The Courier

Dear Parents

The summer has finally arrived this week and no doubt many of us are already wishing it was cooler and the heat less bothersome. There were certainly some hot and sweaty children on the playground today that I would put in that category. It looks as though the weather forecast has taken care of it for us though, with a return to the wet and windy stuff over the weekend. At least it will save me watering my vegetables for once and I expect the farmers will be glad of it, as long as it comes in sufficient quantities.

You will have noticed this year that summer term events have been less concentrated at the end of term but more evenly spread out, enabling better planning, clear communication and thereby allowing you to attend as many of them as possible. We enjoyed two summer concerts earlier in the week that involved all the children performing musical items, songs, solos, group and orchestra pieces. Learning to develop a love of music is such an important part of a rounded education and it was great to see so much enthusiasm and talent on show at these wonderful events.

I managed to get a good view of both the children's performances and the faces of the parents as they witnessed the performances unfold, showing the simple joy and pleasure of watching children perform. These are all such important parts of school life and help provide that balance of learning and fun and opportunity that are invaluable to children’s holistic development.

Next week we look forward to Pre-Prep sports day as well as the Year 6 drama production of Macbeth. With house meetings, rehearsals, sports fixtures, trips out of school and final learning mentor meetings also in the mix, it promises to be another great week.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend.

With my best wishes to you all

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Dear Parents

As we come to the end of the academic year you will have noted in the calendar that this year’s Welcome Evening is planned for Thursday 30 June. All parents of children who are attending the school next year are warmly invited to this important information evening and opportunity to meet staff and fellow parents.

The evening will last for around an hour and 20 minutes and will be divided into two sections. In one of these, you will spend some time in the hall with me, hearing some general messages about our exciting plans for the year ahead. In the other part of the evening, you will meet your child’s form teacher in their new classroom and hear in more detail about day-to-day provision and arrangements.

To help things run smoothly, we have arranged the evening to run as follows:

The school playground will be open for parking from 18.45 and there will be plenty of signage around to point you in the right direction.

Please confirm attendance via the Welcome Evening event.

I look forward to seeing you on the evening.

Weekly Calendar

Please click on the link below for next week's calendar. 

 Calendar 20 June 22

After School

MySchoolPortal

Crescent School

Please click on the link below to view the Music Lesson timetable, parents of children having lessons have been emailed the password:

Music Lesson Timetable 20 June 2022 

Remember co-curricular clubs ends on 24 June for this year. This gives some clubs a week if they need to catch up on one. Parents have been notified of the clubs running that week and SOCS has been updated.

The new programme is being put together with some new additions - this will be released in August on SOCS.

Crescent School is delighted to confirm our Head Boy and Head Girl for the 2022/23 school year. Our congratulations go to Charlie and Esme who have been selected to take on the roles.

The positions of Head Boy and Head Girl are extremely important ones as they are the most senior pupil roles in the school. Charlie and Esme will be the leaders of our pupil community and will be an important link between the children and staff.

Further responsibilities including the House and Team Captains will be announced in due course as will the Monitors for Library, Orchestra and Choir.

All of our Year 6 pupils play an ambassadorial role within the school. Working in three house teams, they undertake a wide range of duties around the school and represent the school superbly at public events such as Open Days. Most importantly they act as role models for the wider school community, particularly for the youngest children in our Reception class.

Headmaster, Joe Thackway, said, “It was a difficult decision to make from the many excellent applications. I offer my congratulations to Charlie and Esme and I look forward to working with them next school year.”

Crescent School is delighted announce our new pupil ‘Wellbeing Champions’. They are Eve, Uma, Isabella, Barnaby, Maisie, Sam, Charlie and Esme.

Our champions have volunteered to take on responsibility for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their friends and were appointed by a class vote. They will take on their new roles from September.

The Wellbeing Champions will promote mindfulness throughout the school and encourage their friends to maintain a growth mindset. They will help raise awareness of our mental health needs and be happy to lend a helping hand wherever it is needed.

Crescent School works hard to be a mentally healthy school both by promoting positive mental health and addressing mental ill health. By introducing Wellbeing Champions, we will be putting peer-to-peer support at the heart of the school’s approach. Such pupil advocates will help us address the needs they identify in an effective way throughout the school.

We know our Wellbeing Champions will spread joy, lift peoples’ spirits and be there for anyone in their time of need.

