Newsletter - Summer Term, 16.06.17
The first half of the summer term has seen Cottesmorians apply themselves with vigour to every aspect of their lives in school and they now have a well-earned break in their sights. After the hush of exam week this half will culminate in its traditional rousing finale, Sports Day, with of course a splendid match tea from our catering team. The Marching Band is ready and we hope that the rain will stay away!
Academically the summer term is a particularly important one for our senior pupils, who will take their Public School Entrance and Common Entrance exams before moving on to public school in September. Destinations for this year’s leavers include Eton, Winchester, Harrow, Charterhouse, King’s Canterbury, Benenden, Downe House, Oundle and Radley. Equally importantly, pupils lower down the school have been diligently preparing for their school exams.
Highlights from this half of the term include a very successful day at the Salter’s Science Festival, Geography department field trips to Goodwood Farm and Drusilla’s Zoo Park and a super win at the Sussex U11s Chess Congress, which was hosted by Cottesmore. In our visiting lecture series, our pupils learned about helping others in Nepal from our guest speaker Amelia Calvert, who spoke movingly of her experiences.
We also enjoyed a very successful Open Morning with a large number of families visiting and getting the ‘inside track’ from our pupil guides!
Sports Review
The cricket teams have enjoyed some spectacular successes, with the 1st XI jubilantly recording wins of 99 and 121 runs, as well as other emphatic victories. The 2nd XI weren’t too far behind with some 80+ run victories, while the 3rd XI and Colts teams enjoyed many successes between them.
The rounders teams enjoyed some mixed fortunes, on occasions weather-related and on another memorable occasion when bees stopped play. The 2nd team, as well as U10s and U9/8s secured some superb wins and their coaches are all delighted with their cohesive play.
The athletics track has seen plenty of action as we approach Sports Day and we look forward to hearing about new records set.
The boys’ swimming squad finished in a very creditable 7th place in the IAPS Championship Finals, while the ‘A’ team secured a brilliant finish at Brambletye School’s swim gala.
The popularity of our Golf Family Foursomes event shows no sign of waning and another fantastic day was enjoyed early in the term, while our Tennis team enjoyed victory in a tournament.
Activities
The longer summer evenings mean more time to enjoy out of doors activities in our glorious grounds and Cottesmorians have also enjoyed Sunday outings to the Team Sports racing track and to Ultimate Laser on their Sundays ’in’.
The Pre-prep
The pace is every bit as brisk in the Pre-prep, where they have undertaken topics of study including money, the seaside, castles, Claude Monet, plant growth, LS Lowry and pirates.
There have been trips out of school to complement their studies including Arundel Castle and to the beach for a day of seaside activities. Some very special guests came to school early in the term: the Reception class brought their teddy bears for a picnic and lots of games.
The Pre-Prep had their own well-attended Open Morning and they too are practising hard for their Sports Day.
The second half of term
After Sports Day and the half term break we look forward to an equally packed second half of term beginning with Arts Week. This popular annual cross-curricular event offers pupils a diverse range of activities including musical workshops, the always-popular Chicken Wired workshop and so much more.
There will be field trips in Classics and History and our Athletics squad have the Birmingham National Athletics Championships in their sights. The fixture list remains busy in cricket, rounders and tennis.
The 4th Form will be immersed in all things French as they undertake a week-long cross-curricular trip to Lower Normandy.
The Remove will head to the Mill on the Brue in Somerset for an outward bound adventure week after a comprehensive programme of preparation for their transition to public school.
An important diary date is Sunday July 2nd when we welcome Old Cottesmorians to a day of picnics, sports and reminiscences. The day closes traditionally with our Leavers’ Service in the chapel. Come and join in, meet up with old friends, enjoy a picnic and battle it out in the Mothers’ and Fathers’ matches!
All of this of course after a well–earned half term holiday. Our good wishes go to everyone for a happy and relaxed break.