The Chronicle

As we come to the end of the Advent term, I write to wish you all well for the Christmas period.  
 
Looking forward to the New Year, we will be publishing two key documents in January:

1. Princethorpe Foundation Strategic Plan – this aims to give you a “behind the scenes” look at the more business-related aspects of the Foundation which support the education of all our pupils.
   
   
2. Princethorpe Foundation Sustainability Plan – which will highlight where we are with our work on sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint and our future aspirations and targets.

I hope that both plans will be of interest and I will be seeking feedback. One section of the sustainability plan looks at our transport to/from our schools and the associated carbon footprint. We have undertaken a huge amount of work on this, much of which was based on surveys which many of you completed – thank you! 
 
I recently shared some of the results of these transport surveys with pupils so I would like to share these with you here.  
 
In all, we had 651 responses from pupils, parents and staff. This gave us a massive amount of data regards:

• General habits of our community when travelling to/from our schools;
• Distances of car and bus journeys to/from school;
• Types of cars used to drive to/from school. 

By processing all this information we have been able to calculate a good estimate of the overall carbon footprint due to travel to/from school in 2023 which was 885 tonnes of CO₂. 
 
This equates to 0.65 tonnes CO₂ per pupil over the course of the year. 
 
Our aim will be to reduce our global carbon footprint in a variety of ways over the year/s ahead and there are a few observations from the travel survey: 

• At Princethorpe College, around 60% of pupils are regular bus users.
• The total carbon footprint of the regular bus users is roughly 30 tonnes of CO₂ per year less than regular car users.
• A 10% swing from cars users to buses would reduce the carbon footprint by roughly 75 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
• Lift-sharing can have a big effect in reducing the overall carbon footprint.
• There has been a move away from diesel (35%) and petrol engines (36%) towards electric and hybrid cars (29%). 

Clearly getting our baselines data is only a first step and we will be saying more about our plans next term, but I hope this is of interest to us all. 
 
Finally, I wish all families a peaceful Christmas and ask that you keep in your thoughts and prayers all members of our community, and communities across the world, who have very difficult circumstances to cope with as we enter the festive period. 
 
Ed Hester 
Foundation Principal

Dear Parents 

The start of a new year marks a time of fresh beginnings, where we eagerly anticipate the opportunities yet to come. As 2023 draws to a close, we will reflect on the experiences we've shared with those closest to us, and we will cherish the memories that have brought us to this moment. This season reminds us to be grateful for our past and to approach our future with positivity, hope, and a genuine attempt to love and help others. We spare a thought and say a prayer for those suffering as a result of war or famine and those who are lonely, especially at this time of year.

I am proud of all that we have accomplished, as a school community in 2023, and we celebrate the most remarkable entrance results achieved by our J6 pupils. We consistently achieve excellence in many areas, and the festive season offers me a chance to reflect on the hard work and dedication of our staff and pupils, along with the wonderful support of our parents. I am grateful for the staff members’ support, which allows our pupils to thrive at school.

We have been enjoying everything that the Advent period offers us at school, whether that's the decorations, the songs, or just the good cheer and sense of anticipation that permeates everything this time of year.   On Monday, the children were filled with joy and excitement as they participated in the traditional chants while watching Sleeping Beauty. The PTA deserves our gratitude for organising this event and bringing the "Outside the Box" theatre company to the school. It's wonderful to see the positive impact that community efforts have on our children's education and overall experience.  

On Tuesday, Father Kevin paid a visit to Crackley Hall to celebrate the end of term Mass. I cannot express my gratitude enough towards Father Kevin for his unwavering support towards our school. His service to the community and his willingness to attend various events held in the school is truly inspiring. The children always welcome him with beaming smiles, and it's clear that Father Kevin also cherishes his time here. We are grateful for the integral role he plays in our community. Thank you, Father Kevin! 

Today was a day of recognition and celebration as the school celebrated pupil achievements with the termly awards. The awards are a testament to the children's character and industry, highlighting qualities such as kindness, loyalty, helpfulness, and effort. It's not just about academic performance, but about recognising everything that is important at Crackley Hall School. If your child was recognised, I hope that you can join them in celebrating this achievement and continue to inspire them to be their best at all times. 

The school has been filled with festive cheer as students exchanged cards and gifts and enjoyed party food at various gatherings. The Crackley team extends their heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful families for their cards, gifts, and messages of appreciation; you have been so kind and thoughtful. 

