As such, I would like to welcome you back and thank you for your role in helping us have such a fantastic start to the year.
We were buoyed by an excellent set of GCSE results this summer, but as you know, the work we do and are trying to achieve runs so much deeper than what our young people achieve in several exams one hazy summer at the end of their journey with us. The five years leading up to it are what really shapes each person as they go on to what will hopefully be a wonderful life – as someone once said, it is the journey that is more important than the destination.
As one year group leaves, another joins, and I’m delighted to welcome all the new Year 7s and their wonderful families – I hope they find a home with us for the next five years and join us on our journey as we aim to help them become the game changers of the future.
There are a number of changes this year which I have written to you about already; one that I am particularly keen to continually remind you about is The Costello Challenge – a conscious effort to ask our students to do more than they ordinarily would. That might be by joining a club, making a charitable contribution, or pushing themselves to achieve something they previously thought could not be done – I am excited to see what lengths they go to, and look forward to awarding our first ERA badges. There is a hope that we will be launching an inaugural celebration event for this in the Summer term.
May I finish by taking this opportunity, once again, to thank you for your ongoing support, and remind you that if you would like to join me on the reformed parent forum so that your views get to shape the school you just need to express an interest to [email protected] (if you have already done so there is no need to do so again).
With best wishes,
Randall Jull Head of School
Please keep a look out for and share our Facebook Posts and Tweets, there are so many amazing things that happen in and outside of school that we would love to share with you and the community. www.facebook.com/TheCostelloSchool https://twitter.com/costelloschool Upcoming events, diary dates and messages Thursday 26 September - Open Evening Early Finish 12.20pm Friday 27 September, 9.30 - 11am Macmillan Coffee Morning in the library
Term Dates
Academic Year : 2019 – 2020 Autumn Term 2019 Inset Day Monday 2 September Term Begins Tuesday 3 September – Year 7 only Term Begins Wednesday 4 September – All Years Inset Day Friday 20 September Open Evening Thursday 26 September Early Finish 12.20pm Inset Day Friday 25 October Half-Term Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November Inset Day Tuesday 26 November Inset Day Friday 13 December Term Ends Friday 20 December Spring Term 2020 Term Begins Monday 6 January Half-Term Monday 17 February – Friday 21 February Term Ends Friday 3 April Summer Term 2020 Term Begins Monday 20 April Half-Term Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May Inset Day Thursday 2 July Term Ends Friday 17 July Early Finish 12.20pm
Attendance Rewards
Every half term you will receive:
10 points for 100% attendance
5 points for 98%+ attendance
5 points for no lates
Will you make top 100? Parents’ coffee mornings
You are kindly invited to join us for coffee or tea, cake and a chat. A chance to discuss day to day issues, share ideas and listen to experts and other agencies.
To register your interest or for any queries please contact Mrs Gannon [email protected]
Date, time and Focus of the mornings Presentation Speaker and coordinator of the Venue and Discussion session. 27/09/2019 Fundraising- Macmillan coffee Mandy Gannon – Family Liaison 9:30- 11:00 am – morning. Officer Learning Homework/Classcharts - organising, Resource Centre supporting but not doing it yourself! Mr Jon Peters- Assistant Headteacher 21/11/2019 Feelings, Friendships and Healthy Iain Clay – PSHE teacher Relationships - advice for supporting your child 19/11/2019 tbc – SENCO – Pam Jones (SENCo) / Mandy eve – LRC Gannon (FLO) Hope for carers Young carers Support for SEND Café 21/01/2020 Parenting – ‘Why won’t my teenager Mandy Gannon – Family Liaison talk to me?’ - setting boundaries, Officer dealing with conflict and communication. 03/03/2020 Supporting your child’s mental ? Pam Jones/ Jen Watt health - with a focus on revision and exam stress Karen Beach – anxiety?
Hope for careers 24/03/2020 Social Media - supporting young Natalie Williams people to have a healthy online habit and remain safe. 22/04/2020 Careers Advice and Guidance - where Melanie Forester- Careers advisor next after Costello? Supporting your young person to make knowledgeable and effective careers decisions.
