Anniversaries are an important part of everyday life to help us remember key events from the past – births, weddings and deaths amongst our families and friends for example.

Today is the fifth anniversary of one of the most surreal experiences of my life - closing all our schools and telling the pupils that we didn’t know when we would be able to see them again as a result of the government response to the global pandemic.  

I particularly remember three occasions at Princethorpe College where I became rather emotional – telling the Year 11s there were no GCSE exams, telling the Upper Sixth the A-levels were cancelled, and talking to the staff after school on the final Friday about how we would continue to support the pupils, their families and each other in the lockdown which was upon us.

As I look around the schools now with happy and flourishing children who are enjoying being with their friends, COVID and the dreaded lockdown which ensued seem like a distant memory. However, if you look around our campuses there are still a few relics from the past – outdoor sinks, the marks where tape was stuck to the floor tiles to aid good “flow” and I still have a bespoke 2m “stick” in my room which we used to ensure the desks conformed to the social distancing regulations at the time. Of course, the impact on the physical health and social development and wellbeing of many is still being unravelled.

However, my most vivid memories are of the creativity and sheer determination of our community to ensure that the education of our pupils would continue alongside the critical pastoral and wellbeing support. We had teachers giving live TEAMS lessons with their babies on their knees, virtual sports and games lessons, a Foundation orchestral concert with pupils from all schools taking part. We even had Ben Stokes, the England Cricket Captain, as a special guest, at our Sports Awards Ceremony.

Our resilience, patience and resolve were, at times, sorely tested, but I am immensely proud of how we pulled together as a community and supported each other.

Five years later, government policy again presents a major challenge, as it targets independent schools and their families. Again, I am extremely proud of our response as a community; staff are working exceptionally hard to ensure our educational standards remain first-class and the support from our parents has been magnificent in so many ways, not least by supporting the Annual Fund.  

We are in a really strong position for the future with retention and recruitment of pupils – the life-blood of any school – at an optimum.

Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do as parents to support your children and their education.

Very best wishes 

Ed Hester
Foundation Principal 

Dear Parents 

It was wonderful to see some warmer weather finally making an appearance this week! 

We invited our new Reception families, for next school year, into school on Tuesday as for a settling in visit and to take part in an early Easter Eggstravanza. We saw lots of happy faces keen and eager to play, explore and take in their new classroom environment. Very quickly, they made new friends and chatted away to the staff. It was a lovely morning, and I thank all those who attended, Mrs Jenny Vaughan and the staff who were on hand answering questions and paving the way for a happy start to school life at Crackley Hall. 

As we launched our 80^th Jubilee on Wednesday with Mass on the Feast of St Joseph, it was a blessing to welcome back to school the influx of past pupils. Some were as young as current Princethorpe College Sixth Formers whilst others completed their schooling in the 1970s and 1980s. They were all impressed with the developments that have happened since they were here, they spoke to staff who taught them and reminisced about times past, whilst some of the younger past pupils joined in the aftercare football matches. Our Foundation archivist, Mrs Wong, had some archive memorabilia out which included some wonderful artefacts on show to really get those memories come flooding back. My list of ‘thank yous’ is a long one and extends to all involved in this the 80th anniversary year. Princethorpe College pupils, their families, staff and parents from Crackley Hall and Princethorpe who made this all happen, so seamlessly. These events show what what an exceptional and unique school community we have, one that will always include people who have previously walked these halls, along with current pupils, staff, families and parishioners.  

The day would not have been the same without our Mass, celebrating St. Joseph. Father Kevin delivered a special sermon about Saint Joseph's role as the faithful protector of Jesus and Mary. It highlights his qualities as a loving father, humble worker, and devoted follower of God's plan. Thank you to Mrs Horan, Mrs Forino, Mrs Simmonds, Mrs Lammas and Mrs Olden, Mahnoor and Jessica, along with the J5L pupils and those who signed the Our Father for their integral contribution to a special Mass.  

We look forward to welcome Junior 5 parents on Monday for a meeting in relation to the next stage of their educational journey as they look at options for their secondary schooling. This meeting will share information, including dates of some important deadlines to note. 

We also look forward to hosting the Interschool Cross Country Championships, taking place on the school field on Wednesday. Good luck to all involved and enjoy it. 

Congratulations to this week’s Stars of the Week: Nursery – Diana; Rec – Jacob and Arjan; J1 – Rosie and Milla; J2 –Harper and Edison; J3 – Josh and Arjan; J4 – Mikaela and Sloane; J5 - Elle and Niamh; J6 – Grace and Eleanor. Congratulations to Jupiter House for their victory in this week’s House Points Competition, winners again this week! Well done to all those who received Lamda and music certificates, to those who were awarded Crackley Compass stars and their Da Vinci certificates. Mrs Wildey is particularly pleased with the results so a huge well done to those who took their exams.  

