The Courier

Please click on the link below to view the weekly calendar.  This details all the co-curricular clubs running and lists any changes.  It also contains fixtures and additional information.

There is no Orchestra after school on Friday 16 March.

Weekly Calendar

Crescent School

Dear Parents

I am delighted to tell you about an exciting new communications tool that we are introducing at the Crescent School. The software is called Evolve and it is designed to enable paperless home-school communication in regards to school trips, workshops or events that require parental permission.

Communications that you receive from Evolve will appear in your inbox as a normal email, addressed from Princethorpe College. You will be able to read about the activity in question and give your consent to your child’s participation by simply clicking as requested in the message.

We intend to trial this new facility for the upcoming Open Morning on Saturday 24 March 2018.

I am sure you will find it a user friendly and convenient way to ensure that you will be able to communicate your consent quickly and accurately and take away the worry of forms being lost or left in a desk.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

On Saturday 24 March 2018 Crescent School is holding an Open Morning. The event is for existing and prospective parents and there will be plenty to see and do.  All Crescent School children are to attend.

Nursery, Reception, Class I and Class II will be performing The Bee Musical, Classes III and IV will be showcasing sport, Class V will be demonstrating Science and playing an instrumental medley whilst Class VI will act as tour guides.

Parents will receive an individual letter explaining what their child will be doing and when and where they are required.

Nursery, Reception, Class I and Class II parents are all invited to the production.  All parents are invited to tour the school.

We ask that all parents stay on the school premises for the duration of their child’s involvement except for parents of children in Class V and Class VI.

If you have any questions, please speak to the school office.  We are looking forward to welcoming you into school.

Dear Parents

We are full steam ahead with our preparations for “The Bee Musical” on 24 March.  All children have worked hard to say their words. In order to replicate what we are doing in school please now support them further in developing their clarity, expression and especially VOLUME (!!), as well as knowing when to say their words (ideally prompting them with the line before). We will be asking them to perform without scripts at all from Wednesday 14 March.

Ordered costumes and accessories are arriving in school on a daily basis now – please do continue to send in items we have requested from home. These will be stored safely in school until after the performance.

With best wishes and many thanks for your continued support,

Mr Webb 
Assistant Headteacher

Classes 4Y and 4M are leading the fundraising for the Bwengu Projects this year as they are studying this area of Malawi for their geography topic this term.  Crescent has helped change the lives of many children and adults through our annual appeals.

This year the children have chosen two very different projects. Firstly many children, particularly girls, do not like to go to school in Bwengu because there are no toilets.  It costs £385 to build a toilet block to UNICEF specification and standard.  Ideally the children would like to fund one for the girls and one for the boys.  The second project is to pay the scholarships for twenty secondary school pupils which cost £8 each for the year.  In total that gives us a target of £930.

The children have planned activities to help them raise this money. They are as follows: 

• Guess the Sweets in the Jar starts Monday 12 March - £1 for three guesses
• Name the Teddy starts Monday 12 March - £1 a name
• Easter Egg Colouring Competition will be sent home on Friday 16 March - entries £1 to return by Friday 23 March
• Sponsored event 4M on Wednesday 14 March - look out for sponsor forms
• Sponsored event 4Y on Friday 23 March - look out for sponsor forms
• Penny Path on Tuesday 27 March - donate all your small coins change
• Easter Egg Hunt Game for whole school on Tuesday 27 March - £1 for a game card

The school has supported this charity run by Rugby locals, Sue and Tony Melia, since 2008 and look forward to your continued, generous support this year.

For more information on the charity see www.bwenguprojects.co.uk.

We could not let the snow spoil our fun could we? So World Book Day happened a little late at Crescent School on Monday 5 March; it was thankfully a little warmer too.  It is always so good to see the full range of outfits that the children (and teachers) wear, a lot of effort had clearly been put in by parents!

As children share the inspiration for their costumes hopefully others are considering reading that book or maybe remembering when they have read it in the past.

Enjoy the photos we have included, many more will be up to look at on our Open Morning on Saturday 24 March 2018.

This term Class V have been learning about all aspects of fire safety.  The children pictured all received their fire safety champions certificates in assembly this morning.

We are very proud of our hockey here at Crescent School and it is great to see so many of our children selected to play for the Rugby and East Warwickshire Hockey County squads.

