The Chronicle

Dear Parents

A busy week in school has been a necessary distraction for me this week.  In addition to our Open Day and other activities, children have enjoyed two history workshops which are always very popular and extremely informative. 

Junior 2 were the first year group to take part in a workshop on Tuesday when they learned about life in London at the time of the Great Fire of London.  Yesterday, Junior 5 took part in a Tudor Day. These workshops are a wonderful way to bring History lessons to life where the children take part in ‘hands on’ activities for the whole day.  I am grateful to the staff who organise these events and to our parent volunteers who also come along to support the day.

Open Day was well attended and the families who visited made positive comments about the school as a whole and the very helpful and polite Junior 6 tour guides.  I am always very proud of the children who act as guides and those who interact with our visitors but to hear others comment is heart-warming and reinforces what I already believe.  Thank you to the pupils who were involved, to Mrs Jenny Vaughan, Mr Sansum who took time to discuss our catering provision and to Mrs Stephenson and Mrs Hancock who provided support from the Princethorpe Foundation Marketing Team.

As I mentioned last week, holiday club is now open for bookings during February half term and the link can be found later in this newsletter.

The new car line system continues to work well but I would ask that parents please remain in their cars as far as possible during car line so as not to cause any delay to the parents waiting behind them.  This will help to ensure that children are collected safely and in a timely manner.

During assembly today our stars of the week were: Avani, Patrick, Aaryan, Amelia, Tommy, Ettienne, Julia, Lennon, Mya, Willow, Harry, Scarlett, Alex and Nancy.  Well done to all of you on your achievements.  The funds raised during last term’s Christmas Jumper Day was also announced and I am pleased to let you know that £182.21 has been donated to Save The Children on behalf of Crackley Hall School.  Various charities have benefitted from your generosity over the course of the year and your continued support to those less fortunate is very much appreciated.  Scarlett and Thomas both sang so well at assembly this morning – it was a treat for all in the hall.  Well done to both of them.  Mya’s Geography project earned her a Da Vinci award – congratulations to her as well.

Our sports teams celebrated success at Croft on Wednesday this week.  Our U11 football won all three matches: A 8-3; B 3-1; C 2-0.  The netballers also fared well with the A team losing 12-13 and the B team winning 9-2.  Our hockey teams played Bilton Grange: U9A lost 1-3, the B team drew 0-0 and the two Under 8 teams lost hard-fought games.  Well done to all teams and their coaches.

Finally, I would like to thank so many of you, pupils, parents, trustees and staff, for your kind words and prayers this week.  My brother’s sudden passing has been a shock and a very difficult time for our whole family.  I will be making my way to South Africa for his funeral and to support my elderly parents early next week and will be leaving Crackley Hall in the capable hands of Mr Cottrill and the Senior Leadership Team, supported by Mr Hester.  I plan to return towards the end of the following week.

Have a lovely weekend, hopefully restful.

God bless,

Mr Duigan 

On Thursday 30 January there will be no Thinking to Think club.

Gymnastics Club will be cancelled on the Wednesday 5 February due to the KS1 Performing Arts Afternoon.

Crackley Hall Half Term Holiday Club will be available from 8.00 am until 6.00 pm Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February, at a cost of £30.00 for a full day. Half days (8am-1pm and 1pm-6pm) can be booked at £20.00 per session. Lunch is available at a cost of £3.40 per day.

Holiday Club

Please can parents provide a photocopy of their child's valid passport to the school office as soon as possible.

If your child's passport will have less than 6 months left to run in May 2020, under new regulations you must apply for a new one.

Thank you 

Please find attached the termly curriculum sheet for your child's year group:

Reception

Junior 1

Junior 2

Junior 3

Junior 4

Junior 5

Junior 6

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

Picture the scene - it is 1666 and London is a thriving capital city. Narrow streets of closely built timber frame buildings tower over you as you walk within the city's walls. Life after an outbreak of plague is slowly starting to get better. Then, the faint whiff of burning quickly transforms into a raging fireball of thick smoke filled with red-hot sparks. For London is alight! A fire that started on Pudding Lane is on the march, consuming everything in its path.

