NEWSLETTER www.cowesec.org info@cowesec.org
Friday 28th September
Dear parents and carers, We were so pleased to host so many prospective parents at our annual Year 6 Open Evening on Thursday 27th October. The building was packed with parents and students and thank you to all who attended to hear my address, even if there was only standing room by the time I began. I was so proud of Mimi Poulton and Albert Newton, newly appointed Head Girl and Boy; their speech caused me to reflect on how far the school has come in the 6 years since they joined us. With a new leadership team, building and curriculum the school is unrecognisable just during their school career. We also heard from two very brave Year 7 students, Lorelai and Theo, about their experience so far less than a month into their Cowes journey. They did so well presenting to a large audience and have achieved one aspect of the Cowes Charter - public speech to an audience. During this week we have also appointed Deputy Head Boy Duke Peters, and Deputy Head Girl Ellen Wood, so congratulations to all for their achievements this week. This week we were delighted to see a number of our students being celebrated for their hard work with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. They presented on their walks to an enrapt audience. It was really inspiring to see all the organisation and effort they put in to be successful in addition to the demands of their school work. The Sixth Form team organised another workshop, this time with students in Year 10, 11 and Sixth Form, from Oxford University. They were taken through the application process and what they need to achieve in order to be successful with their future applications. The representative from Oxford was truly inspirational and enthused the students to push on with their studies. This year, for the first time, we are delivering the ARK mastery curriculum to Year 7 in English. We are placing a renewed emphasis upon a knowledge based curriculum with additional curriculum time for reading. This week we saw our first monitoring visits and the advisors were so impressed with how our students relished the challenge of this in depth approach. On Thursday we were also keen to look again at our excellent results, achieved in the summer term, as the national progress data was released. As expected, we were so pleased with our progress score putting us significantly above national average and much above Isle of Wight 2017 figures. This was our best ever progress score and confirms our trajectory of steady improvement. Given the new, tougher GCSE courses this achievement cannot be underestimated. As a reminder I continue to hold parent surgeries and these sessions are there to enable parents to get to know me and discuss the work of the school directly. Attendance is by pre-booked appointment only so please email dharrison@cowesec.org or phone the school on 01983 203103 asking for Donna Harrison to book a slot in advance of each Tuesday. With best wishes, Rachel Kitley
The Noel Turner Physics Festival Thursday 18th October 2018 This year we are again delighted to host the Noel Turner Physics Festival here at Cowes on the 18th October. This year it's even bigger and better than last, so it will mean some changes to the normal routine on the day for parents and carers to note. Our students should come to school as normal on Thursday 18 th; they will register with their form tutors (although some may be in different rooms). From 9.00am to 11.00am, all of our students will then have exclusive access to the Festival. Year 7 will have a special show of 'Dangerous Science' - bangs, smoke, flames and more with Wonderstruck. Other students will attend a keynote speech from Tom Warrender of Medical Mavericks, covering both careers in the health sector and a health and fitness element linked to their “Challenge the Champions� sports and fitness activities. Then all students will have time to explore the hands-on activities and talk to representatives from local, national and international companies and organisations including BAE Systems, GKN, IW Hospital Trust, Vikoma, IFPL and more. Your children will not only gain some insights into why they learn about science in school and how it is used in the real world, but also through talking to the representatives from the organisations, can explore different routes from school into well-paid local employment. Many local industries struggle to recruit suitable employees - we want all our students to understand the opportunities and make the links between learning well in school and an interesting and rewarding career. To allow students from other Island schools to also attend the Festival, we will complete the second session registration after 11.00am and those students who have their parents' permission may then study at home for the afternoon. Students who are unable to go home or whose parents would like us to look after them until the normal end of the day, will be attached to departments and involved in the activities including acting as guides or helpers. We will shortly issue a letter with permission slip that will ask you what your child should do on the day. If we do not receive permission for home study, then your child will remain in the Academy until 2.45pm. The Festival will be, again, a wonderful occasion. Should you have any questions about the Festival, please email NTPF@cowesec.org.
REMINDERS & INFORMATION Attendance Attending is the first part of succeeding! Students should be in the building and in their tutor class at 8.30am—any student arriving into this building after 8.30am will be considered as being late. A reminder that the procedure to report a student absence is to call the main Academy number (01983 203103), select Option 1 and leave a message on the Student Absence Line before 8.30am. There is no direct number for the absence line. Phone calls need to be made every day of the student's absence. The absence should be followed up with a letter detailing the duration and reason for absence on the student's return to the Academy.
Floating Bridge Shuttle Bus Autumn Term tickets are now available from Reception . Tickets can be purchased online through Scopay in pack of 20 for £10. Once payment has been made online, students should request tickets from Reception. Tickets are single use only, non-transferrable and nonrefundable. Please note that lost tickets will need to be repurchased.
Students eligible for free school meals are able to request a pass to access the Floating Bridge Shuttle Bus for free. The mini bus will travel between the Floating Bridge and Cowes Enterprise College every morning. The shuttle bus will be waiting in Medina Road, visible from the ferry. The shuttle bus will leave Medina Road at 08.10am and then a second shuttle will leave Medina Road at 08.20am.
Canteen Menus Menus for the canteen are now available on our website under the ‘Parent Information’ heading. Autumn Menu—Weeks 1, 2 and 3 http://www.cowesec.org/assets/docs/Menu-Prices-September-2018.pdf
Drinks and Snacks 2018 http://www.cowesec.org/assets/docs/Drinks-and-Snacks-Menu-2018.pdf
Drop off and collection and car park safety Please do not use the Academy car park to drop off and collect students withour prior agreement from the Academy for you to do so. Drop off and collections should be made on Crossfield Avenue remembering that that no parking is permitted on the white ZigZag lines surrounding the pedestrian crossing outside the Academy. Please could we also remind parents that the disabled bay spaces are for holders of valid Blue Badges only.