Travelling to School
Roads can be really busy so it is very important that your child knows the rules. When walking near roads/crossing make sure that you’re not doing anything that will distract you, such as listening to music, talking or texting on a mobile phone or playing on computer games. Make safe choices, do not give in to peer pressure to take risks. Please can you drop-off in a legal on-street space outside the Red Zone and ask your children to walk to school. Please refrain from stopping on the double yellow lines on London Road, at the crossing at the bottom of Crossborough Hill and on Crossborough Hill.
CYCLE SAVVY AND SAFE Prepare yourself Wheels: Make sure your tyres are inflated, the wheel bolts are tightened and secured to the frame. Handle bars: Check both your brakes are working by applying your right to check the front wheel and your left to check the rear. Pedals and chain: Roll your pedals backwards to check your chain runs smoothly, is in gear and isn’t rusty. Seat: Check your seat is at the right height by sitting on your bike with your tip toes touching the floor. Your knees should not be higher than the handle bars when cycling. Gears: If your bike has gears, lift your rear wheel, shift through your gears to check they run smoothly. Protect your head: Always wear a helmet, even on short journeys. Consider your riding position: Avoid cycling on the inside of the vehicle and keep clear from the gutter and kerb. Check your lights work – remember you need the white one at the front and the red one at the back. And don’t forget your red reflector – it needs to be at the back of your bike. Make sure your brakes work and check your tyres for punctures Wear the right stuff Cycle helmets come in all kinds of cool colours – make sure the one you choose has a British Kitemark or EC safety standard number EN1078. Wear sensible stuff so you don’t get hurt if you end up on the floor – clothing covering legs and arms offer a greater protection. Stick your high-visibility top on over your clothes and fix some reflective stickers to your bike – see how bright you can be. Wear fluorescent bands around your arms and legs during the day and reflective ones at night. And don’t forget cycle gloves – you need to look the part and they will protect your hands if you fall. Know your signs – observe the Highway Code What NOT to do Listen to music. Use a mobile phone. Lead an animal. Carry a passenger. Carry things in your hands or on your handlebars. If you need to carry stuff use bike bags or panniers. Cycle on footpaths or pavements unless there is a cycle track.
WALKING TO SCHOOL SAFELY Walking to school will keep you fit and healthy. Be aware of junctions and crossings and plan the safest place to cross. Use safe crossing places where you can. See and be seen - wear bright colours during the day and reflective materials when dark. Don’t assume a driver has spotted you. Look ahead – look down the road for obstacles and be aware of side roads and driveways. When passing parked cars leave room for a car door and a little bit more. The Green Cross Code: Find a safe place to cross Stop just before you get to the kerb and make sure that you can see the traffic. Look all around for traffic and listen. Watch out for bikes too as you don’t always hear them . If traffic is coming, let it pass When it is safe, go straight across the road - do not run. Keep looking and listening while you cross the road.
Extra-curricular Clubs
CLUB OPEN TO DAYS TIME Notes
KS4 Wednesday 3.05 - 4.05pm Quiet working environment, use of art rooms and materials Art (JLE) All Monday-Friday Lunch time to catch up/complete and further independent art studies.
Some cast will be in A1 – rehearsal schedule on Performing Creative Arts Week Rehearsals (SA) All Tues & Thu 3:10-4:30pm Arts Notice board D of E (CFB) Y10 Wednesday 3.15 – 4.00pm
French conversation and student Y10-11 Tuesday After school support (LJ & CLH)
Spanish conversation (KDE) Y10-11 Wednesday After school German conversation and student Y10-11 Thursday After school support (LJ & JAW)
Year Group meetings All Wednesday/Thursday Lunch time
In preparation for GCSE exams, nominated Year 11s have Maths Enhancement (M6) Y11 Tuesday 3.15 - 4.15pm been invited to revise for GCSE exams in a calm environment or get help from their teachers
In preparation for GCSE exams, Year 11s are invited to revise English Enhancement Session Y11 Thursday 3.15 - 4.00pm for GCSE exams in a calm environment or get help from their (SMP) teachers
Creative Writing Club (FLC, SLS) Y7, 8, 9 Tuesday 3.15 - 4.00pm (E2)
Geography Homework Club (RI) (H7) All Wednesday 3.10 - 4.05pm Including catch up sessions for Year 11
An opportunity to do your homework in school with access Homework Club (Library) All Monday-Thursday 3.15 - 4.15pm to a PC
A chance to come and chat with a member of the RE RE Homework Club (LKO) (H1) All Tuesday 3.10 - 3.50pm department and other students, to help with any RE work, from KS3 homework to GCSE coursework.