God bless, 
Rob Duigan

"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath, Christ above me." - St Patrick

The A46 Kenilworth Bypass will be closed for up to three weeks. The closure period will be:

From 8.00 pm on Friday 11 April until 6.00 am Thursday 1 May 2025

A clearly signed diversion route will be in place over this period with advance signage in place to help remind motorists of the closure. 

You can still get to where you need to go but you’ll need to follow the diversion route, plan ahead and leave more time for journeys. 

To find out more please click on the following links 

Notice of A46 closure and lane restrictions, near Kenilworth - HS2

A46 Kenilworth bypass box structure phases of work - HS2

HS2 & BBV Drop in: Final Phase A46 Works - HS2

When we return to school after the Easter Holidays, all children are to wear their summer uniform.

Please see below for details of this.

General Uniform

As previously communicated, from September 2024 the current boys' and girls' uniform was replaced with two uniform options, simply named 'Uniform Option 1' and 'Uniform Option 2'. The two lists contain the same uniform items as they previously did. Children and families can choose which of the two options is right for them.

These changes brought us in line with the other schools in the Foundation, as well as many other schools around the country who have adopted a similar approach.

One possible outcome of this change, was that girls may wear trousers rather than the skirt or pinafore.

Summer Uniform - Option 1

Black school trousers or knee length school shorts (NOT cargo style) with standard white white shirt and tie, black school socks, jumper and blazer.

Summer Uniform - Option 2

Reception to Junior 4 - summer dress, white school socks, jumper and blazer.

Junior 5 - either summer dress and white school socks or tartan skirt with white revere collar blouse (no tie), black school socks, jumper and blazer.

Junior 6 - tartan skirt with white revere collar blouse (no tie), black school socks, jumper and blazer.

Hair

Hairstyles and colours must be suitable for school and natural in colour. All long hair must be tied back using suitable hair accessories in burgundy or black. Hair accessories can be purchased from the Uniform Shop and the School Office.

Make Up and Nail Varnish

Make up and nail varnish must not be worn.

Earrings and Jewellery

Earrings and jewellery must not be worn.

Foundation Uniform Shop

The Foundation Uniform Shop is open from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Wednesday during term time, and by appointment only during the school holidays.

Please call directly on 01926 634272 to make an appointment or alternatively email uniform@princethorpe.co.uk

Online Uniform Ordering Form

Please see the new electronic uniform ordering system.

New Uniform Order

Monday 24 March - 4.30pm

On Monday 24 March we are holding a meeting for Junior 5 parents and guardians to broadly explain the requirements for secondary school applications, to answer any questions and to clarify how the children are being prepared for their next step into secondary education.

The meeting will take place in the school hall and will start at 4:30pm. 

The school field will be available for parking for your convenience.

We have introduced a weekly calendar to keep you up to date with what is going on in school. It is a one stop shop for information.

Click here for the calendar for week beginning Monday 24 March.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have currently raised over £325,000 for the Annual Fund. This will directly benefit our pupils, facilities, and bursary provision and we are incredibly grateful for the support shown.

One of the most inspiring aspects of this campaign has been the generosity and philanthropic spirit of our school communities. At Crescent School, the trend among donors has been to support both the school and its pupils, with most families who are donating choosing to split their contribution between Greatest Need and Capital Projects and supporting those in need through the Hardship Fund. At Crackley Hall and Princethorpe College, we are seeing more donations directed towards Greatest Need and Capital Projects, which allows the Heads to allocate funds where they are needed most, ensuring the greatest possible impact. This collective approach is making a real difference across all our schools, giving us the flexibility to respond to immediate priorities and enhance the experience of every pupil.

Whilst the funds raised so far are a fantastic achievement, it’s important to recognise that the funds raised currently come from just over 10% of our families. I know from the many parents I have spoken to that there are a lot of families who have thought very carefully about what they are able to donate and will be committing soon, but I also know that there are some who haven’t yet considered this.  

My main message to you all is please act now so that we maximise the benefit to the whole community from the donations.

The Annual Fund is about supporting the future our schools in a tax efficient and collective manner - where the overall majority contribute a manageable amount – and this has the power to be transformative. The more families that take part, the more the benefits will be felt across all areas of school life, ensuring that we can continue to invest in bursaries and hardship support, enhance our facilities, and continue to develop the education we all value for our children.  

Show Your Support – Wear Your Pin Badge with Pride

To recognise the generosity of our donors, we have been sending out Annual Fund supporter pin badges. These badges are a simple but meaningful way to show that you are part of the growing community supporting the future of our schools.

We encourage all donors to wear their badges with pride - whether at school events, open days, or simply in daily life - as a visible reminder of the impact we can have when we come together as a community.

