The Chronicle

Dear Parents

I would like to warmly welcome you all back to Crackley Hall and extending an especially warm welcome to our new parents and children.  I hope that you are all looking forward to the year ahead and I can promise you it will pass incredibly quickly.  The weeks are usually full of excitement, visits, performances and lots of learning too.  For the benefit of our new families, the Chronicle is a weekly newsletter sent to all parents and it reports on events that have involved our children and the school during the week or recent weeks.  It is also a useful place to read about forthcoming important dates in the calendar, with links to letters and relevant information.  Please do try and read it over the weekend as it is my hope to reduce the amount of emails sent to parents during the week and to make the Chronicle the main conduit for information.

Unfortunately I must share with you some very some sad news which I received on Sunday evening.  Mary O’Farrell, our previous Chair of Trustees, dear friend of the school and who was known to many of you, sadly passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning.  Mary had wonderful zest for life, enjoyed a close relationship with school for many years and will be fondly and lovingly remembered by us all.  She was a wise and astute Governor and teacher who loved our school and the Princethorpe Foundation, giving so freely of her time and acumen. Prayers were said for Mary and her family during Mass this morning and I am sure that you will join the whole of the school community in sharing in our sadness and praying for the repose of Mary’s soul and for the comfort of her husband and family.  Further details, including those regarding Mary’s funeral can be found on our website.

The first week may have been a bit of a blur for many as you become familiar with the routines at school but I am confident that they will become second nature to you all very soon.  There are a few points I would like to draw your attention to which include parking around the school.  We receive frequent complaints from local residents (who in turn often contact the local policing team) regarding inconsiderate parking.  This has included blocking drive ways, parking on pavements, queuing in the surrounding area which prevents access or exits from local roads.  Not only is this frustrating for the residents but it can also prevent emergency vehicles gaining entrance to their destination.  Please try and park considerately, use car line or the school field as much as possible.

I would also like to clarify two uniform matters.  The summer uniform may continue to be worn until the half term while the weather is still mild.  Secondly, I have received questions regarding children wearing earrings. I can confirm that the School policy has not changed but I am aware that some children will have had their ears pierced during the holiday and therefore unable to remove their earrings for 6 weeks.  During this time, earrings (plain studs only) can be worn to school but must be covered with tape or a plaster at all times.  After the 6 weeks has elapsed and the hole has formed, earrings should not be worn to school.  I trust that I can count on your support on this issue.

It has been delightful to see so many enthusiastic, smiling, happy faces around school this week and hearing some stories of how children have spent their summer holidays.  Apart from our Reception class, there are a number of new children in other year groups who have already made friends and feel at home here at Crackley Hall. 

Whilst the Chronicle maybe slightly lacking on news stories this week, there has been plenty going on.  The children (and staff) enjoyed watching the Tour of Britain pass through Kenilworth on Wednesday.  They cheered the passing police vehicles as much as the cyclists and I am sure that the team enjoyed the support.

I would like to thank Father Kevin for celebrating our start of year Mass this morning; it was a pleasure to see him back in school and I know that he also enjoys meeting the many new faces each September.  My thanks are also extended to everyone who helped at Mass, especially Mrs Jackson-Mayne, Mrs Simmonds and Mrs Olden.

Our PTA Barn dance has been changed to Saturday 29 September and whilst we realise this will have inconvenienced some families it is unfortunately beyond our control.  If possible, please can you support this family event at a wonderful venue as it brings families together and supports the hard work and effort of our PTA.

I hope that you all enjoy a restful weekend with your families.

God bless,

Robert Duigan

We have a number of trips and events coming up over the next few weeks. Please see the relevant letters below.  

Michaelmas Term 2018 - Lunches letter

Michaelmas Term 2018 Week 1 Menu

Michaelmas Term 2018 Week 2 Menu

Michaelmas Term 2018 Week 3 Menu

J2 MAD Museum - 18.10.18

J3  Compton Verney - 03.10.18

J3/4  Nutcracker Ballet - 11.12.18

Junior 4 Visit to Kingswood Activity Centre 08.10.18

J6 Victorian History Day

J3 LAMDA

J4 LAMDA

Forest School - Reception Class

Forest School - J1

Forest School - J2

Please find attached the termly curriculum sheet for your childs year group:

Reception

J1

J2

J3

J4

J5

J6

Reception and J1 – 3.30pm from the Gables entrance

J2 only – 3.35pm from the side entrance

J2 and older siblings – 3.45pm from the side entrance

J3 and older siblings – 3.50pm from the side entrance

J4 and older siblings – 3.55pm from the side entrance

J5 and older siblings – 4.00pm from the side entrance

J6 only – 4.05pm from the side entrance

Could we please remind parents not to arrive too early for carline, and can we please ask you to park considerately both in the car parks and on the streets around the school.