Thanks to cross curriculum experts History Off the Page, this was the scene that unfolded for our Junior 2 apprentices on Tuesday 21 January. Our children spent the morning on the streets of London, learning trades common to the era such as Scriveners, Apothecaries, Leather Workers, Cordwainers, Pewterers, Perfumers, Tailors and Weavers.  As they worked news arrived that the fire was spreading. With the flames drawing closer, the children acted to stop it, forming fire lines to move buckets of water to the inferno and tearing down local buildings, and that was just before lunch!

Then in the afternoon, the children faced the challenge of excavating what was left of the charred city, helping to start the process of rebuilding by piecing together singed legal documents and returning personal belongings.

It was a truly fascinating day, that gave the children a rich, detailed experience of this period in history. Junior 2 teacher, Ms Holmes, commented, “The children had a lot of fun, History Off the Page are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and their role-playing workshop really engaged the children.”

Many thanks to the parents who dressed up and assisted.

On Thursday 23 January Junior 5 left modern day Britain behind and travelled back in time to the Tudor era. Children, staff and even parents came to school dressed in costume and enjoyed a memorable day exploring life in the 16th century.

They began in the court of King Henry VIII in the year of our Lord 1536. Despite rumours and intrigue surrounding his second wife, Anne Boleyn, the King’s household had plenty of tasks to attend to. Set out in Crackley’s Great Hall were typical Tudor professions and a range of crafts that included: Alchemists, Apothecaries, Barbers, Chandlers, Embroiders, Leatherworkers, Miniature Artists, Scholars (ink making and writing), Scent bag and Soap makers. The children all enjoyed taking part in the traditional Tudor activities, it was fantastic hands-on learning.

In the afternoon the children took on various roles at a mock royal banquet. Some were servants whilst others were entertainers, dancers and even singers. As they worked, more rumours swirled around the ill-fated Anne Boleyn. The background narrative really helped bring the Tudor era alive.

Crackley’s Tudor Day was led by History Off The Page, a company who run historical workshops. Junior 5 teacher Sarah Lammas, commented, “The children were immersed in history and surrounded by authentic replica artefacts. It was a day full of practical learning, storytelling and drama.“ Fellow Junior 5 teacher, Julia Roberts added, “History Off the Page were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. All of the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed the workshop, a huge thanks goes to all of the parents, who joined in the fun, dressed up and so ably assisted us.”

Last week’s Mathlete of the week for Mrs Lammas group is Solon 

Last week's Mathlete of the week for Mrs Robert's group is Jacob 

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Mathlete of the week for J1H is Joseph 

Mathlete of the week for J2H is Ria 

Mathlete of the week for Mrs Lammas group is Thomas

Mathlete of the week for Mrs Roberts group is Scarlett 

Mathlete of the week for J3Z is Mairen 

Well done all!

A DVD of the Young Voices Concert can be purchased via the link below.

Young Voices DVD

Please note that this link will take you directly to the website and DVD's cannot be ordered through school. 

Five times a year Crackley Hall throws its doors wide open to welcome prospective pupils and parents into school. It is their chance to see what is so very special about Crackley Hall and what makes it a place that has been described as the ‘next best place to home’ by its pupils.

The latest Open Day took place this week on Thursday 23 January 2020 and the school was pleased to welcome visitors into school.

Rob Duigan, Headmaster commented, “We were delighted with the level of interest in admission to the school. We know many families who already have children at the school will have recommended it to friends, and we were pleased to be able to show the school at its best."  

Pupils from Junior 6 took the visitors on a tour of the school, confidently answering questions whilst they showcased the school’s fantastic facilities. Staff and pupils in other years continued with their normal lessons but welcomed visitors to their classrooms warmly. Parents were able to talk with staff and children and afterwards meet Mr Duigan.

Parents are reminded that the deadline for applications for admission to Reception in September 2020 is early next month, Monday 3 February. Parents interested in applying for places in other years, current Reception to Junior 6, should contact Jenny Vaughan, Admissions and Marketing Secretary on admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk or 01926 514410 to enquire about availability.

Crackley’s next Open Morning takes place on Saturday 7 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm and will include tours, performances and activities showcasing the school.  

Saturday 28 March 2020 - Arrive from 6.30pm - Walk from 9.00pm

The Foundation's senior school Princethorpe College is delighted to be hosting a major fundraising event for the charity Myton Hospice on Saturday 28 March 2020.