Come along to watch films and have interesting discussions about the questions these films raise, like whether we Philosophy Film Club (LKO) (H1) All Friday Lunch time should blindly follow the rules, or whether we should want to live forever.
(Starts 2 October) Projects and activities covering a range of STEM Club (AP, CLY) (T3) All Wednesday 3.10 - 4.10pm science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Plus Chemistry demos from Reading University.
Design and Technology (CLY, CSE) (Starts 3 October) KS3 & KS4 Thursday After school (T2)
Business Studies Club (EAH & Support for catch up and revision for Y10 & Y11 Y10 & Y11 Tuesday 3.10 - 4.15pm KGB) (R1)
Come along to learn British Sign Language (BSL). We will start with some basics – the alphabet, colours food etc. then Sign Language Club (EMI) KS3 Wednesday 3.05 – 4.05pm move on to learning how to sign interpret songs with the aim to perform.
Music practice rooms for individual / group rehearsals Y9-11 Monday Lunch time (permission required from RAG)
All Monday After School String Orchestra. All String players welcome
Music practice rooms for individual / group rehearsals Y9-11 Tuesday Lunch time (permission required from RAG) Music Y8-11 (by Rehearsals for Open Evening / Presentation Evening / Tuesday Lunch time invitation) Christmas
Y8-11 (by Rehearsals for Open Evening / Presentation Evening / Wednesday Lunch time invitation) Christmas Y10-11 Friday Lunch time GCSE composition coursework drop-in
All Thursday Morning Break Clarinet Quartet
CLUB OPEN TO DAYS TIME Notes Bring your own Warhammer Armies, rule books and dice etc. Model making and Warhammer Play a game or build and paint your own models with some All Thursday 3.15 - 4.45pm Club (CRH) (ETG) (S3) expert advice. You could even lend a hand on our latest group project
Dungeons and Dragons Club Set off in a fantasy world, exploring dungeons and fighting All Tuesday 3.15 - 4.45pm (ETG) (S3) dragons
This is a fun club where you can choose to play various games with your friends. We have strategic games, board games, Games Club (CRH ETG) (S3) All Thursday 3.05 – 4.45pm cards, word games and Lego. If you want to make some new friends this could be the club to join. CCF (Combined Cadet Force) Y9 &10 Friday After School For Years 9 & 10 every Friday at Lord Wandsworth College
Y10 Wednesday 8.15 - 9.00am Meetings with Business Advisor and Link teacher
Y10 Friday Lunch time General meetings/production time with Centre Lead Young Enterprise (EAH) (R1) An opportunity to set up and run a business enterprise, taking on business roles, marketing products/services, producing products/services, taking account of the finances in a real life situation.
PE Department Extra-curricular Timetable Autumn Term
Please also check the PE Portal Lunch Time After School on Frog
Multi gym Monday 9,10 & 11 Multi gym Table Tennis Girls Basketball Club Year 7 football Tuesday 9,10 & 11 (all welcome in the Gym) (all years in the sports hall) (get changed in the gym) Multi gym Netball Club Gymnastics Cub Wednesday 9,10 & 11 (Years 10 &11 Sports hall) (All welcome) Multi gym Badminton Club Thursday 9,10 & 11 (all welcome in the Sports hall) Multi gym Friday 9,10 & 11
Costello Together News Round Up
The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Bronze award The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Bronze award will be launched to our Year 10 students soon. Look out for more information coming soon!
