Headmaster's Welcome
Dear Parents
This is the last full week of the school term and we have certainly had a busy week. Junior 6 started the week very early when they boarded the coach to the make the journey to the Peak District at 6.00am on Monday morning. I have heard so many wonderful stories and seen the photographs of the visit to Crowden Outdoor Education Centre and I know that the children had the most wonderful time. The careful planning was certainly worth it, with many good memories made. My thanks are extended to all those who made this trip possible including, Mrs Horan, Mrs Vaughan, Mrs Paphitis, Mr Cottrill, Mrs Thomas and the efficient office staff. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and I understand that it’s not just the Scottish Highlands that have their fair share of hungry midges!
We were able to enjoy a socially distanced Teddy Bears Picnic on our lawns on Wednesday morning. Thankfully the weather held and it was a lovely morning for all. Thank you to our Nursery Team for co-ordinating this event.
Music exams were able to continue with our COVID safety measures in place and I look forward to receiving the results of the efforts of all those who took part this week. Thank you to Mrs Olden and our peripatetic music teachers for coaching and organising the examinations.
The class discos took place today within the safe area of each classroom and I can confirm that there was an eclectic mix of music coming from the classrooms; Three Lions was heard loud and clear from Mr Stedeford’s classroom! (PS: we will make sure that Junior 4s are treated to their own disco when we are able). Thank you for the PTA for supplying refreshments and treats for the non-uniform day. Please do take a look through this edition to read more about how to become involved in our PTA and discover what they have achieved this year. Mrs Lamb and her team have been absolutely fantastic! I should like to thank them all very much.
I hope you were able to watch this morning’s assembly where I congratulated our Stars of the Week who were: Little Crackers Badgers, All Reception, Charlie, Thomas, all Junior 2H, Ding, all Junior 3V, Jay, Eve, the whole of Junior 5 and Junior 6. Bronze Awards were given to Stephanie and Mya in Junior 5, Alyx and Harry in Junior 6. Ria, Olivia, Finley, Isla and Finley in Junior 3, Arisha, Sebastian and Jack in Junior 4. Lots of our Reception also children achieved Bronze including Lily-Rose, Olivia, Josh, Xanthe, Cleo, Dalilah, Lewis, Charley, Liana and Aarav. Gold Awards were ‘presented’ to Rory, Hugo, Fiorella, Chace, Cameron, Ashleigh, Sloane and Jai. Well done to everybody, not just today but for your efforts during the whole of this school year.
Junior da Vinci’s were achieved by Sara, Molly and Arthur in July 3 and Theo and Lucas in Junior 4. Overall this year, Junior 6 students Noah and Isabel received a total of 14 da Vinci awards between them. Congratulations to you all as it takes an incredible amount of hard work to achieve a Junior da Vinci award. Well done to those Junior 3 and Junior 4 pupils who excelled in the Junior Maths Challenge – look out for the article later in The Chronicle. Thank you to our J5 and J6 sports reporters and also the Junior 4s for their lovely performance in assembly.
Next Monday we will be holding our prize giving ceremonies online and links have been sent to parents. I do hope that you are able to join us live at the appropriate time for your child’s annual prize giving, but if this is not possible, each prize giving will be recorded for you to watch later. Junior 6 will be leaving Crackley Hall next week and Tuesday will inevitably be an emotional day for both children and parents as a special era in their childhood and education draws to an end. It is also an exciting time, looking forward to a new beginning at a new school, new challenges and new friends. I will say goodbye to you all next week and hope that we can give you a fitting send off.
I would like to thank all Junior 4 parents for your support and understanding this morning. As soon as more information is available during the course of this weekend, I will be arranging for a further communication to be sent to you.
Further to my earlier correspondence today, I would strongly encourage parents to closely monitor their child’s health as we look to combat the spread of COVID in our community. Lateral flow tests are available and many families are already using these – thank you. Other families are taking the correct action and registering for PCR tests if their child or themselves show any of the symptoms – these can be a sore throat, runny nose, headache or fever. Of course, we should still also look out for symptoms of the previous variants of COVID. As previously mentioned, please keep your child at home if they display any of the symptoms.
There is plenty of good sport to watch at the moment and I do hope that you are able to find the time to watch your preferred sport this weekend. I would like to wish you all a relaxing weekend and are able to make the most of any good weather due.
God bless,
Mr Duigan
