The Chronicle

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s evergreen production of The Nutcracker has been part of the City’s Christmas tradition for over 27 years, so it was no wonder that Director of Music, Mrs Olden, chose to take two year groups along to the Hippodrome to take in such a fabulous festive treat. 

When the curtain went up, our pupils joined young Clara as she was spirited away into an enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her magical Christmas tree and her handsome prince with his army of toy soldiers were an unforgettable delight for our young charges. In this most festive ballet, gigantic sets, lavish costumes, 60 dancers and a full orchestra all combined to make this a perfect Christmas treat for students and staff alike.

Crackley Hall’s Key Stage 2 Christmas Advent Service was a celebration of the Spirit of Christmas. It took place on the evening of Wednesday 12 December in the gloriously atmospheric setting of Princethorpe College’s Our Lady’s of the Angels Chapel. Led by Junior 5 and 6 the service was filled with carols, readings and music, punctuated by the careful lighting of the candles on the advent wreath.

Parents, grandparents and friends were welcomed by RE Captain Madeline Lambeth before the service opened with the traditional solo verse of Once in Royal David's City by Aaron Cooper from Junior 5. 

Head Boy, Joseph McCulloch and Head Girl, Francesca Kelly then announced the opening of the green doors, to the left of the Chapel, given each subsequent entrance heralded a thoughtful reflection from our speakers.  

Recorder and flute performances lifted the spirits, as did the music of the orchestra who played 'Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer'. 

Choral poetry from Junior 5 and the sublime sound of the Chamber Choir singing 'O Holy Night', 'Jessye's Carol' and 'Christmas Song' blended excellence with wonderful storytelling. The audience couldn’t help but clap their approval in between each programmed item.

There was a wealth of singing and solos showcasing superb voices and real talent; with Junior 6’s Martha Harris, Amelie Read, Freddie Knot and Junior 5's Sebastian Lloyd-Evans and Martha Summers (amongst others) and the Choral Group as a whole.

So many musical moments glittered throughout the sixty minutes that it was no surprise that Headmaster, Rob Duigan, was almost lost for words as he thanked parents and friends for coming to watch the concert.

This festive cornerstone of Crackley Hall’s calendar did not disappoint. Much loved music and prayer brought families together to joyfully bow their heads for the final blessing as the Advent Service came to its end.

On Thursday 13 December Crackley Hall’s Junior 6 pupils and teachers were transported back to Victorian times courtesy of history specialists, History Off The Page. The school hall was transformed into a village school from the Victorian era, where Master Gray welcomed his charges to sit and learn a curriculum suitable for a 'master' or a 'girl'.

The children, all dressed for the part, sat in silence in orderly rows in their new classroom facing the chalkboard. Discipline was strict and the teacher was to be addressed as 'sir' at all times. A very different style of teaching awaited Crackley's most senior pupils. The boys had instruction in Mathematics whilst the girls were encouraged to copy Bible passages and undertake dictation, activities that 'might', in the words of Master Gray, develop them into a supportive wife for their future 'heads of house'.

Crackley’s boys and girls dutifully adopted their roles for the day and immersed themselves in all things Victorian; with a dip pen and ink, for the boys, or a chalk and slate, for the girls, they studiously undertook the lessons their new schoolmaster presented.

In the afternoon, the 57-strong class was challenged to select, learn and perform an act of their choice from a contemporary Victorian Music Hall bill. The children put on a programme of fine performances, with strongmen, comedians, hearty songs and a flea circus all jostling for the limelight.

Modern day Junior 6 teachers Mr Lamprecht, Mrs Vaughan and Mrs Horan were  impressed, commenting, "The day was a lot of fun, it really brought history alive and it was a fabulous way to round off our term studying the Victorians."

A team of six swimmers represented the Princethorpe Foundation at the National Independent Schools Association’s Swimming Championships held at the London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, back at the beginning of December. They were swimming for the Midlands team and were up against tough competition, the best swimmers from regions across the country.  The team included Crackley Hall's, seasoned swimmer, Junior 5, Lily Carroll.

Princethorpe College Director of Sport, Neil McCollin, commented, “Our swimmers have traditionally done well in the ISA Swimming Championships and they have had another successful outing this year. Well done to everyone who competed in both the National Championships and in the qualifying regional competitions, it’s good to see Foundation pupils representing the Midlands and we are delighted with their performances.”

Saturday 1 December, was a busy day, with swimmers across the age ranges, 9 to 17 years old, competing in no less than nine events; the Senior Girls 4x50 metre medley relay and freestyle relay, the Year 7 Boys 50 metre butterfly, the Year 7 4x50 metre medley relay and freestyle relay, the Senior Girls 100 metre backstroke, the Girls Year 9/10 4x50 metre freestyle relay, the Boys Year 9/10 4x50 metre freestyle relay and the Year 5 Girls 50 metre backstroke.

Crackley Hall’s Junior 5, Lily Carroll, had an excellent outing at the competition in the Year 5 Girls 50 metre backstroke, finishing in a personal best time of 48.68, nearly 4 seconds up on last year.

Lily commented, "I really enjoyed taking part and was very pleased to achieve a new personal best.  I swim weekly but after qualifying for the Nationals I did extra training in a 50m pool to prepare for the competition." 

Together the team brought home four medals and helped the Midlands to a new event record.  A super, huge well done to all of our swimmers.

Not even the continued busy school calendar could separate Head Chef Ian Samsum and the mountain of foodstuffs that presented themselves to his kitchen door. So it was with sleeves rolled, approns on and sharp knives that Dawn, Wendy, Donna and Ian fashioned the produce into a feast for both eye and tummy. The numbers are eye watering; 30kg of potatoes, 30kg of turkey, 400 sausages, 22kg of vegetables and 20l of gravy - and that's just the main course! Who could forget the homemade mouth watering mince pie or chocolate coated shortbread to finish.

We genuinely don't know how they do it, or for that matter, ever want them to stop. Thanks so much for making a special day even better!

Friday’s Celebration Assembly concluded with the first public assembly of the newly formed Crackley Hall Steward body. Junior 6 children had voted for a specific aspect of school life in which to be a Steward and for the first time they offered areas of school life that they thought might benefit from their considered intervention. This may have been curricular, community or pastorally based. New fields of interest included; morning uniform check and social care. Indeed, Mr. Duigan commended their good thinking by adding, "The initiative shown by the children in this selection process has been nothing short of inspirational. We therefore expect each pupil to excel, as they have truly made each role their own."

The pupils beamed with pride as they wore their badges of office for the first time. Crackley Hall’s latest Junior 6 year group will, we are sure provide the younger children with excellent role models to follow. We wish you all every success in the fulfillment of your duties this year.

Headmaster Mr Duigan has requested that a charity collection be made this Christmas for Shelter.

For this reason, our school needs your help to aid the homeless this December and to try to give them a better Christmas than they might have been expecting. 

This charity collection will extend into Monday and Tuesday next week so if you are able to donate any amount to this collection it would be much appreciated.

The collection box will be located in the School Office and donations will be given to the local Shelter Charity in Coventry on Tuesday next week.

It is hoped that parents and staff will be able to donate either the cost of a cup of coffee or a meal for a homeless person. Additionally, there are a few greeting cards available to purchase for a small donation.

Every penny of this collection goes directly to the homeless people of Coventry.