Men soon the faults of others learn

"A few their virtues, too, find out;

But is there one - I have a doubt -

Who can his own defects discern?"

Sanskirt Proverb

Preview

Headmaster's Message

Headmaster's Welcome

Dear Parents

I hope my message finds you healthy and well despite some of the stubborn bugs that are still affecting the children. 

The Performing Arts Department have been busily rehearsing with the pupils this week in preparation for the KS2 Performing Arts Evening which is taking place next Tuesday.  Crackley Hall students are always so enthusiastic when performing and I look forward to watching the performance on Tuesday evening.

As you will see from the photographs, there have been some events this week which have involved many students across the school.  The Skip-a-Thon was held on Wednesday and was organised by Mrs Simmonds to raise money for Mary’s Meals.  Although Mrs Simmonds is currently unable to confirm the total amount raised, I know that children (and some staff) hopped, skipped and jumped as best they could during the lunch hour – well done to all, including Mrs Simmonds and the wonderful Mini Vinnies team

Some of our J6 students attended a visit to the Space Centre on Wednesday as part of the Da Vinci progamme.  Mr Harris accompanied them and, from his report, I understand that everyone involved thought it was out of this world.  My thanks to Mr Harris and to Mrs Pascoe-Williams (Da Vinci Co-ordinator at Priincethorpe) for arranging the visit.

During this week, in addition to the hockey and netball fixtures, the U/11A hockey boys also travelled to Olympic Park in London for the Independent Schools Association national hockey event.  Although it was a long day for everyone involved, they enjoyed playing on a large purpose built pitch in the capital.

Congratulations to all this morning’s award winners – it is super to see how well our children do both in and out of school.  Henry Fox and Aryan Mehta are both excelling on the tennis court and I know that they both work very hard to achieve what they do – as do so many of our pupils.

I was very proud as two of our quieter musicians braved the stage this morning and performed a beautiful piece of music on the clarinet.  Well done to Sofia and Honor-Mae who both played exceptionally well indeed.  I also thought that our Junior 2 and Junior 3 recorder pupils were excellent and I am delighted to see that they are all able to play a little music – some pupils, indeed, are progressing onto individual tuition as well.

I would like to draw your attention to the arrangements for car line which appear in this week’s Chronicle.  Whilst our timings have not changed, parents and relatives who collect children are arriving outside of the specified times.  In order to operate an effective car line I would ask that everyone please keeps to the timings so that children are reunited with their family as quickly and as safely as possible.  In addition, if you need to change your collection arrangements, please notify the School Office using Receptionist@crackleyhall.co.uk  This will ensure that details are passed to the correct person in time for the end of the school day.  We will not be able to release your child to another person unless we have received specific instructions from you.  I would also like to remind all families that special care must always be taken when walking across playgrounds and school sites, especially when in the vicinity of moving vehicles.  We have a designated path around the car park and this must please be used at all times when entering or exiting our school site as a pedestrian.

Next Monday will see the start of our One World Week.  Details of the visits and events in school will have been communicated with you by Mrs Jackson-Mayne. These events will help your children understand that there are other faiths and beliefs followed and practised by their friends and people around them. 

Let us hope that there is some good rugby this weekend.  The big match will be between England and Wales.  I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and children return refreshed and ready for the last week of this half term on Monday.

God Bless

 

Robert Duigan

Important Information

Dress Code For 'One World' Trips

We respectfully ask that all children observe the following dress codes when entering places of worship: 

Junior 6 to the Sikh Temple

Please could all children all to bring a hat or scarf to cover their heads when they are visiting the Sikh Temple on Monday 12 February.

Junior 5 to the Mosque

Please could all girls ensure they wear tights on their visit rather than bare legs.

Junior 3

Please could boys all bring their caps to school on their visit to the synagogue and all the girls wear a scarf to cover their heads.

 

Car Line Arrangements

As you will know, the car line operates to minimise congestion at the end of the school day. It is imperative that these timings are observed in order to ensure the prompt and safe collection of all children. In addition, if you need to arrange a different collection time or someone else will be collecting your child(ren), please email Receptionist@crackleyhall.co.uk.  Your message will then be communicated to the correct member of staff on duty.

