News

Crescent Pupils On Track Despite The Lockdowns

Recent independent assessments have confirmed that Crescent pupils are on track or exceeding expectations in the core subjects of English, Maths and Science. A result that has really pleased the school’s Head of Curriculum, Deputy Head, Bryony Forth.

Ms Forth, explains, “When you hear on the news of children needing to 'catch up' after the disruption of the lockdowns, as a teacher it makes your heart sink. Right from the very start of the pandemic, the Crescent was determined to continue providing a high standard of teaching and learning and the pupils were able to access their lessons through the learning platform, Seesaw. Over the past year our teachers have worked really hard to engage our pupils through stimulating home learning tasks and live lessons. Throughout this challenging period teachers and pupils have been hugely supported by our fantastic parents.”

Since being back in school pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 have taken GL Assessments and achieved great results. These independent formative assessments happen every year for the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science (for Year 3 to Year 6) and this year the overwhelming majority of pupils have scored at either the 'expected' standard for their year group, or 'exceeded' expectations.

• In Maths 100% of Year 1 to Year 6 pupils are meeting or exceeding expectations.
• In English 99.3% of Year 1 to Year 6 pupils are meeting or exceeding expectations.
• In Science 100% of Year 3 to Year 6 pupils are meeting or exceeding expectations.

Ms Forth, continued, “We are thrilled with the pupils’ achievements as they are. It’s a resounding endorsement of the school’s approach. The scores demonstrate just how well the classes have performed through the disruption of two lockdowns and the resilience the children have shown towards learning despite all the changes they have experienced.”

Crescent Pupils Enjoyed A Lesson In Democracy

As part of their Community Week, Crescent School’s Year 6 took part in a UK Parliament webinar.

The outreach session, facilitated by Rachel and Mirriam, who work in the Houses of Parliament’s education department, took the children on a tour of the two houses before explaining how ‘Bills’ are introduced and debated in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Rachel and Mirriam also explained how MPs are elected to the House of Commons and Life Peers chosen for the House of Lords. They taught the children the difference between the Government and Parliament and all about the expert scrutineering undertaken by the Lords.

The children then had the opportunity to suggest what they would like to be considered for new laws. Our young people took the request very seriously and had plenty of ideas, from fossil fuels to smoking, the homeless and animal abuse they had many constructive suggestions that impressed the Parliament Education team.

It was a very informative and interesting session, that the children all agreed they had really enjoyed.

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Goodbye To Miss Plenderleith

We said goodbye today to our wonderful art teacher Miss Plenderleith. All of the children have very much enjoyed her lessons over the last year and we wish her all the very best as she goes over to Princethorpe College due to the extra demands on her time there. 

Many thanks for everything you have done here at Crescent, Helen. 

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Talk About A Murder

Talk About A Murder debuted on Tuesday evening to great acclaim. Written, directed and filmed by Drama Teacher, Miss Thompson and featuring our very own 6W, the marvellous murder mystery was just superb.

The stars of the show turned up in dazzling dresses and suits for an evening in the limelight. Together with their parents they enjoyed a reception on the school field before the children watched the premiere of their fantastic film in the school hall.

A huge well done to everyone involved!

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Learning Mentor Partnerships- Final Review Meetings 

Last Friday saw the pupils' final meeting with their learning mentor for the academic year. Children proved that they had been working to achieve their targets through showing work in their books, sharing how their learning had been this year and how they have been working on their personal targets that they chose back in September. Please ask them how their review went as they will be rewarded with new stickers to show the targets they have achieved. 

We have been delighted with how this initiative has gone this year despite the lockdowns delaying meetings; it has given responsibility for their learning to our children from Year 1 to Year 6. Pupils were curious to know if staff would still be mentors next year. We will definitely be setting new targets come the Michaelmas Term and consolidate the system throughout the year. This really is a powerful way for children to realise where they are at in their attainment and how they can improve by taking personal 'next steps'.

Ms Forth
Deputy Head 
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Uniform For Next Term

If you would like uniform before the end of term please place orders by Sunday 4 July 2021. If labels are kept on the uniform they can be exchanged for a different size.  After this date they will be delivered to school for collection, on Friday 1 September. 

Year 3 - 6 - there is a new Games top which is to be worn for Games afternoons and fixtures (see picture). 

Please note trainers are to be worn by all years now, no plimsols for Pre-Prep.  Mrs McCollin requests that the trainer is a sports trainer not a fashion trainer, it can be any colour but minimal logos. 

An email was sent this mornig with the link to the order form and supporting documents.

