The Chronicle

Dear Parents

It has been a glorious day to end this half term and I hope that the weather continues to be this good during the next two weeks so that everyone can enjoy some time outside.

It was a pleasure to speak to a number of parents this week during the consultation evenings and I hope that you have all managed to meet with the respective class teachers to discuss your child’s first half term.  Unfortunately it was necessary to cancel Mrs Lammas’ appointments but these are now available during the first week back to school after half term.  My thanks to members of the PTA team for being present during these evenings organising the sale of second hand uniform.

We were blessed to have Fr Kevin celebrate our Junior 4 class Mass on Thursday.  Thank you to Mrs Jackson-Mayne and Mrs Simmonds for all they did in preparation for the Mass.  The pupils all carried out their roles with reverence and it was a lovely occasion.

There have been several events this week which you will be able to read more about later in this edition.    Our J2 classes visited the Mad Museum in Stratford-upon-Avon on Thursday where they were able to experience science using the interactive pieces of mechanical art.  They then went on to enjoy a boat trip in Stratford before returning back to Crackley Hall amid much excitement.  My thanks to Mrs Hardwick, Mrs Malcolm, Mr Hardwick and Mr Rawson for making this visit possible.

Some of our J3 pupils have been to St Francis this week to re-discover what happens during a Baptism.  Ms Holmes accompanied J3 and has told me how much the children enjoyed this experience which was hosted by Father Kevin. 

Today has been a busy morning which started with our assembly; well done to all of our stars of the week, our musicians (J1 group, Alistair, Issey and Seb – who were all brilliant) and to all of those whose successes were celebrated this morning.  Please continue to let us know of your children’s achievements outside of school as it is wonderful to see so many diverse hobbies, events and clubs that they are involved in; it also inspires others.

We also said ‘congratulations’ to Miss Rod who will be getting married on Sunday.  I am sure you will all join me in wishing both her and Sav, her husband to be, the very happiest of futures together.  After assembly this morning Mrs Jackson-Mayne co-ordinated the collection of the donated food that you have kindly brought into school.  This has now been taken to the Kenilworth Community Centre Food Bank and will be distributed to those in need. 

On Monday this week interviews took place for the Assistant Head: Academic role and I will be making a further announcement regarding the appointment in due course.   We were fortunate to have a very strong field of candidates and the interview panel are confident that the newly appointment member of staff has the skill set to assist the existing teaching team and continue to take the school forward.

Our sports teams all gave of their best again and we enjoyed some excellent results all round.  Special mention goes to the U/8, U/10 and U/11 rugby teams who all enjoyed a clean sweep of victories against Bablake.

As mentioned last week, there will be building work taking place during half term and the normal access to school will be out of use.  Therefore, if you are visiting school for Nursery or Holiday Club, please ensure you do not use the main front steps and entrance.   I believe there are still some places left in our holiday club so if you are in need of a place for your child during the next two weeks, please contact the School Office.    I hope that with all the building work completed during the holiday, you will return to school and notice a very different reception area which will be further improved later in the year.

Thank you very much to our parents for their support over the term – this joined-up approach helps with the children’s education.  My sincere thanks to all my staff for their dedication, support and good humour over an emotionally tough start to the school year.  They all deserve a well-earned rest.  I believe that the children have made wonderful progress and that our new pupils have settled so well into Crackley Hall.  It is noticeable how appreciative our new families are and how they recognise the difference that Crackley Hall makes to those joining.  Thank you for your positive comments and feedback.  Our PTA team are superb – we are so fortunate to have the support and energy of a willing and interested team of parents (I hope that you also get a good rest).

It remains for me to wish you a safe and restful half term and I hope that the children return refreshed and ready for the entrance examinations and other events that take place in the second part of this term.

God bless,

Robert Duigan

Friday 7 December 2018

We are in the process of planning exciting events and visits for children in the lead up to the Christmas break, and with this in mind, we would like to take Nursery Thrilling Threes and Fabulous Fours, Reception and Junior 1 to see Wilde Creatures at the Warwick Arts Centre on Friday 7 December 2018.

