The Chronicle

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

Well done to all!

15 lucky Crackley pupils, along with their specially selected Foundation colleagues, swapped this Wednesday’s lessons for a mission-critical ‘Rendezvous with a Comet’, courtesy of the National Space Centre, Leicester.

Relishing the opportunity to demonstrate their problem solving skills, pupils were briefed by Space Centre Commanders Rob and Matt as to the impending threat of an unidentified flying object. The Foundation team, resplendent in their UK space suits and set with special ID cards, had to co-ordinate their efforts to build and launch a probe that might save our precious planet.

Various roles sought to challenge our intrepid space scientists including: Navigation, Communication and Data Officers as well as becoming team members within the Isolation, Medical and Remote Teams. During the two and a half hour mission, the pupils from Year 6, 7 and 8 were challenged with real life dilemmas to test their ability to work under pressure. A range of skills including communication, plotting, data analysis, chemical and gas testing were scrutinised by the ever-present Space Centre Commanders.

A particularly memorable moment was when the Shuttle's Communication Officer reminded those back on Earth that they still needed the location of the CO2 sponges to avert a capsule failure. This was most definitely a day to remember, summed up best by Kaena Wasely (J6L) "Using a robot for the first time was simply amazing. I didn't think we'd do anything as important as checking for radiation...Wow!" 

After a safe return to Mission Control the triumphant teams joined together for a film within the centre's 3D planetarium, followed by a quick orbit of the gift shop prior to boarding the coach. Well done one and all!

Happily, our Earth was saved - you all should be very proud.   

Handy instruction came from a different kind of 'webmaster' on Monday 5 February as Kenilworth PCSO Sarah-Louise called in to 'school' Crackley's eldest in all things relating to web-safety.

A most thought-provoking presentation then followed, peppered with handy mnemonics and proverbs, the sum total of which amounted to much more than their parts. For example, PCSO Sarah-Louise recommended if you’re unsure what to do if someone wants to be your friend online then remember, "Don't know, don't go". Another ‘top tip’ our Crackley pupils learnt was to change your online passwords as often as your toothbrush!

Crackley parents are also advised to look out for a Digital Parenting magazine published by the Vodafone Foundation that will be brought home by your child soon. This valuable resource covers wide range of material and concerns including, digital resilience, fake news and screen time.

A big thank you to PCSO Sarah-Louise for her time.

Pupils Henry Fox and Aryan Meha, from J4H and J4J respectively, are living proof that dedicated practice when coupled with skill and determination will take you far in life. These boys are never happier than with racket in hand, dispatching challengers from the other half of the court with power, poise and precision.

And how might we at the Chronicle know this? Well earlier this month Henry entered his local club tournament taking on all-comers in the U8/U9 age category. Success in every pool match resulted in a tense semi-final match, which saw young Mr Fox just edged out at the final reckoning. 

Several short steps across the landing between the boys' classes will take you to Aryan Mehta. This player of many talents remained unphased at the recent U9/U10 West Warwickshire County Tour to win every match and walk away with the tournament's gold medal.   

Well done boys, with formidable reputations such as these being formed we fully expect our Crackley 'aces' to be the ones to watch this season.

This Wednesday 7 February the entire school took it in turn to hop, skip or jump as fast as they could for one minute. Sponsorship forms in hand, wave after wave of eager participants bounded across the hall and outside to the delight of Mini Vinnies' Co-ordinator, Mrs Dolores Simmonds.

The underlying purpose of the St Vincent de Paul ethos (Mini Vinnies are the junior arm of the St Vincent de Paul organisation) is to make an active difference to underprivileged people’s lives. Our spectacular little jumping beans have done exactly that. With the money raised providing a nutritious meal in a safe place of education, hundreds of children will benefit from our healthy session of lunchtime fun.

Well done to all who took part and a big thank you to those who generously donated to our skipathon. We'll keep you updated as to the amount raised as it rolls in, so watch this space.

The auction of promises ended at the weekend and was once again very successful. We made nearly £2000, which is an amazing amount, so thank you very much to everyone who donated lots and who took part in the bidding.

A huge thank you goes to PTA member Julie Hutton who arranged both the Auction of Promises and last Saturday's Winter Ball. If you won any items at the auction and haven't yet collected your item then please contact Julie at ptafundraising@crackleyhall.co.uk  to arrange collection. 

Thank you to everyone who came to our first (but definitely not the last!) Crackley Winter Ball at the wonderful Woodside Hotel, Kenilworth. It was a fantastic night with lovely food, entertainment and company and made a very healthy £1,100 for our lovely school. 

Thank you to everyone who supported us and to Kat and Steve Vaughan for the fantastic music.