We are celebrating World Book Day with Hot Chocolate and Stories!
In celebration of World Book Day, we are excited to host our annual Hot Chocolate Reward Lunch for Year 7 and Year 8 students in the library!
World Book Day is an annual event that encourages students to discover the joy of reading, celebrate books, and share their love for literature. This year, we are continuing our tradition of celebrating by bringing together students and staff to share the magic of reading.
As part of the celebration, we are inviting staff from all departments to join us in reading short extracts from books to our students. This is a wonderful opportunity for staff to show their support for reading across the curriculum, and last year, we had volunteers from PE, History, and Modern Foreign Languages—all of whom brought a unique flavour to the event.
In addition to the Hot Chocolate Reward Lunch and the readings, we’re thrilled to share that the library has recently invested in a wide selection of new books based on student requests! We believe in giving our students a voice when it comes to the books they read, and this investment ensures they have access to fresh, exciting titles that spark their interest and fuel their imaginations. Take a look at some of our new books here!
Uniform and footwear
On Wednesday, 5th February, the college had the privilege of hosting the Million Meal Miracle, a charitable initiative dedicated to combating global hunger. The event saw Year 8 students roll up their sleeves and work alongside volunteers to pack over 7,000 meals.
The meals, which will be sent to trusted partners in Zimbabwe and Somaliland, aim to provide essential warm meals for children in schools and orphanages.
The Million Meal Miracle project is on a mission to engage 200 schools in meal-packing events to address the critical issue of hunger faced by children around the world. As part of an assembly, representatives from the project educated our students about the ongoing global hunger challenges, highlighting the struggles that children their age are facing in other parts of the world.
In addition to the hands-on experience, the event provided our students with an important lesson on the significance of charitable work and the global issues that affect millions. The event was generously sponsored by Rotary St Helens, whose support made the day possible.
The experience aims not only to contribute to the fight against hunger but also to help our students develop a greater awareness of the impact they can have on the world. With a new found understanding of global issues, our students are now better equipped to take part in future charitable endeavors and make a positive difference in the world
Please see images on this page for the Breakfast Boost, Lunch and after school intervention sessions to support our Y11 in preparing for their GCSEs.
Sessions start Monday, 20th January.
Dear Parents/Carers,
As we approach examination season, we are reaching out to seek your support in helping your daughter/son prioritise their academic commitments. Achieving the grades necessary for university, apprenticeships, and future employment opportunities requires focus and careful time management.
The Sixth Form Student Guide highlights the impact of part-time work on academic performance:
“Sixth Formers whose part-time jobs take up more than eight hours a week are risking the grades they need for university and apprenticeships. Research shows that teenagers working up to seven or eight hours a week marginally improve on their predicted Level 3 performance; however, results suffer when hours rise above this. Those putting in 15+ hours are scoring, on average, 36 UCAS points below their potential (that is four grades lower) — the equivalent of dropping from BBB to CCD.”
While we recognise and support the value of part-time work in providing students with extra income and valuable skills, it is important that these commitments do not interfere with their studies. Part-time work during college hours is not permitted, and we strongly recommend limiting work commitments to a maximum of eight hours per week.
Excessive working hours can significantly impact academic results, and your guidance and support in helping your daughter/son manage their time effectively will be invaluable. Mock examination results provide an important indicator of progress and should be used to create a focused plan to achieve target grades.
By reducing work commitments where possible, your daughter/son will be in the strongest position to secure their future goals, whether that is university, an apprenticeship, or employment.
If you would like to discuss this further or require additional support, please do not hesitate to contact your daughter/son’s subject and performance and development tutor.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in ensuring your daughter/son’s success.
Yours sincerely
Danny Watkins
Head of Sixth Form
Dear Parents/Carers
I hope you and your family are well and your child is feeling refreshed as we prepare for the start of the new term. College opens to students tomorrow (Tuesday 7th January at 8:30am) and we look forward to welcoming everyone back. The weather forecast is looking OK, and all staff have managed to get into College today.
As students get ready to return to College tomorrow, we understand that it can sometimes be a bit of an adjustment after time off. To help make the transition as smooth as possible for your child, here are a few key pointers:
- Early Night: A restful night’s sleep can make a big difference. Encouraging your child to head to bed a little earlier tonight can help them feel more energised and ready for the first day back.
- Prepare for the Day: It’s a good idea to check Class Charts for classes tomorrow and for the rest of the week. This will help your child feel confident about what to expect when they arrive at College and can help with what equipment they may need too.
- Uniform Reminder: As part of our uniform policy, please ensure that any false nails or eyelashes are removed – please see the Uniform policy for details, this includes our uniform and information on hair styles too.
- Mobile phones: As soon as students enter the College site, their phone will need to be powered down and in their bag.
We know that a positive start can set the tone for the rest of the term, and we’re here to support your child every step of the way.
