The Chronicle

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

On Monday 30 April Mrs Wildey's Choral Speaking Group competed in the Nuneaton Festival of Speech and Drama at the Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton.

In the Choral Speaking Class Crackley held off Pattison College for the first time, to finish in joint third place with 86 points, just 3 points off the winning score of 89.

In the Drama Class Crackley performed even better to finish in second place.  The judges commented on how convincing the girls were at portraying the characters and how they gave authenticity to the period of time in which the scene was set.

Nicki Wildey, Junior 3 and Drama Teacher, commented, "I was immensely proud of the commitment, hard work and outstanding achievement of the all children involved."

On Thursday 3 May Junior 5 pupils had the chance to spend the day at Princethorpe College. The special Crackley Hall only taster day gave them an early opportunity to experience life at the Foundation’s senior school.  Pupils were involved in a number of different classroom lessons; depending on their group they enjoyed Geography, French, RS, English, Art or Science.  They also had a tour of the school, lunch in the Refectory and participated in other activities including a pupil panel (a great chance to ask those questions you wouldn’t ask a teacher!)

The taster day experience is all about letting the Junior 5 children enjoy a day at senior school, it is a chance to start to become familiar with the big school environment, to orientate themselves and to help make the prospective change a less daunting experience.

We caught up with the children towards the end of their day and it was clear they had all enjoyed themselves.   Isabella and Olivia said that, “Making Zentangle patterns in Art was fun.”  Many children were still sporting crowns from a dramatic English lesson on Macbeth held in the College Library and Joe and Xzavier added that, “Exploring the United Kingdom in Geography had been interesting too.” It was good to hear they had all had a great time.

Parents are reminded that Crackley Hall children are not automatically entered for Princethorpe’s Entrance Examinations.  Those wishing to apply for September 2019 entry must complete a registration form by Friday 5 October and that the Entrance Examinations will take place on Saturday 10 November.

Sally Crew from our school meal providers Holyroyd Howe called by to host a brief seminar on healthy eating this week. She outlined what constitutes a balanced and unbalanced meal and how our children might aim for a 'balanced plate', where treats were good if balanced with different foods.

The proof is in the eating as it were, so our equally expectant and hungry children amassed into the school dining room for a packed platter of fruit and vegetable treats prepared with the assistance of carrot cruncher and 'A' list celebrity Peter Rabbit. We at the Chronicle know that change is now firmly afoot, given the lunch hall's salad bar is never short of a crowd around it. Oh and there's just one thing to remember; we have it on good authority from Sally that you should try something between nine and thirteen times before you can say you definitely don't like it. Let's get crunching children! 

The Warwickshire Chess Team came away as 'check mates' earlier this term when they trounced every county but one to take the coveted second spot in the English Primary Schools' Chess Association's National Championships.

The Chronicle is delighted to report that one of Crackley's finest, young Eden Oshri from J3, transferred his winning ways from the school's chess club to the national stage, and in so doing helped secure silverware for the county. Well done Eden.

Members of our staff body will no doubt be overjoyed to see the recent arrival of eight all-weather padded jackets in school. Not just a regular outdoor coat these beauties look ready for a polar expedition and will help children receive their usual 'warm welcome' from staff on external duties.

It goes without saying that we are very, very grateful to the Crackley Hall PTA for providing such capable cold weather gear. Harriet Sharpe remarked on trying one for size 'that they were like wearing a sleeping bag you could walk in'.

If you go down to the lower playground you're in for a real surprise, for our Crackley children now have the latest in playground supplies courtesy of our ever industrious and generous PTA.  A smashing selection of outdoor games, ranging from giant Snakes and Ladders, Connect 4, Dominos and Jenga are all ready to go. For the more flexible, or those who aspire to be more bendy there's a limbo pole, skipping ropes and stilt kits. Such treats, and the outdoor chests they come in, don't come cheap, so it's no surprise the PTA rang the changes through nearly £500 of investment.

With such fun just a hop, skip and jump away, it's no surprise that our playtime leaders couldn't resist taking up the offer to try them out. Well done Miss Murray, we can't wait for you to lead the next Crackley skipathon.

1st: Jupiter (309 points)

2nd: Venus (245 points)

3rd: Mars (220 points)

4th: Saturn (204 points)