The Courier

Dear Parents

As we approach the final week at the half term the staff have been working hard to keep the children motivated and on task for the final push towards the break. Last Friday, Ms Forth sent me a text with an interesting statistical summary of Seesaw provision during the term to date. This showed that there had been 51,732 pieces of individual feedback from teachers to pupils in the four weeks of term up to that point. That comes out on average near to 13,000 a week. The only good response I could think of to Ms Forth’s text was ‘Wow!’

Next week in school we will be focusing on the important area of digital citizenship. This will begin with an assembly led by our new Head of Digital Learning, Mr Adkins, on Monday morning. The central idea behind this week is to raise awareness of our responsibilities towards others when we are operating online. Being a good citizen is one of the three fundamental ideas in our School Promise and being a digital citizen requires many of the same skills and qualities; tolerance, honesty, responsibility and staying safe.

Of course, whilst online activities for children and young people can be fun and fascinating, there are always potential dangers and this will also form an important part of the messages that we give to the children during the week. We will also be providing a workshop next Tuesday for parents to attend online that covers all of these ideas, plus advice on what you can sensibly do at home to make your child’s online experience positive and enjoyable. You will find more information about this elsewhere in today's newsletter.

It was lovely to have lots of children sending me in examples of themselves taking part in last weekend’s Big Garden Birdwatch. You should be able to find a picture of me somewhere in the Courier today looking very wrapped up but still completely freezing as I did my hour in the garden. With another cold snap forecast for the early part of next week I hope the children are still thinking of how they can help the birds and please do keep sending in any pictures that you have. I have been putting together a display for the children’s return of all the bird drawings that they did for our recent competition and my only problem is we do not have a display board big enough. They may well run down the whole of the main corridor.

I hope you all enjoy a relaxing weekend with your children.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Last weekend was the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. The children had been learning all about birds in their assemblies over the last few weeks and many of them had taken part in our wonderful bird drawing competition. You can see their drawings here.

Lots of children got involved in the garden birdwatch and spent an hour in their gardens listing all the different birds that they could see. These were then sent into the RSPB who collate the results around the country to build up a picture of changing bird populations. I asked for the children to send him pictures of them taking part and also leaving food out for the birds to get them through the winter months. (Please keep these coming into courier@crescentschool.co.uk)

Bravely, perhaps foolishly, I chose to do my bird watch outside in the garden. It was a very cold Sunday but I can now report that my feet have finally thawed out.

Foundation Archivist, Janette Ratcliffe, has a real treat for all Old Crescentians in her latest #ThrowbackThursday post on Princethorpe Connect.

Janette recently had the opportunity to talk to one of Crescent’s very first pupils, Fiona Douglas (nee Loughery) about her time at Crescent School. Fiona’s father was a Master at Rugby School, and Fiona was one of eight children taught by Mrs Eve Mortimer, initially at Troy House before moving to larger premises at Horton Crescent, from where the school got its name.

It’s a fascinating insight into the daily life of pupils attending Crescent School and the friendships the close-knit community formed, and it is clear that Fiona has many happy memories of her time there.

If you would like to read Janette’s latest post then head over to Princethorpe Connect to read the blog in full: https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/

Janette is always keen to add oral history accounts to the archive, as each person brings their own stories and memories. If you are interested in being interviewed about your time at any of the Foundation’s schools (or legacy schools) then please do email her on janetteratcliffe@princethorpe.co.uk.

I thought you may appreciate some ideas for books to read. Please follow the link for books linked with television programmes and films.

Book Trust Books To Read

If any of you want an excuse to write then please look at this story writing competition, this may even suit some creative parents too.

Please let me know if you enter, it is great to see the entries.

https://broadwayartsfestival.com/short-story-prize/

Our new Scholastic Book Club is up and running! Go to: https://schools.scholastic.co.uk/the-crescent/digital-book-club to browse the latest books and order online. For every £1 you spend on this month’s Book Club, our school will earn 20p in Scholastic Rewards.

Please place your order online by 26 February 2021.

Buying additional books for your children will undoubtedly give them more opportunity to read and the commission does make a difference to the books that we have for all children in school.

Please arrange for all orders to be delivered to your home address as we are respectful of the Lockdown rules of only travelling when necessary.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Tuesday 9 February 2021 - 7pm - TEAMS

Join us for an informative evening discussing what it means to be a Digital Citizen, the importance of this in today's ever-changing technology driven world, what we are doing at Crescent to ensure this and what parents can do at home to help with this.

The link will be sent out on Tuesday morning.

Congratulations to the following pupils who have achieved awards this week:

Our first double millionaire:

• Drew (5F)

Word Millionaire:

• Asha (5F)

All badges will be saved and awarded when we return to school.