Thank you

Cyber-crime – please be vigilant

Parents are asked to be vigilant when reading emails relating to the payment of school fees and any other items to the Foundation.

We continue to receive reports regarding spam emails being sent to parents of independent schools asking them to pay future fees to a ‘new’ school bank account.

Please be advised there has been no change to the bank details of either Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent and there is no intention to make any changes in the foreseeable future. Any electronic notification that appears to be from any of the Foundation schools changing these details may be fraudulent.

Our bank details are available on the Parent Bills, the Online Payment Portal and for Princethorpe in the Princethorpe College Information Booklet 2018 – 2019, and only those details should be used.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues in the Bursary if you are have any doubts about the correct details or indeed if anything appears suspicious.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Parents and guardians are advised that After Care is available from the first week of the Michaelmas term. Further details and booking form are available using this link. 

Aftercare queries and bookings can also be sent to the new aftercare email: aftercare@crackleyhall.co.uk

Thank you

Please can parents whose children use the outdoor classroom and play equipment on the playgrounds after school please take any rubbish away with them.

Thank you

Reminder for J4 - F1 challenge - applications should be handed in to Mrs Hardwick by Friday 14 September

F1 Challenge Letter

Combed hair, pressed uniforms and polished shoes whizzed around the playground last Monday morning as Crackley's 2018/19 cohort crossed the school threshold for the first time. Old friends were reacquainted and new friends were made as our students enjoyed getting to know each other. 

We trust this year will be a successful one, filled with the joy of learning and friendships that will last a lifetime. We wish everyone every success for the year and ask you to believe in yourself.

May your hard work make all your dreams come true.

Mr Duigan had the great pleasure of introducing our new student body for 2018-2019 and the school prefects for the Michaelmas term. Their badges of office were presented at the beginning of the J6 Leavers Assembly.  A list of the roles is included below.

Head Girl: Francesca Kelly

Head Boy: Joe McCullough

Deputy Head Girl: Caitlin Horan

Deputy Head Boy: Freddie Knott

RE Captain: Maddie Lambeth

Girls' Games Captain: Hannah Wildey

Vice Girls' Games Captain: Amisha Modi

Boys' Games Captain: Sam James

Vice Boys' Games Captain: Toby Lucas

Music Captain: Andrea Zanyi

Performing Arts Captain: Isabella Osborne

Library Captain: Annamaria Kordas

Vice Library Captain: Evangeline Upstone-Wells

Jupiter House Captain: Sebastian Owen

Mars House Captain: Isla Berger

Saturn House Captain: India Ferguson

Venus House Captain: Cecilia Holdgate

J6 Student Councillors: Carys Warrener, Olivia Swinson, Dylan Williams, Andrew Gordon, Alistair Darnell & Martha Harris

With a little over nine weeks to go, the countdown to Princethorpe's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2019 has begun. This year the exams for Year 7 to 10 entry will take place on Saturday 10 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

The College's friendly Admissions Team has been kept busy over the summer accepting registrations from prospective parents.  The deadline for registrations is ideally Friday 5 October, to enable the seeking of references from junior schools. Junior 6 parents wishing their children to sit the exams do need to complete a registration form and submit it with the accompanying registration fee by this date.

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams, including the College's Open Morning on Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm, when pupil tour guides will be available to show visitors around the school. 

Comments Melanie Butler, Assistant Head, Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "Parents and pupils still have plenty of time to prepare and opportunities to visit the College in the run up to the exams.  The results will be out at the end of November, making for an exam-free Christmas holiday, which has got to be good news."

For more information on the admissions process click here to visit the Admissions Update newsletter.

If you have any queries relating to admissions please feel free to email the Registrars at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or call them on 01926 634201.

This week Mrs Roberts, Crackley's Science Coordinator, championed the cause of all things science with a spectacular Mad Science show.  Pupils were amazed and entertained in equal measure as they learnt about science.  They saw water disappear (courtesy of sodium polyacrylate), toilet paper fly (explained by the Bernoulli theory of lift) and to cap it all off a genie release (by virtue of gaseous oxygen release when two compounds were mixed).

