Half Term Newsletter – Winter 2011
The rich russets and golds of the autumn leaves are now much in evidence around the school grounds after some periods of extended summer weather allowed the new school year to get off to a glorious start.
We have welcomed 58 new pupils across the school; all have settled in well and have fully absorbed the rhythm of Cottesmore life. The Pre-Prep children returned to a new building with bright, updated classroom facilities and everyone is enjoying the extra space.
Some highlights of this first half of term have included visits from The Bushcraft Company, who engaged Cottesmorians in outside activities while encouraging and developing their leadership and team-working skills. There have been several Geography field trips and a Latin trip to the Roman Palace at Fishbourne, while pupils have had the opportunity to relax at the cinema and enjoy a trip to Arundel with its historic castle. The little ones in the Pre-Prep went to Ashdown Forest where they played pooh sticks and hoped to call on Pooh Bear, as well as visiting a Toy Museum where they found some very intriguing toys.
Sports Review
Nine soccer teams are giving their all this term, making a superb start to the season and really building on their successes as the term progresses. Between them they are amassing a superb tally of victories.
The girls’ hockey teams have proved themselves to be unstoppable in some of their fixtures with notable scores of 5-0 and 10-2; as well as other victories they have also held several opponents to tightly-fought draws.
The netball teams have a busier fixture card in the second half of term; however they played an exciting match against Windlesham keeping them to a 6-6 draw, while the U12 team took part in a Netball Versatility Tournament where each player played each position.
The swimming squads are showing impressive levels of commitment, enthusiasm and energy. This has been reflected in a superb performance in a gala against Brambletye School, where Cottesmore finished a clear 30 points ahead.
The Golf Family Foursomes were played on our Ostrich Feather course on a clear and bright September day. Team Rawlins won the trophy and the Bulls, White-Thomsons and Kennedys finished in second and equal-third places respectively. After the match picnic lunches were enjoyed, followed by the toasting of marshmallows by the junior golfers.
The second half of term
The senior pupils will be taking their Common Entrance Trial examinations and the rest of the school will be taking school examinations starting on November 15th. The History department will be leading day-long trips for the 4th and 5th year pupils and the endeavours of the term will as always be rounded off with all the fun and Christmas cheer that characterises The Feast.
The sports fixture card is packed once more and the start of the rugby season beckons; swimming squads will be taking part in two galas and the Knole Run will be hosted by Sevenoaks School.
The 5th and 6th Form will be off to the bright lights of the West End for a performance of ‘Blood Brothers’ which is loosely based on a novella by Alexandre Dumas. There will be a Sunday trip to an ice-skating rink and adventure stories will abound when we welcome John Hare - explorer, conservationist and author - to Cottesmore to hear his lecture on his Tibetan Camel Trek.
Saturday November 5th marks all the excitement of Bonfire Night with a firework display followed by dancing on the Gravel afterwards. Tickets for the event may be obtained from the school office.
Rehearsals will be well under way for the school production of ‘Time Will Tell’, written by Miss Curwood-Moss especially for Cottesmore. Performances will take place on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th November. More details to follow.
Our Christmas Fayre will take place in the hall on Saturday November 26th. Do come along and support the event.
The Glitter Ball makes a sparkling return to Cottesmore on Friday 16th December in aid of Scotty’s Little Soldiers and The Cottesmore Trust. Tickets may be bought direct from Mrs Rogerson.
Pre-Prep
After just two years the Pre-Prep is now full and has a waiting list, which is a terrific achievement in such a short time.
The next half of term will be packed full of singing and acting as preparations get under way for the Nativity Play. We can reveal that there will be lots of dancing snowmen and Christmas trees!
Year 3 will be finding out all about the Sun and our solar system, as well as discovering what it would have been like to be a child in World War II. It’s hoped to make a trip to the Imperial War Museum to support this topic of study.
Year 2 will be learning about The Great Fire of London, including a visit a local fire station where they will learn about how quickly fire can spread and how to be more safety conscious. They will also continue with their science topic, studying materials, with a focus on how materials can change.
Having spent the first half of term learning all about weddings, including planning their own weddings, making a wedding cake and even staging their own wedding ceremony in the Chapel, Year 1 will go on to learn all about bones, creating model bones and moving hands. They will be making a trip to the Booth Museum of Natural History in Hove.
The Reception class will be thinking about people who help us. There will be lots of dressing up and generally being very helpful; we hope to welcome a member of our local community to talk to the class.
All of this of course after a well earned half-term holiday. Our good wishes go to everyone for a happy and relaxed break.