The Chronicle

Dear Parents

The end of this first part of the Michaelmas term is fast approaching and it would seem that events are gathering pace.  I imagine that the next half term will be even busier.

On Monday this week, Junior 3 and Junior 4 enjoyed their experience with the Big Brum Theatre Company who visited and performed the Minotaur.  This was wonderful for the children and you will be able to read more about the visit later in the Chronicle.  My thanks to Mrs Jackson-Mayne for organising this event and to Mrs Stephenson for taking time to photograph the event.

Mrs Vaughan co-ordinated the ISA Swimming event on Tuesday and I am delighted to report that Issey and Sam have now qualified for the national competition later this year where they will represent the Midlands.  Their results, coupled with the Junior 4, 5 and 6 team scores have resulted in Crackley Hall ending in 4th position.  A very successful day and I would like to congratulate all participants on their magnificent performance. Thank you to Mrs Vaughan, Mrs Paphitis, Mr Vaughan and to the parents who travelled to Walsall to support our team.

We welcomed Father Kevin back to Crackley Hall on Tuesday for our Harvest Mass and I am delighted to see how much food has been donated, ready for distribution.  This will benefit the local community and I would also like to remind parents that next Friday will be a non-uniform day where we will be asking for a £1.00 donation to the PTA and another voluntary donation of your choice to support CAFOD (the charity voted for by our student council for this event).

Our Junior 1 children were lucky to escape the rain today when they departed for their visit to St John’s Heritage Museum, in Warwick.  Mrs Hardwick and Mr Kefalas accompanied the visit and I am sure that the children will be recounting their experience during the course of the weekend.

We hosted two parent evenings this week and I hope that those of you who wished for appointments to see teachers managed to find a convenient time.  There will be another opportunity to meet and discuss your child’s progress in the New Year but if you feel there is a need to meet before this time, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher in the first instance.  My thanks go to Mrs Hill and the office staff for co-ordinating the evenings and to Mr Sansum for the refreshments each evening.

I hope to see a few familiar and hopefully some new faces tonight when I host the annual Headmaster’s Quiz.  I am very grateful to Mrs Lamb and our PTA for organising this event and would ask that those who are attending are mindful when they leave school late this evening so as not to disturb our neighbours.  I look forward to announcing this year’s winner.

During assembly this morning, our Stars of the Week were named as Lincoln, Isabel, Edward, Diya, Adreena, Evie, Penny, Andrew, Stephanie, Elle, Rupert, Millie, Sam and Conor.  Congratulations to our Gymnasts of the Week including Emily, Cadie, Thomas and Francesca.  The RE Book of the Week was awarded to Evie for her super story of David and Goliath and how David was able to overcome a huge problem with God’s help and a lot of courage and self-belief.

Our Mathletes of the Week are Beatrice, Arthur, Jack, James, Lily, Alfred, Millie, Amelia and Matilda.  Well done to everyone on their superb efforts this week.  Apologies to anyone who may have been missed off this list; you will be mentioned in next week’s newsletter.

I hope that Junior 4 in particular enjoy their weekend at home and spend their time preparing for their residential visit to Kingswood next week.  For some children, this may be their first time away from home and I am hopeful that they will make happy memories that will last them a lifetime and will look forward to being reunited with their parents next Wednesday when they can bring them up to date on the range of activities that in which they took part.

The rugby has been affected by the weather and will, ultimately, affect who plays who in the knock-out stages of the World Cup.  I do hope that they manage to schedule some rugby this weekend.

Please try to visit the St Francis Parish Fair tomorrow from 10.30am-1.30pm and on Sunday from 10.30am-1pm.  I hope that you have a restful and happy weekend with your families and loved ones.

God bless

Mr Duigan