There were plenty of chemical reactions on show, and experiments that firstly appeared as magic soon made sound scientific sense.

Many thanks to Mrs Roberts for organising the event.  The popularity of Mad Science club shows that the subject of science is alive and well at Crackley. All Club applications need to be handed back to the office to ensure they are processed, so please don't delay. 

Crackley Hall children and staff were out in force to welcome the OVO Energy Tour of Britain cyclists as they raced past the school on Wednesday morning on Stage 4 of the event. It was super exciting for the children who were lined up along the main road that runs past the school. Everyone cheered enthusiastically as the leaders and then the peloton flew past followed by their accompanying cars and police out-riders.

It made for a memorable treat in the first week of term.

Crackley Hall was delighted this week to receive photos showing children in Malawi proudly sporting Crackley colours.

Earlier this year the school donated old school uniform and PE kit to Bwengu Projects Malawi, a Rugby based charity regularly supported by fellow Foundation junior school Crescent School.  Over the summer the clothes were taken out to Africa by some of their volunteers and donated to children in six schools.

It is wonderful to see it all being put to such good use.

You should have now received a hard copy of the Michealmas 2018 pocket calendar.

For information please find a pdf of the calendar attached here.

Sunday 9 September 2018 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Built in 1832, St Mary's Priory was one of the first Catholic buildings in England after the reformation.

On Sunday this weekend Princethorpe College is taking part in the Heritage Open Day festival.  You are all invited to come for a tour of the magnificent building and learn all about its history, including the amazing women that made it the place it is today.

From 1833 until 1966, St Mary's Priory was home to a congregation of Benedictine nuns who ran a boarding school for girls. This community sold the priory in 1966 and a new school was established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who had previously run a boys' school in Leamington Spa. Princethorpe College is now a fully co-educational Catholic independent day school.

The archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 9 September from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. Areas open include Pugin’s magnificent chapel, the cloisters, nuns’ cells, library (former church) and roundhouse.

No booking is required; just turn up and join the next available tour. Entrance is via the glazed link off the North Car Park.

Admission is free and there is complimentary tea and coffee available. They would be delighted to see you!

Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm

Princethorpe College is holding an Open Morning on Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm. This is a chance to look around the school on a normal working day, prior to Entrance Examinations Day on Saturday 10 November 2018.  Year 8 and 9 pupils will act as tour guides and light refreshments will be available.

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations are reminded that they should do by the deadline of Friday 5 October to facilitate the gathering of references from junior schools. Registration forms are available from the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Entrance Examinations will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. More information is available on the College website, click here.

Tuesday 2 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Please do spread the word that Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Nursery are opening their doors for an Open Day on Tuesday 2 October 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.

We will have places available in Junior 1, 2 and 4 in September and will be recruiting for places in Reception 2019. Please speak to our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan for availability in other years.

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 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you. We welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crackleyhall.co.uk/

Thank you to all those who led our beautiful Mass today to celebrate the beginning of a new term. It was fantastic to hear all the pupils singing the rousing chorus of ‘Back in School Again’. The theme of the Mass, which was read by our Deputy Head Boy and Girl, Freddie and Caitlin, was to be open to new challenges and ways to serve and love others. Head Boy, Joe and Head Girl, Francesca read the Communion Reflection, reminding us of ways we can make the right choices and follow in the Christ’s footsteps.

Tuesday 11th September

Pupils in Junior 5 and 6 will be involved in a live streaming of Adoremus 2018 with Archbishop Bernard Longley, on Tuesday afternoon. Through the powers of technology, Archbishop Bernard will speak to all the children and lead a short service which will last about 20 minutes. Pupils across the diocese will join in with the service at the same time. This links with Adoremus 2018 which is taking place in Liverpool this weekend.

Some of the younger pupils have been busy designing and  making Monstrances and learning about the Eucharist.

Welcome back everyone, how lovely to have a full set of children and grown-ups back in nursery.  This week has been full of hugs and smiles as we all get used to new rooms, new drawers and new friends.  Please check the newsletter for the useful bit and bobs, e.g. the rules regarding ‘Calpol’ and antibiotics etc. and as the weather changes can I just ask everyone to think about warm layers, wellies to leave in nursery and maybe the odd pair of clean socks and pants for accidents. 

Newsletter

Have a relaxing weekend, it’s been a busy week for everyone!

