School Magazine Winter 2014

the last COCKERMOUTH’S SUPERW ORD FAREWELL, HEROES COME OUT FIGHTING MR WALKER! FOR CHILDREN IN NEED After being a Headteacher for 14 years, including five at , Mr Walker is retiring from his post in December. During his time here he has made a great impact and his enthusiasm for education and commitment to the school have been appreciated by students and staff alike. Mr Walker was Deputy Head Boy during his own time at secondary school so it could be said that he got his first taste of school leadership early on! We interviewed Mr Walker to find out how he feels about retiring. How do you feel to be leaving Cockermouth School? Sad. I can’t imagine not spending full weeks with students, On Friday 14th November the eagle eyed residents of Cockermouth may well have caught a teachers, parents and governors – but having been a glimpse of Superman, Catwoman, Captain America, Robin and even a few Batmen walking Headteacher for 14 years, I feel it’s time to reacquaint myself (really?) up Castlegate Drive, had they twitched their net curtains around 8.30 am. with friends and family! What has been your most memorable moment? Yes, of course, it was Children in Need and the super heroes of Cockermouth School Sixth It’s impossible to pick one as there have been so many Form were out in force, using their super powers to raise £1422.08 for disadvantaged children successes: Rock Challenge, Les Mis, Kids’ Lit Quiz, sporting in the annual national fundraiser. events...I think the diversity and range of experiences on offer The day was fantastic! Along with a whole outside lessons is fantastic. And we do so well. It’s fantastic school non-uniform day, the Sixth Form how many things we win – we really punch above our weight. committee put together a range of fund raising What will you miss the most? activities such as cake sales, shoot the loop Teenagers growing up! I’ll miss being with students during and a penny trail, as well as the usual ‘sponge good and bad times, and helping when things go wrong. I’ll a teacher’ (thanks to the ‘willing’ volunteers!) also miss the celebration of achievements at all levels – that’s and the annual hairy leg waxing in the what a good comprehensive school is all about! Common Room which definitely brought in the What challenges have you had to overcome? biggest audience of the day. Large budget cuts in education, as well as all the non-stop external changes related to the curriculum and exams. For a Thanks to all the students and staff who got school with a good reputation, there’s also been pressure to involved, whether they helped out with the evaluate what we do within the school, and improve on it. activities, took part in them or even just What are your plans for your retirement? donated some loose change. Every penny I’ll be working part-time with other schools in for the makes a difference to charities such as rest of the academic year, and then I’ll do some travelling – Children in Need. perhaps take the gap year I never had! I also plan to do some Keep your eyes open for more fundraising voluntary work. going on in school! On behalf of students, staff, parents and governors, we thank Mr Walker for his hard work and contribution to the school, Linsey Wilson, Year 13 and wish him all the best in his retirement. Charities’ Officer Luke Skilbeck (Head Boy), Sophie Wilson (Head Girl), Stephen Cole (Deputy Head Boy), Meghan Avery (Deputy Head Girl), Year 13

