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COWLEIAN TIMES
#6
SUMMER 2015
OPEN EVENING: TUESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2015
ART GALLERY SHOWCASES IMPRESSIVE TALENT FROM SIXTH FORM STUDENTS An impressive array of artwork from Sixth Form students who are studying art was displayed as part of a recent annual exhibition at the College. The artwork on display covered many art disciplines, including: drawings, paintings, prints, mixed media and 3D work. Miss Kay, Head of Art at Cowley, praised the talented students: “The exhibition provides a platform for students to showcase their artistic and creative talents. “I know I say it every year, but this year really has been the best in terms of diversity and standards of work. I am very proud!” As part of the exhibition, visitors got the chance to choose their favourite piece; Catriona Colbeck took the coveted prize for her fantastic drawing (see image top right).
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EXHIBITION ON PAGE 2
LIBRARY NEWS Carnegie Award Day 2015 Cowley students from years 8, 9 and 10 were treated to a grand day out on Monday, 22nd June. Having read their way through the 2015 Carnegie Award short-list, this year’s ‘Carnegie Shadowers’ enjoyed a day of drama, art, poetry and creative writing workshops. Guest author Jon Mayhew (pictured above) inspired the shadowers with his fabulous fantasy-action-adventure stories and description of how he became a professional novelist. Cowley, and other St Helens’ school, students voted Apple and Rain their favourite novel of this year’s selection, but on the day, Buffalo Soldier scooped the coveted Carnegie Award. Student feedback suggests that a great time was had by all, with one student even describing the event as the “happiest time of my life”. For more information about the Carnegie Award or to read about the full short list visit: www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/index. php. If you would like to find out more about the Cowley Carnegie Group, contact Cowley’s Library and Resource Centre Manager: Ms Widdowson.
Book Scramble Book Fair Competition
FAREWELL MEAL FOR GCSE SPANISH STUDENTS
The library is running an anagram competition this month in the run up to the Summer Book Fair. Students are challenged to rearrange letters to reveal the hidden book titles (see image). Five lucky winners will receive a £5 book tokens to spend at the fair, which will run from Tuesday 7th July to Wednesday 15th July. This pop-up shop of teen titles will be available for all Cowley students to visit in the library – offering books, bargains and stationery bits in the build-up to the summer holiday. Every penny spent at the fair also raises funds for college library books. Coming Soon: September 2015 will witness a new look library catalogue with added functionality. For example, students will be able to search for books within Accelerated Reader book levels, post book reviews and use keyword links in order to find more of the books they love.
COWLEY STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL LINKS WITH PARTNER SCHOOL
After two years of after-school lessons, Year 11 celebrated the end of their Spanish GCSE with a congratulatory meal at La Viña restaurant, Liverpool on Monday 15th June. They tried a variety of Spanish tapas including patatas bravas, tortilla, chorizo, pescado frito, albondigas and croquetas de jamón. The feast was then followed by two massive paellas – one with pollo y chorizo (chicken and chorizo) and one with calamares y gambas (squid and king prawns). All of the delicious food was washed down with some traditional sangría (non-alcoholic of course!). The students were incredibly adventurous and polished off every mouthful. They behaved exceptionally well and even spoke to the waiters in Spanish. Salud y Felicidades! Miss Williams Teacher of English & Spanish
STEM DAY
On Wednesday, 15th July, Year 8 students will take part in an inspiring STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) day of interactive activities, talks and workshops. On Tuesday, 30th June, 25 students and five staff from the Bad Pyrmont Authority in Germany spent the day with Year 10 students at Cowley. This is an annual event. The German school is our video conference partner. A selection of Year 10 students ’buddied up’ with the German students for the day and took part in a whole host of fun and engaging activities ranging from flamenco dancing and music lessons through to team building exercises.
STEM days support the aim of the National Curriculum and schools agenda by linking the curriculum to the wider world and demonstrating that what is being taught in the classroom has direct relevance within the world of work. Photos from the day will be posted on our website.
WORK RELATED LEARNING NEWS - ANNUAL ROUND UP ‘Inspire and Include’ open day
Cowley Enterprise Club support their Community
Enterprise Club Representatives recently took part in Age UK’s ‘Inspire and Include’ open day at Mansion House.
Cowley Enterprise Representatives did a wonderful job making 60 Easter baskets for their chosen charity, Age UK.
The representatives got involved in a number of activities, including Tai Chi and the annual Step Out sponsored walk with the Stroke Association. The event gave the students hands-on experience in engaging with the local community.
The Enterprise team visited Mansion House to present their gifts, along with other gifts that staff had kindly donated.
Marie Powner, from the Stroke Association, said: “We were so touched at the gesture, kindness and compassion of the pupils. They were fantastically behaved and it was a joy to see them interacting with stroke survivors and their families. They should be very proud of themselves”.
The students also met some of the service users and presented them each with an Easter basket. STEM lecture at top university
Dream Plan Achieve In June, Cowley’s Year 9 Dream Plan Achieve cohort visited Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). For many students this was their first visit to a university, which was a fun and unforgettable experience.
Earlier this year, nine Year 10 students attended a public lecture at Liverpool John Moores University.
Working alongside LJMU student advocates, students took part in activities and were given the opportunity to explore the campus and its facilities.
The event was aimed at female students who have an interest or ability in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.
In June, Cowley’s Enterprise Representatives attended the UK Youth Summit, which provided them with the opportunity to: • Hear from inspirational speakers and develop their own public speaking technique. • Start discovering and discussing both local and global issues that matter to them. • Develop fantastic new skills including leadership, communication, public speaking and effective teamwork.
The lecture titled, “Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling”, followed an interview style format facilitated by BBC Radio Presenter Linda McDermott. Immediately after, the audience engaged in a lively question and answer session on areas such as: challenges affecting the career choice of women; what steps can be taken to ensure that girls receive effective career advice and pursue careers in non-traditional areas; progression of women in university; dealing with the problem of isolation at the top level, which is still male dominated; striking a balance between home and work life whilst still building a national and internationally recognised research profile.
HIGH STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR AT COWLEY We are very pleased that the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of students at Cowley is wonderful. They show consideration and respect to others and try hard in lessons. All visitors to the College, from inspectors to parents, have said that behaviour is great. We do however, never stand still at Cowley and we are always looking to improve our systems. Rewards We will continue to use achievement points and you will be able to see these when you log onto our Parent Portal system. From September there will be more celebration for good work and conduct and more communication home about good behaviour. Consequences We are changing our ‘steps’ system to a ‘consequence’ system. The consequence system is all based on student choice. Students can make choices to be rewarded or to have a consequence. It is vital that students understand it is their choice and therefore they know the consequence. This does have some practical implications. C1 – Warning C2 – Second and final warning C3 – College ‘C3’ 30 minute detention after College C4 – Removed from class and a 1 hour College detention C5 – Internally excluded from College C6 – Fixed term exclusion from College C7 – Permanent exclusion We know for the majority of students the C3 to C7 does not apply. We know that you will support us to ensure that students are challenged and guided through the choices that they make.