We hope that everyone has had a lovely summer holiday and all the children have settled back into school life well. The PTA have hit the ground running again this year with lots going on so please note these upcoming dates for your diaries:

PTA AGM - Wednesday 19 September at 7.30pm followed by the first ordinary meeting 

We are always looking to welcome new members so if the PTA is something that you fancy getting involved with we would be very pleased to have you on board.  Our upcoming AGM is on Wednesday 19 September, 7.30pm at school where we will review events, fundraising and spending for the past year and will vote in the officers for the coming year. Following that, we will have our first ordinary meeting on the same evening. The committee gets together once per half term and would really welcome some new faces. Please email us on ptachair@crackleyhall.co.uk if you need any further information or would like to be added to our email list.

Macmillan Coffee Morning and Drive Through - Friday 28 September from 8am

We will be taking part in the Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning this year again. For those of you that have to get to work we will be offering a drive through tea and coffee service at morning drop off, or if you have a bit more time there will be tea and pastries on the patio area outside the school hall. The children will also get an opportunity to buy cakes at break time at 50p each so please send them in with some change. If you have a child in reception J2,4 or 6 you will receive an email asking for 6 small cake/biscuit donations - no nuts please. Many thanks for your support.

Crackley Hall PTA Welcome Back Barn Dance Saturday 29th September 2-5pm

To welcome everyone back to school the PTA are organising a Barn Dance at Wethele Manor on Sunday 29 September 2-5pm. Please see attached flyer for details and a link to book your tickets online https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/551005. It is a catered event so tickets need to be booked before Monday 24 September so we can confirm numbers. We do hope that you will be able to join us for this fun family event and the children will enjoy getting into the spirit with some Wild West dressing up. Its a great opportunity to catch up with friends and to meet new people. 

Welcome Back Barn Dance Saturday 29th September 2-5pm

Crackley Christmas Fayre - Saturday 1 December, 1pm-4pm

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas yet? Some might say yes but please save the date as we're sure it will come round quickly! Also if anybody works for a company that offers matched funding we would love to hear from you. If you work for an organisation that has a match funding policy, any money you raise could be matched by your employer. Companies may match the fundraising total for an event, or for the stall that their employee is working on. Usually, the employee will need to supply them with a letter from the PTA detailing the date and nature of the event, together with the total raised. We would be grateful if you could see if your employer has a match funding scheme, or if they are willing to match fund any of our events or charity contributions. Please email ptachair@crackleyhall.co.uk if you might be able to help. 

Thank you for your support. 

Crackley Hall PTA

The PTA have signed up for a loyalty scheme with Naturally Kids, a new shoe shop in Leamington. It’s a great scheme that benefits both the PTA and parents. Please see the attached leaflet for further details and keep an eye out for loyalty cards appearing in your child’s book bag.

We are looking to recruit an IT Apprentice, at Level 3, to join the busy Foundation IT department, reporting to the Assistant Head (Director of Digital Strategy) they will be based in Princethorpe College with some duties at the Foundation feeder schools, Crackley Hall School in Kenilworth and Crescent School in Rugby. 

The candidate will be a member of the IT Service Desk team providing a front-line service to staff across all three schools and for pupils in the College.

The role would provide the successful candidate with an inside view of the workings and the organisation of a multisite network, implementation procedures of new hardware/software, including expansion and development of existing and new IT services. They will have responsibility for the first point of contact on the ICT helpdesk with all users.

Interested candidates will have good communication and organisational skills, as well as the ability to work on their own and as part of a team. They will be studying an IT related apprenticeship at level three or four. Likely courses are IT, Software and Telecoms Professionals, IT Application Specialist or Infrastructure Technician, although this list is not exhaustive.  Warwickshire College Group are the training service provider for the apprenticeship and additional training will be on day release at Warwickshire College.

An IT Apprenticeship will enable the successful candidate to gain hands on experience; they will be trained to provide support to users on various levels, from toner replacements, stock checks and Audio Visual setups, to supporting end users with any technical and software queries.

Candidates are welcome to discuss the apprenticeship courses in more detail with Emma Rogers, Worked-based Learning Manager, Warwickshire College Group on 01788 863230.

Single person accommodation on site may be available.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the fast growing Foundation that values its staff and offers a rewarding benefits package including discounted places for staff, a pension scheme, child care vouchers and a cycle to work scheme.

Application: To apply for this vacancy applicants must submit a Princethorpe College application form, together with a CV and covering letter detailing your personal qualities, experience and how you meet the person specification for the role. Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 10 September at 9.00am, with interviews likely to be held on Thursday 13 September at Princethorpe College.

Further details and an application form are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities