The Courier

Dear Parents

Throughout much of the week it has remained bright and sunny which has put a spring in everyone’s step. We have yet to experience any really adverse winter weather, which are quite possibly famous last words, but let’s enjoy it whilst it lasts.

Preparations for our nativity plays are going on at full tilt here, with lots of lovely singing and music escaping through the doorways and down the corridors. Next week of course is the beginning of Advent, which we will mark in assembly with the lighting of the first of our Christmas candles. Our trees arrived today as well which will be decorated by each of the three houses in their respective colours. It will be great fun! Along with Christmas Art Day on Monday and Open Corridors on Wednesday we will be feeling very festive by this time next week, I am sure.

On that theme, I know that the FoC have been working hard preparing for the Christmas Bazaar which takes place next Friday. It is great to see the return of a much-loved community event and I hope you will be able to come along with your children and share the occasion with them. Many thanks as always to the FoC team for all they do preparing and running these events.

Have a great weekend

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

We continue to monitor the number of COVID cases in the school and in the local area closely. We have different options open to us to reduce contact, both in school and for external events, should cases increase rapidly.

Currently, case numbers in the school are very low and we haven't had any positive test results this half term, but we will continue to communicate clearly with parents and children if our risk assessment changes.

In the case of the Carol Service, we are planning to go ahead at this stage. The children regularly meet together in school situations, such as assemblies and lunchtime. We will however be asking parents to wear face masks and also to undertake lateral flow tests before attending. The capacity of the Chapel will allow for some distancing as well.

Below is the link for next week's school calendar:  

Weekly Calendar - 29 November 2021 

Do let the office know if your children will not be attending their clubs if you are taking them to Open Corridors or the Bazaar.

There is no Orchestra this week due to the Christmas Bazaar.

MySchoolPortal 

Crescent School

Good luck to Stephanie who is swimming for Crescent School at the ISA National Finals at the London Olympic Pool on Sunday.

We are very proud of you.

A link to sign up for next term's co-curricular clubs has been sent out today. Please ensure you select your child(ren)s choices by Sunday 5 December 2021.

We will try our best to accommodate everyone but, as I am sure you would agree, we do have to adhere by ratios for safety. 

There are a few new clubs for children to try, the choice is wide and varied.

The playground will be open for car parking from 3.10pm. Face masks are to be worn please.

Reception and Year 1 children can be collected at 3.20pm, so the children can enjoy the fun before the older children arrive. Years 5 and 6 are to be dismissed from the pupil door. All other classes will be dismissed from their normal collection points and times.  Please then come round to the front door where you will be welcomed in to to enjoy all of the fun from 3.45pm. 

Entry and exit will only be through the front doors.

Unfortunately, children in After-School will not be able to attend as they will need a parent or guardian to be with them.  If your child is in a co-curricular club then they will be expected to attend their club, unless other arrangements have been made.

Please be aware that once your child is handed over to you at dismissal, they are your responsibility.

I am sure it will be a great event and we look forward to seeing you.

We are delighted to be able to inform you all that we are now able to internally film both Nativities this December.  Vimeo links for personal use only will be sent to all parents after the performances.

Best wishes

It is with great regret that we have decided to cancel the History of Christmas afternoon for Year 3 and 4, as Mrs Yates is unable to deliver this at the moment. These classes will still have great fun at their Christmas Party and on Christmas Art Day, there is also a Theatre Trip booked for them next term. 

We love sharing Christmas cards here at Crescent School but all cards will need to be put in our special Christmas postbox which we will situate near the pupil entrance.

This will be available from Monday 29 November and all cards must be in before Friday 10 December.  They will be sorted by the Year 6 children and given to children before the end of term.

Things to remember:

• Please do not lick down envelopes

• Put the full name of the recipient on the envelope and their class

A donation to this term's charity, the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Please would parents ensure that children do not come into school wearing jewellery.

Necklaces and bracelets can easily be broken or lost and are potentially hazardous for children taking part in physical activities or experiments. 

Earings – children are not permitted to wear earings to school due to health and safety.  If a child forgets to remove their earings, we will ask them to remove them and put in an envelope to bring home.

We discourage watches being worn in Pre-Prep but they can be worn in the Upper School to aid learning.  

Thank you for you cooperation with this health and safety matter.

Books are always great to buy for Christmas. We are not holding a book fair this year, but we would really appreciate your support by buying from the Scholastic Book Club. The books can be delivered to school and we will let you know they have arrived so that you can collect them.

Our new Scholastic Book Club is up and running. Please click on the link below 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.

https://schools.scholastic.co.uk/the-crescent/digital-book-club 

Please place your order online by 1 December 2021.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Monday 29 November 2021

The children will be decorating the school for Christmas on Monday 29 November 2021.  They are able to wear a festive accessory with their school uniform such as a Christmas hat, hair accessory or tinsel that day.

Children must have their art aprons in school.

It is a day the children look forward to every year and you will be able to see see their work at our Christmas Open Corridors.

Crescent School

Tuesday 30 November 2021

Children in Blue House can wear one item of blue clothing on St Andrew's Day with their school unform if they wish. 

Crescent School

Mrs Barnes
Director of Music

Wednesday 1 December 2021 - 3.45pm to 4.15pm

Christmas Art Day is on Monday, then on Wednesday after school we will have our Open Corridors event where we will share with you all the great work that we have been doing in school.

Half of the playground has been made available for parking from 15.30pm.  Face masks must be worn please.

Year 5 and 6 will be be dismissed through the pupil door, all other classes are to be dismissed through their usual door.

Please then come round to the front door where you will be welcomed in to look at all the great work in school from 3.45pm. Entry and exit will only be through the front doors. Last entry is at 3.55pm.  Please avoid the Afterschool room when youa re touring the school.

If your child is in a co-curricular club then they will be expected to attend unless you arrange otherwise.

For children in Afterschool, please follow the usual routine of phoning through and your child will be brought to you. 

We are all very excited about this.

Monday 6 December 2021 - 9.00am to 12.00pm

The revised date for the Flu vaccinations that will take place in school, for all years, is Monday 6 December 2021.  

The immunisation team have been able to download the consent forms you recently completed so no further action is necessary.  

Crescent School

Monday 6 December 2021 - 9.30am to 10.05am

Parents and Grandparents are invited to our Reception Classes Nativity performance of Shine Star Shine. 

A lot of hard work has gone into the rehearsals so far, learning the songs, memorising lines, sorting out costumes, scenery and planning the production, and what a spectacle it is all going to be.

Before the performance the staff and children will be busy getting things ready in the hall and I would ask parents to please wait in the Library where there will be tea, coffee and some light refreshments served. 

Due to the current situation, we are able to offer each family two tickets for the performance. The performance will be filmed and a link to the recording will be circulated after.

Please book here:

Reception Nativity

Wednesday 8 December 2021 - 9.30am to 10.05am

Parents and Grandparents are invited to our Years 1 and 2 Nativity performance of A Midwife Crisis. 

A lot of hard work has gone into the rehearsals so far, learning the songs, memorising lines, sorting out costumes, scenery and planning the production, and what a spectacle it is all going to be.

Before the performance the staff and children will be busy getting things ready in the hall and I would ask parents to please wait in the Library where there will be tea, coffee and some light refreshments served. 

Due to the current situation, we are able to offer each family two tickets for the performance. The performance will be filmed and a link to the recording will be circulated after.

Please book here:

Years 1 and 2 Nativity

Thursday 9 December 2021 - 6.30pm to 7.45pm

This year we will be holding our Christmas Carol Service at Princethorpe College in the Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel. Please join us for a wonderful evening of carols, readings and re-telling of the Christmas story.

All children in Years 3-6 are involved and required to attend. Please request permission from Mr Thackway if your child is unable to attend for any reason. All children are to wear winter uniform including blazers and grey tights for girls. 

Please see Mr Thackway’s message regarding COVID management for this event. We are requesting that parents who attend wear masks and undertake a lateral flow test in advance. The capacity of the Chapel will allow for some distancing as well.

It would be lovely for family of the children in Years 3-6 to join us on this joyous occasion; however due to reduced numbers permitted in the chapel, we can only allocate one ticket per family for children in Years 3-5. Year 6 families will be offered two tickets as it is their last year.

Princethorpe have asked if families can refrain from arriving until after 6.00pm to allow their school day to finish safely. Please follow the signage around to the North car park where you will be able to leave your car and accompany your child through the Sixth Form Centre. All children. staff and the congregation, should be seated at 6.15pm for a prompt start. There will be instrumental and vocal solos taking place as people arrive.

There will be a retiring collection in aid of our termly charity, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. 

Please book here:

Carol Service

Tuesday 14 December 2021

Our Christmas Jumper Day this year will be on Tuesday 14 December 2021. On that day, children should wear normal school uniform, but instead of their green pullover/cardigan, they can wear a Christmas jumper, if they wish.

Please bring in a £1 donation for our charity of the term, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. This can be placed in the container on each teacher's desk.

Mrs Monteith and Mrs Stapleton

This week's Accelerated Reader Superstars are:

Top Quizzers are:

• 3Y   Roisin
• 4M  Darius
• 5F   Annalise
• 6W  Kai

Word Wizards are:

• 3Y  Maya
• 4M Sofie
• 5F  Ellie
• 6W Rosina

Which Class topped the reading polls this week?

Well done all.

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

• Amber
• Penelope
• Theo Mc
• Uma

Well done to you all.

Results for last week's all class battle - well done 3Y:

• 1st place - Class 3Y with 7,336 points
• 2nd place - Class 5F with 4,718 points
• 3rd place - Class 4M with  932 points

Most valuable players in the whole competition:

• 1st Bryson 5F
• 2nd Matthew 3Y
• 3rd Aryaan 3Y

Last week most improved speedsters are:

• 3Y MingYi - Rock Legend!
• 3Y Aryan - Wannabe!
• 3Y Roisin - Wannabe!
• 3Y Patrick - Wannabe!
• 6W Aryan - Rock Legend!

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

Stay Calm and Rock On!!

Please click on the link below to read all about what the Reception classes have been learning this week.  Photos are attached to this article to scroll through.

Reception Round Up - 26 November 2021 

Class 1LS talked about the things that make them feel happy. Miss Hanson led them in a story and got the children to imagine feeling very cold outside. Then, they came inside and warmed up with a lovely hot chocolate.

The children coloured in their own mugs, putting what makes them feel happy and warm inside on marshmallow shapes, and putting them into their mugs. We finished with a lovely cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows prepared for us by Mr Moore.

We all felt very relaxed and warm afterwards.

The children of Class 3Y were set a challenge to complete an open learning project on tigers to complement their learning based around the book The Tiger Child by Joanna Troughton.

We have been thrilled with the results and I know that you will enjoy seeing their creativity.

Well done 3Y.

Class 3Y have been studying the story of Rama and Sita in their English learning this week. Today's challenge was to really think about the characters -

• What would they look like?
• What would they be doing?
• What would they be thinking?

The children worked in groups and were challenged to make a freeze frame scene of the main characters when Rama strings Shiva’s bow.

They were fabulous at freeze framing! Well done 3Y!

Mrs Bryer

After several weeks of agonising wait due to the staggered half-term breaks in France and England and the slow post service, Class 4M were delighted to receive the replies to their letters.

The French children wrote their answers on the very special lined French paper and drew beautiful pictures as well as adding photographs.

We cannot wait to send their Christmas cards back!

In Design & Technology, Class 4M carried out a survey to find out what consumers thought attracted them to buy certain boxes of chocolates in the shops.

Class 4M researched well-known makes of chocolates and based on all their findings they then designed and created their own unique packaging and branding for chocolates.   

In RE this term, we have been studying prayer. We have looked at the Christian Lord's Prayer and written our own prayers. Now we have turned our attention to Islam, and the children are enjoying learning more about Muslim core beliefs. This week, they explored different prayer mat designs; some of them have Muslim images on them, and others have geometric patterns. The children created their own, and a selection are here. Excellent work, 4M!

As you know P4C is a philosophy club where we discuss many topics and have lots of questions, this week we decided to use strategy and thinking games to open up conversation.

For a two or three week period this year we will be focusing on one of the sayings in the new School Promise. We will talk about this in assembly and in form period. It would be great if you could discuss this with your children at home and support the messages we are emphasising in school.

This week we consider the category of Good Learners. The idea behind this week’s promise is resilience and perseverance. This is such a key element of being a good learner. The desire and determination to master new skills can take children such a long way in education.

'We never give up and always try again'

Mr Webb
Assistant Head

The U9A team took an early lead in their match after winning the first push back and driving straight into the attacking D.  A strong cross in from Sofie saw Maggie get on the end to open the scoring.  The girls read the ball well and made fantastic interceptions capitalising on these to take the score to 4-0 at half time with further goals from Sofie, Shayla and Grace. 

BKHS came out in the 2nd half like a different team connecting passes well to attack and score their first goal.  Crescent were quick to respond from the centre with Maisie moving the ball well down the wing and Leela crossing the ball in to convert into another goal then Roisin quickly scored another.  Emily stayed stalwart in defence coming out to meet the ball and timing her tackles well blocking further attempts with, Alice and Hattie making it difficult for Bablake and King Henry's to get into their D. 

Final score 7- 4 Crescent - Player of the Game was awarded by BKHS to Sofie. 

Final score 4-0 with goals from Roisin and MingYi with Roisin C being awarded Player Of the Game by BKHS.

Passing was strong, players held their width, opposition balls were closed down quickly, free hits were taken quickly, defence stayed calm and looked up before clearing and passing and Sophie did a wonderful job in her debut as goal keeper.  It was wonderful to watch a great example of team work. 

Goals came from Evie, Eva, Katherine, Stephanie and Ellie.  Any attacking play from BKHS being quickly pressurised by our strong defence from Sofia, Chloe and Charlotte. 

Final result was 5-0.  Player of the game awarded by BKHS to Katherine. 