If you have made a donation but haven’t yet received your pin badge, please let us know and we will ensure one is sent to you.

A number of people have asked me if there a deadline for donations?

There is no hard deadline and we hope that donations keep coming in each and every year, but to help with our financial planning for the next academic year and beyond, we really want people to confirm to us their donations before the end of March if possible.

How Can You Help?

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to give, I would strongly encourage you to consider making a donation today. As a parent myself with children in the Foundation, I understand that this is a big ask, but I also see first hand the difference that even a small, regular contribution can make - not just for my own children, but for all pupils across our schools. That’s why I personally support the Annual Fund with what I can each month. Every gift, no matter the size, adds up to something truly impactful, ensuring that all our pupils continue to benefit from the very best opportunities.

For UK taxpayers, donations can be made even more impactful through Gift Aid, allowing us to claim an additional 25% on your gift at no extra cost to you. For example:

• A £100 donation becomes £125
• A £1,000 donation costs actually costs £687.50 after tax relief (for an additional-rate taxpayer)

If you would like to join this growing list of supporters making a significant contribution to improving the experience of our pupils, you can donate easily via our Annual Fund Giving Page, or you can contact me at stevekowal@princethorpe.co.uk for more information or to set up a discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have more than one child in the Foundation? 
Donations are not tied to the number of children you have in the Foundation. Most families donate ‘per family’ rather than per pupil and often split their donation across funds - for example, supporting both Princethorpe College Greatest Need and Capital Projects and Crackley Hall Greatest Need and Capital Projects or Princethorpe College Greatest Need and Capital Projects and Crescent School Greatest Need and Capital Projects.

Can I make a one-off donation or set up a regular gift? 
Yes! You can donate in any way that works best for you - monthly, termly, or as a one-off gift. Many families choose to spread their support over time to make giving easier.

Can I make a donation through my company? 
Yes! Corporate donations are tax-efficient, as they can be deducted from your company’s taxable profits for Corporation Tax purposes. However, Gift Aid cannot be claimed on corporate donations, only on personal gifts. Many families have already donated in this way.

Are you fundraising because the Foundation is in trouble? 
Absolutely not! And I can’t stress this enough. This appeal isn’t about keeping the Foundation afloat, the Foundation is in a healthy place - it’s about ensuring we can continue to invest in key areas while navigating increased financial pressures from Government policy.
While many independent schools raise significant non-fee income, our fundraising percentage remains low. By growing this, we reduce pressure on fee income and ensure our schools continue to thrive.

Are you expecting everyone to donate the same amount? 
No, we understand that every family’s financial situation is different. Families who have chosen to support the appeal are typically donating between £50 and £100 per month, but the most important factor is participation, not the amount given. Every contribution - regardless of size - adds up to something truly significant, and the more families who take part, the greater the collective impact on our pupils and schools.

Will donations lead to lower fee rises in the future? 
While donations don’t directly impact fee levels, they help strengthen the Foundation’s financial position, allowing us to better manage rising costs. By supporting the Annual Fund, donations enable us to invest in essential areas while maintaining financial stability. While we can’t promise donations will directly lower fees, they do ease financial pressures, which helps us plan more sustainably in the long term.

Do you think most families will donate? 
Yes we believe that the majority will. Before launching this appeal, we spoke individually to 40 families, all of whom were very supportive. So far, around 100 families have donated, and the impact is already visible in our planning for next year. However, we need more families to contribute if we are to maximise the impact across all schools.

What if not enough people donate? 
We remain committed to providing the best education possible for our pupils, regardless of the appeal’s outcome. However, the more families who contribute, the greater the long-term benefits for everyone. Every donation helps. We are committed to transparency and will keep families updated on our progress. Your support - whatever the amount - plays a critical role in shaping the future of our schools.

Where is the money going?
All donations to the Annual Fund are directed to key areas that will have a direct and immediate impact on our pupils. Families can choose where to allocate their support to:

• Bursaries and Hardship – Providing financial assistance to families in need, helping pupils access or remain at our schools.
• Greatest Need and Capital Projects – Specific to each school, these funds give Heads the flexibility to invest in priority projects that enhance teaching, learning, and pupil experience.

Here are just a few examples of how donations could be used to support each school:

• Crackley Hall – Restoration of the Orangery, upgrading the minibus fleet, improving changing and refreshment facilities on the sports field, and resurfacing and remarking the Netball court.
• Crescent School – Enhancing classroom facilities, purchasing new science equipment, developing the outdoor play area and Forest School, dry robes, and renovating changing rooms.
• Princethorpe College – Supporting a tree planting initiative, restoring historic stonework and tiled floors, resurfacing the Astro pitch, and upgrading classroom and communal furniture.