Well done and good luck to you all.

The Rock UK three day residential is fast approaching, it will take place from Monday 30 April - Wednesday 2 May.  On Friday 23 March you will receive an information pack detailing the required kit list, phone numbers etc. 

If you still have any questions I will be available, along with Mrs Olner, on Tuesday 27 March in Class V from 3.45pm to answer any questions or clarify any points that you may still have.

We have the full itinerary of activities now, but rooms and groups will not be decided until much nearer the time.

February's 'What's in Season' fruit was Bramley Apples and on 27 February the children got the chance to try a freshly made Apple Smoothie.  It went down a treat, some children even went back for extra glasses!

Olive Catering have kindly provided the recipe below, in case you would like to make it at home.

Apple Smoothie

Issy Thompson in Class 4(Y) recently attended a Dance Championships in Crawley and won two awards.

Issy had to perform two free style dances (one slow and one fast) and won first prizes for both.  Issy is pictured with her two awards which she brought into school to show in assembly this week.

Last week we had a lovely surprise delivery of cakes and biscuits from some wonderful parents as a thank you for all we do.  The goodies were gratefully received and much appreciated.

So whoever you are - thank you from all the Staff at Crescent School!

Reception Class are reading and learning about Pirates this term and the children would love to have some pirate outfits to dress up in.  If you have any costumes you no longer use, they would be given a lovely new home at Crescent School.

Please drop them into the shcool office.

Many thanks

Friday 16 March 2018 - 2.15pm - 3.15pm

Next Friday we are presenting our annual Spring Concert. It will feature all the extra-curricular music groups as well as some soloists and will start at 2.15pm.

All are welcome to come and hear the results of this term’s music practice and effort!

Saturday 24 March - 9.30am to 12.00pm

The Crescent School is opening its doors to prospective and current parents and children for a Spring Open Morning on Saturday 24 March 2018 from 9.30am to 12.00pm. 

As part of the Open Morning there will be a very special performance by Reception to Year 2 pupils, along with children from Nature Trails Nursery, of The Bee Musical.  With a fabulous script and nine terrific songs to get you buzzing and bee-bopping, you just won’t bee-lieve how good this delightful and educational musical is!

This promises to be fantastic entertainment for visitors of all ages, and will really showcase the talents, confidence and stage presence of the school's youngest pupils. The show commences at 10.00am and we would urge visitors to arrive early to get a good seat!

After the half-hour performance there will be a short presentation about the Crescent and our ambitions for the school as part of the Princethorpe Foundation, and the chance to meet new Headmaster, Joe Thackway. There will also be short Q&A sessions with Alan Webb, Assistant Head - Head of Pre-Prep and Headmaster Joe Thackway about entry to Reception and Year 3. 

Elsewhere on site there will be plenty to see and do, including guided tours by the older pupils, sporting displays, instrumental performances, plus the opportunity to visit classrooms and chat informally to current parents and staff from Nature Trails, the Crescent and Princethorpe College.

Light refreshments will be available. There is no need to book.

For more information about the Open Morning please call Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 523851 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk.

Alternatively please visit our website www.crescentschool.co.uk for more information.

Tuesday 19 June 2018

Class V are warmly invited to a taste of senior school life at Princethorpe College on Tuesday 19 June 2018.  The taster day will begin at 9.30am when the children will be transported to the College by mini-bus from Crescent.  Pupils will experience a variety of classroom sessions, a tour of the school and a question and answer session with our current pupils. Break and lunch will be provided and there is no charge for this day.

At the end of the afternoon, you are invited to a Parents’ Information Session on entry to the College in September 2019. The session will commence at 4.30pm, finish at approximately 6.00pm and light refreshments will be served. 

Ed Hester, the Headmaster, along with other key members of staff will be available to talk to you about the College and to outline the admissions process. Children will also have the opportunity to trial the online CEM test, one of the exams that prospective pupils complete during the Entrance Examinations day, which will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Please click here to access the online booking form for the Year 5 Taster Day. Please complete and submit the form by 5.00pm on Monday 4 June to secure a place for your child.

For those parents who are unable to attend the Parents’ Information Session, your child will be transported back to Crescent for 3.30pm.