Happy Christmas ❆Joyeux Noël ❆ Frohe Weihnachten ❆ Feliz Navidad News from Cockermouth HEAD’S School Association Well it’s been a rather rocky start to the school year for the CSA this time around. Following the loss of valuable committee members in the summer holidays, we found LINES ourselves with a greatly depleted committee at our first meeting in September. A letter was sent out to parents explaining the problems and that fact that we might have to fold, Never has the title of our magazine seemed and thankfully we had an encouraging response. An extra meeting in October was called more apt as I write this, my last Headlines and the result: a new and revitalised CSA committee, ably backed by a team of parent as Headteacher of Cockermouth School, helpers, stepping forward to provide the refreshments for the parents’ evenings, school and for once, I’m almost stuck for words. performances and other events, and to fundraise for the school through the 100 Club and the selling of raffle tickets and bag packing. Thank you to everyone who responded. After 35 years of working in schools, I have so many memories of working with thousands of students – in Don’t forget that it is never too late to support us by joining the committee or our parent classrooms, on school trips, on the sports field, in helpers list, becoming a member of the 100 Club for a mere £1 a month, or donating good school productions, and occasionally, in detention! quality raffle prizes. Contact Mrs Tiffen-Luff in Reception for more details. It was, and continues to be, the students who are the Merry Christmas! motivators for this job, and it has been a delight. At Cockermouth, I’ll never forget the Rock Challenge Mel Avery (Chair – CSA) finals, Kids’ Lit events, productions and Blues Night, individual and team sporting prowess, art exhibitions - quite a talented bunch actually. So to all students: thank you, I’ll miss you, and I’ve been proud to be your headteacher. Visiting Author Takes Students None of the above would be possible without our excellent staff, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude. I to the Top of the World wish you all the best for the future and thank you for your individual contributions. Our school has an excellent level of support - our governors, the CSA, parents and carers, and the wider community. Of all the schools in which I have worked, Cockermouth School’s place at the heart of its community is unique, and I hope this will always be the mainstay of the school’s philosophy. I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life, confident in the knowledge that Cockermouth School will go from strength to strength and that our pupils will prosper from their education here. Enjoy this Christmas edition which has been On Friday 7th November, school played host to Everest summiteer, documentary co-ordinated and edited by our 6th Form Team. Well filmmaker and young adult fiction author, Matt Dickinson. Over 300 Geography done to these students – as ever, their commitment and and English students from Year 7 to Year 13 enjoyed Matt’s talks throughout a effort are to be commended. packed day which culminated in a very well attended talk to parents, teachers, more students and members of our community. Matt had spoken for well over 6 With best wishes for a very happy Christmas, and hours by the time he finished at about 8.30pm. peaceful New Year. Matt’s literary career started when he published his first bookDeath Zone, an account of his own ascent of Everest with mountaineer, Alan Hinkes, and actor Geoff Walker, Headteacher Brian Blessed’s attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain for the third time. This was an adventure mired with tragedy as the expedition was hit by the worst storms on Everest seen for decades. Matt’s venture into fiction began with his book Mortal Chaos, the first in a trilogy that explores how events and people are connected through ‘chaos theory’. EDITORIAL Matt’s visit to school was part of a book tour to promote his new book The Everest Files, which has just been nominated for the very prestigious Carnegie Medal. Talking about his film career in one of the five sessions he delivered during the NOTE school day, he discussed the difficulties of filming a successful attempt to break We are sad to say that Mrs Ellis, the previous the world altitude record for hang gliding (about 40000 feet) and how he became editor of the Last Word, has retired from her post the first person to film at the summit of Everest. as Development Manager. Matt also coached pupils in ways to improve their creative writing by looking at The Last Word is now being organised and edited stories such as Toy Story and E.T - the former he considers to be the greatest by sixth form students Stephen Cole, Sophie story ever written – and explored the idea of victims in contemporary novels such Wilson, Maisie Short, Leah Cumiskey and Niamh as The Hunger Games and the Harry Potter novels. As his presentation drew to Dixon, along with Mrs Milledge. a close, Matt took questions from the audience, giving advice on how to tackle writer’s block and how to get into filmmaking and journalism. Mrs Ellis will be greatly missed and we wish her the best of luck in her retirement. Conall McDowell, Year 12

2 Year 12 Team Build in the Sun

Cockermouth School On Wednesday September 17th all of the year 12 students enjoyed a team-building day doing problem-solving and outdoor activities in the Borrowdale valley, working in Carol Service our new forms to help us get to know each other better. The 12 teams were dropped off at different locations and each team had to complete a circuit of different activities to win points. WEDNESDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2014 Christ Church, Cockermouth from 7.00 pm Music from our Choirs and Orchestra Scripture Readings ❆ Seasonal Poems Carols For All ❆ Solos And Duets From 6.30pm Refreshments Afterwards During the day, we tried out rock climbing and gorge crossing, paddled across Derwent Water and completed various problem-solving activities, which were designed to encourage us to work together to come up with different solutions. The day was extremely enjoyable and I would definitely Festive fun for everyone! do it again given the chance. Congratulations to Mr Ulyatt’s team who were the overall winners. Leah Cumiskey, Year 12

