Last week was an incredible week at The Cottesloe School! 

Welcome to the last week of April. I hope you were able to enjoy the sunshine at the weekend. As we start the third week back after Easter, the focus across the school has shifted towards exams. Mr Passaro and I will be leading an assembly for Year 11 and 13 this week to ensure they are fully prepared and understand the JCQ exam regulations because written exams begin this week for some students, and for the majority next week or the week after. Reaching this point in the year is a significant milestone for our exam cohorts, and while it brings an intensity to the school, it brings with it the opportunity for students to demonstrate their resilience. Whether a student is sitting formal exams or continuing to engage with their learning, our core values of Prepare, Aspire, and Succeed remain the compass for everyone.

Welcome back to the start of a new term!  It’s great to be back; we’re looking forward to another busy term. I hope you had a wonderful Easter break and enjoyed some well-deserved time away from work and school routines, connecting with family and friends, and doing the things you love most. I spent last Sunday on the south coast at the Brighton Marathon, running my 103rd marathon overall and my seventh as an official pacer. The weather created some challenges for all runners with strong winds along the coast – there was either a welcome tailwind, or a tough headwind to overcome. I was one of two six-hour-fifteen-minute pacers, and we absolutely smashed our target. As pacers, we have to cross the finish line within one minute under our goal time, so I was very proud to bring my group home in 6:14:21!

Welcome to our second to last week of this short term. There is much to celebrate from a super busy week last week, and over the weekend! Following a visit from the Mobile Planetarium last week as part of Science Week (more on that below), we were delighted to receive some lovely feedback from their team, who praised the outstanding conduct, manners, and engagement of our students. We are incredibly proud to say that this is not a one-off occurrence. We regularly receive feedback from visitors to the school and members of the public who meet our students on trips, telling us how brilliant their behaviour and attitudes are. They tell us that this level of respect and maturity is not something they see in all schools! This is a true reflection of the wonderful, supportive community we have within and beyond TCS. We know this consistent praise of our young people is the result of parents, carers, and families working in close partnership with the school to help them develop themselves. Through personalised support, high expectations, and a culture of respect and understanding, our students can embrace challenges with confidence. We encourage them to aspire to reach their full potential, nurturing their ambitions in a safe and supportive setting. Building these strong foundations ensures that, together, we enable every student to succeed, both in school and beyond, as resilient, compassionate, and responsible citizens through equity of opportunity. Thank you for your continued support in helping our young people become such positive forces for good as they shape their futures.

Last week was a full-on week at The Cottesloe School, and I have been incredibly impressed by how our students have lived out our core values of Prepare, Aspire, and Succeed. Our Year 13 students showed great focus and resilience as they sat their mock exams, while our Year 12 students looked toward their future goals during an inspiring trip to the NEC for 'What University? Live'.

As we begin the last week of this half-term, I have been reflecting on just how much we have packed into the last few weeks. It has been wonderful to see that, despite the rainy February weather, the school remains full of energy, with a strong focus on fostering Healthy Relationships across our community.