The Chronicle

Dear Parents

The last full week of the Michaelmas term has been an exciting and traditionally busy one.  Although this will be the last full edition of the Chronicle for this term, I will send you a brief message towards the end of next week which will mention any events that may take place next week or important announcements for the first week back in January.

With the Nativity performances completed last week, it was time for the older children to travel to the Princethorpe College Chapel for the Advent Service on Wednesday evening.  It was another delightful occasion and I was very pleased to see so many of our parents and family members attending.  I hope those of you who were able to join this service enjoyed the venue and the voices, not to mention the welcome refreshments that were served after the performance.  My sincere thanks are extended to Mrs Olden, Mrs Wildey, Mrs Paphitis, the Princethorpe Catering and Estates teams and the Princethorpe College Prefects (Caitlin and Louise) for all their efforts in ensuring this was an enjoyable occasion.

Mr Sansum and his team produced one of their biggest Christmas lunches yet and although I was not in school this year to sample the lunch, I am told it was delicious.  I am grateful to Mr Sansum for co-ordinating this feast and to Father Kevin who was able to take time from his busy schedule to join Mrs Jackson-Mayne, Mr Cottrill and the children for lunch.

Yesterday, Junior 6 staff and children were all involved in the Victorian Day.  This has been held in school before and is always incredibly popular.  There will be more coverage of this event later in The Chronicle.

We have seen a wonderful assortment of Christmas jumpers in school today; in fact I do not think I have seen any duplications this year.  The Christmas Jumper Day has been co-ordinated by the School Council and Mrs Convey and Mr Stedeford will let me know the total amount raised from today and the ‘design a jumper’ competition next week.  We will then be able to send our donation to Save The Children.  Thank you to all the children for taking part in this charitable event.

During assembly this morning, I was pleased to be able to present Matilda with her prize from Catholic Independent Schools Conference.  Matilda was presented with a voucher and a certificate for her Christmas card design which was selected as runner up in the Junior Category.    Many congratulations to Matilda.  We are using her card as our school Christmas card this year.  I am grateful to all pupils who entered our card competition and also to those who entered the Christmas jumper competition.

Congratulations to all the Stars of the Week: Cameron, Fleur, Thomas, Mahnoor, Sara, Phoebe, Evie, Isabella, Dillon, William, Maria, Henry, Hunter and Fintan.  Sebastian in J6 is also to be congratulated on his wonderful efforts in the Advent Service, for which he received the RE Book of the Week prize.

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel a number of outdoor clubs this week due to inclement weather.  I am sorry that we have to do this whenever necessary and we are mindful that cancellations will only be made as a last resort.  I look forward to hearing how well our musicians fared in their music exams today.

As mentioned briefly at the start of this message, we will write again next week when and send you details of our recent RE Canonical inspection.  Until then, I wish you all a restful weekend.

God bless

Mr Duigan 

Please be advised that due to current lack of interest it may be necessary to cancel holiday club on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 January. If you know that you will need holiday club on those days, please sign up before the end of term, on Wednesday 18 December, in order for a final decision to be made.

Further details regarding Holiday Club and how to book can be found later on in the Chronicle. 

Our bank account details will NOT change during the academic year 2019-20.

If you receive an email purporting to amend our bank details, please contact us by telephone immediately to clarify.

Holiday Club will again be available during the Christmas break.

It will be available from 8.00am until 6.00pm on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December 2019 

Half days (8.00am-1.00pm and 1.00pm-6.00pm) can be booked at £20.00 per session. Hot lunches are also available.

As ever there will be plenty to do and lots of fun to be had, with arts and crafts, baking, team/party games, outdoor time and movies.

Places are limited as we are bound to strict adult to child ratios, therefore we ask that you please book early to avoid disappointment. 

Should you wish to book a place at short notice, please contact the school office on 01926 514444 to check availability. Cancellations can only be made by the school office, therefore please discuss any changes with a member of staff.

To book places follow the link and complete the form here. 

The School Office

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

On Wednesday 11 December, in the glorious setting of Our Lady’s of the Angels Chapel at Princethorpe College, Junior 5 and 6 led the Key Stage 2 Christmas Advent Service.