Well done to them all for volunteering to take on this important role.

Crescent School's KS2 Summer Concert took place on Monday 13 June.  It was well attended with the school hall packed with parents and family members eager to enjoy the end of term celebration of fine music and song.

As always, the school orchestra opened the concert performing the theme from ‘Coronation Street’ confidently. Then came the first of many solos with Dorrit performing ‘Singing in the Rain’ beautifully followed by Charlie carefully fingering the traditional ‘Sur Le Pont d’Avignon’ on his guitar.

Brass Group were next with two lively toe-tapping pieces starting with the theme from ‘The Muppets’ and then playing 'Oom Pa Pa’, the group included many different brass instruments, quite a feat for such a small school. Evie then performed the very fast ‘Wonka’s Welcome Song’ fabulously.

Wacky Music came next with an animated, noisy arrangement of ‘Junk Junk’ performed on all manner of instruments including a dustbin! 

Zahra then skilfully played ‘Portsmouth’ from her Grade 5 exam on violin. Chloe followed on providing the audience with a moment of quiet reflection with her beautiful song ‘Fall, Leaves, Fall’.

Next in the programme was Flute Group with a super performance of ‘Bells Across The Meadows’ and they were followed by Rohan who played the catchy theme from ‘Goldfinger’.

Year 3 Recorders delighted everyone with their finger perfect rendition of ‘Smelly Cheese’.

Charlotte then completed the solos playing ‘Tenor Trombone Rag’.

The concert concluded with a rousing performance by the Choir.  Pupils sang four pieces starting with ‘Scenes From A Railway Carriage’, then ‘We Are The World’, followed by ‘Viva La Vida’ and finishing with the very timely ‘Leaver’s Song’.

After all the thank yous the children then happily performed one last piece as a finale, ‘Our Queen’ the Platinum Jubilee song.

All in all it was another outstanding afternoon of music and song. Our thanks and congratulations go to all Crescent School's accomplished performers who took to the stage in front of their proud parents, and of course to all their teachers and Director of Music, Julie Barnes who have helped them achieve so much.

It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the musical talents of our younger children on Tuesday in our Pre-Prep Summer Concert.

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 took turns to perform for their parents and families, enthusiastically singing their songs and playing their instruments superbly. There was even an amazing set by Mini Brass our very youngest brass players, who blew their very hardest to entertain everyone.

It was so rewarding to see them all enjoying themselves so much. Well done everyone, you were incredible!

Co-curricular trips and educational visits have always been a major part of life at Crescent School for the pupils in Years 3-6. These experiences enrich their lives, enhance their learning and develop their understanding and appreciation of the world around them. It has been great for us to be able to successfully run the Year 3 and 4 residential to Whitemoor Lakes, the Year 5 trip to the Frank Chapman Centre and Year 6 trip to the Slapton Ley Field Centre in Devon. 

We would like to update you with the residentials planned for the next academic year, please take a look at the overview here.

Please also ensure that you read the information about individual trips with care when they are released, in particular in relation to consent, cancellation and insurance.

On Thursday 23 June Class 6W will be performing Macbeth with Class 5F being the choral support. Please note that Drama Club will still be running as normal. 

Class 6W will be required back in school at 6.30pm, they will come into school whilst our audience can enjoy refreshments hopefully outside on the front lawn. Any hair and make-up requirements will have been communicated by Miss Thompson.

Class 5F are asked to not arrive before 6.55pm, they are to come wearing black clothes in readiness for their choral support in the play. If you are collecting after the performance, it should be finished by 8.15pm, please collect the children from the front door.

Tuesday 21 June 2022 - 2.00pm to 3.30pm

We are all very much looking forward to our Sports Day for Years 1 and 2 on Tuesday 21 June. This is being held within the school day so normal drop off and collection times from school apply.

Please note that all pupils are to wear PE kit to school, blazers are not required but tracksuit tops or hoodies are to be worn. Please ensure that your child(ren) comes to school with the following:

• sun cream
• a school sunhat (these can be purchased from the school office)
• a refillable drinks bottle of water (snacks will be provided)

Sports days are always very much anticipated by the children and really enjoyable for all involved.

Parents are invited to come and support, please book your tickets via the link below by Monday 20 June:

Year 1 and 2 Sports Day

Funstar would love to invite the families of their Wednesday Street Class group to join them at 4.40pm on Wednesday 22 June to enjoy the work the children having been doing this year. 

