The Chronicle

Dear Parents

I hope that you were able to make the most of the extended weekend due to last week’s snow fall.  It was rather a tight call as to whether we stayed open or closed but there were too many factors against us.  We do pride ourselves on, historically, staying open during heavy snowfalls when many other schools may have closed.

This week I was delighted to welcome Headteachers from the ISA Midlands region when Crackley Hall hosted a training day and Midlands AGM.  We were also joined by the CEO of the Independent Schools Association, Neil Roskilly.  I am very happy to say that I received many complimentary and positive comments about our fantastic pupils and on the school in general.  I happen to know, from visiting others schools with Headteachers, that compliments are not handed out very easily.  Well done to everyone!  Ms Dyer and many other members of staff worked so hard to make a success of the day and I am most grateful to them.

I tried to speak to as many parents as possible during the parent consultation evenings on Tuesday and Thursday this week and I hope that you felt you received enough time with your child’s teachers to discuss any related matters.  If you feel that you need extra time to see a teacher, please make contact with them directly and this will be addressed.

Junior 4 have been involved in two events this week - the UNICEF presentation regarding climate change and the Anglo Saxon day which was enjoyed by all involved.  My thanks to Mrs Lammas for organising the UNICEF visit and Ms Holmes for organising the history event.  These events are so beneficial to the children to widen their experience and to add value to their lessons.

I am, once again, ever so grateful to Father Kevin for celebrating our KS2  ‘Mothering Mass’.  The pupils who led the Mass were a credit to the school and I would like to thank Mrs Olden, Mrs Jackson-Mayne and Mrs Simmonds for their involvement in contributing to the success of the Mass.  It was lovely to be joined by so many mums and grandmothers.

Tomorrow will see Crackley Hall open its doors to the public for our Open Morning and I look forward to seeing our willing volunteers in the morning.  Please ensure children arrive at 10.15 am dressed in school uniform.  Key Stage 2 pupils should also bring their sports kit and music instruments in their sports bags, where appropriate.  Please come to The Gables on arrival, where we will register them.  We will leave via ‘car line’ arrangements.  I’d like to thank those who are helping; it is appreciated and duly noted.

Congratulations to this week’s Stars of the Week and all other pupils who received an award, either from school or from outside of school.  I am thrilled with the enthusiasm and involvement of so many of our pupils.  Alfie, Henry, Rosie, Martha, Louisa and Lydia were all excellent in their performances at this morning’s assembly.  We have every right to be so proud of our pupils.  Well done to them all!  Amisha Modi is also to be congratulated on her fantastic work in RE and was a most worthy recipient of RE Book of the Week for her diary entries on John the Baptist.

Our sports teams all played well during the week and have come away with some very good results.  Congratulations to all the teams and coaches.  Further results and details will follow.

Our Mini Vinnies will be taking part in the SVP Mass at St Francis Church tomorrow at 14:30. Thank you to all the pupils for giving of their time for others and to Mrs Simmonds for all the wonderful work she does in this regard.

Unfortunately there continues to be many complaints about inconsiderate parking in the residential area and I would ask, yet again, for parents not to park on the pathway, block drive ways, move traffic cones or park near a junction.  There have been several occasions when residents have been unable to access or leave their driveways due to unhelpful parking.  I hope that we can work with the local residents in this regard.  I have been informed by residents that they have asked for the authorities to intervene in whatever way possible.  This may result in staff members and parents receiving traffic violation tickets as has been the case at another Kenilworth primary school recently.  I have today met with local councillors and planning engineers to see if we are able to come to any workable solutions and have been in contact with various neighbours over the past month.  This takes quite a large amount of my time which could be better spent elsewhere.

On a more enjoyable note, I do hope that you are able to enjoy some great sport this weekend.  The Six Nations resumes and England have a must-win game against France in Paris.  Ireland and Scotland both have something to play for and Wales should have the beating of Italy.  At least it’s a much closer contest this year.  The South African and Australian cricket teams are enjoying a rather ‘friendly’ test series – certainly not for the faint-hearted by any means.

I hope that you all have a super weekend and thank you to those families who are supporting their school tomorrow.

God bless,

Robert Duigan