Welcome to The Courier, Crescent School's electronic newsletter.

Another bumper packed edition, showing all the wonderful Home Learning work children have been doing. 

Please do keep sending in the pictures and articles - we love reading them.  

Click here to email the Courier.

Preview

Headmaster's Message

Headmaster's Message

Dear Parents

Warm greetings to all and I hope you have enjoyed a week of much more typically April weather. There has been a return to proper old-fashioned sunshine and showers in the last few days after a couple of balmy weeks of sunshine. In fact, as I write, there is a hailstorm clattering on my living room window at a very impressive rate!

After a second week with the new learning platforms in place, I do hope your home lives are starting to get into some sort of a rhythm. I know that teachers are working hard to deliver the highest quality lessons that they can and many of you have sent in very encouraging messages saying exactly that, which are most appreciated.

On that theme I have written a reasonably detailed response to the survey that was sent out last Friday. I'm conscious of not making this overly long but I do hope it gives you the strong sense that we are listening and looking closely, not only at your views, but also reflecting on our own experience. I must say, I have seen some excellent lessons delivered this week across all of the year groups. I was particularly pleased at today’s staff meeting to hear that all children, right across the school, are handing in work regularly and keeping up with their studies in a very impressive manner. I must say many congratulations to them for their adaptability. In matters such as these, when there is rapid change, it is often the children who show us the way.

Next week we will take a break with the rest of the nation for the Bank Holiday VE Day celebrations on Friday. You will hear elsewhere in the Courier of our plans for a History Day on Thursday to recognise the importance of this momentous occasion. The theme will be looking at life on the home front, with a particular accent on the celebrations 70 years ago. There are some interesting parallels between life on the home front all those years ago and the current crisis that I think will give us, and the children, an added insight into what it must have been like to live at a time of war, with uncertainty and disruption all around.  I hope the children will enjoy the day and we look forward to seeing their contributions and sharing them with you.

In the meantime, I wish you all a restful weekend time with your families.

Enjoy your weekends everybody.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

News

Junior Da Vinci's

We are very proud of children's work at Crescent School and one of the ways we reward this is through our Junior da Vincis.

During this time of home-learning, we have seriously considered how this can fairly work for the children and the teachers. We feel that House Points can work for Home Learning but it is not so easy for the Junior da Vincis and so they will not be awarded until we are fully back at school.

We are aware that some children may feel they will miss out on becoming Junior da Vinci students this year, so with this in mind we are going to carry all awarded Junior da Vincis into next year.

The children can keep earning House Points though and some of the bigger projects can be awarded larger amounts of House Points, this could really boost the totals for the House Cup.

Take a look at the article for the House Challenge as well in the Courier.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Mrs Webb's Philosophy Tips

For a bit of light relief take a look at some of the challenges on the Philosophy Man page, these are good conversations to have over the dinner table.

https://www.thephilosophyman.com/brainsqueezers

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

 

First News

We receive First News in school every week for the children to peruse. Due to this being unable to be delivered they are sharing the newspaper as a PDF.

Please enjoy this paper with your children, there are some great stories.

24-30 April 2020

 
Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Bayleaf Cookery - Chocolate Brownies

We've just uploaded our latest cook-along video to Youtube and this time it's 'Best Ever Chocolate Brownies' (they really are supremely good!).

This and all the other videos are available in the same place as usual, accessible via this link:

Bayleaf Cookery Videos

We’re also doing short daily cookery themed challenges and other bits and pieces on our Facebook page:

Bayleaf Cookery School

We hope you enjoy!

Bayleaf Cookery School

Events

Whole School History Day

Thursday 7 May 2020

Next Thursday 7 May will be our whole school history day in celebration of 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day which is on Bank Holiday Friday 8 May.

This event was part of our pre-Covid plan for the term and we wanted to keep to the original idea as much as we could.

All of the children’s lessons for the day will be posted on Seesaw in the normal way and based on the VE Day theme, with plenty of opportunities for creativity, fun and reflection on a momentous day in our history. 

Mrs Yates
Head of History

House Challenge Afternoon

On the afternoon on Friday 22 May we are having a House Challenge event where Children will have the opportunity to win points for their houses.

All the details will be released nearer the time but just to give you a heads up we are going set children an Eco Challenge.

This will involve items from around the house, from the shed, in the garage, in the garden to up-cycle into something new....so get your thinking caps on!

There will be lots of suggestions for those of you are who can not quite get the creative ideas going.

The timetable will run as normal in the morning. More details to follow.

