The Courier

Dear Parents

All this week at the side entrance door I have been kept company on my morning duty by teams of excited Year 4 pupils raising money for the Bwengu project.  This is something that I am learning about for the first time and it is great to see the children so engaged in raising money for such a worthwhile cause.

 

Having spent a month in east Africa as a young man it is a part of the world I have a real affection for and I will always remember the welcome I received from the local people.  At that time it was common to meet children in that part of the world who would ask you for a pen as without this simple artefact they were unable to attend their local school.  I remember visiting one of the local schools that had neither books nor a roof but did have lots of very enthusiastic children who I remember singing an impromptu song to me and the group I was with.

 

Mel and Sue Melia, the Rugby couple behind the Bwengu project, will be visiting us for an assembly next term.  I will be very interested to hear about all the work that is happening.  In the meantime, please support our fundraising efforts in the normal way as and when you can.

Another ‘first’ for all of us this week was the combined orchestra day between Crescent and Crackley Hall. It was wonderful to see the massed ranks of the two schools joined together in the final performance and truly impressive to hear such quality in the performances.  It is never easy to bring a junior age orchestra together and to see Mrs Barnes in action on the day was a fine sight.  I know the children responded well to her coaching and we all enjoyed an excellent concert in the school hall.

 

There is a large majority of the children here in the Upper School who are learning an instrument and many play to a very good standard indeed.  This is not something I did as a child and I can only sit back and admire the skill and hard work that goes into performances such as these.

It was lovely to see so many of you for the parents’ evenings on Wednesday and Thursday.  It is a great opportunity for the staff to share their feedback with you and it was pleasing to hear so much positive feedback from you in return.  I never tire of saying that the key to successful education is a partnership between home and school and when we can support each other and work together for the common good of the children, the sky is the limit. The staff put a great deal of thought and preparation into these evenings and I know you are appreciative of the hard work they put in for your children.

I know we have some children going off to watch the Wasps netball this weekend at the Ricoh arena, I hope it’s an exciting match for you.  Foolishly, I made the trip to Villa Park with my son earlier this week expecting an easy victory for the claret-and-blues only to be horribly disappointed; so if you are off to the netball try to enjoy the action, whatever the outcome.

Have a good weekend.