The children will be leaving by coach at 9.15 am, returning by 12.30 pm in time for lunch.

The cost of the trip will be £16.00 per child, which will be added to parents' Lent Term Invoices.

Nursery would welcome parent volunteers to accompany them on the trip. If you feel you would be able to assist, please speak with Mrs Bird before purchasing your ticket, as parent helpers will need to purchase a ticket through the School Office at a cost of £16.00.

Mrs Patricia George and Mrs Clare Bird

We have a number of trips and events coming up over the next few weeks. Please see the relevant letters below:  

J3 Forest School Letter

J3/4 Nutcracker Ballet - 11.12.18

J6 Victorian History Day

Monday 22 October - Friday 2 November 2018

The Crackley Hall Holiday Club will this year take place during both weeks of the October half term holiday. It will commence on Monday 22 October and run until Friday 2 November. There will be exciting crafts, games and activities taking place on weekdays at school between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm.

If you require a place please call the school office on 01926 514444.

Reminder: Winter uniform should be worn after the half term break

School Shop

Please note that the School Shop based at Princethorpe College, will be closed during the half term break and will reopen on Monday 5 November.

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday (Term Time Only) 10.30am – 4.30pm

As the shop is based inside the school grounds it is open to parents between 3.30pm-4.30pm and by appointment only at all other times.

Please call direct on 01926 634272 or email uniform@princethorpe.co.uk to arrange an appointment.

Early Birds runs from 7.45am – 8.20am  - please use the Gables entrance (apart from Reception pupils who can be taken directly to their classroom via the main school entrance).

Nursery drop off - please use the main door.

Registration times are from 8.20am – 8.40am and pupils can go straight to their classroom using the main school entrance.

Late signing in is from 8.40am - please go to the school office. 

If pupils are coming in early for music lessons/choral group/choir they need to sign in at the school office.

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

A massive thank you to everyone who has visited Blythe’s fundraising page. 

He loved running in the rain and raising all the money for such a good cause. Once his pledges have come in he will have raised over £1800!

Well done Blythe!

A team of 20 swimmers from Crackley Hall School made the journey to Walsall Baths on Tuesday 9 October to compete in the Independent Schools’ Association’s Midlands Junior Swimming Gala. Success at the Regional event would qualify pupils for the ISA National Championships due to take place later this year in London at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

Crackley took a depleted team to the competition, as unfortunately the Year 4 children were away on their Kingswood residential.  So the Year 5 and 6 children knew that right from the start they would all have to swim superbly if Crackley was to have any chance of being placed in the overall team competition.

The children swam 25m in the pool and the races included both individual events and exciting team relays. For some of the children, it was their very first experience of competitive galas, whilst for others, it was all about times and positions, but as always Crackley Hall’s pupils encouraged each other, from the start through to the finish of every single race.

In the end Crackley’s Boys team finished 6th overall whilst the Girls team were placed 11th out of some 25 schools competing but Junior 5’s Lily Carroll swam sensationally and has earned herself a place in the National Finals.  All in all it was a very creditable result for the school.

Crackley Hall Head of Sport, Mrs Kat Vaughan, was delighted and commented, “As always there was a fabulous atmosphere poolside, with the whole team willing each other on.  We had some excellent swims and tight finishes, Crackley has some very determined children.  Many congratulations to Lily for qualifying for the prestigious National competition in London.”

Well done to all of Crackley Hall’s swimmers for their excellent effort.

Mrs Jackson-Mayne and Mrs Malcolm ably assisted by our Junior 5 and 6 School Councillors squeezed burgeoning boxes of food stuffs collected in school into their cars for delivery to our local food bank based at the Community Centre in Kenilworth. 

Many thanks to everyone who provided donations for the Harevst Festival.  Your kindness and generosity is much appreciated.

This week Google teamed up with Crackley to instruct pupils on the merits of and necessity for online safety.  The 'Legends' team presented an interactive parallel world, where example situations and scenarios were played out by the Internoughts, cheeky online characters, and their nemeses the Internaughties. 