Mrs Emery, Mrs Pullen and Mrs McCollin
Heads of House Teachers
 

Awards

Accelerated Reader Achievements

Daniel has made it to reading:

7 Million words

This is an phenomenal achievement. He has read 89 books this academic year, I think it would take me years to read this many books!

Matthew has read 45 book and has reached:

4 million words

Some children read this amount of books in a year!

Absolutely amazing work by two boys in Class 6W.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head
View Gallery

Virtual Accelerated Reading Board

It great to see so many of you accessing reading from home.  We work out these totals over each week working from Monday to Monday, so there is still time for next week.

Word Wizards of the week:

  • Asha 
  • Arrwinn 
  • Daniel 
  • Drew 
  • Liana 
  • Matthew 
  • Zara 

The children who have read the most books this week are:

  • Daniel 
  • George B
  • Holly 
  • Marco 
  • Milly 

Keep up the excellent reading work.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Accelerated Reader Certificates

The following children have been awarded (virtually) certificates for Accelerated Reader this week:

3S 4M 5F 6W

Annalise 

Bella

Chloe x 2

Grace C

Esme

Mya

Yash x 2

Zahra

Zara x 2

 

 

 

 

Abigail

Caspar

Dorritt

Drew

Eva x2 

Freya

Grace S x 2

Rory

Stephanie

 

 

 

 

Caitlyn

Eden

Emme

Hany

Jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel

Matthew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well done to you all.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Times Table Rockstars

Weekly battle 23 April - 30 April results:

Boys Girls
5,718 points 3,776 points


Boys are the winners!

Special mention to Aryan in 4M and Sahana 5F for contributing the most points to their teams. 

In the Year 6 battle:

Class 6W Class 6Y
778 point  1,521 points

 

Class 6Y won the battle!

Each class can have the speediest TT Rock Star and that gets you up the status board on the poster below. To get on this board you have to tackle the single player games - Garage, Studio & Soundcheck, multi-player do not count for these. These also earn more coins than the multiplayer games too.

In the last weeks, most improved speedsters in each class are:

  • 1E - No one on the board yet
  • 2W- No one on the board this week
  • 3S - Harry -Headliner!
  • 4M - Faris - Headliner!
  • 5F - Sahana - Support Act!
  • 6W- no one on the board this week!
  • 6Y - Rania - Gigger!

I have also set up a 'Battle' Thursday 30 April- 6 May, 'Girls Vs Boys' for the whole school. 

There is also Class 4M V 5F battle too.

Battles add up any points at all as you play! I will let you know who wins next Courier.

Stay Calm and Keep Rocking!

Art Frizzmeister aka Ms Forth
Deputy Head

Wellbeing

Pastoral Message From Mr Webb

Dear Parents and Children

We are many weeks into lockdown now and we're all having times of negativity worry and anxiety mixed in with stories of hope and family moments of happiness.

Many children will be dipping in and out of a mixture of feelings in a range of contexts and situations.  I found a really useful guide to this earlier in the week which I'll happily share here - much of it replicates language used in school

  • Talk to your child about what is going on. You could start by asking them what they currently know/think about coronavirus and lockdown issues. 
  • Try to answer their questions and reassure them. You do not need to know all the answers, but talking and openness can help them feel calm. 
  • Explain to your child that it is natural to worry sometimes and everyone does it. This feeling, like all feelings, will come and go. 
  • Don’t try to shield your child from all news, it’s likely they will find out somehow from other sources. 
  • Reassure your child that it is unlikely they will get seriously ill, and if they do feel ill you will look after them. Your child might be concerned about who will look after you if you catch the virus. Let them know the kind of support you have as an adult so that they don’t feel they need to worry about you. 
  • Keep going with the practical tips to your child about how they can look after themselves. For example insisting on washing their hands properly, and remind them when they should be doing it. 
  • Children thrive on regular routines, it makes them feel safe and that things are stable. We've worked really hard alongside you as parents to create this as much as is possible.
  • Spend time away from school work, perhaps at weekends or future holiday times if going away remains difficult, doing a fun activity with your child. Some good ideas here https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/.  This is also a great way of providing a space for them to talk through their concerns, without having a ‘big chat’. 
  • Encourage your child to think about other things that make themselves feel safer and less worried. Help them find things that distract or relax them. 
  • Be aware that your child may want more close contact with you at this time and feel anxious about separation. This may be normal behaviour for many as we begin to return to more normal routines.
  • Remember to look after yourself too.