The times are as follows:

Class

Collection Time

Reception & J1 15:30 from the Gables entrance
J2 Only 15:35 from the side entrance
J2 & Older Siblings 15:45 from the side entrance
J3 & Older Siblings 15:50 from the side entrance
J4 & Older Siblings 15:55 from the side entrance
J5 & Older Siblings 16:00 from the side entrance
J6 Only 16:05 from the side entrance

 

Please can we also remind all parents that when they drop off using car line in a morning, it is important to pull your car all the way around the roundabout, as you would do in afternoon carline, to minimise long queues of traffic. 

Recently traffic has been queuing all the way down Littleton Close and on to the main road, which presents a traffic hazard.

News

Stars Of The Week

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

Nursery Charlie Potter
Reception G Beatrice Parizzi 
J1G Jia Mehta
J1W Grace Wright 
J2H William Cooke
J2M Willow Rochford 
J3V Francesca Voisey
J4H Fintan McGrory
J4J Aryan  Mehta
J5R Thomas Whalley
J5V Sam James
J5G Isabella Wild 
J6H Sam Verity 
J6L Sofia Gilson 

 

Well done to all!

We Came, We Saw...We Named Our Comet Cre-ackleythorpe!

15 lucky Crackley pupils, along with their specially selected Foundation colleagues, swapped this Wednesday’s lessons for a mission-critical ‘Rendezvous with a Comet’, courtesy of the National Space Centre, Leicester.

Relishing the opportunity to demonstrate their problem solving skills, pupils were briefed by Space Centre Commanders Rob and Matt as to the impending threat of an unidentified flying object. The Foundation team, resplendent in their UK space suits and set with special ID cards, had to co-ordinate their efforts to build and launch a probe that might save our precious planet.

Various roles sought to challenge our intrepid space scientists including: Navigation, Communication and Data Officers as well as becoming team members within the Isolation, Medical and Remote Teams. During the two and a half hour mission, the pupils from Year 6, 7 and 8 were challenged with real life dilemmas to test their ability to work under pressure. A range of skills including communication, plotting, data analysis, chemical and gas testing were scrutinised by the ever-present Space Centre Commanders.

A particularly memorable moment was when the Shuttle's Communication Officer reminded those back on Earth that they still needed the location of the CO2 sponges to avert a capsule failure. This was most definitely a day to remember, summed up best by Kaena Wasely (J6L) "Using a robot for the first time was simply amazing. I didn't think we'd do anything as important as checking for radiation...Wow!" 

After a safe return to Mission Control the triumphant teams joined together for a film within the centre's 3D planetarium, followed by a quick orbit of the gift shop prior to boarding the coach. Well done one and all!

Happily, our Earth was saved - you all should be very proud.   

View Gallery

PCSO Sarah-Louise Instructs J6 In Surfing Safety

Handy instruction came from a different kind of 'webmaster' on Monday 5 February as Kenilworth PCSO Sarah-Louise called in to 'school' Crackley's eldest in all things relating to web-safety.

A most thought-provoking presentation then followed, peppered with handy mnemonics and proverbs, the sum total of which amounted to much more than their parts. For example, PCSO Sarah-Louise recommended if you’re unsure what to do if someone wants to be your friend online then remember, "Don't know, don't go". Another ‘top tip’ our Crackley pupils learnt was to change your online passwords as often as your toothbrush!

Crackley parents are also advised to look out for a Digital Parenting magazine published by the Vodafone Foundation that will be brought home by your child soon. This valuable resource covers wide range of material and concerns including, digital resilience, fake news and screen time.

A big thank you to PCSO Sarah-Louise for her time.

View Gallery

Tennis Champs Reign Over Kenilworth's Courts

Pupils Henry Fox and Aryan Meha, from J4H and J4J respectively, are living proof that dedicated practice when coupled with skill and determination will take you far in life. These boys are never happier than with racket in hand, dispatching challengers from the other half of the court with power, poise and precision.

And how might we at the Chronicle know this? Well earlier this month Henry entered his local club tournament taking on all-comers in the U8/U9 age category. Success in every pool match resulted in a tense semi-final match, which saw young Mr Fox just edged out at the final reckoning. 

Several short steps across the landing between the boys' classes will take you to Aryan Mehta. This player of many talents remained unphased at the recent U9/U10 West Warwickshire County Tour to win every match and walk away with the tournament's gold medal.   

Well done boys, with formidable reputations such as these being formed we fully expect our Crackley 'aces' to be the ones to watch this season.