These are just some of the many ways your support can make a tangible difference—both now and for the future of our schools.

Thank You – Let’s Build This Together

Your generosity is already making a real difference, and with more families involved, we can secure the future strength of the Foundation.

Thank you for your continued support.

Steve Kowal 
Director of Development 

The Crackley Hall School community came together to mark St Joseph’s Day on Wednesday 19 March. Father Kevin led an afternoon mass that celebrated the school’s patron saint, supported by pupils from Junior 5 who led the readings and bidding prayers.

At the service, the school community was joined by former pupils, staff and parents, including St Joseph’s Convent School alumni and, for the first time, Crackley Hall alumni, who are now Sixth Formers at Princethorpe College.

Father Kevin offered mass for the life of the school, reflecting on the steadfastness of St Joseph and on how he has been honoured and respected for 80 years here at Crackley Hall. During the Homily, Fr Kevin spoke about the long history of the school and the strength of its community and of how the people within that community have strived to make a difference just as St Joseph tried to do.

As part of the service, and under the musical direction of Mrs Olden (an alumni herself), the Chamber Choir sang a beautiful and reflective rendition of On Eagle’s Wings.

After the mass, the visitors enjoyed tea and cake before exploring the archive displays and touring the school. Many were delighted to find old photos of themselves and fascinating memorabilia in the archives. It was a special occasion, enjoyed by everyone, that gave many the chance to reconnect and share memories.

Our thanks go to all the staff and pupils who contributed to the celebrations and also to all the past pupils, parents and staff who attended and made the event such a great success. We do hope they enjoyed their walk down memory lane.

Crackley Hall School is marking its 80th anniversary this year and will be holding an Open House to celebrate on Saturday 4 October. All former pupils and staff from Crackley Hall, and its predecessor St Joseph's Convent School, are invited to attend. Details will be confirmed soon. 
 

Our U9 Netball team had a fantastic time in the sunshine at the ISA Midlands Netball Tournament on Tuesday, embracing the opportunity to gain real match experience playing a round robin of games. 

The girls got off to a good start with a 1-1 draw against Foundation rivals Crescent School. They then played Adcote School and were delighted to win 8-1. The team went down 1-2 in a close match against Highclare School before holding Ranby School to a 1-1 draw. They finished with a 1-1 draw against Tettenhall College and in their the final match just lost out 1-2 against Mylnhurst School.

The girls were super stars all day, giving their all and have plenty of learning to take away. 

They finished fourth overall so just out of the medals. A huge well done to them all!

This term, Junior 4 has enthusiastically participated in the Warwickshire Library Service Reading Celebration. Pupils have thoroughly enjoyed exploring a diverse selection of books and have embraced the challenge of reviewing and recommending their favourites to their peers within the year group.

This week, they have dedicated time to crafting summaries of the books they have read over the past few weeks, which they compiled for a celebration event at Warwick Library. Harriet, Cameron, Harry and Olivia proudly represented Year 4 at the event, showcasing their collective creative responses to the challenge and engaging in an exciting and competitive quiz centred around books and reading. 

The Scholastic Book Fair has been in school all week. The books arrived in their special display cases causing much excitement for all. The brightly coloured jackets and bold titles catching the imagination of everyone who walked past.
Every class had the chance to visit the fair to look at the selection of books on offer, a wonderful range suitable for all ages and reading levels. As always, the book fair proved very popular, as there really is nothing like the sight, feel and smell of a new book!

Thank you to everybody who supported the fair, all your sales have provided the school with the opportunity to purchase some lovely new books for our library.
 

We held our Easter Eggstravaganza on Wednesday morning and it was great fun! We welcomed children who are due to start Reception at Crackley Hall in September 2025 for an enjoyable morning making Easter crafts, listening to stories and for an easter egg hunt!

The visit was for pre-schoolers who do not attend Little Crackers Nursery and it was an egg-cellent way to introduce them to life at Crackley Hall. Parents and little ones got to meet some of the teaching staff and to spend time in the Reception classroom. We look forward to seeing them again in June for Move Up Morning, when they will meet the rest of their classmates and teachers.

We have limited spaces available for Reception 2025, so if you know anyone who might be  interested in applying for a place, do please suggest they contact our Registrar, Mrs Jenny Vaughan at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk.

During Monday's Mission Assembly, Mr M Duigan presented the eight children preparing for their First Holy Communion with the I Belong book. This special book serves as the foundation for the First Holy Communion Programme and, under Mr Duigan’s guidance, the children will grow in their faith and understanding of this important Sacrament. Through activities, reflections, and teachings included in the book, the children will create a personal keepsake of this special time in their relationship with God.  The eight children who will be making their First Holy Communion are Edward, Grace, Orla, Matteo, Lucas, Oscar, Mikaela, and Vincent.

