The Courier

Dear Parents

I have managed to get out on the games field twice this week for fixtures over at Crackley Hall. Despite near-freezing temperatures on both days, and pouring rain on one of them, it was great to get out back on the sports field and see the children playing their matches with such endeavour and fortitude. The quality that I saw that impressed me most was the ability to keep on going despite the weather and despite any setbacks in the matches. 

It struck me what a wonderful opportunity team sports provide for the children and the positive impact it has on their social relationships. As I often say in my team talks, you can’t win every match that you play but you can always try your hardest and respect the opposition. Both of those qualities are victories in themselves.

A different form of team spirit is required to put on dramatic performances to an audience and we have a number of these coming up over the next week or so, including the nativity plays and the carol service next Thursday.

I look forward to seeing many parents at both of these events and wish all of the children the very best of luck.

Possibly as you read this the school's Christmas bazaar will be in full swing and it’s great to have this annual event back up and running following the Covid restrictions. I witnessed the wrapping of the tombola prizes earlier in the week and I was astonished by the quality and quantity of donations that our generous parents have been able to make. These are very gratefully received.

If you did attend the bazaar, I hope you enjoyed your evening and it is the start of a relaxing weekend for you and your families.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

In light of government updates, we have reviewed our provision and expectations for visitors in school for our performances.

For the nativities, I am sorry but we will no longer be able to offer refreshments before the performances, this is to minimise the removal of masks in a public setting.

This also means there will be no entry to the nativities before 9.15am, please be aware this will not change even if it is raining. All adults must wear a mask for all their time in school even through the performance.

I am sure you agree that the main thing is that you can watch your child perform this Christmas and we will then share a recording of the performance with you in due course to enjoy with your families in the comfort of your own home.

It is the school’s policy to remain open during periods of bad weather where reasonably possible. However, there may be occasions where opening the school may not be possible for health and safety reasons, or indeed when travel to school for pupils and staff may be especially dangerous.

If we do decide to close the school due to bad weather overnight, we would inform parents in the following ways:

• The school website will be updated with details of the closure. This is likely to be the first thing we are able to do as it does not require a member of staff to be in school
• All parents will be informed by text message and email
• Home Learning will be put in place for the children as soon as practically possible (this may not ne on the first day of closure)

If we need to close the school during the normal day we will follow the same procedure as outlined above. Members of staff will of course stay with any uncollected children in this event until their parents or guardians are able to come and collect. If this does occur, parents should please come to the front of the school and report to reception.

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

Weekly Calendar - 6 December 2021 

• Miss Fisher's clubs have finished for the term. 
• Mrs Fisher's clubs have also finshed for the week

All other clubs finish this week.

MySchoolPortal 

Crescent School

What fun we had this morning filming Reception’s nativity play at their final dress rehearsal. We can’t wait to share the production with parents. This year the children are performing Shine Star Shine, a story about the star that could not shine. With smiles on their faces, the children could be heard telling the big star, "Yes you can!" as they performed their lines confidently and clearly. The songs were sang beautifully, and the children in Years 1 to 6 really enjoyed watching the dress rehearsal. There were certainly some stars of the future on show!

We couldn’t resist sharing a few photos to give you a sneak peek of their wonderful production. Well done Reception your families are going to be amazed!

Please would all parents consent to whether their child is going to attend the residentials in the Trinity Term before 10 December 2021.

They are a valuable learning experience and we are so looking forward to running them.

There has been a vast amount of clubs this term, it has been great to see children enjoying them. 

Miss Fisher's clubs, Dodge Ball, Netball and Touch Rugby, have all finished for this term.  The remainder of Co-Curricular clubs finish on Friday 10 December. 

Afterschool Care is available through My School Portal for Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 December should you require it.

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 to ratios for safety. 

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

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.

For the nativities, we will no longer be able to offer refreshments before the performance, this is to minimise the removal of masks in a public setting.

This also means there will be no entry to the nativities before 9.15am, please be aware this will not change even if it is raining. All adults must wear a mask for their time in school even through the performance.

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.

For the nativities, we will no longer be able to offer refreshments before the performance, this is to minimise the removal of masks in a public setting.

This also means there will be no entry to the nativities before 9.15am, please be aware this will not change even if it is raining. All adults must wear a mask for their time in school even through the performance.

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   Akaal
• 4M  Hattie
• 5F   Chloe
• 6W  Charlotte

Word Wizards are:

• 3Y  Lewis
• 4M Alex T
• 5F  Harry
• 6W Liana

Which Class topped the reading polls this week?

Well done everyone, keep up this fantastic effort.

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

• Albert
• Charlotte
• David
• Eve
• Jonny
• Rachael

Well done to you all.

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

• 1st place - Class 3Y with 5,829 points
• 2nd place - Class 5F with 5,325 points
• 3rd place - Class 4M with 1,502 points

Most valuable players in the whole competition:

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

Last week most improved speedsters are:

• 3Y Zac - Busker
   

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

Stay Calm and Rock On!!

It was smiles all round as we painted, glued, and constructed our crafts to make our classroom festive and adorn the corridor too!

This week we have been learning about teens numbers and what better way to demonstrate this than to set up a shop! The children had to work out how many ten and one pence coins they would need to buy their favourite things.

In PE Class 3Y have been developing their physical, mental and social ability within dance. They have been using the Stoneage as their inspiration and this week they were working in groups to replicate different Stoneage structures.

Can you work out what type of structures they have created?

Class 3Y have had an enjoyable time whilst improving their accuracy in measurement. Pouring water in and out of different vessels to identify the capacity of each one. Only one large spillage to report, but plenty of progress in measurement.

Class 5F have been working on a Sewing Bee Challenge. They have designed, cut, sewn and decorated their own Christmas stockings. 

Here are a few to enjoy. 

Classes 3Y, 4M, 5F and 6W have been playing homemade instruments in their class music lessons. Shakers, drums, tambourines, guitars, panpipes, kazoos and even a bar-chime-tree were assembled at home and brought into school over the last few weeks. Along with a few saucepans, wooden spoons and a bucket, children played different rhythms on their instruments to create a Junkyard Samba.

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

Crescent School is celebrating after Year 6 pupil, Stephanie, won a Gold Medal at the Independent School Association’s National Swimming Championships.

Stephanie qualified to swim for the Midlands team in the regional finals at the beginning of November and last Sunday 28 November travelled down to the London Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to take part.

The Midlands relay team were dominant in their event finishing 9 seconds ahead of their nearest rival. Her excellent swim helped the Midlands team finish in second place overall.

Head of Girls Games at Crescent School, Rachel McCollin, was delighted and said, “We always tell the children to believe in themselves and push beyond their own boundaries, and Stephanie certainly did that. What a fantastic day she had and what an experience to compete at a national event. Many congratulations to Stephanie on her super result.”

Below are the details of the FoC Year Group Representatives and group links. 

Please click below to view the lunch menu: 

Lunch Menu - 6 December 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 Foundation has the following vacancies:

• Teacher of Spanish (Maternity Cover) - Princethorpe College
• Head of Boys’ Games – Princethorpe College
• Caretaker - Full Time - Crackley Hall School
• Caretaker - Part Time - Princethorpe College
• Cleaner - Saturdays - Princethorpe College
• Examinations Invigilator - Princethorpe College
• Lead Examinations Invigilator - Princethorpe College
• Early Years Assistant - Crackley Hall School

Full details and information on how to apply are available on the Foundation website here:

www.princethorpe.co.uk/join-us

Should you know anyone who might be interested in these posts, please do share this information with them.

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

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.  

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.