The Courier

Dear Parents

Preparations for the last week of term are well under way here. The Year 2 children have been practising hard for their performance to parents next week and their dress rehearsal was much enjoyed by the rest of the school this morning. Parents are in for a treat, I am sure.

On the drama front, we have just completed a series of LAMDA exams, which culminated on Monday this week. They were spread over three days rather than two, which I do not recall happening before, and reflects the level of interest and confidence that our children have in performing in front of others. This is such a key life skill to have but something many people find really hard, right into adulthood. In a course I attended on Tuesday, I was reminded of this when public speaking was listed as the third most feared thing in life for most people, coming in ahead of death, which was only fourth. Failure and rejection topped the not-very-jolly list, if you are interested.

Congratulations go to the children who took part in these exams, and also to Mrs Bowdige, our wonderful new Drama teacher, who has made such a positive impression on us all during her first two terms at Crescent.

On the theme of live performances, next week is also the time for our Easter Service, which is on Friday afternoon, as well as the Spring Concert next Monday. I know that plenty of parents will be coming along to the school for one or other of these events and I very much look forward to welcoming you.

School spilled over into the weekend last Saturday with our successful open morning. The children who came along to help were a real credit to us and received many favourable comments from visitors. On a similar Saturday theme, we wish best of luck to our Year 6 girls taking part in the Repton tournament on Saturday as well as all of those children heading over to the Diamond Jubilee swimming centre for the Rugby Schools Gala. Once again, many thanks to those teachers who give up extra time at their weekends to make these events possible and provide such wonderful opportunities for the children.

During the recent cold weather, my son James continued with his Royal Navy training with some camping on the wilds of Dartmoor whilst completing leadership tasks, sleep deprived, cold and wet. We were very pleased to hear that he came back safe and sound and that he has passed and is able to move on to the next stage.

I was also pleased that we were able to remain open for those snowy days last week. I realise how important this is for so many of our families with working parents. I also appreciate the many positive comments that I received as a result. As I said to the teachers, it isn't always the right decision to remain open in adverse weather, but on this occasion we made the right call.

I hope you have a restful weekend. 

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Thank you to all that were involved on Saturday. It is so nice for our visitors to see how polite, hardworking and talented our children are.

Co-Curricular has now come to an end for this term. It has been very well supported and it is great to see the range on offer every day for the children. Most children do three clubs a week and over 95% of the children in the school partake in at least one club.

Please make sure you have signed up for the clubs for next term. This needs to be done by Sunday 19 March.

Thank you to all who took part in the survey, I will feedback on this early next term but I am already recognising areas that we can improve in the future.

Summer uniform is to be worn after the Easter break. Children often grow quickly so it's good to regularly check and replace any damaged, missing or ill-fitting items.  

Girls 

• Grey blazer 
• Green and white striped dress (should be on or below the knee)
• Green school jumper
• White knee length socks
• Green school sun hat/cap

Boys 

• Grey blazer 
• White short-sleeved shirt with collar and tie
• Green school jumper
• Grey short trousers or long grey trousers
• Grey knee length socks
• Green school sun hat/cap

Blazers should be worn to and from school. Children normally remove them once they are in the playground in the morning. On the days children wear PE kit to school they should have their Crescent tracksuit top on. Children are able to wear the blazer with their cricket whites if they wish to.

We would ask you to check:

• Uniform is labelled with the child's name not initials. 
• Your child is wearing their own uniform as coats/jumpers/cardigans/blazers etc sometimes get mixed up
• Dress/skirt length should be on or below the knee
• Children have the correct PE kit for their year 
• Shoes are black school shoes
• Hair should be tied back

A list of items stocked in school can be found under Housekeeping.

Uniform Order Form

Summer Dress Order Form

Cricket Kit Order Form

Crescent School

We are holding our next exciting House Competition - Design an Easter Garden.                

Please design, plant and create an Easter Garden. Please use a seed tray or something of a similar size. Choose your own Easter theme and work on your own or with your sibling/s.