We're putting into place additional pastoral access for all children from next week - please do encourage them to use it if you think it could help. None of us have all of the answers but working together and supporting each other can only help.

With best wishes as always,

Mr Webb
Crescent Safeguarding Lead
Head of Pastoral Care

CLANG Of The Week

Listening to Mr Thackway’s assembly this morning has highlighted to me how grateful I have been for the sunny skies and warmth of the sun whilst we have been staying at home and staying safe. This week was a bit of a shock when those April showers came and the coolness has prompted many of us to put the heating back on!  But the desire to stay in and snuggle down with a good book is just as replenishing as a walk around the block and a chance to rest and watch a movie with my family.

Hope you’ve been able to be mindful of looking after your emotional and mental wellbeing as well as your physical health this week by keeping the 5 Ways to Wellbeing in mind.

Here’s my CLANG of the week:

CONNECT
It’s been lovely to connect with my class in small groups on Teams and with my colleagues every breaktime for a cuppa and a chat

LEARN
I’ve learnt how to upcycle furniture with chalk paint and wax

ACTIVE
I enjoyed my Pilates sessions out in the garden last weekend (keeping hidden from the neighbours!)

NOTICE
I’m still keeping social distancing rules when driving; making sure I’m not too close, which I find weird!

GIVE
I’ve been given a couple of grow-bags so I’m going to try and grow some vegetables – watch this space.  I’ve never tried before... 

#stayhomestaysafe
 
 
Mrs Stapleton
Head of Wellbeing

School Promise

Crescent Spotted

We have had lots of lovely stories this week of children being Good Citizens. Do read the lovely kindess in the articles in this School Promise section. 

Good Citizen is of course a significant strand of the Crescent school promise so please do send to me, by email (awebb@crescentschool.co.uk), any examples of your children going above and beyond in this aspect during this lockdown period, so that we can have a section celebrating this in the Courier each Friday.

Best wishes

Mr Webb
Head of Pastoral Care

Good Citizen - Charlie

Charlie has sent in a paragraph to show what he is doing to be a Good Citizen:

"When I go for a walk I make sure I move out of people's way and I always say Good Morning/Afternoon in case they are lonely.

We have put Rainbows in our windows and I have put my hedgehog craft in the front garden so people can see them on their walks to make it more interesting for them".

Well done Charlie, we are sure this brightens people's day.

Mr Webb
Assistant Head

Good Citizens - Harry and Emily

Harry and Emily have made a variety of posters for Key Workers to say  thank you.  They have displayed them in their front window.

Mr Webb
Assistant Head

Good Citizen - Grace S

Grace has been busy writing a letter to send to a resident at a local care home who is feeling particularly lonely during shielding. We don’t know who the recipient will be at the moment, but hopefully it will cheer someone up during these strange and difficult times.

Well done Grace!

Mr Webb
Assistant Head
View Gallery

Good Citizen - Maisie

Maisie has been reading to her Grandparents over Facetime each day.  This is brightening their days as they are having to self isolate and also helps Maisie with her reading.

Keep up the good reading!

Mr Webb
Assistant Head

Good Citizen - Nora

Nora sent Mrs Emery a voice recording where she said "I have been talking to elderly neighbours and friends over the fence so that they are not on their own".

Mr Webb
Assistant Head

Good Citizens - Shiv and Uma

Shiv and Uma made a Happy Birthday and Thank You card for the NHS doctor who lives next door.

What a lovely kind thing to do. 
 
Mr Webb
Assistant Head
View Gallery

Good Citizen - Sophia

Sophia in Class 1E has been a Good Citizen helping out at home putting the washing out and helping sort through her toys and books.

Good work Sophia.

Mrs Emery
Class 1E Form Teacher

FoC

FoC - Contact Information

Below are the details of the FoC Year Group Representatives. These reps will communicate with you on all our events via email, WhatsApp or Facebook. 