We have some exciting news to share with you! 

Our very own James B from Junior 1H has been selected to be one of the attendants  for the Queen's entourage for this year's Kenilworth Carnival.

Well done James!! 

The Kenilworth Carnival will take place this year on Saturday 28 June 2025.

Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 March

Our annual Skipathon will be taking place during lunchbreaks on the 24-26 March. Children will be bringing home a sponsor form to raise money for Mary’s Meals. 

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a good meal attracts these hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a better future. Mary's Meals already feeds more than 2.6 million children every school day. It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for an entire school year – meaning even small donations can transform lives. Let’s see how much we can raise! 

Please support your children as we contribute to this worthy cause.

Please follow the link for information Please follow the link for more information 

Homepage | Mary's Meals UK.

Thank you

Saturday 29 March - 10.00am to 2.00pm. 

St Francis of Assisi RC Parish Centre, Warwick Road, Kenilworth. 

Please do come and support us at the Save The Children Spring Fayre.

There will be crafts, jewellery, plants, cards, small gifts for Mother’s Day and of course delicious cakes and refreshments. 

Pupils from Crackley Hall School will be present again selling their beautiful 'Spring in A Mug' flowers.

Please share widely with friends, family and children.

Our Easter Holiday Club will run Monday 7 April to Friday 11 April, Monday 14 April to Thursday 17 April and Tuesday 22 April to Friday 25 April 2025 with sessions available from 8.00am to 6.00pm, providing flexible childcare for parents. The club is led by Crackley Hall staff who the children already know and is open to all pupils who attend school here. Email us at holidayclub@crackleyhall.co.uk to book your place.

The children will enjoy a wide range of engaging and enriching activities, from sports, crafts and baking, to fun themed days. We will also use the school's minibuses to take the children out on day trips to places like Ryton Pools Country Park, indoor soft play centres and local bowling and cinema venues. A full programme will be available shortly.

Team Super Sports are back at Princethorpe College during the Easter Holidays with an action-packed three weeks for children aged 5 to 16 years. From Monday 7 April to Friday 25 April (excluding bank holidays), the Holiday Camps will run from 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Children aged 7 to 16 can choose from a variety of sports to create their own personalised sports camp! For our younger campers (ages 5 to 7), along with sport we’ve got arts, crafts, and dance activities to keep them engaged and having a blast!

Why Team Super Sports? They’re experts in sport and multi-activity holiday camps, providing top-level coaching for all abilities.

Click here to visit the Team Super Sports website to secure your child’s spot.

Camps are priced at £38 per day.

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Crackley Hall’s Holiday Club will be running as normal. 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit​
Wednesday 9 April - 2.30pm and 4.00pm and Thursday 10 April - 2.30pm and  4.00pm

As part of the Foundation's drive to increase non-fee income, our Commercial Enterprise Team are delighted to be hosting LOL Theatre Company's lovingly adapted production of The Tale of Peter Rabbit in The Clarkson Theatre in the run up to Easter.

When young Peter Rabbit disobeys his mother and enters the forbidden garden belonging to Mr McGreggor, he indulges himself with lettuce, green beans and radishes, however he soon starts to feel sick and goes in search of some parsley to soothe his stomach ache. Who does he encounter when he ventures further into the vegetable patch? None other than Mr McGreggor himself! After a frantic chase, he loses his clothes and his sense of direction. Will Peter Rabbit escape Mr McGreggor's clutches and return home unharmed? More importantly, will he learn his lesson and listen to his mother's warnings next time? Let's hope so!

This 45-minute family friendly production is based on the classic short story by Beatrix Potter and teaches about the importance of listening to warnings, doing the right thing and facing the consequences of your actions. Recommended for ages 4 and above.

This enchanting theatre show brings Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters to life! This is a public performance and all are welcome.

Tickets

• Adult ticket - £10
• Child ticket - £5
• Under 4s go FREE

Click here to book your seats.

Saturday 29 March - 10.00am to 2.00pm. 

St Francis of Assisi RC Parish Centre, Warwick Road, Kenilworth. 

Please do come and support us at the Save The Children Spring Fayre.

There will be crafts, jewellery, plants, cards, small gifts for Mother’s Day and of course delicious cakes and refreshments. 

Pupils from Crackley Hall School will be present again selling their beautiful 'Spring in A Mug' flowers.

Please share widely with friends, family and children.

Our Stars of the Week this week are: 

• Nursery - Diana
• Reception A - Jacob
• Reception OC - Arjan
• J1R - Rosie
• J1H - Milla
• J2M - Harper
• J2V - Edison
• J3C - Josh
• J3W - Arjan
• J4A - Mikaela
• J4C - Sloane
• J5L - Elle
• J5S - Niamh
• J6H - Grace
• J6V - Eleanor

Congratulations to them all!

