Headmaster's Welcome
Dear Parents
The brighter days, although cold, have helped to lift spirits, along with the colour being supplied by Mother Nature. It is super to see the daffodils, planted by each pupil last year, are now peeking up through the grass on the slopes near the playground.
Staff were pleased to be able to provide some feedback to parents at this week’s meetings. Thank you for the various comments on the evenings. In the main, the evenings proved most successful and informative. Please be aware that you may contact you child’s teacher at any time in order to request a follow-up meeting to discuss their progress in greater depth. We will soon be undertaking a review of our reporting system, for implementation in the new academic year. We have a rich bank of data on which to draw, as well as having a very in-depth and close knowledge and awareness of each pupil’s achievements and progress, along with areas for development and targets.
I was delighted to see that our U11A netball team won the ISA Midlands Tournament and, as such, will be taking part in the Nationals in the near future. Well done to all the girls and to their coaches, Mrs Vaughan and Miss Farquharson.
Our Reception parents were treated to a truly memorable and lovely Mothering Day Assembly on Wednesday. Thank you and very well done to all the Reception pupils, their teachers and teaching assistants. Our Nursery mums joined the school for a cup of tea and a fairy cake, lovingly baked and decorated by their children. I thought that this was also such a lovely idea. Thank you to all the Nursery staff and to the children. I am sure that all the Nursery mums enjoyed being pampered and sung to, before going home with a card and flower.
I was sorry that I was not able to attend our Mothers’ Mass on Tuesday, so ably led by our pupils. Thank you very much to Mrs Forino, Mrs Olden and other staff for their preparations, to the pupils who helped in the Mass and to Fr Kevin for celebrating the Mass.
A number of our pupils, along with visiting pupils from other schools, have sat their music exams this week. I am sure that they have all given a very good account of themselves and will secure the results that they deserve, as a result of their hard work over the preceding months.
The school was an array of literary characters yesterday as the community recognised World Book Day. Thank you to Mr Cottrill for leading the assembly, especially as he was dressed as ‘Gangsta Granny’. I am not sure that I would have been able to do that! Well done to everyone for dressing up and taking part in the fun. Reading is so important and, I am sure, the pupils all received that message, loud and clear.
It is with some sadness that the school community bid farewell to the Head’s PA and Office Manager, Mrs Davis-Harris, at the end of last week. I would like to extend my personal thanks to her for all her hard work and care, especially for the may pupils who visited the school office. I am delighted to inform everyone that Mrs Anna Bond, who held the same role at Crackley Hall about 8 years ago, has stepped into this role in an interim capacity. I am sure that everyone will join me in thanking Mrs Davis-Harris and in welcoming Mrs Bond back to Crackley Hall.
I would like to draw everyone’s attention to a piece in The Chronicle on school uniform from September 2024. We are changing the uniform slightly, but not adding in extra items for purchase. Please do note the article.
We are holding our school Open Morning tomorrow and, hopefully, the weather will be kind to us. Thank you so much to all the pupils who have volunteered to help, in sport, music, forest school or as tour guides. This is very much appreciated. Please could I remind everyone to arrive at school by 10:15 and be collected just after 12:30, unless earlier collection arrangements have been made.
Please could I remind all families that, when dropping your children off at school in the mornings, you drive all the way around the mini roundabout in the front of school so that we don’t have cars tailing back onto the main Coventry Road. Also, if you prefer to walk your child into school, please use the lower car park to park up and walk to school. Abandoning cars in the drop-off circle creates many issues, including possibly leading to the minor accident on the Coventry Road this week.
Congratulations to our stars of the week: Nursery - Layla and Arabella; Rec – Maria Paula and Eva; J1 – Ana and Teddy; J2 – Oscar and Matteo; J3 – Laura and Cameron; J4 – Beatrice and Edward; J5 – Daiya and Ben and J6 – Sebastian and Ding. Well done to all of you. Well done as well to those who received their silver Crackley Compass stars and also those who earned Da Vinci certificates. We were treated to some fantastic guitar playing from the ensemble of Alfie, Hector, Swaran, Rohan and Josh, as well as soloists, Darcey and Elle. They were all absolutely fantastic!
Please can we remember all those affected by war around the world, not least those in Gaza. I include a prayer that can be said to help the situation in Gaza and around the world:
Saving God,
Look with pity on all in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank:
the bereaved, the wounded, the homeless; those struggling to bring aid and relief; doctors and nurses and all medical staff; neighbours and friends sharing their struggle, grief and despair.
Lord, have mercy.
Strengthen in faith and unity our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be their light in the darkness.
and their hope amidst despair.
Lord, have mercy.
Guide with your wisdom those who are seeking peace, and the laying of new foundations for justice, peace and reconciliation.
Lord, have mercy.
Living God,
reach through the violence of the proud and the despair of the weak, to create in Jesus Christ a people free to praise your holy name, now and forever.
Amen.
Lord, let us go peaceful, in gentleness, through the violence of these days…
Through darkness, in troubled times, let holiness be our aim.
Amen
I hope that sports fans are able to enjoy some good sport this weekend, including the Six Nations rugby matches. India and England are locked in the final test match.
I wish everyone a happy and restful weekend.
God bless,
Rob Duigan