Students Skip For Mary's Meals, So Others Don't Miss Mealtimes

This Wednesday 7 February the entire school took it in turn to hop, skip or jump as fast as they could for one minute. Sponsorship forms in hand, wave after wave of eager participants bounded across the hall and outside to the delight of Mini Vinnies' Co-ordinator, Mrs Dolores Simmonds.

The underlying purpose of the St Vincent de Paul ethos (Mini Vinnies are the junior arm of the St Vincent de Paul organisation) is to make an active difference to underprivileged people’s lives. Our spectacular little jumping beans have done exactly that. With the money raised providing a nutritious meal in a safe place of education, hundreds of children will benefit from our healthy session of lunchtime fun.

Well done to all who took part and a big thank you to those who generously donated to our skipathon. We'll keep you updated as to the amount raised as it rolls in, so watch this space.

View Gallery

Auction Of Promises Hits The Heights

The auction of promises ended at the weekend and was once again very successful. We made nearly £2000, which is an amazing amount, so thank you very much to everyone who donated lots and who took part in the bidding.

A huge thank you goes to PTA member Julie Hutton who arranged both the Auction of Promises and last Saturday's Winter Ball. If you won any items at the auction and haven't yet collected your item then please contact Julie at ptafundraising@crackleyhall.co.uk  to arrange collection. 

Winter Ball Exeeds All Expectations

Thank you to everyone who came to our first (but definitely not the last!) Crackley Winter Ball at the wonderful Woodside Hotel, Kenilworth. It was a fantastic night with lovely food, entertainment and company and made a very healthy £1,100 for our lovely school. 

Thank you to everyone who supported us and to Kat and Steve Vaughan for the fantastic music.

 

Events

Events - Week Beginning Monday 12 February

 Monday 12 February   One World Week all week
   9.00am - 12.30pm J6 Visit to Sikh Temple
 Tuesday 13 February  8.30am - 12.00pm J4 visit to Buddhist Peace Pagoda
   9.00am - 12.45pm J5 visit to Birmingham Mosque
   6.00pm - 7.30pm Key Stage 2 Performing Arts evening
 Wednesday 14 February  11.00am - 12.15pm Ash Wednesday Mass
 Thursday 15 February  9.15am - 12.15pm J3 Visit to Synagogue
   2.15pm - 5.00pm U9 'A' & 'B' Boys Hockey v Crescent & Bilton Grange (A)
 Friday 16 February  8.40am - 9.30am Celebration Assembley
   All day Non Uniform Day
   Within school time PTA Disco

 

Save the Date - Crackely Hall Family Bingo

Saturday 3 March 2018, 1.00pm - 3.00pm

A firm favourite in the Crackley Hall calendar is the PTA Family Bingo event! Be sure to save the date for now and more details will follow shortly. 

 

Crackley Hall And Little Crackers Nursery Open Event

Saturday 10 March - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Crackley Hall and Little Crackers, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for a Spring Open Morning on Saturday 10 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm. 

This is a great chance to look around the school and nursery at the weekend and to chat to staff and pupils. Junior 5 and 6 pupils will act as tour guides and there will be music and sport activities on display. Light refreshments will be available.

Registrations are now being taken for Nursery, Reception and Year 3 for September 2018 admissions, limited places are available in other Years. The nursery is open 51 weeks a year and is carefully structured for two-year olds, three-year olds and pre-school.

All are welcome to look round the school, and to meet staff and pupils. No need to book.

Please email Mrs Jenny Vaughan, Admissions and Marketing Secretary at jennyvaughan@crackleyhall.co.uk or call her on 01926 514410 for more information on the Open Morning and admissions process.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk.

Awards and Celebrations

A photographic 'walk-through' the week's events.

Please click the image to scroll through a few of the images from this week's events. 

View Gallery

Spiritual

RE Book Of The Week

Aryan Mehta (J4J) has been awarded RE Book of the Week for his super work and continued excellence in his RE lessons. His focus is outstanding within lessons leading to written reflections of quality that are a joy to read.

 

Matilda Captivates All With One World Poem

Matilda Hobson (J4S) rose to the poetry challenge set by her teacher Mrs Jackson-Mayne and neatly encapsulated the premise and feeling surrounding 'One World'.

Such special work should be shared and enjoyed by all, a motivation that results in Matilda's poem to be included within the Chronicle for your reading pleasure. Please click here to view the poem. 

One World Week

Monday 12 to Friday 16 February

As we head into the last week of term, we are looking forward to our One World Week celebration that takes place next week. 