We love to celebrate our pupils' talents so every week, in Celebration Assembly, we hear of the children's successes and achievements and we watch performances by some of our pupils. Here are some photos from this morning.

A huge well done to all!

Congratulations to all our Junior da Vinci award winners this week.

• English: Dylan, Bella, Raya, Jovan, Niamh, Shuvan.
• History: Jovan.
• French: Gaby, Isabel, Una, Edward, Eloise, Casper, Gabriella, Emily, Francesca, Hugo.
• Geography: Beatrice, Hector, Will, Leyton, Sophie, Angelica, Himmy, William, Ethan, Alfie, Harry.
• Drama: Hugo, Felix.
• Mathematics: Amelia, Toby.
• PSHE: Josh, Ella.
• Art: Theo.

Junior 6 have enjoyed getting to know Shirley Hughes’ The Lion and the Unicorn in their English lessons. In the story, young evacuee, Lenny, is given a brass badge featuring a lion representing bravery and a unicorn symbolising courage. He discovers that magic can happen even in the most desperate of times.  

The children displayed excellent dictionary skills as they explored new vocabulary linked to the Second World War such as civilian, incendiary and bombardment. They worked well in pairs on a comprehension about ‘The Blitz’ skimming the text for information, inferring meaning and learning a lot about this fascinating period of history. The children learnt that in our local area, sadly much of Coventry was destroyed during the war. They approached this topic, discussion and tasks with great interest and maturity. Fantastic work Junior 6! 

On Wednesday many past pupil and staff members came to celebrate St Joesph Mass with us. Junior 5L lead this very special St Joseph’s Mass beautifully. This Mass was a time to think about our wider school family, the time and meaning of Lent and to celebrate the Holy family. 

In Art, the children have been creating Tudor roses using a range of materials. They have created one Tudor rose using graphite, another using colour and another was a simple line drawing that they used to create a print in red or blue. Pupils also had the opportunity to practice their sewing skills and create a Tudor rose using felt and thread.

Junior 4 have had an incredible week filled with exciting activities and learning experiences. Our preparations for the Warwick Library Service Year 4 Reading Celebration have been both fun and inspiring, and the children have been working diligently on their creative responses.

In addition to our literary endeavours, we've been diving deep into the world of fractions. We have been mastering the art of adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator using various methods, and we've extended our learning to include mixed numbers and improper fractions. It's been wonderful to see the pupils' confidence grow as they tackle these challenging concepts.

Our hard work doesn't stop there! We've also been putting in a lot of effort into our Easter production. The children have been rehearsing their lines, perfecting their performances, and collaborating to create a show that promises to be both entertaining and memorable. We can't wait to share our hard work with everyone next week.

This week, Junior 3 have become poets in their English lessons! Continuing with their focus text, The Mousehole Cat  they have been discussing how Mowzer managed to calm the storm. They discussed a number of poems and how they had captured the emotions of the storm and Mowzer's calming influence, and they had a go writing their own versions. The children worked really hard and thought carefully about their vocabulary choices, trying to use words that would have the most impact on the reader. They then had the opportunity to perform their poem to the class. It was wonderful to see the children share their hard work with their friends. In Geography this week, the children in Junior 3 have been using atlases to identify different continents and then coastal destinations around the world. This has resulted in some wonderful discussions in class as to whether we would recommend these destinations to others or not. They have continued to work hard in Maths as well, developing their skills with working with fractions even further, now being add and subtract fractions with the same denominator from each other!

This week, Junior 2 have been continuing with their measuring topic in Maths. They have been measuring all different items around school and ordering them, converting units of measurement and have started to weigh things too! 

In English, we are using our story The Magic Paintbrush to create our own exciting rhyming poems about what the children would paint with a magic paintbrush of their own. 

Junior 1 have continued to look at measuring in Maths. After measuring length, weight and capacity, they have begun to look at time. This involved using clocks to help learn and tell the time to o'clock and half past the hour. We also looked at the language of time, such as before and after, and at calendars, including reading calendars to find out when special events happen and which day or date they are on. 

In Science, we followed up on our investigation of growing cress seeds and discovered that plants can grow without light, but they do not grow very well. Our cress seeds grew tall and thin in the dark and had yellow leaves instead of green. 

In Geography, we had our last lesson of looking at the countries of the United Kingdom by having a taste of Northern Ireland, eating soda bread and Jacob's cream crackers with some Irish butter, yum yum!

