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.