The week has been organised to help our children appreciate other religions and cultures. Pupils from each year group will have the opportunity to learn more about a faith, to help further their understanding of how people worship, why people may dress in a certain way or eat particular foods.

Please contact Mrs Jackson-Mayne by email sjacksonmayne@crackleyhall.co.uk if you would like to come and help during the week and talk to the children about the religion that you follow.

On Friday 16 February, all parents are invited to an extended assembly so that pupils can present highlights of their learning during the week.

 

Sport

Gymnasts of the Week

Kaena Wasely and Pippa Cowdry from J6L have been awarded the honor of Gymnast of the Week.

Girls' Netball vs Bablake (U9 and U8)

U9 'A' Netball vs Bablake 9 - 6 (win)

Player of the Match - Ajunee Gill

U9 'B' Netball vs Bablake 0 - 9 (loss)

Player of the Match - Emily Hutton

U8 'A' Netball vs Bablake (loss)

Player of the Match - Lilly Carroll

 

 

Girls' Hockey vs Crescent (U9 and U8)

U9 'A' Hockey vs Crecent 0 - 4 (loss)

Player of the Match - Rosie Moreton

U9 'B' Hockey vs Crescent 6 -1 (win)

Player of the Match - Matilda Hobson

U8 'A' Hockey vs Crescent 8 - 1 (win)

Player of the Match - Scarlet Hammond

 

U11 Boys' Hockey v Foremarke Hall

U11 'A' Hockey vs Foremarke Hall 0 - 1 (loss)

Player of the Match - Oliver Farquharson

Match report by Oliver Farquharson: A difficult first half led us all to believe that the score line might go hugely against us. However, in the second half we fought hard and only lost out to one late goal.

U11 'B' Hockey vs Foremarke Hall 5 - 0 (win)

Player of the Match - Sam James

Match report by Jethro Wilkinson: Our defence was superb on the day with many playing in new positions for the first time. Debutant goal keeper Sam James played amazingly to ensure we had the platform to mount attack after attack. Slick passing and great saves resulted in the huge win for us boys, well done 'B' Team! 

Clubs

Cancellations - Week Beginning 12 February

J4 Boys' Hockey is cancelled on Tuesday 13 February as staff will be attending fixtures.

Kat and Lottie's Half Term Multi-Sports Camp

Fans of all sports should head to Kat and Lottie's Multi-Sports Camp this half term.

The camp is being organised independently of school by Mrs Vaughan and Miss Jones.

The sports camp will be held at Crackley Hall on Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 February from 9.30am to 4.00pm each day.

The sports camp will cost £60 for three days or £25 per day.

Further details can be found by clicking this link, please register using this email.

Half Term Tennis Camp

Kenilworth Tennis Club are running a half term holiday club from Monday 19 February to Friday 23 February, 10.00am to 3.00pm.

If you would like more information please use this link.

Little Crackers

Nursery News

This week our story focus has been the book 'Ten in the Bed', a lovely version of the traditional nursery rhyme where the 'little one' encourages his toys to roll over and fall out of bed. We have enjoyed looking at the beautiful illustrations which show a little boy having a great time as he flings his toys around his room, and have joined in with some lovely voice sounds to add to the words, such as; slam, bang, bump and dink! 

Our three year olds enjoyed their own story time in our natural corner, and as we got comfy and cosy we decided that maybe a tent was a good idea. We played together with string and fabric until we could get it at the right height, then added ribbons and flowers to decorate it. This proved so popular that we shared it with everyone and kept it up all week. 

We continue to enjoy the outside safaris that take place each day, and even in this cold weather we have been finding plenty of 'beasts'! A highlight this week, after the many worms, was the tiny little mouse in the shed - poor Miss Emma, he did make her jump! 

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget; it's St. Valentines Day next week, so if you remember, let's wear red on Wednesday!

For further details of the 'fun and goings-on' with Nursery please click on the attached link.

 

View Gallery

PTA

Dancing Shoes ON - School Disco Date Released!

Friday 16 February 

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

Friday 16 February will be a non uniform day and children are asked to bring in a £1 to cover 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.

We hope the children will enjoy this end of half term treat. 

 

Housekeeping

House Point Competition

Another exciting week for our pupils and their house point competition! This week's standings are as follows:

1st: Venus 290 points

2nd: Jupiter 275 points

3rd: Mars 259 points

4th: Saturn 193 points

Lost Property

Lost

Benedek Kordas J6L has lost his named winter coat (size 32”).