If you’re already interested you could look at the DofE website: www.dofe.org
Or email Mrs Battisson if you have any questions: [email protected]
New Labs Opened
S7 and S8, our new labs, were officially opened by Dr Annela Seddon of Bristol University. Dr Seddon delivered an incredibly interesting and inspiring lecture to some of our Year 11 cohort on nano-particles, where nano- particles are used in nature and future applications of nano-particles. The students engaged with the lecture and had the opportunity to ask Dr Seddon how she got into her field of choice and university life.
English News
We currently have the following English trips running:
For Years 10 and 11. Macbeth at The Chichester Festival Theatre on Thursday 24 October 2019 We will leave Costello at 5:15 prompt. Students will need to be picked up from Costello at 00:00 (tbc).
For Year 10. A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic, in London on Monday 6th January 2021 We will leave Costello at 4:45pm prompt. Students will need to be picked up from Costello at 11:30pm (tbc) For all years. Matilda the Musical’ at The Cambridge Theatre, London on Wednesday 22 January 2020. We will leave school at 4.30pm and shall return to school at approximately 11.30pm
Letters available from their English teacher or reception.
Beyond the School Walls
Beatrice Crass Year 11 student was one of 12 Synchronised swimmers selected to represent GB at the 1st FINA Youth World Artistic Swimming Championships 2019 held in Slovakia from 28th August-1st Sept.
The standard of the competition was very high with 35 countries from around the world participating and GB Team scored 70.2332 - a respectable 19th place - against Russia 86.4332, Ukraine 85.3000, Spain 83.1668, China 83.4000, and Italy 80.9668 who lead the field in Artistic (Synchronised) swimming. Beatrice achieved PB's in all her individual figures scoring 67.6588 and now ranks 6th in UK. She will be attending Trials selection for 2020 GB Junior team at the end of September.
Congratulations to Jay Fennell who finished second in the English Tumbling Championships at the weekend in Sheffield. Great result!
Sport
Click here to see girls and boys athletics records
Congratulations to Charlie Coveney who finished second in the Year 7/8 National Schools "Discover Laser Run" championship in Solihull, representing Costello in the South England team. He also won the mixed relays, with an amazing display of shooting to come back from 8th to win!
Year 8 Gamechangers
Well done to our Year 8 gamechangers so far. These students have been identified either by their tutors or by their fellow tutees as showing the right behaviours, either by doing things that help to make our school a better place or by working hard to improve themselves to be the best that they can be. Please congratulate our game changers when you see them as we are very proud of them and their actions.
8H1 Gabrielle Martin 8C1 Angelina Gurung Bethany Read 8C2 Gemma Greenall 8H2 Arya Mahabaleshwarkar 8B1 Sid Doublet 8L1 Corben Merton Kana Fill 8B2 Riley Mariner 8L2 Lauren Parkes
Costello goes GREEN
I am delighted to announce that as of September The Costello School will be working towards gaining the Eco Schools bronze mark. We, as a community, have already made some great progress with over 4,600 batteries going off last Friday to be recycled and each tutor group now is recycling more waste, with the help of Southern Waste Management.
We will continue to be able to recycle batteries. We are also a collection point for crisp packets and we are soon to be working with Great Binfield’s Primary school to recycle all our used pens through the Terracycle scheme.
The school’s Student Voice is actively working with staff to promote Eco Schools and trying to work towards a plastic free school.
If you would like more information about any of the above or would like to get involved please email [email protected]
https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/
https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/ https://www.bigbatteryhunt.co.uk/
STEM ambassadors needed
Do you work in a STEM industry?
Are you available to support STEM in education?
Please contact [email protected] for more information
Proud
Lovely specialised cell models from Dr Anthony's Year 9 class
From Mrs Chave - I’m so proud of all the students in 11W/Ma4 – they have really hit the ground running! Since day one, they have been working hard to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their written methods for multiplication and division. Their recent DIRT Ticket shows how far they have come (see 11W/Ma4 Maths DIRT photos – Neve Thomas, Ruby Venner, Charlie Lester).