Prizes

• 1st prize - 150  house points and an Easter egg
• 2nd prize - 100 house points and an Easter egg
• 3rd prize - 50  house points and an Easter egg

All entries will be awarded 5 house points.

• Yellow House - Mrs Johnson    jacquijohnson@crescentschool.co.uk
• Red House  - Ms Forth            bryonyforth@crescentschool.co.uk
• Blue House  - MrsPullen          clairepullen@crescentschool.co.uk

We look forward to receiving photos of your amazing gardens!

Thank you

Co-Curricular clubs have finished for the term except for Wake Up Shake Up on Friday morning.  

Please click below to view the lunch menu for next school week, children are able to have either the Main or Vegetarian option. 

Lunch Menu - 20 March 2023 

Crescent School

Please can children remember to bring their instruments in on Monday for the Spring Concert.

Below is a link to view the Lent Term Calendar.  Please note the following changes:

Click on the link below to view the Music Lesson timetable next week:

Music Lessons - 20 March 2023 

Lessons may not be able to be rearranged if children do not have their instruments in school.

Year 2 had their final dress rehearsal for their Lent Term production, Animal Rumble Grumble, in front of the whole school this morning and it was amazing. Their colourful and atmospheric performance taking inspiration from a traditional Kenyan folktale.

The monkeys, lions, elephants, zebras and giraffes are fearful of a strange distant rumbling. “Something terrible is coming this way! It will destroy us and take over our plains.” The animals seek the advice of Ghubari, a wise old man but his cryptic words confuse them, so the animals find the courage to seek out and confront the terrible danger.

The energy and enthusiasm of our Year 2 performers was infectious, and the watching audience were mesmerised. Words were bravely spoken and songs belted out with gusto by the cast. Parents get ready to applaud and be prepared to be amazed you are going to enjoy a truly wonderful rumble grumble!

Here are just a few photo, more will be shared next week.

Next week is neurodiversity celebration week and the perfect opportunity to share with you some of our new library books. These books feature characters with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other neurodiversities. The fantastic stories are a benefit to all of us; the comfort of being able to identify with characters with similar life experiences or by allowing us to understand the experiences of others and aid our celebration of the diversity of our communities.

As with all books, they are a great conversation starter and I look forward to sharing them with the children. 

Leicester Tigers are coming to Princethorpe College between Tuesday 11 and Friday 14 April. This is a great opportunity for all pupils, boys and girls, to get some great coaching from the current Premiership Champions. Please see the attached poster for more information.

Do you have any old/no longer used kitchen utensils, bowls, sieves, baking trays and washing up bowls suitable for our Forest School Mud Kitchen?

If so please can they be left in the box outside the front door of school.

Thank you 

Monday 20 March 2023 - 2.45pm to 3.30pm

We will be presenting our annual Spring Concert on Monday 20 March. Children involved are those in Choir, Orchestra, Flute Group, Brass Group, Wacky Music, and all of Classes 3 and 4.  

Please enter via the front entrance from 2.30pm where refreshments will be served prior to the service.  

We will start promptly at 2.45pm and finish by 3.30pm so children can be collected at normal dismissal time. The concert will be filmed for those who are unable to attend.

We look forward to you hearing the results of this term’s music hard work and effort! 

Wednesday 22 March 2023 - 9.15am

We are super proud of how the children are progressing in our rehearsals for Animal Rumble Grumble. We had a great dress rehearsal but do continue to practise over the weekend. 

Please enter via the main school entrance where refreshments will be served from 8.45am.  

The dress rehearsal has been filmed and the link will be shared to parents after the production.

With thanks for your support as always.

We continue our fundraising for Bwengu Projects Malawi this year. 4C are leading and have chosen to renovate Class 4 and the Headteacher's office in Namtubi Primary school.

On Thursday 23 March there will be games on the gate weather permitting (hall if not).