Friday 3 December 2021 - 3.45pm to 5.30pm

Our annual Christmas Bazaar will be held on Friday 3 December in the School Hall and surrounding classrooms. 

You can now book your child's/children's santa visit, pay for their entrance (including games) into the Xmas Bazaar and buy your raffle tickets here:

FoC Booking Page

This link closes at 8.00am on Thursday 2 December 2021.

Please bring some change on the day, there will be opportunity to pay for some craft activities and there are refreshments too! Mrs Webb’s Christmas Bazaar article provides further details.

Please have fun and enjoy your time with us!

You can also:

a) Pay for their game card on the door

b) Buy raffle tickets from the stall on the day

c) Bank transfer for the Santa visit (Quoting Child’s/Children’s name/s) by Thursday 2 December

A new Whatsapp group has been set up for FoC Communications so they are all in one place and not using Parent Class Groups Chats for FoC Information. 

If you would like to join the group please click the link below to join:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LhRPOIbtIok2GW1wHbO6I9

Please support Friends of Crescent by raising free donations when you shop online through #easyfundraising.

In the lead up to Christmas, it's the best time to support us and help to raise money towards Crescent Adventure! It's simple and only takes a few minutes to join. Plus, for a limited time only, once you've raised your first £15 - easyfundraising will match it!

Sign up now:  

Easy Fundraising

FoC Team

We have a larger fundraiser running this year called 'Crescent Adventure’, which will provide a safe outdoor play area with a wide range of outdoor equipment designed to engage and challenge children physically on the school site. It will help to develop children’s confidence in movement and support better peer relationships while developing a lifelong passion for physical activity. Most funds raised this year will go towards this project. 

So far we have raised £3,085 of our £17,000 total.

Thank you for your continued support! And just in case my contact details are below.

Nick Brosnan
FoC Chair
chair@friendsofcrescent.co.uk
https://www.crescentschool.co.uk/foc
07843561879 

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. 

Please click below to view the lunch menu: 

Lunch Menu - 29 November 2021 

We are always reviewing our food offerings and  I would like to highlight the following tweaks to our provision:

1. Jacket potato/salad bar now offered to all year groups
2. Pasta is available every day with a choice of toppings
3. Extra jacket potatoes cooked every day to ensure we meet demand
4. The vegetarian option is different to the meat option and offered to everyone daily
5. Menu wording has been simplified to enable children to understand exactly what they can choose
6. Sauces for main courses are offered separately, giving the children more choice

Steven Reeve
Operations Manager
Olive Catering Services Limited

Please see below for useful school contact information:

Please find below term dates for 2021/22 and 2022/23:

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

Alfie and Thomas play for Rugby Borough Eagles and have had an amazing start to the season.  Their team has won every match they have played and last week Thomas was Captain and Alfie was awarded Man of the Match.

Alfie's brother Charlie is one of the assistant coaches for the team and every week supports the boys in their success.

Well done boys!

Cescent School

Bryson took part in the Greater London Streetdance Championships on Sunday 21 November. It was the first face to face competition for almost two years and understandably there were lots of excited competitors there.

The standard of dance after so long away from competition was high. Bryson achieved 4th place in his solo round and 5th place in his duos heat. 

 This was a domestic competition and not a qualifier for the England squad. Bryson starts his battle to get into the England squad again next year. 

Well done Bryson!

Crescent School

Dear Crescent Parents

Over the course of this term, we have had four positive COVID-19 cases here at school. The situation at Princethorpe College is also serious with a number of positive cases being reported since the beginning of term.

Following a visit to Princethorpe College from PHE advisers, we been asked to introduce a ‘test to release’ recommendation for siblings across the three Foundation schools. This is designed to manage the number of Covid cases and hopefully reduce new cases.

Effectively, this means that if someone in a household tests positive, this would require siblings and other relations to take a PCR test and only return to school when they have received a negative PCR result. For example, if a child in Year 7 at Princethorpe tests positive and has a sibling in Crescent Year 4, the Year 4 child would need to take a PCR test and receive a negative result before returning to school. Similarly, if a child in Crescent Year 3 were to test positive and had a sibling in Year 8, the Year 8 pupil would need to take the test.

In the meantime, the most important thing I can ask you to do is to is to continue to monitor your children for Covid symptoms. Do not send children into school when they are unwell or exhibit any of the signs of Covid. If they do develop symptoms, please book them a PCR test.

Please be assured that we will do our utmost to keep day to day school life, both in and out of the classroom, as normal as possible for our pupils.

One of our measures for controlling the coronavirus spread is keeping classrooms and corridors well ventilated with windows open where possible.  As a result, the children might well find the school colder than they are used to, particularly as we head into winter. For that reason, we would encourage all children to have additional layers available in school. 

School fleeces, hoodies and tracksuit tops are ideal for the job whilst also looking smart.