As we approach the end of the year, I would like to express my personal sincere gratitude for your kind wishes, cards, and gifts. Your generosity and thoughts mean so much. Let us use this festive season to create memories with our loved ones and cherish the moments we share together. Thank you for being a part of the school community in various ways, and I wish you a peaceful and joyous holiday season. Thank you, again, to my tremendous staff for all their efforts, to Mr Hester and the Foundation team at Princethorpe College and Mrs Griffin and our dedicated trustees.

With my best wishes for a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a happy new year.

God bless,

Rob Duigan

"Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values." - Thomas S Monson.

This week, parents of children from Nursery to Year 6 will have recieved an email advising that after the Christmas holiday, we will begin our programme of RSHE. Lessons will be taught by the Form Teacher and aim to build on the work covered in RSHE lessons last year.  
 
As you may know, Relationships Education and Health Education is now statutory in all primary schools in England. As a Catholic school, our mission is to support the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of all of our pupils. In primary schools the focus is on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, relationships with other children and with adults. These include the topics of families and the people who care for me, caring friendships, respectful relationships, online relationships and being safe.  
 
Two years ago, Crackley Hall decided to adopt 'Life to the Full' by Ten Ten Resources, an award-winning Catholic educational organisation that is well-respected and very experienced in this field of work. The scheme has been developed to ensure that it is sensitive to the different needs of individual pupils in respect to pupils’ different abilities, levels of maturity and personal circumstances.

We understand the foundational role that parents have in educating and nurturing their children and within the programme, we have built in resources which will not only keep you informed about what is being taught in school but will also give you the opportunity to engage your children in discussion and activity. Class teachers will send a list of topics that will be covered, and we encourage parents to discuss the issues and contact form teachers with any follow up information where necessary. 
 
Ten Ten provide an Online Parent Portal which will be a tool we can use throughout the year to keep you informed and updated about the work covered in each year group to help you support your child. You can find it here: www.tentenresources.co.uk/parent-portal 

The email sent directly to parents earlier this week, provides log in details to access the Ten Ten Online Parent Portal.

Please email Mrs Faye Burley: fayeburley@crackleyhall.co.uk if you have any queries or problems accessing the parent portal.

Little Crackers Stay 'n' Play returns on Wednesday 10 January 2024 and we have another exciting programme of acitivites planned for next term. Sessions run every week in term-time from 10.30am-11.45am. Please see below for the dates of special events:

• Wednesday 17 January 2024 - Forest Fun
• Wednesday 31 January 2024 - Come and visit Nursery
• Wednesday 6 March 2024 - Sports Skills
• Wednesday 13 March 2024 - Easter Crafts

Any queries, please email Jenny Vaughan at staynplay@littlecrackers.co.uk.

If you are in Years 3, 4, 5 or 6 we have an exciting STEAM competition for you to enter.

There are two separate competitions, depending on which year group you are in:

Years 3-4: Design and build a device that can propel a soft toy a long distance.

Years 5-6: Find a way to drop a raw egg from a height of at least 2m without it breaking.

Entries can be individual, or a group of maximum six pupils.

Entries can be presented in any language, provided an English translation is given.

Each entry should come in two parts:

- A summary (word document, maximum two pages) to explain the project, the problem that you are trying to solve or investigate, and the outcome expected.

- A creative presentation (any format; PowerPoint, video, drawing, flyer…) to demonstrate the process, explore the project, highlight the stages, and introduce the design and the outcome.

Please name your files with the school name followed by the project title e.g. SchoolName_ProjectTitle and send them to Mrs Hardwick by Friday 26 January.

Videos must be uploaded to a sharable site such as YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive, and the URL link copied into the entry form. We cannot accept videos as attachments or download/WeTransfer links.

For children who require any medication, the Office require a completed Administration of Medication Form before this can be administered. A copy is attached for your convenience. 

Administration of Medication Form

Please ensure that ALL medication brought into school is in date and labelled with your child's name and form. fF your child is on a pain relief medication, please ensure this too is supplied to the office. 

All medication is to be handed to the School by an appropriate adult and to be given to the child. 

Due to club and activity changes, permanent Aftercare bookings are only valid for the current term. 

If you require either permanent or occasional Aftercare for the Lent Term, please make a new booking by emailing:

aftercare@crackleyhall.co.uk or receptionist@crackleyhall.co.uk

If you need to make a same-day Aftercare booking - please ensure you contact the school office no later than 1:00 pm that day. Any requests made after 1:00 pm will be authorised only at the Headmaster's discretion.

If you have booked an Aftercare session, letting your child know would also be helpful.

Any children not collected from the carline, for example, if parents are stuck in traffic, will be taken to Aftercare at 4:15 pm, when carline finishes and charged accordingly.

Aftercare runs from 3:45 pm until 6:00 pm, with charges being £5.00 per hour or part thereof.