Glow For Myton - Around The World In 5km is a night walk that will wind its way through the beautiful grounds of the College campus, taking in the sights and sounds of some of the world’s best celebrations along the way. Myton Hospice has been running sponsored night walks for a number of years in city centre locations. The events have proved so popular that the charity started looking for a new venue and Princethorpe College was delighted to step in. Ideally situated midway between the charity’s three hospices in Coventry, Warwick and Rugby, Myton Hospice is hoping to attract hundreds of walkers from across Warwickshire for what it is describing as its biggest and best Glow fundraiser ever.

The 5km walk will begin and end in the Orchard where there will be entertainment and food available both before and after the event. The route will take walkers off around the College grounds. There will be plenty of volunteer marshals to cheer all the walkers on and along the way will be exciting zones showcasing festivals and cultural celebrations from around the world including Oktoberfest, Chinese New Year and the Holi Colour Festival. The event isn’t timed, instead it is all about enjoying the experience and the sights and sounds laid on for the event.

Comments Clare Cropp, Myton’s Community and Events Fundraising Manager, “We are hoping to raise £60,000 from this event and are really looking forward to holding it at Princethorpe. The event is already generating a lot of interest and we’re very grateful to the College for so generously supporting us.”

Glow For Myton - Around The World In 5km is open to all, and pupils and parents are encouraged to sign up for the event at the early bird price of £15 for adults and £10 for children on the charity’s website here.  (Children of all ages are welcome but under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.)

The event is sure to be great fun for a good cause so we are hoping lots of families and friends of the Foundation will want to get involved.

A reminder that tickets for our Diamond Anniversary Gala Ball on the evening of Saturday 21 March will go on sale today, Friday 24 January, at 5.00pm.

Tickets cost £40 a head and are limited; we are expecting them to be very popular, so please do book early to avoid disappointment.

Click here to visit the link to book tickets.

Our resident Archivist, Janette Ratcliffe, will be preparing a display of archive material for the Open House on Saturday 21 March, if you have any material that you would like to gift or loan to the archive, such as school magazines, programmes, photographs, school books or certificates, she would love you to get in touch. Email janetteratcliffe@princethorpe.co.uk.

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

Tennis Club is cancelled on the Thursday 23 and Thursday 30 January.  

If you have not paid for the course - please send your payment as soon as possible to Mr Roe.

We are pleased to announce that Chloe and Penny (J3S) are our gymnasts of the week. 

Please find below information that may be of interest on a Netball course running in the February half term.   Please note that this holiday course is not run by the school and you will need to deal directly with the organsiers.

Netball Coaching Course

Netball Course Timetable

We have been chatting with the children about Chinese New Year this week as the celebrations will take place this weekend.  ‘Kung hei fat choi’ to everyone from Little Crackers… we have been making dragons in the creative area, and had a great time dancing with a real Chinese Dragon on Monday in ‘Dramatots’.  The children have loved watching videos of the celebrations in Beijing and joined in with bells, drums and other percussion instruments to dance around the room. 

The Open Day on Thursday was a great success and we welcomed some lovely families who came to look around, see what we were up to and explore some of the activities going on. 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, we will see you all next week!

Newsletter

To mark the end of a busy half term the PTA and teachers are organising celebratory school disco!

Friday 14 February will be a non-uniform day and children are asked to bring in a £1 to cover the cost of the disco and a small treat. There will be different discos for the different year groups but all will be in normal school time so children can attend clubs after school or be picked up in car line as normal.

The PTA hope the children enjoy this end of half term treat. 

Please find a link below to the current vacancies available across the Foundation:

• Teacher of Art
• Teacher of Business Studies
• Teacher of Computer Science
• Teacher of Design Technology
• Teacher of English
• Teacher of Mathematics
• Head of Law
• Groundsman
• Head of Digital Learning and Teacher of Boys' Games – Crescent School

Full details of the roles and how to apply are available via the following link  https://www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities

Should you know anyone who might be interested in these posts, please do share this information with them.

William (J2M) has lost his new school shoes (named)

Alexander (Rec) has lost his PE Shorts & Cap

Elena (J3Z) has lost her purple (named) water bottle

Sam (J6H) has lost his named school coat

Leo (J3Z)  has lost his sports fleece (named)

Ted (J2H) has lost his book bag (named)

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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.