Crescent School

Amy Does The Double And Is Selected For Warwickshire U13 Hockey Squad

After trialling firstly at Warwickshire Hockey Development Centre, followed by Warwickshire Academy Centre training during May and June, Amy, who is only 11-years-old, was thrilled to be selected for the Warwickshire U13 hockey squad.

She has already played matches against Staffordshire, and played Derbyshire on the weekend, scoring her first goal for the county!

Amy, who was also selected for the Warwickshire U11 cricket squad and has played several county cricket fixtures so far, will have a very busy Summer!!

Well done Amy.

Crescent School

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Alyssa's National Children's Orchestra Appearance

For the last few months, Alyssa has been taking part in the National Children’s Orchestra online music workshops. Alyssa joined up with the orchestra receiving trumpet tuition and coaching.

All the children have been working on a new music piece called ‘On the Move’. The video has been released today and Alyssa is on there playing the trumpet.

Here is the link to the video here:

National Children's Orchestra

Mrs Barnes
Director of Music

Drew Hits Six Million Words!

Crescent Year 5 pupil, Drew Ovens Gibbs, has read over six million words this academic year. He tops the leader board in the school’s annual reading challenge having devoured an incredible 193 books.

Ten-year-old Drew is modest about his amazing achievement saying, “I just enjoy reading and I read lots of different books.”

Assistant Head, Sarah Webb, who leads on literacy at the Crescent School, explains, “There are so many good books out there for children to read and we have a very positive reading culture in school.”

The Crescent’s approach to literacy is supported by Renaissance’s Accelerated Reader system. Children take a quiz after reading each book that tests their understanding. Its approach promotes reading for pleasure whilst ensuring the children read appropriately challenging books.

Sarah, continues, “Pupils from Year 3 onwards take part in the reading challenge and can quiz daily on the computers before school. We find our pupils respond really well to the competitive nature of the challenge. This academic year we have had 31 pupils read more than a million words but Drew is our top reader this year at six million words.”

It’s an inspiring achievement – congratulations to Drew!

Reception - Year 4 End Of Year Reports

Parents of Reception to Year 4 Pupils will be receiving their end of year reports today. They will be available on My School Portal from approximately 4pm. Enjoy reading about the achievements of your children, staff have ensured that these reports are a thorough and an accurate reflection of the second part of the year, including some of the lockdown and home learning period.

Ms Forth
Deputy Head

Year 6 Sign Their School Shirts

An excited Year 6 marked the end of their time at Crescent School with the traditonal signing of each other's school shirts. Well organsied by Mrs Webb, they had clean shirts and coloured Sharpies to hand and they very much enjoyed writing good luck messages to each other.

We know that the shirts will always be a tangible memory of their time at Crescent School and of their fellow pupils. It was a lovely activity that they all really enjoyed, a huge well done to them all!

Zahra's Musical Assembly Performance

Well done to Zahra Nadeem who played beautifully in assembly this morning on her violin. Zahra was playing a piece that she had practised for her ABRSM Grade 3 exam, for which she received a distinction.

Listening to her this morning, I am quite sure it was fully deserved. 

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Work Progresses On Horton Centre

Work continues apace on the Horton Centre with the children keeping an eye on all the changes through the windows in the corridors!  This week the brickwork has progressed rapidly.

We wiil be keeping you abreast of progress by sharing photos in the Courier each week.

Crescent School

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Bwengu Projects Malawi - Fundraising 2021

Class 4M have chosen to fix the rotten rooves of three classrooms of a junior school in Bwengu at a cost of £385. Any further money raised for this charity close to our hearts will go towards the orphan feeding programme which cost £100 per month.

If you would like to get involved, there are plenty of ways you can. Charlie, Poppy and Ava in 4M have created competition sheets to guess the answers on - return the sheet with £1 to enter.

Esme has a bear that needs a name, again put your name and what you would call the bear on a slip of paper and return it to your form tutor with £1.  Class 4M have completed a Sponsored Silence and of course, fabulous prizes are available for all competitions.

Any game cards for 'Search for Sunshine' that need paying for, should be brought in by the end of term please.

On the very last day of term Tuesday 6 July, we will run virtual Bwengu Bingo! £1 buys 3 game cards. 

This is our 14th year supporting the charity, we really have made a difference to people's lives.

Thanks for all your support.

Ms Forth
Deputy Head

Radio 2 Big Bee challenge

If you like a challenge and are interested in Bees, then this may be a great competition for you. Please follow the link for further details and let me know how you do.

Big Bee Challenge

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head