Childcare vouchers can be used as payment or part payment for Aftercare.

The school office closes at 5:00 pm, please call Aftercare directly on 07732 036625 for collection. 

Christmas Holiday club will be running on Thursday 21 December and Friday 22 December and then from Tuesday 2 January until Friday 5 January.

Click here to see our jam-packed programme of fun activities, including some exciting trips out of school (additional charges will apply).

Please email holidayclub@crackleyhall.co.uk or call 07732 036625 to make your booking.

All lost property is now on display in the main school entrance foyer until the start of next term. Any items unclaimed by the start of the new term will then be donated to the School PTA.

Please ensure that all items of school uniform, equiptment 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.

Lost Property

Otto (J1H) - School cap

Ava (J5L) - School jumper, sports trousers and fleece

Casper (J4R) - School sports trousers, School coat

Angelica (J4A) - School sports fleece

Savannah (J4A) - School sports trousers

Issac Fox (J6V) - School coat

Laura (J3V) - School coat

Many congratulations to Junior 3 pupil, Chace, who has been awarded first place in the 2023 Catholic Independent Schools Conference (CISC) Christmas card competition. Chace won the Infant class and was presented with his certificate by Mr Duigan in our Celebration Assembly last Friday.

The theme for the competition this year was ‘Jesus – King of Kings’ and Chace produced a beautiful drawing of the nativity scene with baby Jesus in his manger.

CISC reported that there were a bumper number of entries to the competition this year so a super huge well done to Chace.

You can see Chace’s design on the CISC website here. 

During Advent, Crackley Hall has been preparing for Christmas in many different ways. Across the school, each class has taken part in a Reverse Advent Calendar activity and the results have been heart-warming.

Today, pupils' generous donations were collected by the Leamington and Warwick Food Bank Team, to be distributed to people in need this Christmas.

It is extremely important for our children to realise that not everyone is so lucky and that we can all use our gifts to find ways to help.

A huge thank you to all our Crackley Community for your kindness this Christmas time.

Father Kevin celebrated our school Advent mass on Tuesday and we were delighted to wlecome Mrs Jackson-Mayne, parents and parishioners into school to join us for the service.  The mass was said for the good of the school and for Mr Duigan. During the Homily, Fr Kevin talked about being awake and being prepared for Jesus in our lives. He asked the school where we think Jesus is and answered that He was in each and every one of us and that as we look at each other we catch a glimpse of Him in everyone around us. Father Kevin blessed the Bambinellis which each class had made and reminded everyone that this Advent tradition was first instituted by St John Paul II as a way for children to connect their Nativity scene at home in the celebration of Christmas. The Chamber Choir concluded the mass by singing Candlelight Canon.

Huge thanks to Crackley's PTA for organising a festive treat for all the children on the last Monday of the Michaelmas term.

Outside the Box Productions brought the magic of theatre into school as they performed the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.

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

And an extra special award for Mr Ashley who stoically endured the attentions of the cast!

Junior 2 have been busy understanding and making their own Advent wreaths. Not only did they carefully reflect on the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, they also wrote their own Advent prayers incorporating the meaning, through their eyes, of these words. They have also been using playdough to recreate the Nativity story.

'Tis the season to be jolly, and also the season for some festive arts and crafts, and everyone in Nursery has been joining in, including our very youngest Dormice! Being creative in Nursery means painting, sticking, glitter and glue and is all about self-expression while developing those fine motor skills.

We hope you enjoy all the wonderful gifts our lovely Little Crackers bring home – we have certainly had a magical time making them all!

Mr Duigan led the school Mission Assembly and lit the third candle - the pink candle of Joy. He reinforced that Christmas is about being kind to other people and how we should remember the joy of God's blessing, as we heard a reading from pupils in Junior 6 who read a Bible passage from the prophet Isaish. The reading reminded us that at Advent we don't only reflect on the birth of Jesus, but also when He will come again. If we want to be good people, we will want Peace and Hope of what is to come, and Love and Joy in our hearts. 

Please click on the link below for this week's Weekly Mission:

Weekly Mission

Please find information below:

Children's Liturgy

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)
A very special messenger came to tell Mary that she was going to have a baby. How can we be God's messengers in our world?

Activity Sheet

Please note, swimming sessions for Junior 3 and 4 will begin again next term on Wednesday 10 January 2024.

Please remember to check team sheets and find further fixture information on www.crackleyhallsport.co.uk

There are no external sports fixtures scheduled for w/c 8 January 2024

Please click here for the timetable of co-curricular clubs for Lent Term 2024.