4C will be running - Beat the Goalie, Throw the Tea bag, Guess the Footballer, Name the Bear, Guess the Sweets in the Jar, Guess the Member of Staff Quiz, Who's the Baby? Logos, Name the Dog Breed, Pin the Teeth on the Baboon and many more!

During the day there will be a treasure hunt too.

Nora has organised a colouring competition, forms should have come home if children wanted one. Judging for those will also be on that Thursday - one winner in Pre Prep and one in Upper School. Pupils need to bring money to spend and donate depending on what games they want to play.

The Treasure hunt will need a separate £1, but the rest of the games will be 50p or £1 each. Plenty of chocolatey prizes on offer!

Join in the fun from 8.15am

Friday 24 March 2023

Our Easter Service will be held in the School Hall on Friday 24 March, including a telling of the Easter story by the Choir and Class 5F. We do hope you will join us for the most important festival in the Christian year.

Please enter via the front entrance from 2.30pm where refreshments will be served prior to the service. We will start promptly at 2.45pm and finish by 3.30pm so children can be collected at normal dismissal time. 

There will be a retiring collection in aid of Bwengu Projects Malawi.

This week has been a busy week for awarding children their full Junior da Vinci status.

• Isabella and Kiran in 3S achieve theirs in English 
• Aria in 3S becomes a double student in English
• Hannah and Oore in 1Q become JDV students in Science & DT
• Bella, Harry, Charlie and Zahra in 6W in Science & DT
• Shayla, Alice, Alex G and Timi from 5F also become full students in English

Congratulations to you all.

Mrs Symons
JdV Lead

This week's word millionaire award goes to Nora.  

Excellent Reading.

This week's Accelerated Reader Superstars are:

Top Quizzers are:

• 3S Theo M
• 4C Matthew
• 5F Shayla
• 6W Charlie

Word Wizards are:

• 3S Isabella
• 4C Alex W
• 5F Timi 
• 6W Grace C

Mrs Nelson
Teaching Assistant

Well done to this week's Artists and Scientists of the Week:

Artists

• Kiran (3S)
• Nimeeta (3S)
• Mithun (3S)
• Taran (3S)
• Annalise (6W)
• Esme (6W)
• Finlay (6W)

• Hermione (2E)
• Max (2W)
• Aria (3S)
• Aryaan (4C)
• Shiv (5F)
• Harry (6W)

Well done all.

Crescent School

This half term's chess tournament sees a new champion. After a round robin final between Alex G 5F, Alex T 5F and Thomas 3S, Alex T was victorious in winning the much coveted trophy. Next term will see new members and a new tournament with pupils from Years 3-6 playing against each other.

Well done, Alex!

Pre-Prep reading certificates have this week been awarded to:

• Austin
• Ava
• Beau
• Elliott
• Gwen
• Ire
• Nishaan
• Penelope
• Ruby
• Sophie

Garage and Gigs are the most important games to show your progress.

Pupils who have reached landmark % on automatic training mode in the Garage and Gigs and therefore are awarded JDVs for Maths Practice:

• Eve 2W completed 24 % of the course
• Felicity 2W completed 72 % of the course
• Ella 3S completed 48% of the course

Last week most improved speedsters in the studio are:

1Q

• Juliette - Wannabe!

2W

• Oliver - Busker!
• Eve - Unsigned Act!

3S

• Gloria - Headliner!
• Esme- Headliner!

Results for Battle 9 -16 March 2023. Y3 - Y6 against each other:

• 1st 3S 348 
• 2nd 4C 152
• 3rd 5F 30

Most valuable players in the whole competition:

• 1st Kian 3S
• 2nd Matthew 4C
• 3rd Alfie 3S

Well done, 3S!

Next week's battle is 2E 2W 5F 6W.

Class 3S have been working hard to develop their knowledge of colour mixing and have created some lovely self-portraits inspired by Vincent Van Gogh. They have carefully observed their facial features and have used different tools to apply the paint.

They will finish these off after half term and will be featured in the Courier.

In PSHE, Year 4 have been reflecting on friendships and exploring how to react and respond when feeling embarrassed or hurt by a friend's actions. We acted out scenarios that the children developed themselves, and had some fun doing so!