Please come to the front door at 4.40pm on 22 June 2022 and you will be shown to the hall to enjoy the fun.

Wednesday 22 June 2022 - 9.00am to 12.30pm

As part of our Growing and Changing topic we will be visiting Stratford Butterfly Farm and seeing first hand the wonderful life cycle stages of the butterfly.

Summer uniform with blazers and Crescent sun hats to be worn (sun cream to be applied before school).  Please send in a pocket sized drink and snack. No spending money is required.

Children will have lunch upon return to school.

Thursday 23 June 2022 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

Year 6 children are very proud to be presenting the Scottish play Macbeth. They have been working very hard on this production with Miss Thompson and Mrs Barnes all term and it will be a wonderful way to round off their time at Crescent School.

Year 6 parents are welcome to book four tickets to see this production and we invite families to join us for light refreshments beforehand. 

Year 5 children have been invited to accompany the choral part of this production, there will be one ticket available for each child's family if you wish to watch it.

Tickets can be booked below:

Macbeth Tickets 

Further details concerning timings will be shared in the coming weeks.

Mrs Webb, Miss Thompson, Mrs Barnes

Monday 27 June 2022 - 2.15pm to 3.15pm

We are all very much looking forward to our Sports Day for Reception on Friday 27 June. This is being held within the school day so normal drop off and collection times from school apply.

Please note that all pupils are to wear PE kit to school, blazers are not required but tracksuit tops or hoodies are to be worn. Please ensure that your child(ren) comes to school with the following:

• sun cream 
• a school sunhat (these can be purchased from the school office)
• a refillable drinks bottle of water (snacks will be provided)

Sports days are always very much anticipated by the children and really enjoyable for all involved.

Parents are invited to come and support, please book your tickets via the link below: 

Reception Sports Day

Monday 27 June to Friday 1 July 2022

Dear 6W Parents

I am sorry to say that we are approaching the final weeks of your child’s time at Crescent School. This is a time to reflect on how far they have come, celebrate all their achievements and look forward to the next stage of their education.

As part of 6W looking forward and preparing them for the next step, I have prepared a Community Week, a time to learn some life skills, a time to be a good citizen, time to contribute to the lives of others and to make lasting memories.

This week will be running 27 June to 1 July. Please take a look at our plan outlining the activities and any requirements (this is subject to change). All trips are risk assessed and we do our best to ensure the happiness and safety of your children.

At this point I must say thank you to the kind person who donated money so we can take the class out on a treat - they chose laser tag.

We will let you know about the details for the Leavers Service in the coming weeks, but please save the date in your diaries.

Thursday 30 June 2022 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

We are looking forward to seeing many Parents at our Welcome Evening on Thursday 30 June at 7.00pm.

You will have opportunity to meet new staff, hear from Mr Thackway about the highlights of the year gone by and our plans for 2022-23. You will also meet your child's new form teacher who will run through with you a series of key points and information to prepare you for the start of the Michaelmas term. Light refreshments will be available. This evening is for parents only.

Please can you indicate if you are able to attend via the link below:

Welcome Evening Tickets

Crescent School

Thursday 30 June - 3.15pm to 3.45pm

Our ‘Open Book’ afternoon is on Thursday 30 June for Years 1-5.  This is a chance for you to share all of your child’s books with them at their desk and see what they have enjoyed this year in the classrooms. The front door will be open at 3.00pm and you will be told which classroom your child will be in at that time of the day. Due to space we can only accommodate one adult per child.

Please note this is not a Parent Teacher consultation, but a lovely opportunity for you and your child to share their work.

You will be able to take many, but not all of the books home afterwards. If you have more than one child, please split the time between the classrooms, taking the first child with you to the next! 

I do hope you can join us, please let us know by Tuesday 28 June via the link below.

Open Book Afternoon Tickets 

Wednesday 29 June 2022

All classes will be spending the morning with their new teachers and will have opportunities to share their hopes and fears for the year ahead and do some bonding activities with their new form teacher.

The children just need to come to school as normal that day and note uniform requirements as per the table below:

All lessons will return to normal timetable for the afternoon.

This is also the day when our Year 6 children who are moving to Princethorpe College will have their induction day. I know that Princethorpe have a number of exciting things planned to help them feel at home there. Our present Year 6 children who are not going to Princethorpe that day are expected in school and will be our honorary Year 7s for the day.