Top Quizzers this week are:

• 3Y  Alex G
• 4M Grace C
• 5F  Abigail
• 6W Jay 

Word Wizards this week are:

• 3Y  Remi
• 4M Mya
• 5F  Caspar
• 6W Amelia

Landmark Levels 

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

Weekly Class battle 22 January - 4 February 2021

All classes against each other the winners were:

• 1st place - Class 4M with 5,466 points
• 2nd place - Class 3Y with 4,588 points
• 3rd place - Class 2W with 2,452 points

Most valuable players contributing the most points to their class were:

Each class can have the speediest TT Rock Star and that gets you up the status board on the poster. To get on this board you must tackle the single player game in the 'Studio', multi-player does not count for these. These also earn more coins than the multiplayer games too. 

Plenty of action so last week's most improved speedsters in each class are:

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

Please note only the children should play on their account or it influences the level appropriate to them.

Stay Calm, Stay Home, Save Lives and Rockdown!

This week has been National Children's Mental Health week, endorsed by the charity Place2Be, that we have supported as a school in the past.

It has been almost a year since we held our first school-wide Wellbeing Day, and as Head of Wellbeing I have a vested interest in ensuring our children are aware of their mental health and how to find ways in developing positive emotional wellbeing.

This week, I sent the children an extended form time message reviewing the ‘5 Ways To Wellbeing’ and the importance of developing these. I also gave quick ideas of how they could develop their connection with people, how to learn new things or re-discover old hobbies; to keep active even when the weather is against us; take notice of the small things - to look up and see the changes as Spring arrives and also ways that we can give, as the small things always made the most difference. If you, as parents, have not seen this with your children, you can access it via their Seesaw class activity log over the weekend.

I have pulled together just a few of the visual resources to support families during this period of lock down, to help develop positive routines and identify ways to promote mental health and general wellbeing. They can be viewed here.

We were tremendously encouraged by the questionnaire which indicated how Crescent children are dealing positively with this lockdown.  Within this we're also aware that as with us all, parents, teachers and workers, children too experience low moments especially when they miss human face to face contact with family members, staff in school and indeed their friends.

I found a book this week which I thought was uplifting and comforting.  It isn't about our current situation but it's written for younger children while reminding us all that we all remain linked to one another even when we are apart. 

Please click on the link for a simple Youtube video of "The Invisible String" being read aloud.

The Invisible String

With very best wishes to you all.

The Courier often, rightly, reflects excellent learning that has taken place during the week but as we proceed through the upcoming weeks of lockdown, we'd love to dedicate a section to small acts of kindness which Crescent children and families have committed to, to simply and safely enhance the lives of someone else.

Please do send examples/pictures to alanwebb@crescentschool.co.uk for inclusion next week and onwards.

With all best wishes.

Lots of children are using their spare lockdown time to be thoughtful and helpful at home with their families.

Last weekend Edward in Class 2W was an excellent support to his dad building a new garden shed.

Emily in Class 3Y has been helping with the laundry at home alongside preparing food for her family and her grandfather who lives alone.

Please do keep telling us these things - we are always proud to hear of children who gladly help out.

We are aware that some users have experienced difficulties viewing the shared screen function during these lessons.  This is quite a serious issue for the successful delivery of the lesson.

Please click here to view a guidance document for all users on how to ensure the best experience for your child(ren).

Please click here to read about how you can ensure your You Tube account is set with the correct restrictions if your child is watching You Tube links.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Another close competition this week seeing more entries than ever from the Blue House who came in with a score of 177, with Red House close behind on 172 and Yellows a little way off with 126. 

Fabulous work Blue House who are champions this week meaning that every house has now had a turn at holding the trophy.  Remember you have got to be in it to win it, it is all about taking part, having fun and being part of a team. 

This week's challenges are 

• Pre-Prep: This week's challenge is the Stalk Stand Balance to follow on from this week's gymnastics lessons on core strength and balance: Stalk Stand

• Years 3-6: Fast Feet: Linked to this week's games lessons and looking at fast feet and mastering ball control 

Remember these challenges can be completed as many times as you would like, however remember to send me your highest score by 6pm Wednesday night.

Have fun.

Friday 26 February

To raise funds for the FoC and to raise a smile we're organising a wrong uniform event via Teams. Pupils will be encouraged to wear school uniform with their own twist!

We would ask for £1 to be transferred into the FoC account.  

We'd love to introduce you to the new Friends of Crescent team. Supporting the Committee members we have:

We’d love you to follow the FoC Facebook page where we publish all news and information about our events.

Friends of Crescent Facebook Group

We're hoping to announce some exciting initiatives shortly so please join to avoid missing out! 