Summer 2019 External Examinations To All Parents and Carers of Students Sitting External Examinations in Summer 2019. Please can you be aware that the Joint Council for Qualifications have timetabled a contingency day for Wednesday 26th June 2019 for any GCSE and/or GCE examinations that may sustain national or local disruption during the June 2019 examination series. Therefore all students that are sitting exams next Summer must still be available to sit exams until this date. Any queries please email our Exams Officer, Mrs Hambley on ahambley@cowesec.org.
REMINDERS & INFORMATION Photo Consent and IT Agreements Photo Consent Forms and IT Agreements were given to students in Years 8—11 during tutor time this week.
Thank you to everyone who has returned these to us already! If you have not already done so, please could you fill these in and return them to Reception as soon as possible? Many thanks.
Last week both Duke of Edinburgh Bronze teams gave presentations about their successful expeditions. They completed their expeditions in challenging hot conditions. Huge thanks to Addison Davis who walked with one group at very short notice so they could complete their expedition.
From the PE Department In boys Games lessons we are currently teaching football. This will be followed by rugby. A large proportion of boys do not have studded footwear for their lessons. Football boots are a required piece of kit as stated in the academy uniform policy. As the weather starts to become wetter, this becomes a health and safety issue. Some students are wearing their school trainers for PE, some of which are expensive. We recommend a separate pair of trainers for PE to save school shoes from becoming damaged and students having wet/muddy feet following their PE lesson. By not wearing the appropriate footwear their progress in lessons will be hindered.
Uniform Information on our uniform can be found http://cowesec.org/partners-and-new-starters/ uniform.
at:
Cowes Enterprise College uniform is available online and at the Simmonds school shop on site.
Uniform Shop Opening Hours Monday: 12.00—1.45pm Wednesday: 2.45—3.35pm Friday: 12.00—1.45pm
Forthcoming Events Wednesday 10th October Thursday 18th October Friday 19th October
Year 11 Higher Education Evening Physics Festival and Last Day of Term (early closure) Staff Development Day
SIMS Parent SIMS Parent App is a tool that we use at Cowes Enterprise College. You can use this to view your student’s attendance, their timetable, their achievement and behaviour points and more! You can also use SIMS Parent to update your contact information. Designed with input from both schools and parents, SIMS Parent is intuitive, informative and immediate, providing parents with information on their child's progress to help inform, celebrate and support their child. You can access SIMS Parent on your browser via https:// www.simsparent.co.uk/ or by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play! If you require a link code email to be sent please contact us via info@cowesec.org to request.
Day
Sport Club
Year Group
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Venue
No Sport Clubs today due to staff meeting
Monday
Tuesday
Teacher
-Netball (girls)
8 /9 / 10 / 11 / 6th Form
Mrs. Hughes
Sport Hall
-Football (boys)
All Years
Mr. Hughes, Mr. Brown and Mr. Barry
Field
-Football (girls)
All Years
Mrs. Beck
Field
-Sport Leaders
All Years (students need to register for this qualification)
Miss Vidovic
Sport Hall
-Rugby (girls)
All Years
Miss Duffin
Field
-Badminton
All Years
Mrs. Spalding
Sport Hall
-Basketball
All Years
Mr. Hughes
Winder
-Netball (girls)
7
Mrs. Hughes
Sport Hall
Day
Activity
Teacher
Monday
No clubs today
Tuesday
BTEC intervention (SC14) Table Tennis
Miss Vidovic Mr Barry (1st half)
Wednesday
Badminton
Mr Brown (1st half) Miss Duffin (2nd half)
Thursday
Table Tennis
Mrs Hughes (1st half) Mr Hughes (2nd half)
Friday
Crew Competitions
Sport Captains Mr Barry
ACADEMY CLUBS Club Monday
Tuesday
Friday
Location
Cowes Combined Cadet Force (ages 12-18)
5-7pm
Capstan House
uCECLele Training Band
Lunch
MU02
Chess Club
Lunch
BT11
GCSE Art Catch Up Session
3-4pm
CA12
Year 7 Military Skills
3-3.30pm
CCF Office
STOMP (jazz percussion group)
2.45—3.45pm
MU02
Jazz Band
2.45—3.45pm
MU02
Science Club
2.45—3.30pm
SRC
2.45—3.30pm
BU11
GCSE Art Catch Up Session
3-4pm
CA12
Communication Club
2.45—3.30pm
Reception
Oasis Homework Support
2.45—3.30pm
Oasis
uCEClele (auditions required)
Lunch
MU02
Chess Club
Lunch
BT11
Badminton Club
2.45pm—4.00pm
Winder Centre
Props, Costume & Scenery Club
3-4pm
CA15
Choir
Lunch 3-4pm
MU02
Wednesday BTEC Business Revision
Thursday
Time
Basketball Club
Communication Club Wednesday 2.45—3.30pm Meet in Reception We will be working with IW Radio to produce a news bulletin to be played on their show each week.
After School Support Sessions Food Preparation and Nutrition, Design Technology, Child Develop and Health and Social Care We will hold after school support for NEA work or revision and recap will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Everyone welcome.
Winder Centre
BTEC Coursework Booster Sessions BTEC Coursework Days Saturday 17th November Saturday 24th November 9am—3pm
BTEC Business Finance Resit Friday 12th October
Revision sessions on Wednesdays from 2.45— 3.30pm in BU11