SOCS registration is open TODAY -  Wednesday 20 December at 6.30pm to register your child for their clubs. 

You will be able to sign up for all of the internal school-based clubs on SOCS. Some clubs have limited numbers and these tend to book up very quickly.

Externally run clubs do not need to be registered for on SOCS instead you should contact these clubs directly. Information regarding external clubs was sent to all parents by email on Friday 15 December by Mrs Vaughan.

Registration will remain open until the end of the first Monday back to school (Monday 8 January).

Club Start Dates:

All internal clubs will start in the first week of term except for the Monday evening hockey club, which will start on the second week.

For externally provided clubs, please refer to the details that will be sent to you directly by the provider on registering with them, as they will stipulate their start (and finish) date.
 

Many thanks for all the donations that have been sent in this year - without these we literally could not operate!

Please continue to use the containers in the foyer to drop off any donations rather than dropping into the office staff. We are especially grateful to receive good quality sports items - particularly tracksuit bottoms!

Current special offers:

Jumpers 2 for £10 (usually £7.50 each)

Pinafore dresses 2 for £25 (usually £16 each)

Please email us at: uniform@pta.crackleyhall.co.uk stating your child’s name and class and we will get all orders sent home for you.

Our email service for PTA Preloved Uniform is now closed for Christmas, it will resume on Friday 19 January 2024.

Date for your Diary!

Our next in person sale will be on Friday 12 January 2024 from 8:20am to 9:15am outside assembly. Please do stop by and see us!

Happy Christmas!

Jo & Carly
PTA Preloved Uniform

Please click here to view the term dates for 2023/24.

Crackley Hall School Office
01926 514 444
Email: post@crackleyhall.co.uk
Postal address: St Joseph's Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2FT
SATNAV: Use CV8 2FT

Office Manager/Headmaster’s Personal Assistant – Sharon Davis-Harris
01926 514 444
Email: receptionist@crackleyhall.co.uk

Little Crackers Nursery; Nursery Manager - Emma Birch
01926 514 456 - Email: post@littlecrackers.co.uk

After Care - David Johnson, Aftercare Manager
Collection contact no; 07732 036 625
Email: aftercare@crackleyhall.co.uk

Bills, Fees and Online Payment
01926 634 273
Email: georginamalin@princethorpe.co.uk

Registrar - Jenny Vaughan
01926 514 410
Email: admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk 
 
Princethorpe College General Office
01926 634 200
Email: post@princethorpe.co.uk
 
website: www.crackleyhall.co.uk
twitter: @CrackleyHallSch  
facebook: @crackleyhallandlittlecrackersofficial
instagram:@crackleyhall_littlecrackers

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

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

When dropping off in the morning, if you are using carline, please move round the roundabout before dropping off and do not leave your car unattended. Carline can cause traffic issues on the Kenilworth Road, so please be mindful.

If you are dropping off and wish to walk your child up to the school or are coming into school please use the Lower Playground or the Sports Field. Please remember to park considerately as parking is at a premium.

We would ask that if you use the lower playground at morning drop off, that you leave the school site promptly, as parking is at a premium, and it has been causing traffic congestion.

Please do not park on the Grasscrete Parking area or on the left hand side when you enter the school main carline, as these are both staff parking areas.

Where possible, please avoid parking on the local residential roads, and if you do, please park considerately and legally. 

When collecting in the afternoon, please adhere to the collection times, as if you arrive too early, this causes traffic congestion. If you are early, we would suggest parking on the Sports Field and walking up to school.

If someone other than yourself is collecting your child, please ensure you have notified the School Office by email/telephone no later than lunchtime that day. If you would like alternative collection arrangements to be permanent, please can you notify the School Office by email.

If you are unsure or wish to clarify any points, please call the School Office.

Please see below the carline locations and collections for the Michaelmas Term:

Please see below collection locations for after games lessons (but not clubs):

To order uniform please use the electronic form.

New Uniform Order 

Please also note the following items are stocked in the School Office and can be added to your account. Do pop in to collect any items.

Winter hats
Scarves
Gloves
Ties
Swimming hats
Hair bands
Hair scrunchies

School Uniform Shop 
Tel: 01926 634272
Email: uniform@princethorpe.co.uk

If your child is interested in taking music or singing lessons at school, please complete the below Expression of Interest Form and hand in to the school office

Expression of Interest Form

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/Foundation

Digital Transformation Leader
IT Engineer
Estates Assistant
Estates Weekend Caretaker
Casual Estates Assistant
Casual Security Officer
 
Crescent School

School Registrar and Marketing Secretary

Further information and application forms on all roles are available on the Foundation's website - www.princethorpe.co.uk/join-us