Year Group 1st Rep 2nd Rep
Reception Vicky Morley Lisa Millward
Year 1 Sanda Mocanu Fatima Masood
Year 2 Inez de Koning Karen Williams
Year 3 Emilie Crowfoot Claire Brosnan
Year 4 Semma King Anita Somerset
Year 5 Kal Mistry Amy Sarkies
Year 6 Emma Wells Victoria Akbik

 

Chairperson Zara Corbin chair@friendsofcrescent.co.uk
Treasurer Nick Brosnan treasurer@friendsofcrescent.co.uk
Secretary Amy Sarkies secretary@friendsofcrescent.co.uk
Pre-Loved Uniform Louise Symons  
Staff Reps Ms Forth and Mrs Webb  
FoC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofcrescent/  
 
Zara Corbin
FoC Chair



Housekeeping

Useful School Contact Information

Please see below for useful school contact information:

Crescent School Office
01788 521595
admin@crescentschool.co.uk
Postal address: Crescent School, Bawnmore Road, Bilton, Rugby CV22 7QH
 
After School Club
01788 523850
 
Bills, Fees and Online Payment
01926 634273
georginamalin@princethorpe.co.uk
 
Registrar
01788 523851
admissions@crescentschool.co.uk
 
School Shop and Uniform
01926 634272
uniform@princethorpe.co.uk
 
Princethorpe College General Office
01926 634200
post@princethorpe.co.uk
 
Pathfinders Nursery
01788 813666
info@pathfindersnursery.co.uk
 
twitter:    @CrescentSchRug
facebook: @cres.school

Term Dates For 2019-20 And 2020-21

Please find below term dates for this academic year and next:

2019/20

Trinity Term 
Term starts Monday 20 April 2020
May Bank Holiday Friday 8 May 2020 (no school)
Half Term Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2020
End of Term Wednesday 1 July 2020
 
2020/21
 
Michaelmas Term
Term starts Tuesday 1 September 2020
Half Term Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2020
Term ends Tuesday 15 December 2020

Lent Term
Term starts Tuesday 5 January 2021
Half Term Saturday 13 February to Sunday 21 February 2021
Term ends Friday 26 March 2021

Trinity Term
Term starts Monday 19 April 2021
May Bank holiday - Monday 30 May 2021 (no school)
Half Term Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June 2021
Term ends Tuesday 6 July 2021

Home Learning

Animals Involved In Home Learning

It is great to see that some children's pets have been as involved in home-learning as their owners have.

This week we have seen Eleanor's hamster BooBoo and Alice's cat Hector, who decided to take a rest just as she was sending in her work!!

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head
View Gallery

Music Round Up

I have enjoyed watching the videos sent to me this week and also reading your work.  This week I have include photos of:

  • Reception Class Albert being a scary wolf, Isabella's wolf picture, and Evelyn using her wolf hands for clapping. 
  • 2W Alex T's response to listening to the 2nd episode of Jack and the Beanstalk.
  • 3S Ellie use of the draw tool to illustrate recorder fingering.
  • 3S Alex use of dragging to label woodwind instruments.
Mrs Barnes
Director of Music
View Gallery

Reception- The Three Little Pigs

As part of our ‘Once Upon a Time’ topic we have been learning about the three little pigs. The children were asked to create a painting, picture or collage of the pig’s houses for their work in Expressive Art and Design. I’m delighted with the effort that the class went to – take a look at some of the marvellous outcomes.

Mrs Pullen
Reception Class Teacher
View Gallery

Reception - The Big Bad Wolf

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Nobody in Reception – although we did discover that he really isn’t a very nice character.

The children thought of adjectives to describe the wolf and recognised that he doesn’t show any qualities of being a good citizen unlike the children of Crescent School.

Mrs Pullen
Reception Class Teacher
View Gallery

Reception - Marvellous Models

Our outdoor learning was forced inside due to the wet weather this week. That wasn’t going to get in the way of our model making. The class were asked to build a model of a house that included a roof, an opening or doorway and any other features they wanted to include. Reception set to work demonstrating their great constructive skills and ideas.

Mrs Pullen
Reception Class Teacher
View Gallery

Class 1E Practical Learning

This week has involved some practical investigations in maths learning about measuring length and height in metres and centimetres, weight in grams and capacity in millilitres and litres.

The children particularly enjoyed being wizards and creating their own potions, combining and measuring different liquids from home.  There have been some lovely examples of children making the most of learning out of school with Fred visiting some remains of a motte and bailey castle to support our current history topic and Zac having a virtual tour of his Grandad’s church to enhance his learning about churches in RE. Roisin has produced an incredible family tree as part of our introduction to relationships in PSHE.

Another great week seeing wonderful work produced by all.

Mrs Emery
Class 1E Form Teacher
View Gallery

Class 2W PE

The children have been working hard on their striking and fielding skills. Mrs McCollin and I have been so impressed with the level of skills that we have seen on the videos.

We have some budding Ben Stokes across the school but here are some photos of the particularly keen year 2s.

