The Chronicle

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

Congratulations to them all!

Super huge good luck to Junior 4 pupil Theo H who heads off to the London Aquatics Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this weekend to swim for the Midlands team at the ISA National Swimming Championships. Theo is swimming in the Year 4 Boys Backstroke.

Your Crackley classmates and community will all be cheering you on!

Junior 6 have been enjoying their post examination curriculum enrichment week, with a whole host of exciting activities to reward all their hard work. Today, they took part in the annual Junior 6 'bake off' competition and what fun they all had. 

Their cakes were decorated this morning, with the children pulling out all the stops to wow the judges and their creations made an impressive display all laid out on the tables. There were reindeers, snowmen, space odysseys, a bouquet of flowers and even a Titanic. The attention to detail and ingenuity was a sight to behold.

As is tradition, Mr Duigan came up to class to chose the winners and he was very impressed. Congratulations to the winners and to those who received highly commended (or highly calorific) awards and to all the children who took part so enthusiastically.

This year’s winners were 1st Matilda, Jessie and Nell, 2nd Penny and 3rd Kate, Lexi and Mairen. The winning design was a candy cane cornucopia – beautifully put together by the girls.

Well done to everyone who took part!

Thanks to Mrs Carne, Crackley Hall’s Junior 6 are currently on board the Orion spacecraft and flying around the moon.

Artemis I is the first uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft, and its flight paves the way towards a return to the moon. Back at the beginning of 2022, NASA offered the opportunity for individuals to add their name to the Artemis 1 mission, that launched on Wednesday 16 November. Mrs Carne added last year’s Junior 6 to the list and just before lift-off she received their official boarding pass.

All the registered names (well over 3 million) were included on a flash drive that has flown with the Orion spacecraft, and that means that Crackley Hall’s Junior 6 are currently flying around the moon.

How amazing to know that Junior 6 and Crackley Hall have, in a very small way, been a part of this amazing mission.

You can find out more on NASA’s website here:

https://www.nasa.gov/send-your-name-with-artemis/

The amassed ranks of Santa hats and flashing antlers (a.k.a Crackley Hall's Choir and Choral Group) came together last Friday evening to deliver a most marvellous medley of magical Christmas carols and seasonal favourites to help celebrate Kenilworth's Lights big switch on.

Happily, the weather stayed kind, and our singers and players galloped through their set list to the crowd's obvious pleasure. A polished performance and rousing finish was capped by the now traditional light switch on countdown.

Said a delighted Mrs Olden, “It was so good to see pupils and families together again, particularly after lockdown, and this is always a great way to start the Christmas preparations.”

A big thank you to Mrs Olden and her team for creating such a heart-warming start to advent. 

Retired BA Pilot, Captain John Astle visited the school on Monday evening to chat with Jenson S (J5W) who has a passion for being a pilot when he gets older.

Jenson had a list of super questions which he put to Captain Astle, about how he became a pilot, which planes he flew and the experiences he had during his time with British Airways.

Jenson brought along a collection of photos and model planes and enjoyed trying on the Captain’s hat which he hopes to wear officially some day in the not too distant future.

Many thanks to Captain Astle for taking the time to talk to Jenson.

Mrs Jackson-Mayne led the whole school in our Collective Worship Assembly on Thursday, together we thought about the real meaning of the crib. We learnt that Saint Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas crib after visiting the stable where Jesus was born in Bethlehem all those years ago. This deepened his devotion to Jesus and he recognised how Jesus was born into a world of poverty, humility, and simplicity, and wanted to reflect this within the crib scene. Saint Francis created the crib to remind everyone that Jesus came into the world for everyone. William S in Junior 5 conveyed the incredible emotion of the scene when he sang Once in Royal David’s City to the school. 

A sparkler was lit to remind us all that Advent is like a  ‘Wake Up Call’ to be the ‘Amazing Star’ that God created us to be. The message in Advent is to act now, don’t put off things, be the person you want to be – use our talents to help others and the world.

We were asked who would we have in our crib today? Answers from around the hall suggested farmers, a doctor, a president, King Charles, the homeless and extended family were amongst the many chosen. The Assembly ended with a da Vinci task of who could make a crib to bring into school. The crib could be made of playdough, Lego, food, wood, felt or even jelly babies! 

Why not take part in our Christmas House competition?

Pupils are asked to make a nativity crib. Points, prizes, Creative and Full da Vincis, will be awarded for the most inventive and imaginative cribs

Make a crib from any materials: lego, cork, lolly sticks, clay, playdough, playmobile, sweets, marzipan ...... the list is endless.

Build a stable and put in all the characters who you would find in a crib: Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, three Kings, a shepherd, a lamb, and a donkey.

All cribs must be brought into school during the final week Monday 12 December to Friday 16 December, they will be displayed in the hall during the final Mass.

Any questions, please email sjacksonmayne@crackleyhall.co.uk

Further details are on Seesaw.

Christmas Holiday Club will run from Monday 19 to Friday 23 December. It will also be open on Tuesday 3 January 2023. Bookings are now open for days that are jam packed full of activites and trips. The trips will incur additional charges. Places are filling fast, so if you require a place please book early!

Monday 19 December - Jam Jam Boomerang £7.50

Tuesday 20 December - Christmas Cookery 

Wednesday 21 December - Vue Cinema Leamington £5 (entrance fee, popcorn and a drink)

Thursday 22 December - Jump In, Warwick £10 (entrance fee and socks)

Friday 23 December - Christmas Arts and Crafts

Tuesday 3 January 2023 - Magical Land at Studio Megastar £8.50 (exclusive use of this venue)

Daily rates

9am-5pm which includes hot lunch £30 per child 

Breakfast Club 8am-9am which includes breakfast £5 per child 

Teatime Club 5pm-6pm which includes hot tea £5 per child 

Special Offer - book the whole week Monday to Friday and save £10! 

Due to adult/child ratios early booking is advised. 

Please book via the Holiday Club email address - holidayclub@crackleyhall.co.uk

We accept childcare vouchers or holiday club fees can be added to your termly bill. Thank you.

Kenilworth Tennis and Squash Club are holding a Christmas Camp for three days for children of all abilities from ages 4 to 15 years old. 

Please see the information attached: Tennis Camp