Their journey was informed by the 'Legends Five Choices', which were to be sharp, alert, secure, kind and brave, they showed the children how to make right choices when online and how to remain safe.

Our thanks are extended to the ever industrious Mrs Malcolm (J2 Class Teacher and Head of Computing) for organising this most informative and engaging seminar.

On Wednesday 17 October Junior 2 had a super interactive trip out to visit arguably the best museum in Warwickshire. All roads led to Stratford upon Avon that day, as our science 'mad' students visited the UK’s only permanent venue for mechanical art. This is a real Aladdin's cave of treasures which aim to surprise and delight. The cleverly made, complicated and fully interactive displays provided plenty of hands on experiences for the children. They eagerly operated sensors, buttons and handles aplenty to see what happened next.

The visit to the museum supported many of Junior 2’s curricular topics, but particularly informed their Design & Technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) studies. Junior 2 teacher, Mrs Hardwick, commented, “It was a unforgettable day, where the museum's interactive elements brought real life and meaning to this fascinating subject.”

After the museum the children took a short walk down to the canal where they took to the waters for a pleasant cruise down the river on a barge whilst they ate their lunch. This full day of 'infotainment' was rounded off rather nicely with a chance to let off some steam in the autumnal sunshine in the park.

Many thanks to Mrs Hardwick and Mrs Malcolm for organising such a fascinating and participative trip.

Thursday 22 November 2018 - 7.00 to 8.00pm 

Crackley Hall is holding a Nursery and Reception Open Evening on Thursday 22 November 2018 from 7.00pm to 8.00pm. This is an opportunity to gain an insight into the Early Years at Crackley Hall and Little Crackers.  Parents will be able to look around the school, see examples of children's work and activities and to talk to the Headmaster, Rob Duigan, and Assistant Head Early Years and Key Stage 1, Susan Glen-Roots and meet members of the Nursery and Reception Team. 

All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or alternatively email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk.

Please click on 'View Gallery' to scroll through a few photos from this week's events. 

Harry Gallagher, Henry Fox, Alfie Blenkinsop and Sebastian Lloyd-Evans from Junior 5 were awarded the RE Book of the Week for their super work and continued excellence in RE lessons. 

Thank you to Father Kevin and Junior 4 for the celebration of Mass for the Feast of St Luke. In their RE lessons, pupils have been looking at the New Testament and the four gospels. It was therefore fitting that we celebrated St Luke, the patron saint of doctors and artists, as he wrote many of the Gospels and travelled with St Paul to spread the message of Christianity and love. It was a lovely, intimate Mass where pupils, staff and members of the community joined in with prayers and singing to begin the morning in a spiritual way.

Over the last few years Crackley Hall has donated hundreds of boxes to many countries around the globe and made Christmas special for a many children.  Thank you to all those parents and children who have supported this excellent cause in the past.

Once again we will be participating in Operation Christmas Child and the flat-packed boxes are now available to buy in the office for 50p, profits made from the sale of the boxes is used to help with shipping.  I know that some parents find these patterned boxes much easier to use.  However, you are also welcome to use an ordinary shoebox if you want to. Please remember to attach a Boy/Girl label sticker to your box. They can be downloaded from the Operation Christmas Child website or each class teacher and the school office will also have a set.

The boxes need to be returned to school by the Thursday 16 November.

Similar to last year, I am also putting four donation boxes in the Reception and Porch area for anyone who would like to donate items or money instead of doing a box, the School Council will assemble boxes with these donated gifts. These will be for the following:

1. Envelopes filled with a £3.00 donation to help with shipping or the purchase of additional items.

2. Toys such as dolls or stuffed toys (with CE label), toy trucks, harmonica, yo-yo, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles; pens, pencils & sharpeners, crayons or felt pens, stamps & ink pad sets, writing pads or notebooks & paper, solar calculators, colouring & picture books etc

3. Hygiene Items such as toothbrush and toothpaste, bars of wrapped soap, comb or hairbrush, flannel

4. Extras: Hat, cap, gloves or scarf, sunglasses, hair accessories, jewellery set, wind up torch, wrapped sweets.

Please note that items not to be included are:  Used or damaged items, war related items such as toy guns, play soldiers or knives; chocolate or other food items; liquids or lotions of any type including bubbles; medicines; hand-made or knitted stuffed toys; anything of a political, racial or religious nature; sharp objects; glass containers, mirrors or fragile items; playing cards of the 4-suit variety; clothing other than as listed above.