Please inform the year teams if there are any important family updates that the College should be aware of. If your family is facing any challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help and support you. Additionally, kindly notify the office if your contact details have changed.
There is a lot happening this term and all key dates for events and Parents’ Evenings are on the website and will be highlighted in Friday’s newsletter that is sent through Class Charts.
We look forward to welcoming your child back to College and to a wonderful start to 2025!
Mr Cormack
Principal
Dear Parent/Carer,
As we approach the end of a very busy term, I would like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support of the college and your commitment to your child’s education. It has been a wonderful term, and we appreciate everything you do to help our school community thrive.
Please note that the college will close this Friday at 1:00 PM for the Christmas break See the newsletter for more information and buses 13th-December-1.pdf . The college will reopen on Tuesday, January 7th, at 8:30 AM for all students.
We hope you have a relaxing and joyful holiday season.
Mrs. McKay’s assembly this week was focused on the theme of “Presence, Not Presents” during Christmas. She encouraged our students to take time away from their phones and truly be present with their families during the holiday season. All students have been challenged to disconnect from their devices for some time, and we ask for your support in helping them achieve this. It will no doubt help them enjoy Christmas to the fullest.
Please continue to monitor social media and ClassCharts for any important notices about the new year and ensure your child is prepared for the start of term in January.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Warm regards,
Mr Cormack
Principal
We are running a Y11 Parent event entitled ‘Y11 Preparing for Success’ on Thursday 14th November from 4:30 to 5:30.
The event is open to all Y11 parents and Y11 students can attend too.
Over the course of an hour, there will be a number of GCSE support sessions, including:
- Top tips for effective revision
- How to use GCSE Pod
- Other useful online resources
- How to use past papers and mark schemes to secure top marks
Tea/coffee and a mince pie will be available.
There is no need to book.
23rd October 2024
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are approaching the end of the first half term. It has certainly been a busy and fast paced half term and I hope you are enjoying reading my weekly newsletters and seeing the many great photos: Principal’s Weekly Newsletter – Cowley International College – St Helens.
We have had nearly 200 lessons this half term which have been carefully planned so your child can learn new knowledge and skills. The data shows that 99% of lesson marks each week are ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. That’s an incredible achievement and reflects their academic aspiration.
The behaviour of students in lessons and around the college is outstanding. You will have seen the number of huge achievement points achieved on Class Charts awarded each week. We have very high expectations of behaviour at Cowley and we will never settle for second best with your children.
We have now introduced the ‘Cowley Way’ that reflects our Cowleian values. Part of the ‘Cowley Way’ is social norms; the manners we use and how we communicate to each other. I am always very proud at the respect to each other, staff and visitors that our Cowley students show. I am fully aware this does not happen by chance, so thank you for developing these social norms at home. As we know, simply saying, “please” and “thank you” goes a long way in life.
It is well publicised that attendance to school is the key factor that will support learning and success at school. Well done to the 630 students at Cowley who currently have full attendance – they have been in every day since September. Please continue to send your child into school and see our website for support: Attendance – Cowley International College – St Helens.
As you will know, we recognise that Cowley has more than the ‘200 lessons’ and doing well in exams. I am so pleased to see the vast majority of students are taking part in extracurricular activities to balance their time spent studying and to support with their wellbeing and mental health. We are all grateful for the time and commitment of Cowley staff who offer these opportunities.
What is coming up next half term?
Next half term is going another busy time as we move swiftly to Christmas. So, here are some events to be aware of:
- Y11 Mock Exams – The GCSE exams are fast approaching and ‘practice makes possible’. These exams are an opportunity for Y11 students to see how their revision is preparing them for the summer and gives an indicator to the Sixth Form about which subjects they may consider studying in September 2025. There is nothing to worry about, but daily revision is required.
- Remembrance Day (11th November) – At Cowley, we recognise this day and remind the students of the sacrifices made for our freedom. Cowley students who are in Cadets, Scouts and Guides attend college in their uniform as a mark of respect on this day.
- Christmas celebrations – Christmas is huge at Cowley; with lights, choir, concerts, reward celebrations and much more. We also work with local charities to support those less fortunate. Please keep a look at my newsletter for events that parents are invited to.
- Antibullying conference (3rd December) – We recognise that we must work together to educate students and respond to any bullying that takes place. We welcome all parents to attend this conference.
- World faiths day (13th December) – A very special day where we welcome visitors into college and students will learn about kindness and different faiths.
Students finish for half term holiday at 3:05pm on Friday 25th October and return at 8:30am on Monday 4th November. I wish you and your family a restful and safe holiday. However, this is the holiday that I worry most about our students. Please ensure your children are safe with their celebrations of Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Once again, thank you for your continued support to the college.
Best wishes,
Mr Cormack
Principal