3 WRITING TALENT Year 7 feel the need to read At the start of this academic year, Cockermouth School launched the Accelerated Reader The Last Post programme and we are already seeing positive A piece of creative writing in honour of Remembrance Sunday results! Last half term, Year 7 borrowed 270 more books from the library than Year 7 borrowed in and of the 100th anniversary of World War One this year the previous year – a massive 870 books in total! We all knew we were going to our deaths, as soon as the command was given. The Clearly our journey towards creating a culture of guns started the moment the men began to appear above the top of the trench. The reading at Cockermouth School has started. bullet hit me just as I attempted to scramble over the barbed wire. I felt it pierce my skin Students’ reading ages are assessed through an and puncture my stomach; the pain was agonizing. I had the good fortune to fall forward on-line test which gives teachers the information onto the dried mud and soil of no man’s land without joining the rest of the poor souls they need to help students select books that are whose limp bodies lay snagged on the barbed wire. difficult enough to keep them challenged, but I know I’m going to die. I’m not afraid, just sad: sad that I’ll never see my two boys, not too difficult to cause frustration. Each time a George and Danny, again; sad that I won’t be able to tell my beautiful wife, Alice, student finishes a book, he or she completes a quiz I love her one last time; sad that I’ll never finish that book and get the job and the to check their comprehension. Year 7s are now life I really wanted. regularly reading in tutor time, in English lessons, in other lessons when there is time and at home. I close my eyes and fill my mind with these thoughts, thoughts that take me away from Reading for just 30 minutes every day, on average the cold harsh truth. I feel a tear escape from beneath my closed eyelid, then a beautiful boosts a child’s reading age by two years in just sense of peace as the battlefield falls silent and the light comes to take me away. one academic year. Students are receiving regular updates on their Eleanor Thompson Year 9 progress, are taking part in inter-form competitions and can expect to get continuous recognition of their achievements and endeavour. Our librarians, Helen Farrah and Frances Webb, Paddle School and the have been busy re-organising the library and filling the shelves with hundreds of new and exciting books. The library really does look amazing and Sad Tale of Draper Saul there is something for everyone on the shelves. It seems appropriate that I write this piece, because Paddle School has recently Students and parents can check to see if a book is celebrated its bicentenary. on the Accelerated Reader programme by visiting Paddle School has an unusual name which seems to derive from its location. As the webpage: http//www.arbookfind.co.uk it was subject to typical Cumbrian weather and sits within a natural bowl, it was wet all year round. Even wet enough in places to paddle in! The school opened its Mrs Williams, Accelerated doors to students on 7th November 1814. In those days, education came with a price tag and so Paddle started life as a fee paying school – albeit for poor Reader Coordinator local children. Paddle’s first teacher was a man called Draper Saul. He took up his position aged 20. He was the only member of staff, teaching a variety of subjects, including “surveying” and “Euclidian mathematics”. He also served as the school dentist, Top of the Word reportedly pulling teeth out deftly with his fingers! Draper Saul had a tough life. Three of his five children died before they were a month old. His wife also died very young. He dedicated himself to teaching, serving Paddle for 50 years. By all accounts he had become lonely and depressed as his years progressed. The Carlisle Journal of 23rd December 1864 records a “melancholy death by drowning near Cockermouth”. It reports that a Police-Sergeant Snook found the body of Draper Saul in the river Cocker near Southwaite on 18th December 1864. It is likely that he committed suicide. Possibly he could not face another Christmas alone. If I was sent to the past and saw Draper Saul about to drown himself, I would shout, “Stop!” I would sit down on the chilly banks of the river Cocker and tell him about his extraordinary legacy, the way he would be respected by future generations of Paddle schoolchildren, that his name wouldn’t be forgotten and that the school he helped to found would continue to thrive. I think he should Congratulations to Lucy Dunlop (7MSL) and Lauren Lynch always be remembered. (7DE/KR) who have both read over a million words this term, making them the first members of the Accelerated Sam Moore, Year 8 Reader Millionaire’s Club. A superb effort! Mrs Williams 4 Classics Club Gets Year 7 Reading Year 12 Go Wilde

For Oscar On 22nd November, a bus full of loud AS English Literature students travelled to Birmingham with Mrs Milledge and Mr Ellis for the day to watch a production of The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, starring Nigel Havers (that guy who was on Corrie) and Martin Jarvis who both appeared in the production at the National Theatre in 1982. Year 7 students are meeting fortnightly as members of the newly founded Classics This version was slightly different from Oscar Club. So far there has been a great turnout at the regular meetings. The students will Wilde’s original because it used a framing device make their own choices of classic books to read and discuss at meetings and will also of an amateur dramatic group putting on the play complete a number of creative tasks based on the books they read. Their efforts will be to explain why all the actors were somewhat rewarded with certificates. too ‘old’ for their parts, giving a hilarious twist on the original comedy. After the show (and ice Mrs Thomas, English Department cream!), we were given the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with a few members of the cast, which was very useful for us English nerds! Battle of Words Overall, it was a fantastic day out and we would like to thank Mrs Milledge and Mr Ellis for putting up with us and to the bus driver for tolerating our Frozen sing-along! Cathee Potter, Year 12