Parents, grandparents and friends were welcomed by Head Boy and Head Girl, Lucas and Bella, before the service opened with the traditional solo verse of Once in Royal David's City sung by Louisa from Junior 6. 

The service was filled with carols, readings and music, alongside the careful lighting of the candles on the advent wreath.

This festive cornerstone of Crackley Hall’s calendar did not disappoint. Much loved music and prayer brought families together to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas period. After a closing prayer, by RE Captain Conor, all that was left for Mr Duigan to do was wish everybody a peaceful and blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Junior 6 took a trip back to Victorian times on Thursday 12 December courtesy of history specialists, History Off The Page. The school hall was transformed into a Victorian school and the children, all wonderfully dressed for the part, sat in orderly rows facing the chalkboard in their new classroom.

Crackley Hall’s boys and girls immersed themselves into their new roles and with a dip pen and ink, or a chalk and slate, they studiously undertook the lessons their new schoolmaster presented.

In the afternoon, the 48-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, ventriloquists, hearty songs and a flea circus all jostling for the limelight.

Modern day Junior 6 teachers Mrs Vaughan and Mrs Horan commented, "Our Victorian Day has given the children a rich, detailed experience of this period in history. The children have had a lot of fun, it has been hugely informative and a fantastic way to round off our term studying the Victorians!”  

The Foundation Estates team were out in the rain yesterday planting a new lime tree on Fennyland Lane.  A second lime will be planted on the opposite side of the road once the remaining old oak trunk has been removed.  It was a very wet and muddy job but at least all that rain will give the new tree the very best of starts.  We look forward to watching them grow.

Mathlete of the week for J1H is Mahnoor

Mathlete of the week for J3S is Grace 

Mathlete of the week for J2H is Issy

Well done!

On Friday 13 December, Christmas jumpers of all colours and shapes  were proudly displayed throughout school in the now annual occassion of Christmas Jumper day, in aid of Save the Children.

Thanks to Mrs Convey for organising such an excellent event

With sleeves rolled, aprons on and sharp knives 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! Followed by 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!

Well done to Joseph and Sam Beaman-Henderson for completing a 5km Santa Run on Sunday 8 December and raising £727 for Myton Hospice in memory of their grandad Peter Beaman who passed away in August 2019.

Thank you to everyone that contributed.

Thursday 23 January - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall is opening its doors to prospective parents and children for an Open Day on Thursday 23 January from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514444 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.

RE Book of the Week has been awarded to Seb (J6H).

Information on CAFOD donation gifts is attached for parents in the image here.

We have enjoyed a really Christmassy week in Nursery… the children have been dressing up, replaying their nativity within their own play and exploring the grotto that was created in the role play area. 

They particularly enjoyed stirring up a storm earlier in the week when we were generously donated some polystyrene… it rapidly became lumpy marshmallows, Christmas puddings and eventually a rather static snow that covered every surface!!! 

Don’t forget, last day for term time children is Wednesday next week, and for everyone else, we break up on Friday for Christmas.  Nursery will then close for a week. 

We look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year!

(Please would everyone have a good look at home for a missing star costume.  After our Nativity last week one of the little star costumes has gone astray.  It is a small gold star costume, purchased at Sainsbury’s (TU).  If you find it, please drop it back to us in Nursery, thank you)

Newsletter

The PTA would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to thank everyone for all their support this year.

Please note that the School Shop will close from 4.30pm on Wednesday 18 December 2019 and reopen at the beginning of the Lent term on Monday 6 January 2020.

Shop opening hours during term time are Monday to Friday during the following times:
      For pupils - break and lunch break
      For parents - 3.30pm until 4.30pm 

Remember you can email orders for uniform to nicolabrowne@princethorpe.co.uk  or call direct on 01926 634272, which will be delivered to school on either a Tuesday or a Friday for collection.

Items can be paid for in cash, by cheque, card or added to the school bill.

Lost

Lizzie (J2H) has lost her named trainers after tennis (Blue and White)

Andrew (J3Z) has lost his named Sports Bag ( No.398)

Lily (J4JM) has lost her named Sports Bag (No. 259) (left in the changing room on Thursday)

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Parents, please ensure that all school uniform and sports kits are named.

Could you please regularly check all uniform and sports kits at home – if it does not belong to your child, please return it to the School Office as soon as possible.