The Courier

This years House Captains received their badges today.  They couldn't wait to wear them.

• St George: Kai and Charlotte 
• St David: Sachin and Grace 
• St Andrew: Rosina and James 

All 39 Crescent School pupils who took the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) examinations in the summer passed, and despite the challenges they all faced, an outstanding 34 were awarded the highest grade possible, a distinction.

Drama teacher Kim Thompson, explains, “It’s a super set of results. The children worked so hard for their exams coping with all the disruptions of the lockdowns while polishing and perfecting their performances. I really am very pleased.”

Children from Years 3 to 6 study for the LAMDA examinations in their Drama lessons in school taking the Solo Introductory Stage One, Solo Introductory Stage Two or Speaking Verse and Prose Grade 1 examinations. In the examination the children are judged on interpretation, technique and knowledge, they have to consider their diction, expression and movement.

Ms Thompson continues, “What’s brilliant about the LAMDA exams is that they equip the children with communication skills which will serve them throughout life. They not only promote an appreciation of literature and poetry, but also help unlock their imagination and creative-thinking.”

Crescent School congratulates all of the children, we are very proud of you.  These results are a reflection of your hard work both in and out of school – clearly all that rehearsing paid off.

Pictured are the children who achieved over 95/100 in their LAMDA examination.

This weekend many of 6W are taking the 11+, we wish them all the very best for it.

They are fully prepared for the assessment and for the upcoming independent school examinations during their time at Crescent, including mocks and focused lessons so children don't face the unknown on the day and feel fully prepared and supported.

We believe in them.

With just eight weeks to go, the countdown to Princethorpe's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2022 is well underway. This year the exams for Year 7 to 10 entry will take place on Saturday 6 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

The deadline for registrations is Friday 1 October. Year 6 parents wishing their children to sit the Princethorpe entrance exam must complete a registration form and submit it with the accompanying registration fee by this date.

More information on the admissions process can be found in Princethorpe's Admissions Update newsletter here or on the Foundation website here.

A copy of the registration form can be found here.

If you have any queries relating to admissions please speak to the Registrars at Princethorpe College, either by email at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or by calling 01926 634201/262/291.

One of the Year 6 duties is to become a buddy with the Reception class. This means helping them in lunch some days - this involves guiding them with their tray, cutting up their food, helping them settle, talking to them, showing them good manners; they also play with them once they are trained as Play Leaders and generally be helpful and welcoming.  On Monday 6W met their buddies, it was a special time, both were a little unsure but soon settled down to some bonding time playing with toys or reading a book.  Many children always remember their buddy and this good relationship continues when Year 6 leave and many still keep in touch even into adulthood.

I hope you have all enjoyed the summer break and the children are enjoying being back in school. There will have been a mix of excitement meeting up with school friends and seeing teachers again, probably with a little apprehensiveness thrown in, but I am sure the children will settle extremely well into their new classes.

However, we are fully aware that not all children find learning easy and if they do require extra support, this is implemented in various ways. Allowances can be made in class with extra support where needed, small group lessons take place within or outside the classroom setting and 1:1 lessons with myself can also be provided (in line with the other schools in the Foundation, there is a charge for this). If required, an (IEP) Individual Education Plan or an (IBP) Individual Behavioural Plan is put together with helpful strategies and realistic targets for the child to work towards and this is reviewed regularly.

This term, the Learning Support department has expanded with the help of Mrs Laura Collie who has a wealth of experience in supporting children’s needs and I will be liaising closely with her, co-ordinating her timetable for her to work closely with identified children and deliver any extra support we feel necessary.

We are very quick at identifying children who need support and we try to catch them before they begin to struggle. This may mean the class teacher refers a child to the Learning Support department as soon as they have concerns. Children who move up from Pre-Prep into Year 3 are routinely screened for Dyslexia, however, any child we have concerns about may be screened if we feel this is necessary at any time during their time with us.

Screening may also be required for other learning difficulties and any outcomes/concerns are discussed with parents. Please note that the screening programs we use are only indicators of a learning difficulty. If we feel a child may need outside professional help, recommendations of assessors/psychologists are given, however parents are asked to arrange this privately; it is not a service school offers.

I hope you find this information useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns you would like to discuss with me.

The new school council for this term were given their badges in Assembly this morning. They were voted for by their class mates.

They will all be meeting as a group on Monday.

Class 4M led an extremely successful Trinity Term of fundraising for Bwengu Projects Malawi. The children wanted to raise around £500 to fund a month of orphan food and to fix three broken rooves on a school in Nachipangapanga. What was actually raised through a sponsored silence, non-uniform day, various games, competitions and the Search for Sunshine was the Grand Total of £1185!

This means we can pay for the rooves, six months of orphan food and the extra money will go to fixing the rotten roof and truss of Isyalikila Junior School to make it safe again.

Thank you to anyone who contributed this year.

In the summer hoidays Maisie and I met up with Miss Wren when we were in Wales.  We enjoyed a coffee and cake and had a good catch up.  Miss Wren is really well and settled in her new house but misses everyone.

If anyone would like to send her a picture/letter/card please do bring it to the office and I will forward on.

Mrs Tucker

Saira had an exciting summer and the most exciting part was the opportunity to act in an international feature film!

Saira's Mum said "we met the director of the movie, who loved Saira’s enthusiasm and passion for acting, her audition went well and Saira was offered the part of the younger version of the main actress in the movie! Saira absolutely loved every moment of it, meeting the actors, the crew members, and having the experience to be on a real set!

We can’t disclose too much about the movie at this point but we can’t wait to see her on the big screen! From Rugby to Bollywood and hopefully Hollywood soon!" 

We will let you now more when we can!

Crescent School

Please remember that St Mark's Church have confirmed that parents can use their car park for drop off and collection from school.  It is a large car park and there is a short cut from Church Walk which brings you out onto Bawnmore Court beside the school.

A short walk and a breath of fresh air is excellent at helping children get ready for their morning's learning. 

Crescent School

To help families new to the school, and as a reminder for all, here are some top tips for navigating the school's e-newsletter, The Courier, on your mobile phone.

Each edition of The Courier has a general overview message followed by an index list of the news, events and other information, split into categories, with clickable title links.

• Click the title link of the article or event you are interested in.
• From here you can scroll through all the articles in this category.
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• Select ‘NEWSLETTER INDEX’, to return you to the main newsletter index listing all the categories and articles.
• To move between different editions of The Courier use the dark green button with three white lines towards the top right of the newsletter. Click on the button and choose which edition of The Courier you would like to read.

The Courier is one of the school's main communication tools and is always a good first place to look for information and news.

Bookmarking https://courier.crescentschool.co.uk/ will allow you to get to the newsletter quickly.