On Wednesday, 4C completed 40 minutes of silence in aid of Bwengu Projects Malawi. Many found this a breeze, but some as you can imagine, really quite difficult! If you are sponsoring a 4C child, please get donations to us by the end of April after the Easter holidays.

Many thanks if you haver already donated.

We have had a great term, using games and learning techniques to improve our memories. we have used mnemonics, created poems, played pairs, had challenges and made lots of thinking faces. This is definitely a club I will run again, the children all said how much they enjoyed it.

Class 5F are studying the poet Laureat Joseph Coelho. As part of the grammar, we are developing our expanded noun phrase and relative clauses-learning how to be more descriptive. This is done through use of the thesaurus and reflecting on their feelings about an everyday place or object. The final outcome has been a poem. The poems showed depth of understanding and great use of language.

At Open Morning Year 6 have the role of tour guides. They are coached on how to do this by Mr Webb and myself. On the morning Year 6 work in pairs to take our prospective visitors around the school. They are so proud of our school and explain all aspects in great detail. We had many compliments on what a thorough job they did.

Crescent U9 football squad represented their school superbly at the ISA Football, digging deep and playing well against some very strong teams. They finished their initial group stage with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, putting them 3rd out of 8 in the group. The team then really found their groove in the play-offs, thrashing very strong Edenhurst and Birchfield teams, and only losing by the narrowest of margins to Ruckleigh. This meant a final position of 6th out of 16 teams, something the whole squad should be extremely proud of. The goals were shared well amongst the team, with 3 a-piece from Henry, Matthew, Roisin, Zac and Akaal, all of which also shared our player of the tournament.

The U9 Netball team travelled to Stafford Grammar to play in the ISA Midlands Tournament yesterday. It was the team’s first outing and an opportunity for them all to get some on court tournament experience.

A mixture of nerves and excitement led to an unsettled start to each game, however once on court and into their rhythm the girls began to settle and move and pass the ball well. All the players worked hard to put in to practice skills learnt in their training sessions.

It was disappointing for them all to come away without a single win and not reflective of the second half of their games, as the girls showed grit and determination and building understanding of the rules and tactics as the games progressed. 

Onwards and upwards girls, you worked hard and never gave up, demonstrating our School Promise values, and you should be proud of yourselves.

Save the Date.  This year's FoC Summer Fete will take place on Saturday 10  June between 12pm and 2.30pm.  More details to follow.

Save the date! 

FoC's first family Bingo will take place next term, more details to follow in next week's Courier.

Our lovely Treasurer, Donna, will be leaving us in July as her daughter is in Year 6 so we're looking for someone to take on the role of Treasurer within Friends of Crescent. We have lots of new systems in place so it shouldn't be too arduous! 

In the role you would need to:

• Reconcile incomings and outgoings against the bank statements, specifically those from Stripe (which we use for event tickets); BACS payments and cash for second hand uniform; and iZettle (which we use for on-the-day payments at bake sales and events)

• Prepare Treasurer's financial report for each meeting and the AGM

• Organise cash floats for bake sales and events and deposit received funds into the bank account

• Be happy to engage with the FoC team!

If you are interested please email foc@crescentschool.co.uk or message me through Classlist. 

Please see below for useful school contact information:

• My School Portal: MSP Login
• SOCS: SOCS Login

The Foundation has the following vacancies:

Princethorpe College

• Head of Computer Science

Crescent School

• Sports Coach

Full details and information on how to apply are available on the Foundation website here:

www.princethorpe.co.uk/join-us

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

The following items are stocked in the School Office and can be added to your account:

• Winter hats
• Scarves
• Gloves
• Ties
• Swimming hats
• Sports socks
• Hair bands
• Hair scrunchies
• Hair clips
• Sun hats
• Music group badges - Choir, Orchestra, String, Brass and Wind

Please do contact admin@crescentschool.co.uk in if you need any of the above items.

Crescent School Office