In October we think about the life of Our Lady and use rosary beads to say special prayers for each other and people in the wider community.

With this in mind, Father Kevin led the school assembly on Tuesday to show and say the rosary. He also brought in his own wide selection of rosary beads made from many different materials, including glass, wood, metal and seeds to show the children.

Thank you Father Kevin for taking time out from your busy day to lead our pupils. 

For the fourth year running pupils at Crackley Hall are donating food to the Kenilworth and Leamington Food Bank.

It is super that we can help to support the St Vincent de Paul Society, who make weekly collections from St Francis Church in Kenilworth. 

Thank you.

Mrs Jackson-Mayne

The U9B team played rugby against Warwick yesterday and although they lost 9-5, they played brilliantly.

There were tries by Jacob Cooke (3)

                             Woody Osborne (1)

                             Sam Beaman-Henderson (1)

Player of the match was Jacob Cooke

We are pleased to announce that Sebastian Lloyd-Evans has been awarded Gymnast of the Week.

U11A won 6-2

U11B won 6-3

U11C lost 8-10

Player of the Match: Harry Surtees

'A game of two halves' might sum up the improving nature of Crackley's U11C Rugby Team. For, after the restart our chaps came out with renewed vigour laying siege to the Bablake try line and defending like their lives depended on it. Mr Harris notes that a few tweaks here and there and a more focused start will convert effort into victories. Well done boys, we are proud of you. 

There will be no gym club on Wednesday 7 November (the week after half term) as the Hall is required for a music performance.

I can’t believe it is already half term for some of us! We have had so much fun over the last few weeks, learning all about autumn, counting everything from leaves to conkers and beginning to listen to sounds in words as we played games like I Spy and Silly Soup. 

I hope everyone has a lovely break, and if you are lucky enough to be in nursery all year round then I am sure you will have a fabulous couple of weeks – exploring the quiet school and making the most of less children sharing the bikes outside!! 

Have a great couple of weeks, and we will see you all back together again ready for the countdown to Christmas! 

Don’t forget to check out the newsletter for important dates, the Nativity and the Christmas Fayre are not to be missed! 

Newsletter

Non Uniform Day

Friday 30 November 2018 - Non Uniform Day for PTA Christmas Fayre.

Counting Down to Christmas Fayre

Saturday 2 December, 1.00pm to 4.00pm

Planning is underway for this pivotal event in the Crackley Hall calendar. Requests for help and more details will follow shortly, so please keep an eye on the Chronicle.

This year the PTA are able to accommodate a few external stalls. All interested parties should contact the PTA - Lucy.Lamb@kennet-leasing.co.uk   Thank you.

Have A 'Winter Ball' This February

We are holding a Winter Ball at the Woodside Hotel in Kenilworth and we really hope you can join us. 

Tickets will go on sale after half term. 

Glitter Winter Ball Flyer

Second Hand Uniform Sale 

Thank you to everyone who came along to the sale and supported the PTA. 

All funds raised go straight back into the school.

Lost

Oliver Camargo-Jones (J5R) has lost a short sleeved white shirt.

India Ferguson (J6V) has lost her skirt and blazer.

Found

A girls, Crackley Hall Hat with a badge. It was found in south Leamington Spa (advertised on Things for sale in Kenilworth Facebook site).

If you have any children's DVDs that you no longer need then please do donate them to After Care.  We always like to have a good selection for the children to choose from.

Please leave them with the school office.

Many thanks.