ANOTHER WIN MAKES IT 6 FOR LIT QUIZZERS

Teams from each year 7 form and their supporters gathered in the Eco Centre on the evening of 14th October to do battle to find the most literary form of 2014 – 15. Team members worked together to answer questions about supernatural beings, birds, food (always a popular topic!) and many more in their favourite books, and between rounds members of the very supportive audience were given the chance to win book tokens and £2 coins. Each team won a pile of books and individual team members had the chance to win £2 for answering ‘spot‘ questions. The Y7 Lit Quiz is an inter-form competition which is great for people who read Our team of four comprising David Rodger (Year 8), Jacob – A LOT! You need to know all kinds of random facts from books: any books you Peel, William Thompson and Louise Rodger (Year 7) might have read since you were very little, even ones which were read to you took the North West by storm and emerged astonished, before you could read for yourself. but victorious after 10 gruelling rounds comprising 100 questions about Aesop’s Fables, Babies, Doctors, After 64 team questions, 8 adult audience questions, 8 child audience questions Vegetables, Donkeys and more. and 8 questions for individual team members, plus refreshments catered for by members of CSA and the chance to buy a great range of books supplied by Hills Competing against 30 other teams from 18 schools, our Books, the scores were totaled and the winners announced. There were some team won the first round, played their Joker for double very knowledgeable students present but the team from 7GHU was the decisive points on the Middle Earth round when they scored winner. Jack Dixon, Jacob Peel, Louise Rodger and William Thompson each took full marks, and even scored better than the Author & home a book token and more book prizes, plus the silver cup for their form. Librarians team by 7 points. Their total score was a fantastic 91.5 out of a possible 110 so they will now go to Many congratulations to everyone who took part – keep up the great reading! the UK final in Wimbledon on 4th December. They also won book tokens and brought the silver cup back for the Mrs Farrar, Librarian 6th year running. Great work, Team Cockermouth!

5 Green Thought… “It’s not easy being green” - Kermit the Frog

Staying Green – Eco Schools Energy Month Turns Geowatch are Eco Winners Up the Heat on Waste Eco Schools Energy Month is a nationwide annual campaign run by Eco Schools. The idea is to spend November encouraging the whole school community to be more energy aware, and to help everyone in school to identify areas in their lives where they can reduce energy consumption - unplugging mobile phone chargers when not in use and turning appliances off, rather than leaving them on standby, for example. We are proud to announce that we have received our new Eco School Award which was up for During November Geowatch renewal in October 2014. A lot of preparation patrol the school checking for went into the assessment morning. Members wasted energy and leaving of Geowatch who gave a presentation about stickers to remind wasteful the school’s environmental work and took staff to switch off lights / the Eco School Assessor on a guided tour of computers etc when not the school particularly impressed her. ‘They in use. were exceptionally knowledgeable and also We have been out and about enthusiastic about the ongoing eco work and as part of energy month trying to spread the word with the rest of the looking at different areas of school. Very Impressed!’ she commented. the school using an Infra-Red We would like to say a big thank you for all our Camera. The infra-red camera Geowatch members, as well as all the others shows heat being emitted so, involved in our whole school Eco Committee. by taking images of various parts of the school from the outside, we can see how much heat is being lost. As you can see from the images below, AND STILL TO COME… the front of school is emitting quite a lot of energy, whereas our specially designed areas of school emit a lot less heat. What a pity we don’t have any thermal images showing the building before the old windows were replaced, as it would have clearly shown the improvement in energy loss reduction as a result of changing the windows. The images of the Eco centre and the new East Wing show the benefits of modern design and up to date insulation as they are clearly emitting considerably less heat Coming up in the Spring Term...WASTE WEEK! energy than the front of the main building We have lots of projects in the pipeline to reduce Site Manger, Mr Heap, plans to use the camera the waste produced in school and increase the in selected areas of the school throughout amount of composting across the school. Watch November to identify where we can make this space for more information!!!! further improvements. Miss Haslam REMEMBER REMEMBER RECYCLE - REUSE - REBUY - REDUCE - REFUSE