Nick Brosnan
Friends Of Crescent - Chair  

Hi I’m Lisa Millward and I am delighted to be Vice Chair for FOC. I have Charlie in Year 4 and Alfie in Year 1 and before too long will have Emily joining too!

We joined Crescent two years ago and I signed up for the FoC straight away. I believe the committee is about enhancing the already excellent environment the school provide for the children to create events filled with fun and laughter which they can remember and look forward to each year.

With my husband Simon, we run our own financial advice company and in the little free time I get I enjoy running, reading and eating cake!

Does anyone have a spare laptop or tablet that they would be happy to donate to Project Homeschool Rugby - a local initiative looking to provide home learning equipment for disadvantaged children in Rugby.  More information on the scheme can be found here: 

Project Homeschool Rugby

If you are able to offer any equipment the school is happy to accept tablet or laptop donations and will pass them on. The Laptops need a minimum operating system of Windows 8. It is also important that they are restored to factory settings and any important data cleaned off (Crescent School cannot accept responsibility for equipment that has not been cleaned properly). Alternatively there are online products that you can use to help you clear any data. 

Please email communications@friendsofcrescent.co.uk if you have any questions. 

Please find below term dates for 2020/21 and 2021/22:

Reception have had great fun recently exploring rhyming words using the story of Stick Man. The children also created Stick families and used them in their own imaginative storytelling. Take a look at some of our wonderful Stick creations.

Class 1S have been developing their pointillism skills inspired by the artist, Seurat. They enjoy our lessons on a Tuesday afternoon and are excited to show their friends on our weekly show and tell Teams meeting on a Wednesday morning.

They have been exploring different ways of creating the dots, some with their fingers some with pens and stampers but most chose to use the trusted cotton bud!

Class 1S have been practising their knowledge of the days of the week and their order. We have been playing Monster SNAP! and some of us have learnt how to sign the days of the week in British Sign Language.

It has been fun finding creative ways and helping us learn.

We received a lovely email from the Millward family all enjoying a Home Learning project, Mrs Millward wrote:

"Yesterday Mrs Byrne set Charlie the challenge of making a car. Charlie decided this should not be a little toy car but one that his sister could ride in and enjoy! It became a family task, my husband and Charlie the engineers, and me, Alfie and Emily on decoration. It was so lovely to see the kids so enthusiastic and working together as a team 

We all had so much fun, and the pure joy in the children’s faces when Emily got in and went for a ride is a memory of lockdown I will never forget. (Nor the moment the wheel fell off!)

Anyway, I’m sure you hear often about the negatives of home schooling but I wanted to share a little happiness this morning".

Thank you Mrs Millward, what a lovely story and we are so please Emily loved her car.

Crescent School

Class 4M have been learning about life in the Indus Valley. They have been very creative in how they've presented their findings, with a variety of videos, presentations, games and posters. 

In Maths this week Class 4M have been exploring 2D shapes, their properties and reflective symmetry. They were set a challenge to do draw a mirror line, start with one triangle and build up a symmetrical pattern using only triangles. What they did to one side they had to do to the other side, so that it was a perfect mirror image. They all did so well, and some examples are here.

Grace in 5F is a very keen historian and has been enjoying following her interest during home learning. She has taken part in a live online talk from Historic Royal Palaces about the myths and legends of the Tower of London, with historian Lucy Worsley. 

Grace says, "My favourite story was about the Princes in the Tower. They were King Edward’s sons but they were locked away by the king’s brother Richard because Richard wanted to be king instead of them. The Ravenmaster told us about the myth about the ravens leaving the Tower and the Tower and the kingdom would crumble into dust." 

Much to her excitement, Grace's question appeared on the screen and was answered by the renowned historian, Lucy Worsley. 

Grace added, "Lucy Worsley’s job is my dream job. I watch her on TV a lot and she is my favourite historian and presenter."

We are really pleased to see Grace enjoying expanding her history knowledge.

Each week I set 6W a different challenge, this is completely voluntary and some challenges appeal to some more than others.

This week it was building models in whatever form they wanted (but not on the screen). I just wanted to share a few with you from Isla, Amelia and George R.  Making models can be a great way to relax.

Year 6 have just completed a four week project on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected religious communities and how they have had to change the way they worship and serve the community in these difficult times.

I have been impressed with the research and the evidence they have found to support their opinions and views.  Class 6W have also been creative in how they have demonstrated their understanding, through videos, through PowerPoints, through voice recordings and of course some outstanding written work.

As a cohort these children have seen these changes first hand and I hope it has been insightful for them to study.

It is so important that we can have a smile with the children as we teach them remotely. Last Friday for PSHE we donned our wigs as it was national Big Wig day - I can't say all the wigs were big but they were varied and bright and brought a smile.