Newsletter - End of Michaelmas Term
Winter Term 2019
In Cottesmore’s 125th year and 373rd term, the themes remain the same as ever: the girls and boys have applied their boundless energy to academic study, sport, hobbies and activities. The mood is celebratory in this momentous anniversary year and every event just that bit more meaningful and poignant.
School News
52 new pupils across both Prep and Pre-prep, along with two new members of the academic staff received a warm Cottesmore welcome in September, enabling them to settle quickly into the rhythm of a new school year.
Sports Round-up
So far, congratulations must go to Sophia who has been awarded a full sports scholarship to Marlborough.
This term has seen a great many fixtures at all levels for the girls in both hockey and netball. On several occasions, every single child in the school from PP3 up to 6th Form represented Cottesmore on a pitch or a court.
The U11 girls had an outstanding unbeaten hockey season as did the U10s. Well done to all of them!
The Under 8 boys won all of their football matches and all but one of their rugby matches this term.
The Netball season is still in its infancy and the training we have seen so far points to a promising season ahead. We have some talented shooters, fast mid-field and feisty defensive players – keep your eyes peeled for more news.
The senior boys produced a sound set of results in football this term with some excellent wins. Constantin won the ‘Golden Boot’ with 8 goals for the 1st XI and Barney was awarded ‘Best Footballer’. The Colts A had some strong matches, the highlights being a 7-0 victory against Brambletye and 6-0 win versus The Duke of Kent. We’ve recorded 2 swimming gala victories over Ashdown this term – both junior and senior.
The Play
Cottesmore’s premiere of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was an outstanding success, with over 30 pupils taking part. The soliloquies were delivered to a very high standard and the entire production was a comedic triumph. There were plenty of scene-stealing moments in a play that was, as audiences of the three-night run agreed, a resounding success.
Staff News: Salvete and Valete
Miss Tana Purcell and Mr Charlie Gold joined our academic team in September as Science Teacher and English Teacher respectively. Miss Purcell’s Animal Care Club has been a huge hit with all the ages and Mr Gold is already pulling together a golf team for the national IAPS qualifiers. We are joined by Mr Ross Borthwick next term, who will be teaching RS and history.
Our Australian and New Zealand gap students returned home at the end of term after a year of contributing to Cottesmore life in so many ways. As always we wished them ‘bon voyage’ and ‘good luck’ in their future endeavours. Miss Ella returns to us next year along with a new cohort of ‘gappers’.
Charity
Support Jeans for Genes Day, Children in Need Day and Remembrance Sunday raised significant sums for the three associated charities, with the little ones in the Pre-prep enjoying a very spotty day for Children in Need. We are planning an ‘Orange Day’ for St Catherine’s Hospice next term.
At Harvest Festival we received generous gifts of food, which were donated to a local food bank and Help the Aged. The Pre-prep pupils joined in with their gifts for the Harvest Festival and they also took part in the Samaritans’ Purse Appeal, filling shoeboxes with gifts as part of a worldwide appeal for children by the Samaritans.
Lectures and Visits
Our extensive and varied programme of day-trips and visiting speakers enhanced the pupils’ learning across every year group.
Senior pupils headed to London’s West End at the end of term to see the award-winning play ‘Matilda’, while the juniors watched ‘Billionaire Boy’ by David Walliams. The popular Watts Gallery provided a stimulating and creative day, organised by our Visual Arts department.
A rich visiting speakers programme this term included explorer Charlie Walker and wildlife film maker, Fergus Beeley. We also welcomed ‘Dan the Science Man’ from the Royal Institution, who gave a spectacular workshop on ‘Exploding food’!
Chapel and Music News
Our morning services provide precious time for reflection, along with Sunday services. We are always pleased to welcome visiting Heads and registrars to Sunday evensong and this term our visitors included guests from Downe House, Harrow and Stowe.
Harvest Festival was celebrated with a traditional service and in November our Remembrance Sunday service took place in a packed chapel. In both services we paused and gave thanks for all that we have, as well as the sacrifices that have been made for us.
Our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service at the end of term brought everyone together to celebrate the meaning of Christmas with traditional readings of the Christmas story. Led by our choir, traditional carols along with contemporary Christmas anthems filled the hall with a joyful sound. The Christmas tree and log fire provided their own magical backdrop for this special celebration.
Pre-prep News
The Pre-prep children have had an exciting and busy term, welcoming in many new families to Cottesmore. The children have been introduced to many new topics this term including The 2nd World War, the Arctic and Antarctic, space (with a visit to Chichester Planetarium) and skeletons!
The Harvest Assembly and the Nativity Play performances were delightful, allowing the girls and boys to demonstrate their confidence and enjoyment in singing and acting.
The riding club, the tennis club and the swimming club have been particularly popular in the Year One and Two class –they also made fantastic sheep in the nativity, speaking up so beautifully!
Harry Potter Week
During the first full week of term, we held our inaugural Hogwarts Week. Children, and team members, were invited to dress up as their favourite character from any of J.K. Rowling’s books. Herminones, Rons, Harrys and even a Dumbledore were flying around the school enjoying an owl demonstration, potions lessons with Miss Purcell, butter beer at break time and Quidditch in Games.
Fun Activities and Sundays
‘In’ As always there has been a full programme of activities planned for Sundays ‘in’. Hobbies, games and activities organised by the staff on duty make leisure time fun, while there is also a programme of trips on offer. This term these have included Brighton Pier, Chessington World of Adventures and Brighton ice rink.
Back at school ‘Ceramic Shack’ came to Cottesmore for a day of creative activities making plates, mugs, money boxes and ornaments.
Our Bonfire Night celebrations were the traditional and exuberant mix of a huge bonfire, a dazzling firework display, plenty of warming food and mulled wine for the parents. Some energetic country dancing was followed by a live band, with a guest appearance by the Headmaster on his guitar.
The term was rounded off by our splendid Christmas events ‘Carols by Candlelight’ and ‘The Feast’: a celebration of another successful term for both staff and children.