6 Maths Challenge FOOD FOR THOUGHT Success Continues

Year 9 students, who are raising funds for the Connecting Classrooms project with Taiwan, organised a Pampered Chef cookery demonstration in the main hall in October for fellow students, parents and staff. Using a range of fantastic Pampered Chef equipment, the Victory for Annie Paine and Alistair Martin students worked with representative, Following our victory in the Senior Team Maths Challenge, a team of sixth form students will Joanne Harrison, be heading off to London on February 3rd to represent the North-west in the National Final. to create ‘Cool Annie Paine, Alistair Martin, Alistair Simpson Athenian Wedges’ and I came first in the Senior Team Maths which we all Challenge at , Dalston on sampled – delicious! Friday 14th November Ticket sales, a cut from the sales of equipment and a The competition was great fun: first we had raffle all helped to raise £400.00 towards the cost of the a group round, with ten challenging puzzles visit to Taiwan. to solve between the four of us; followed by a ‘crossnumber’, similar to a crossword but Miss Bowe with numerical answers; finally, in the Shuttle round, we had to answer questions in pairs and pass our answers to the other pair, Maths winners Stephen Cole and Alistair Simpson who needed them in order to complete the task. Sixth Formers Build This marked the fourth consecutive victory for Cockermouth School in the Team Maths Challenge competitions. Both the Senior and Junior teams won their respective regional Bridges With Year 6 finals in 2013, and the Junior team also won the 2014 regional final in March, qualifying for Over the course of five weeks, a group of 6th the national final in June. Cockermouth School have definitely earned a reputation as “the Form students have worked with groups of ones to beat” and we are hoping we can continue this winning streak in future years! Year 6 students from our local primary schools to help them to develop both their Maths and Stephen Cole, Year 13 Writing skills. A level Maths students have designed a wide range of activities for the younger pupils which encourage teamwork and problem solving, and have used some questions from the UK Mathematics Trust’s Junior Maths Challenge in order to stretch them academically. Meanwhile A level English students have been working with the year 6s on designing and creating their own newspapers. The primary pupils have really enjoyed working with us and it will hopefully boost their confidence as they face the transition to secondary school at the start of the next academic year. For the 6th Form students, it has allowed us to develop our communication and leadership skills, as well as creating very The Last Word is the Tel: 01900 898888 · Fax: 01900 8988889 positive links with the staff and pupils of the Cockermouth School magazine www.cockermouthschool.org local primary schools. See us on Twitter: twitter.com/cockermouthsch compiled by students and staff. Design & print by Firpress Printers Joseph Richardson, Year 13 Tel: 01900 68141 · www.firpressprinters.co.uk

7 Spanish Grammar and Donuts in Sunny Salamanca

As part of our A-level Spanish studies, five sixth teaching centre, doing grammar work in the rain) and eat tapas and churros with chocolate form students travelled to Salamanca with Mrs morning and, after a short break each day to (a fried-dough pastry snack) which we were Millne earlier this term. explore the centre, shop and try some of the given on the last morning of lessons. local cuisine (including some delicious donuts), Salamanca is a beautiful old city in north- We were all sad to leave and wished we spent the afternoon enjoying conversation western Spain, famous for its world-renowned could have stayed a bit longer. It was a lessons. We learnt about Spanish history; university, stunning cathedrals and ‘La Plaza fantastic week which helped us to improve our took a tour of the city; navigated a typical Mayor’, a square surrounded on each side by understanding of Spanish culture and grasp Spanish market and used our language skills cafes, shops and breathtaking architecture. of the language hugely, and we would highly to complete a questionnaire; took part in a recommend it to any students thinking of doing We stayed with host families who spoke little photo competition and even joined a traditional Spanish at A-level or no English which was brilliant for immersing Spanish dancing class. We also had lots of ourselves in the language and culture, but time to shop; drink ‘cola-cao’, a Spanish hot sometimes a bit of a problem logistically! We chocolate drink; enjoy the last night of the local Maisie Short and Cathee Potter, spent our mornings at ‘Dice Salamanca’ a fiesta; make the most of the sun (although it did Year 12 DRAMA STUDENTS GET TO THEIR FEET FOR BLOOD BROTHERS 100 students were lucky enough to attend The students, ranging from Year 8 to Year 13, scouse humour (and bad language!) but the the critically acclaimed show Blood Brothers thoroughly enjoyed the experience, despite end delivers a shattering blow and only the at the Kings Theatre,Glasgow, staring Marti the three-hour bus journey in torrential rain, hardest of hearts could avoid shedding a tear Pellow and Maureen Nolan, in November, giving the show a standing ovation to show or two.’ on a trip organized by Miss Mossop and Mr their appreciation. Overall it was a great night out and a real Durkan. Nine other staff members joined the students musical success. The show explores the fates of twins and they really enjoyed the theatrical separated at birth and the two young actors experience too. ‘Live theatre doesn’t get Miss Mossop and Mrs Broad who played the brothers gave outstanding any better than this’, said accompanying performances. member of staff, Mrs Broad. ‘There is lots of