Mr Phillips
Head of PE and Games
View Gallery

Class 2 Prepare to Party in DT

This week in Design Technology Class 2W pupils have been learning how to prepare for cooking and basic techniques of cutting, whisking and spreading safely to make their own healthy snacks. The pictures and videos that came in made me very hungry!

Great job class 2W.

Mrs McCollin
Class 2W Science Teacher
View Gallery

Class 3S Brilliant Bella

Not only has Bella been keen to complete her tasks on Seesaw this week, she has also been making visual resources to help her with her maths and has been motivated to practise the written methods we use in year 3 so she feels more confident - a fantastic example of what a 'Good Learner' should be!

Mrs Stapleton
Class 3S Form Teacher
View Gallery

Class 3S Maths Motivators

Class 3S have continued their motivation and drive to tackle a new method this week and again, I have been impressed by their effort and presentation and their commitment to improving their times tables. Ellie has set herself a target to practise every night before bed, so that's amazing!

Mrs Stapleton 
Class 3S Form Teacher
View Gallery

Class 3S Reflect on Creation -

3S have been considering their views about the story of Creation from the Bible and then identifying their favourite parts of God's creation through photos, models, drawings and even a beautifully written song, sung by our very own Grace M!

Mrs Stapleton
Class 3s Form Teacher
View Gallery

Classes 3S and 4M Illuminated Letters

Class 3S and 4M have all had a go at drawing illuminated letters this week in art. Class 4M are looking at art history in their art lessons and Class 3S are studying the Anglo Saxons in history.

Some super examples here.

Mrs Byrne
Head of Science, DT and Art
View Gallery

Class 3S Make A Great Start with Anglo-Saxons

We have left The Romans behind and we have started our new topic, The Anglo-Saxons.

Here are a selection of the fabulous front covers which 3S produced. We will go on to study settlements, village life, religion, clothes, leisure, Sutton Hoo and Alfred the Great.

Mrs Monteith
Class 3S History Teacher
View Gallery

Class 3S Geography Projects on Endangered Animals

Before Easter Class 3S were studying 'Endangered Animals' in geography. This culminated in an independent project on an animal of choice. Pupils had to find out facts including how many are left, why are these animals endangered and what can we do to help?

Annalise chose to go beyond expectations in terms of effort with this project as she enjoyed it so much. She has produced a wonderfully informative poster on the Giant Panda.

We will display it at school when we are back together.

Ms Forth
Deputy Head Teacher
View Gallery

Class 4M Science

Class 4M have been in their gardens taking close ups of invertebrates and then uploading them onto their computers and labelling the body parts. Super work Class 4M.

Mrs Byrne
Head of Science, DT and Art
View Gallery

Class 5F Art - Nature

Class 5F have continued with their nature theme in art this week and have progressed onto designing their own wallpapers or borders. Here are some great examples.

Mrs Byrne
Head of Science, DT and Art
View Gallery

Class 5F English

Some great work to share from Year 5 English, there has been map making from describing words and fabulous descriptive poetry of a stormy sea, both taking inspiration form Michael Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom.

You can see Hattie and Emme's maps in the photo and Michael's poem is below:

A Stormy Sea by Michael

BANG! BANG! BANG!
As the thunder smashes the boat
And the waves slam the ship.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
 
ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!
As the lightning crashes the boat
And the rain thunders down.
ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!
 
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
As the water pounds the boat
And the gust hits the ship
CRASH! CRASH! CHASH!
 
BANG! BANG! BANG!
As the thunder smashes the boat
And the waves slam the ship
BANG! BANG! BANG!
 
Mrs Webb
Class 5F English Teacher
View Gallery

Class 5F Movie History

Our new history topic this half term is 20th Century Leisure and Entertainment. This week 5F interviewed family members about their favourite movies from before 2000. The children had to think carefully about the questions they would ask to give them the most useful information, Joshua even channelled his inner 'Michael Parkinson' and interviewed his Nan over FaceTime.

They have produced some lovely work and expanded their movie knowledge at the same time - maybe there's a few that you would like to add to your lockdown viewing schedule! 

Mrs Yates
Head of History
View Gallery

Year 6 Sports Posters

Year 6 have been promoting the sports they love this week by producing eye catching and informative posters to encourage you to take up a new sport.

Mrs Byrne
Head of Science, DT and Art
View Gallery

Class 6W - Marco Learning Guitar

Marco has been learning the guitar and he sent me a video sharing him playing his song.  It was lovely to see the progress Marco has made.

Keep up the good work.

Mrs Webb
Class 6W form Tutor