The Chronicle

Dear Parents

This brief edition is intended to bring you up to date on a few items of news and to wish you and your family a wonderful and peaceful Christmas.

On Tuesday this week the children enjoyed a surprise pantomime which was provided by the PTA.  There was much excitement in the Hall from Nursery to Junior 6 as they joined in the traditional ‘oh no he’s not’ and ‘she’s behind you’, watching Cinderella.  Mrs Stephenson was on hand to capture the event on camera and you will be able to view these later in this edition.  Thank you to our PTA for organising this visit from ‘Outside The Box’ theatre company.

During the afternoon termly awards were presented to children.  These are awarded for various reasons, not just academic but to recognise everything that is important at Crackley Hall School including how the children present themselves, kindness, loyalty, helpfulness, manners and effort.  These are considered awards and if your child has been recognised, I hope that you will be able to celebrate their achievement with them.

I would like to thank Father Kevin for celebrating our end of term Mass on Wednesday morning.  Father Kevin supports Crackley Hall in so many ways and I am grateful that he is able to give so much of his time to visit school and join us for Mass and other services.  The children always welcome him with smiles and I know that Father Kevin also enjoys his time here.

There were various parties taking place throughout the school with cards and gifts being exchanged and party food being shared.  I am sure that the children have left school very much in the Christmas spirit and for those that are returning to join us for holiday club this week, the festivities will continue.  Thank you to all our wonderful families for their cards, gifts and messages of goodwill and appreciation.

I am now able to share with you the Canonical Report following our RE inspection by the Archdiocese of Birmingham.  I am very pleased with the outcome and this is a testament to the efforts from all the staff but I am particularly grateful to Mrs Jackson-Mayne, Mrs Simmonds and the RE teachers for their part in this outcome.  The report can be accessed by opening the following link: \\CRH-FS-01\GDPR_STAFF\RE Inspection Nov 2019\3 Canonical Inspection Report - Crackley Hall Kenilworth.pdf

I have been notified of the amount raised by the Poppy Appeal that was held in school during November and I am pleased to announce that we collected £167.79 from the sale of poppies and other items.  The total amount collected in Kenilworth was £27,568.43 which is a magnificent contribution to the Royal British Legion.

During the term, the school looked at various ways in which we could improve our provision; and areas which we felt required attention were the afternoon collection arrangements and also the managing of people entering the school in the mornings.  The safeguarding of pupils is the most important factor throughout any day and, we feel, that we need to adjust the morning drop-off systems to help ensure that we meet this obligation.

The School Office will close at 2.00 pm on Monday 23 December and will not re-open until Thursday 2 January. Personally, thank you very much for your good wishes, cards and gifts which are much appreciated and I look forward to sharing these with my family.  Term starts again on Monday 6 January but in the meantime, I hope that you and your family are able to spend time together, make memories and enjoy this very special time of year.  

God bless

Mr Duigan 

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 2019 – 2020, 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

Please find details of the Lent Term Clubs below:

Ballet

Chess

Cookery

Cricket

Karate

Mini Tennis

Rugbytots

Yoga

Saturday 21 March 2020

We are looking forward to 2020 when we will celebrate 75 years of St Joseph’s School and Crackley Hall.

To mark the anniversary on Saturday 21 March we will be holding an Open House celebration during the daytime followed by an Anniversary Ball in the evening.

Further details will follow in the new year, as well as information on ticket prices, so for now, please save the date in your diaries.

Your child should by now have brought their Young Voices t-shirt, torch and wristband home with them.

The Parent tickets have also arrived at school and we will be distributing these, along with any additional wristbands and torches ordered, following the Christmas break. 

A letter will also be sent out at the beginning of the new term with last minute reminders for the day itself, along with details for the Parents Coach.

Huge thanks to Crackley’s PTA for organising a festive treat for all the children on the penultimate day of the Michaelmas term.  

Outside The Box Productions brought the magic of theatre into school as they performed the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. Poor Cinderella lived with her wicked step mother and ugly sisters, Chelsea and Towie and she worked hard all day with only Buttons for company. She got to go to the palace ball, courtesy of her fairy godmother’s flick of the wand, where she met Prince Charming.  When the clock struck 12, Cinderella had to rush away leaving behind a single glass slipper.  The prince searched every house in the town until finally with the help of Buttons and Geoffrey the mouse he found his Cinderella and love conquered all.

The traditional story was told with much slapstick comedy, silly songs, quick changes and a liberal sprinkling of fairy dust. It was a hilarious show much enjoyed by all the children and a super treat at the end of a busy term.

And an extra special award for Mr Stedeford who stoically endured the attentions of ugly sister Chelsea!

Please see the Lent Term School Calendar below:

Calendar

Princethorpe College’s plans for a new Science Centre have taken a major step forward with planning permission granted, the launch of a fundraising campaign and the unveiling of further campus wide benefits.

The state-of-the-art £8 million Science Centre, which will allow the College to redevelop and cluster several other departments, was granted planning permission in May this year.  The College has now revealed further plans for a new suite of Art studios, additional space for Maths and Technology, increased dining capacity and sporting facilities.

Comments, Headmaster, Ed Hester, “Princethorpe is situated at the heart of the UK’s automotive industry, where science and engineering meet art and design. We know that our pupils need the finest facilities to give them the best opportunities for their future and widening the scope of our Science Campaign to encompass all STEAM subjects enables us to provide these.”

The Science Centre is now entering the detailed ‘developed design’ stage with local RIBA members, AT Architects of Leamington, who designed The Limes 14-classroom wing in 2014. A cost plan will follow early in the new year, then a period of value engineering and technical design before a bill of quantities is prepared in the summer.

Mr Hester continues, “This is a large, complex and exciting project. The next six months will be critical as we prepare thoroughly for the tendering process in autumn 2020. If all goes to plan we should be appointing a main contractor this time next year, with construction starting early in 2021 and completion in summer 2022.”

A fundraising campaign has been launched to work hand in hand with the delivery of the project. The Science Plus Campaign outlines a menu of giving including engraved pavers and bricks, sponsorship of elements on a giant periodic table and personal and corporate naming opportunities.

Our Director of Development comments, “We’re determined to make sure that this project is funded and built as soon as possible. We hope that the many Friends of Princethorpe will be moved to support this project, as they have previous initiatives in the College’s history. Their support is vital in making our vision for Science Plus a reality.”

Those interested in supporting the Science Plus Campaign are invited to email makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634265 for a Science Campaign Plus brochure.

Pictured here alongside Mr Hester and Mr Lee are Head of Science, Emma Cooper, and some of the pupils who will reap the benefits of the new facilities at the College.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.

Thursday 23 January - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall is opening its doors to prospective parents and children for an Open Day on Thursday 23 January 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.

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 514444 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk

Please click on 'View Gallery' to scroll through a few photos from this week's events.

Please note that the School Shop will close from 4.30pm on Wednesday 18 December 2019 and reopen at the beginning of the Lent term on Monday 6 January 2020.

Shop opening hours during term time are Monday to Friday during the following times:
      For pupils - break and lunch break
      For parents - 3.30pm until 4.30pm 

Remember you can email orders for uniform to nicolabrowne@princethorpe.co.uk  or call direct on 01926 634272, which will be delivered to school on either a Tuesday or a Friday for collection.

Items can be paid for in cash, by cheque, card or added to the school bill.

Lost Property

Elsie (J2M) has lost 2 named school jumpers

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Parents, please ensure that all school uniform and sports kits are named.

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