8 IT’S ALL IN A DAY’S Many happy returns to WORK FOR YEAR 11 Cockermouth School Cockermouth School turns 30 this year and is enjoying a prolonged celebration of this milestone in the school’s history. Over the course of this academic year, we are putting together a variety of events for the school and community to share. We have opened with a 30th anniversary exhibition, show casing photos and artefacts from the last 30 year and a ‘Big Draw’ event, to be followed by several more events throughout the year. Further details can be found on the school website. We will be taking a number of trips back to 1984 – The Mouth FM will run a series of programmes On 23rd September, all Year 11 students on the music and events of 1984 and a 1980s non- took part in a careers day to find out uniform day (easy for some staff) will help students more about the world of work. Local to appreciate the styles and fashions of 1984. employers gave advice about routes We hope existing parents, students and staff, as into a range of careers and information well as former students (many of whom are now about life beyond school. Students parents themselves); members of the community, took part in activities designed to governors and staff, will take this opportunity to help prepare them for interviews join us in our trips down memory lane. and budget at university. Throughout the day, a number of guest speakers from prominent local companies, Peter French, Assistant Headteacher such as Sellafield, and local Law and Engineering firms gave advice to the students about the labour market and how to look for work. Learning Support Activities included a speed-dating task which encouraged students to talk to Take a Bite at the professionals from different careers about their day-to-day jobs and a quiz to help them to discover the future Golden Apples career that would best suit them. They Cockermouth School’s were also set a ‘Mad Men’ activity Learning Support Department which challenged groups of students was shortlisted earlier this to improve, develop and market an term for the Golden Apple everyday item to their peers. Awards, an annual event Overall, response to this new initiative was very positive. Students found the careers instigated by Cumbrian day enjoyable, and gained valuable ideas and information about what to do when Newspapers to recognise they leave school. ‘The day was a lot of fun, and I got a good insight into Cumbria’s job achievements in education, market,’ said Imogen Cowper, year 11. training and learning across Cumbria. Maisie Short, 12 The Golden Apple Awards are sponsored by local companies including Inspira and BNFL, and include categories for learner of the year, community Staff and Students Welcome the New Intake involvement, the use of technology in learning and On Thursday 25th September, Cockermouth School held a successful open evening special needs education. for prospective new pupils for the 2015/2016 academic year. Mrs Tiffin, Special Education Needs Coordinator, and Year 6 pupils and their parents were first welcomed to the school in an introductory Mrs Walker, Higher Level Teaching Assistant, in the talk in the Eco Centre, and were then given the choice whether to join a tour of the department, attended the awards ceremony at Carlisle school led by teaching staff and a number of willing volunteers from the sixth form, racecourse on October 3rd. The department was or to take a map and explore for themselves. The pupils and their parents enjoyed nominated for its excellent work across school and free time looking around every subject area, where students and teachers gave strategic resource provision for autism. demonstrations, such as science practicals, and delivered sample activities from “The Learning Support Department supports children lessons. There were also a variety of musical performances, including numbers who would otherwise struggle in mainstream education,” from the school choirs and instrumental solos to show Year 6 pupils the variety of said Mrs Tiffin, lead SENCO. “We provide a lot of support opportunities on offer at Cockermouth School. for a lot of children throughout the school who are ‘I was delighted with the evening. It was great to see Cockermouth School in struggling with reading, writing, numeracy and more.” action and the feedback that I received from Year 6 parents and students was really positive,’ said Mr Routledge, Head of Year 7, who organised the open evening. ‘I am With nearly 30 members of staff, Learning Support is the particularly grateful to all of our students for the fantastic way they represented the largest department in the school. We are proud that the school on the night and to all of my colleagues for their hard work and dedication.’ achievements of students and the dedication of the staff have been recognised within the local community. Stephen Cole, Year 13 Stephen Cole, Year 13 9 Music Notes OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Senior members of the local community were entertained by Y10 GCSE Music students and some of Mrs Weakley’s OUR SOCKS OFF! singing students (Louisa Bragg, Alannah Hambley, Each year Mr Ulyatt, head Laura Cousins, Alex McKinney, Tom Slack, Nathan of the music department, Brannon, Reece Moore, Hannah Lewis, Miriam Ulyatt runs a school talent show and Kate Moody) at the Kirkgate Centre’s ‘Arts and named after the popular Allsorts’ concert on November 13th. Their singing and former television show performances on flute, recorder, piano, guitar and drums Opportunity Knocks. This were very well received by an enthusiastic audience. year’s show, which took place Our Staff Choir competed at the Workington Music on Tuesday 21st October at Festival and won their class with performances of ‘There 7pm, comprised 24 acts which is no rose of such virtue’ (Anonymous, 1420] and ‘I love included singers and dancers, my love’ [Trad. arr. Gustav Holst]. as well as students playing recorders, guitars, flutes – and Our choirs and ensembles have performed in assemblies even bagpipes! for several year groups this term, giving other students the chance to appreciate the work they have been doing. Year 12 student James Costin, of , blew There will be more performances from players and the audience and judges singers at ‘Cockermouth by Candlelight’ on Monday 8 away with his bagpiping December, and at our Street Sing in town on Thursday 11 performance of ‘Duncan December. Johnstone’ by Angus Finally, please join us for our annual Carol Service – a Macdonald. After much great way to finish the term and put you in the mood for encouragement from family Christmas. and friends, James took the plunge this year and entered Opportunity Knocks and, in Mr Ulyatt his debut performance in the school talent show, James not only won, but achieved a perfect score from the judging panel. Following the show, Jazz Band James said that he really enjoyed it, and is planning to Hits All the take part again next year. James took up the bagpipes 7 years ago. Having Scottish grandparents clearly influenced his decision to take up the unusual, yet highly complex, instrument. These Right Notes days, James is no stranger to performing on the stage, making regular appearances at On Friday 3rd October, musical students from weddings, competitions and Burns’ night events. all year groups were given the opportunity to participate in a jazz workshop with saxophonist The audience also voted for their favourite act. The winners, Rhianna Myerscough, Brian Molley and drummer Stuart Brown, who are Laura Cousins, Eloise Holliday, Anna & Isobel Moody and Emily Wilson, performed a members of the renowned Scottish Brian Molley superb dance routine to Chandelier by Sia. Quartet. Congratulations to all who took part! Around 30 students took part and were split into two groups. A ‘melody’ group worked on By Sophie Wilson, Year 13 an improvisation of the tunes of Brian Molley’s jazz music with saxophones and keyboards, whilst a ‘rhythm’ group of singers, guitarists and drummers created a tight backbone to the piece of music. Students who took part really enjoyed the experience. ‘The improvisation was scary at first, but once you got into it, it was really good fun,’ said Meghan Avery, year 13. ‘For me it was a completely new way of playing music.’ The band, who are well-known for their jazz tunes and improvisation talents, are currently touring the UK and performed later that evening at the Kirkgate Centre. All the participants of the workshop were invited to attend the performance and some even had the chance to perform with the quartet. Sophie Wilson Year 13