Reception have been so busy this week, not only enjoying the sunshine, but also getting really engaged in RE - finishing their work on Creation and creating their own Kindness Trees. The children worked with partners, taking turns, sharing glue and choosing different ways of being kind to complete their trees.  They looked fantastic when finished and there was a real 'working buzz' in the rooms as we completed them together.  In Maths, we focussed on doubling and noticing that both numbers had to be the same - well spotted everyone!  Lots of counting all week.  Hopefully this wonderful weather will last!

Please see this week's Weekly Mission.

On Monday, pupils entered the hall while the song Wind Beneath My Wings played, led by Ms. McAloon. The uplifting assembly began with a reminder of the school's ethos.

Ms. McAloon gave a brief history of Crackley Hall, which has existed since 2001. Before that, it was known as St. Joseph's School, and earlier still as St. Joseph's Convent School.

The assembly focused on St. Joseph, who is beloved worldwide despite being a relatively hidden figure in the Gospels. It was noted that Joseph knew the value of silence - no spoken words from him are recorded in the Bible. Through his silence, Joseph could hear God speak to his heart.

Pupils learnt that Joseph was Jesus' earthly father and worked as a carpenter. He is the patron saint of workers, fathers and the global Church family.

To conclude, pupils were asked to reflect on how the work of their hands could help them to love, learn, and grow during the week ahead. The assembly concluded with the First Holy Communicants being presented with their I Belong  book in preparation for this sacrament on Friday 23 May.

Weekly and daily Masses are held at St. Francis RC Church, Warwick Road, and St Augustine RC Church, Beehive Hill, Kenilworth.  

For dates and times follow the link above and scroll down. 

For this  month we are asking for donations from our Junior 2  classes to be brought to school.  Please see below for a list of most needed items:

Most needed food parcel items:

• Tinned Vegetables
• Instant Mash
• Tinned Rice Pudding
• Chocolate
• Biscuits
• Crisps
• Small Bottles of Squash
• Ketchup/Mayonnaise
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shower Gel
• Washing Up Liquid

Thank you for your contributions, they are appreciated and make a difference to the community. 

The Princethorpe Foundation has switched all its vehicles to biofuels. Everything that runs on a diesel engine is now using a renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel (HVO). The  change applies to the whole Foundation vehicle fleet which includes the minibuses across all our schools, as well as the vehicles used by the Estates and Grounds teams between the sites. Furthermore, the greener fuel will also run our utility buggy, tractors, ride-on mowers and the generator floodlights used to illuminate playing fields in the winter.

The biofuel, a ‘green diesel’, is expected to cut the fleet’s carbon emissions by up to 90% and supports the Foundation’s drive to become sustainable and its commitment to become carbon neutral, whilst making sure that our environment is safe, fit-for-purpose and healthy.

The HVO fuel is manufactured from 100% renewable and sustainable waste vegetable fats and oils, it is a drop-in fuel so has not required any modifications to the vehicle engines.

Foundation Director of Facilities, Rob Heath, comments, “The move to biofuel will reduce vehicle emissions from our fleet and is one of a number of impactful steps we are taking to become carbon neutral.”

The following clubs are cancelled 

Monday 24 March

15:40-16:30 J5 Netball Club 

Wednesday 26 March 

15:45-16:45 J6 Netball Club 

Pick up will be the normal carline collection point and time, or Aftercare provision will be available for booking, if you require it.

This week in Dormice has been a whirlwind of creativity and skill-building! We've been honing our gross and fine motor skills through a variety of engaging activities. From constructing with magnetic blocks and piecing together dinosaur jigsaw puzzles, to using tweezers for delicate item picking and threading with pipe cleaners, our hands have been busy!

Our imaginative play has taken us on delightful adventures, with pretend babies needing lots of nappy changes and plenty of delicious meals being cooked up for them. The minibeast woodland area in our sand tray has also been a hit, sparking curiosity and exploration.

The Dormice have thoroughly enjoyed the warmer, sunnier weather, making the most of the outdoor garden area. They've been riding bikes, manoeuvring tyres, filling and emptying bark into pans and pots, pushing wheelbarrows, and balancing on crates and stones. It's been a week full of fun and learning!

Badgers and Hedgehogs continued a Science focus this week by investigating ‘how to make their hair dance’ by creating static energy with a balloon, which filled the classroom with giggles and chuckles, and squeals of glee. The children also discovered that static energy allows you to stick balloons anywhere and we had great fun watching our balloon creatures creep slowly down the classroom wall.

Of course, after the experiments, they couldn’t pass up the opportunity for team coordination races, passing the balloons overhead to the person behind, as quickly as possible. Then the last catcher in the row had to run to the front of the team to continue the chain reaction, until the original team leader ended up back at the front.

Forest School was bathed in sunshine this week and the children noticed that the woodland insects are beginning to wake up. They spotted sleepy ladybirds warming themselves in the gentle rays of the sun, as well as a big, fluffy queen bumble bee, swooping back and forth over the bank, looking for a little hole in which to make her underground nest.