Dear Year 5 Parents

As you will no doubt be aware, the local authority 11+ exams for entry into Year 7 in 2023 are scheduled to take place in September 2022, most likely on the weekend of 10 and 11 September. Registration for the exam is now open with the deadline for applications on 30 June 2022.

You can register for the exam online by following the link below:

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/grammar-schools-11-test/register-11-test/1

With this in mind, we would like to invite this year’s Year 5 children in for two days of Pre-Season Brain Training Sessions on Wednesday 31 August and Thursday 1 September 2022. These will run from 9.00am until 12.45pm each day.

The children will spend each morning with their familiar Crescent teachers, including Ms Forth, Mrs Webb and Mr Adkins, getting them back into gear and ready for their exams. Each day there will be taught sessions focusing on the four strands of the 11+; verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, Maths and English comprehension. Needless to say, these skills will also be useful for their Princethorpe exams on 5 November, as well as any other independent school exams they may be entered for.

Children will be expected to arrive in school smartly dressed with a mid-morning snack. They do not need to wear school uniform.

These sessions will be in addition to the revision packs that we send home at the end of the Summer Term. I am pleased to say that there will be no charge for attendance.

Please indicate if you would like to sign up by following this link by Friday 1 July 2022.

Brain Training

Best wishes 

Friday 1 July 2022 - 9.00am to 3.30pm

A full day outing to the zoo to see all of the animals in their enclosures that includes a Wildlife Heroes workshop for Year 1 and Habitats and Adaptations workshop for Year 2

Summer uniform with blazers and Crescent sun hats to be worn (sun cream to be applied before school). Please send in a pocket sized drink and snacks. No spending money is required.

Children will have a school supplied packed lunch.

Crescent School would like to invite the parents and families of Class 6W to join us for the Leavers' Service of the Class of 2022 on Tuesday 6 July between 2.15pm and 3.45pm.

You are welcome to join us for light refreshments on the school field at 2.15pm, followed by a service in the school hall which involves the presentation of Leavers Books and a book from the school.  Alongside this, Year 6 and Mrs Webb will share memories interspersed with musical interludes from this talented class.

Please indicate how many of your family will be joining us so we can cater accordingly.  There will be up to four tickets available per family:

Year 6 Leavers' Service 

We hope you will be able to join us.

This week the following children have achieved full Junior da Vinci status.

• Theo and Alfie in 2W for Mathematics
• Charlotte and Chloe in 6W for Design Technology
• Iris in RE for English

Congratulations on all your hard work.

Mrs Symons
Junior da Vinci Lead

This week's reading superstars are:

• Word Millionaire: Ellie

• Double Millionaire: Tegan

This week's Accelerated Reader Superstars are:

Top Quizzers are:

• 3Y  Toni
• 4M Roisin
• 5F  Harry
• 6W Abigail

Word Wizards are:

• 3Y  Matthew
• 4M Sam O
• 5F  Mya
• 6W Sachin

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

• Alice
• Daniel
• Everly
• Ire
• Niamh
• Nimeeta
• Siara

Well done to you all.

Results for last week's battle - well done 2W:

• 1st place - Class 2W with 994 points
• 2nd place - Class 3Y with 542 points
• 3rd place - Class 1SS with 68 points

 Most valuable players in the whole competition:

• 1st Alfie 2W
• 2nd Herbie 3Y
• 3rd Kian 2W

Last week's most improved speedsters in Studio are: 

Stay Calm and Rock On!!

Please click on the link below to read all about what the Reception classes have been learning this week. 

Reception Round Up - 20 June 2022 

For a two or three week period this year we will be focusing on one of the sayings in the 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.

From now until the end of term we will be looking at a very important idea from the Good Citizens section of the Promise:

"We keep our school tidy and take pride in our clothes and our uniform."

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Please click below to view the lunch menu for next week, children are able to have either the Main or Vegetarian option. 

Lunch Menu 20 June 2022

Crescent School

Please see below for useful school contact information:

Please find link below to view the term dates for 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24:

Term Dates 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24

The Foundation has the following vacancies:

• Marketing, Admissions & Communications Assistant - Princethorpe College
• Head of Nursery - Crackley Hall School
• Estates Assistant - Princethorpe College

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.