10 Christmas Jammie Dodgers Individual and Team These tasty and very pretty biscuits will be an instant hit with a cuppa at Christmas. Champions at the British • 125g butter, softened Schools’ Orienteering • 70g icing sugar • ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional) • 1 egg yolk Championships • 190g flour • 25g sugar, for sprinkling Method 1. Put the butter and icing sugar in a large bowl and beat together with an electric whisk until very pale and fluffy. 2. Add the vanilla extract and half of the egg yolk and beat well with a wooden spoon. 3. Sift in the flour and mix into a firm dough. Work the dough into a smooth ball with your hands then put in the fridge while you prepare your tray. 4. Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5 and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out until about 3mm thick. Using a round 4cm biscuit cutter, or a slightly larger one, if that’s too fiddly, cut out an even number of circles, then use a Christmas cutter to make little star, tree, heart or Cockermouth were once even reindeer shape in the centre of half of your again well represented biscuits. at the national schools’ championships at Temple 5. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet Newsam, Leeds in and bake in the oven for 10–12 minutes or until November. With over a they are a pale golden colour. Don’t be tempted to thousand pupils from all overcook them or they will be too hard. over the country competing 6. Transfer the biscuits to a wire rack to cool. While round the myriad of paths they are still warm, sprinkle with the caster sugar. in the woods surrounding 7. Once the biscuits are completely cool, sandwich Temple Newsam house, the them together with a teaspoon of jam, making competition was intense. sure the biscuits with a hole cut in them are There were excellent individual performances, notably Alastair Thomas (10SHR) who placed on top of those without. Store in an airtight won his race to take first prize in the Year 10 competition and Daniel Spencer (10AQ) and container. Rosie Spencer (8FM) who both just missed the podium in fourth position. The Year 8 and You can even make your own jam too…. Year 12 Girls had fantastic races, with both teams taking gold position, and the Year 10 Boys were rewarded with silver. The rest of the team had solid performances, resulting Quick Raspberry Jam in Cockermouth finishing fourth overall. Congratulations to all those who competed. • 200g raspberries (fresh or frozen – frozen are just as good and much cheaper!) • 200g granulated sugar Hockey Update • 1 or 2 clean, empty jam jars Method 1. Put the raspberries into a heavy-based saucepan. Bring to the boil (but be careful not to let them burn), then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. 2. Tip in the sugar, stir over a very low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Raise the heat, bring to a full rolling boil, then boil rapidly for 5 minutes - don’t stir though – until the setting point of 105°C is reached. 3. Remove from the heat. Leave for about 15 minutes so the fruit can settle. Pour into sterilised jars, label and seal. 4. Use the jam to stick your jammie dodgers together.