Two of them have also started making the most of the maths intervention sessions we run after school on a Tuesday to tackle the really tricky bits we haven’t yet secured during our maths lessons (see 11W/Ma4 Maths Intervention photo – Matt Sadler, Charlie Lester).
From Mrs Battisson - My Y11 were really engaged with the lesson on population shifts – photos attached! It’s great to see them so enthusiastic.
Basingstoke and Deane Youth Voice
This opportunity is open to any student who would like to make a difference to their local community. Think Student Voice, but on a bigger scale!
Students participating in something like this could link it to their Costello Challenge really easily!
College Open Days 2019-2020
College Name Open Day Dates Alton College Thursday 10th October 5.00-8.00pm 01420 592200 Wednesday 13th November 5.00-8.00pm www.altoncollege.ac.uk
Andover College Tuesday 1 October 2019 16:30 – 19:30 01264 360000 Wednesday 2 October 2019 16:30 – 19:30 www.andover.ac.uk Wednesday 20 November 2019 16:30 – 19:30 BCOT Monday 14th October 2019 4.30-7pm 01256 354141 Saturday 16th November 2019 10.30-12.30 th www.bcot.ac.uk Monday 10 February 2020 4.30-7pm Monday 11th May 2020 BCOT Apprenticeships Monday 3rd February 2020 4.30-7pm 01256 306237 Monday 15th June 4.30-7pm http://www.bcot.ac.uk/busin ess/apprenticeships Farnborough College of Wednesday 16th October 2019 4pm-7.30pm Technology Wednesday 20th November 2019 4pm-7.30pm th 01252 407040 Thursday 17 October Aldershot Construction www.farn-ct.ac.uk Event 4pm-7.30pm. Newbury College Tuesday 15th October 4-8pm. 01635 845200 www.newbury-college.ac.uk
Peter Symonds College Weds & Thurs 23 & 24th October 5.30-8.30pm 01962 852764 www.psc.ac.uk
Queen Mary’s College Weds & Thurs 2nd & 3rd October 2019 4pm-7pm. 01256 417500 www.qmc.ac.uk Sparsholt College Saturday 12th October 12-2.00pm 01962 776441 www.sparsholt.ac.uk
The Sixth Form College Wednesday 23rd October 2019 3.30-21.00 Farnborough Thursday 24th October 2019 3.30-21.00 01252 688200 www.farnborough.ac.uk
Careers Info for students …anyone interested in being a pilot one day…and we have had a few! Pilot Careers Live- an Exhibition with seminars. Cost per ticket is £8.50 Friday 1 November and Saturday 2nd November, 10-4.30pm, Sofitel Hotel Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport www.pilotcareernews.com/live Who should attend? o Anyone interested in a career in aviation and aerospace, from aero engineering and flight deck positions to maintenance, airport operations, management, air-traffic control or flight ops. o Candidates with an ambition to be an airline or military pilot. o Anyone interested in commercial helicopter flying operations.
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP
School uniform and nearly new coats are available at low prices. Should you wish to purchase items please contact [email protected] to ask about sizing or view/ try on items?
RECYCLING OUTGROWN UNIFORM
Could you please consider donating to the school PE kit no longer needed or outgrown also school shoes, good quality but outgrown. Any donations gratefully received. Many thanks.
A HUGE Thank you for all the uniform that has been donated!!!
Please click here for the Basingstoke Family Support Service Timetable Autumn 2019
Follow the link to find current news items and information that may be of interest. http://www.parentvoice.info/en/News_Home
Please click here for the latest MYRIAD newsletter
Simon Says, a local child bereavement charity offer support to families but also schools in dealing with bereavement Www.simonsays.org.uk
Proud to be part of the Bohunt Education Trust
We are excited to announce our new and extended training programme for 2019/20 and attach the course listing. Further information can be found on our website https://www.inclusionhampshire.org.uk/training- courses/ including course overviews and trainer profiles.