Of course, we also celebrated St Patrick’s Day at the start of the week, collaging shamrocks in different shades of green and trying our hand at Irish Dancing, as well as watching a clip about how children celebrate this festival in Ireland. The children remembered to greet each other in Irish at circle time, wishing everyone ‘dia duit’.

• Summer Raffle 

  We are looking for donations/ contributions toward our summer raffle, please let us know if you can help. You can let us know by email, we’d love to hear from you!  chair@pta.crackleyhall.co.uk

• PTA Pre-loved Uniform 

  Many thanks for all the donations that have been sent in this year - without these we literally could not operate! The PTA are desperately in need of donations, specifically sports kit, and KS1 uniform (blazers, jumpers and clip on ties). Please put your donated items in the boxes provided that are located in the hallway at the front of the school.

• Non-Uniform Day 

  There will be a non-uniform day on Thursday 3 April with a donation of £2 being added to the school invoice for next term, this donation will be split with £1 going to the PTA and £1 to the charity chosen by the School Council.

Make sure you save the following dates: 

• Summer Fair - 17 May 2025
• Family Fun Day - 30 August 2025
• PTA Ball - 10 October 2025 

More details will be available soon, watch this space!

The Crackley Hall Junior Da Vinci programme encourages all pupils to be inspired to be the best that they can be. The Junior Da Vinci programme embraces three adapted principles - Creativity, Practice and Mastery - that the children demonstrate in their learning.

This year we are ensuring that all pupils in the school have opportunities to achieve Junior Da Vinci awards. The Da Vinci leaflet gives more information about this programme. 

We have moved away from termly and half termly JDV challenges and are using a monthly theme to suggest activities to challenge and interest pupils. Each month different activities will be suggested. Pupils do not have to complete all, or any of these activities. They are available to all pupils in all years, so pupils can choose to investigate something that they are interested in. Bring any examples of activities that have been completed to Mrs Cowlishaw to share with the whole school.

Please see here for March's challenge. 

Look out for news of the children achieving Junior Da Vinci's in the Awards section of the Chronicle over the year.

Please see below the final details letter and costume letter for the Junior 3 and 4 Easter Performance.

Easter Performance Final Details Letter

Easter Performance Costume Letter

Dear Parents

The school has been contacted by Warwickshire Police and the road safety education team, regarding unsafe and inconsiderate parking at school drop off and collection particularly when there is an event on at the school. 

We would like to remind all parents of Crackley Hall School that the parking restrictions outside of the school are there to help keep you and your child/ren safe.

Yellow Zig Zag Markings

The School Keep Clear Markings outside of your child’s school create areas that must be kept clear so that children and young people can see clearly when crossing the road.

These markings indicate the part of the road where drivers should not wait, stop, or park their vehicle.

Vehicles must not be parked, even for a few minutes, on the School Keep Clear/Yellow Zig Zag markings.

Junctions

Vehicles must not be parked within ten metres (25 feet) of a junction. 

White Zig Zag lines 

Vehicles that park on WHITE ZIG ZAG lines are liable to get a fine of £100 and three points. 

Park and Stride – The Field 

The school is lucky to have use of the Field as an overflow car park as a park and stride location when events are held at the school.

Please do use this car park and help make the area near and around the school a safer place for your child/ren.

To help keep your children safe, the police will be conducting patrols around the school sites focusing on parking. They can issue tickets for parking which causes an obstruction to other drivers or pedestrians.

Let us all work together to keep our children safe.

Please ensure that all items of school uniform, equipment and sports kit are named. 

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

All lost property  will go on display outside the gables every Friday, anything unclaimed by the end of term will be donated to charity or the PTA. 

All the school’s publications can also be found on My School Portal under School Information and will be updated during the year as necessary.

Please see below some useful links to our documentation. 

• Absences And Leave Requests - Lost Property
• Administration Of Medication Form
• After Care
• Contact Information
• Medical Links
• Expression of Interest For Individual Music Tuition
• School Day Timings
• Uniform Order Form
• Lent Clubs Weekly Overview 

Please see the attached menus for the Lent Term. These rotate on a four weekly basis.

Week 1 Lent Term Lunch Menu 

Week 2 Lent Term Lunch Menu

Week 3 Lent Term Lunch Menu

Week 4 Lent Term Lunch Menu

We regularly recruit for a variety of roles, please do share news of the vacancies with interested friends and family. Current vacancies include:

Princethorpe College

• Teacher of English
• Teacher of Physics
• Attendance and Pupil Support Officer

Crescent School

• After School Manager

Crackley Hall School

• Estates Operative

For further information please refer to the link below 

www.princethorpe.co.uk/join-us