Recipes supplied by The U16 girls hockey team played some superb hockey to qualify for the second round Mrs Sale, Food Technology of the North West County Hockey Tournament at Casterton.

11 Cockermouth Girls SPORTS Enjoy Sporting Success The girls have enjoyed plenty of success this term, a result of great attendance to practices after school in all sports, dedication to training and real engagement in all sessions. Our teams have proved themselves to be very strong and have provided good competition for our competitors. Rugby Report We have been lucky with the weather, which was very kind to us at the start of the term, This has been one of the best terms for rugby that I allowing the majority of fixtures to go ahead. The results below show that we have had can remember. The weather was fantastic and this numerous successes in hockey, netball and football fixtures against schools to the West allowed ALL the fixtures and practices to take place. We of the county. regularly had over 100 boys involved each week and, as can be seen from the results below, they have had Netball plenty of success. Schools Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Sixth Form Opponents Year 8 (U13) Year 9 (U14) Year 10 (U15) A: 2-0 (w) A: 9-3 (w) Netherhall A: 6-1 (w) A: 8-3 (w) A: 17-1 (w) A: 12-2 (w) B: 3-0 (w) B: 4-2 (w) Keswick (H) W L W (CC) Keswick (A) W L W Southfield A: 4-2 (w) A: 26-0 (w) A: 2-1 (w) Win A: 14-4 (w) No Game Nelson Thom (H) W W W St Benedicts A: 3-1 (l) A: 8-4 (w) A: 5-1 (w) A: 5-1 (w) A: 9-5 (w) No Game Nelson Thom (A) W W A: 10-1 (w) Ullswater (H) W L W Stainburn A: 3-3 (w) A: 7-1 (w) A: 17-3 (w) A: 9-5 (w) No Game B: 3-2 (l) Ullswater (A) D L Trinity W W W (NC) St Josephs A: 2-0 (w) A: 8-1 (w) A: Won A: 10-4 (w) A: 9-5 (w) No Game QUEGS W W W Tournament 4th Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Sedbergh L L Stainburn W W (CC) W (NC) In addition to the and Copeland League, the Year 8 girls played in the U13 St Bees W W National Cup against Ulveston, where they narrowly lost by three goals. This was a NC – NATIONAL CUP CC – COUNTY CUP great experience for our players and it was great to see such a high standard of netball among the younger age groups. In addition to these matches, we also had fixtures and practices for Year 7, Year 11 and Years 12 and 13. These Hockey boys also showed great enthusiasm and put lots of We have made great use of our new astro-turf, playing and hosting a number of effort into their rugby. the local hockey tournaments. Cockermouth has competed in the U16 North Round The inter form rugby competition for Years 7, 8 and 9 Tournament where the girls played some superb hockey, captained by Jane Avery and was once again a great success and these matches vice-captain Eloise Lawler. The girls won their first section with a strong performance were extremely well contested and well supported, with against St Bees, to go through to the second round at Casterton, where they finished over 75% of the boys in each year group taking part. fourth. The U14s came fourth in the first round of their tournament, but showed great potential for their up and coming games. The girls have had regular fixtures against St Bees and Keswick; the U13 squad has been successful against both and will hopefully shine in their tournament in the Spring Term. Football

The Year 8 rugby team prior to their match against QUEGS, Wakefield in the National Cup

At the time of going to press, the year 10 team is still in the National Cup and is preparing for a top fixture against a Lancashire team. Likewise, the Year 13 1st XV team is still in the National Cup and will play Rossall School very shortly. The U13, U14 and U15 teams are all still in the County Cup, with the Y10s hoping to be crowned as champions for the third year in a row. Over the dark winter months our rugby players take a well earned break, but we will be back in action in the late spring for the 7’s season. Well done to all the boys involved and hope you have enjoyed a great season.

Captains: The under 14 girls football team at the Ulverston match Y8 – Tom Wilson, Jack Lewis This year we have seen a fantastic attendance at the girl’s football practice. The U16s Y9 – Grant Seward, Seamus Hutton were entered in the County Cup, but were unfortunately knocked out by Stainburn in the Y10 – Ryan Scott, John Irving semi-finals. The U14s played in the National Cup, where they played well throughout the Y11 – Josh Watson, Kieran Wilson competition but were knocked out by Ulveston in round 3. Finally, the U13s qualified for Y12/13 – Mckenzie Jenkin the semi-finals and, as we go to press, we are waiting to see who they draw. We wish them luck! Mr Hayes Miss Laws

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