We hope you can join us and look forward to welcoming you to Princethorpe College.

With kind regards from the Admissions Team at Princethorpe College. 

Registrar - Mrs Vanessa Rooney
01926 634201
vanessarooney@princethorpe.co.uk
Working hours: 08.30-17.00

Assistant Registrar - Miss Helen Morgan
01926 634262
helenmorgan@princethorpe.co.uk
Working hours: 08.30-13.30

Admissions Administrator - Mrs Catherine Rogers
01926 634262
catherinerogers@princethorpe.co.uk
Working hours: 13.00-17.30

Back in November 2017, Classes V and VI entered the Rupert Brooke Literary Award run by Rugby School. This week we received some very pleasing results:

1st Prize:

• Ella Knight  
• Olivia Sarkies

2nd Prize:

• Alex Reynolds  
• Vignesh Sadasivan

Highly Commended:

• Maya Patel (not pictured)
• Rebecca Monteith 
• Lily Emery 
• Fin Calder
• Henry Kilner

Ms Alix Scott-Martin from Rugby School said:

'We were particularly impressed by The Crescent School's entries this year and it was a very tricky job to select the winners. I will be inviting the successful pupils to join us at an award ceremony at Rugby School early next term, when their entries will be read by our Drama scholars.'

I was proud of the effort and time the children put in to showcase their best English skills, it is lovely when their hard work is rewarded.

Congratulations to Daniel Pinks who is now a Junior da Vinci student in English.  He is the first in Class VI to be a Junior da Vinci student in two different subjects.

Well done Daniel. 

What another fantastic week for our pupils achieving their Junior da Vinci Awards. Please click on the link below to see this week's awards:

• Cara Ridd - she is a girl who hardly raises her head out of a book, her love of reading has earnt her a bronze star
• Freya Somerset - I wonder how many books she read to achieve that!

Well done Cara and Freya.

Please click on the link below to see the Accelerated Reader Certificates awarded this week:

Accelerated Reader 

Congratulations to all.
 
Ms Lowe
Senior Teacher

• Grace Mercer
• Olivia McLoughlin
• Leela Matharu
• Timi Ladele

Thank you to everyone who purchased Mother's Day trinket dishes from us.  In total the children produced 137 dishes.

We hope all the lucky Mums and Grandmothers love them as much as the children did producing them.

Thank you as always to all the FoC parents and Grandparents who came in to help make all this possible.

In total this has raised over £400 for the FoC which is fantastic but more importantly produced a bespoke handmade gift from the children.

This year we will be recording the dress rehearsal of The Bee Musical which children in Nature Trails, Reception, Year 1 and 2 will be performing on Saturday 24 March at the Open Day.

To purchase your DVD(s) please download the form below and return it to the green FoC box with your payment (£10 per DVD) by Friday 16 March. A copy of the form was sent home on Monday and copies can be found on the FoC table.

The DVDs will then be sent out before the end of term.

The Bee Musical DVD Order Form

Friday 23 March 2018 - 3.45pm - 4.45pm

Please come along and purchase cakes and sweets all in aid of Year 2.

Please click on the link below to view next week's lunch menu:

Lunch Menu Week Commencing 12 March

Crescent School Office

Please see attachements below for details of holiday clubs that are running over the Easter break.

Kits Academy

Rugby Soccer Coaching Course

Rugby Cricket Coaching Company

The Princethorpe Foundation seeks to appoint a Foundation Assistant Head (Director of Digital Strategy) to lead our schools’ ICT development and to act as a central driving force for ICT provision within teaching and learning.  This post provides an excellent opportunity to make a real impact by further strengthening the educational experience throughout the Foundation.

The successful candidate will lead on the development of the Foundation’s future ICT provision and the implementation and development of ICT projects. ICT is seen as fundamental to teaching and learning, as well as to the smooth running of the Foundation as a whole. The new appointee will ensure that the current systems are both flexible and effective and provide the best possible enhancement to teaching and learning. He or she will appraise and develop the use of ICT to enhance learning, within and beyond the classroom, and ensure that the Foundation is well positioned to implement new developments.

Single accommodation may be available. The Princethorpe Foundation has its own pay scale which is above national scales.

Application: To apply for this vacancy applicants must submit a Princethorpe College application form, together with a CV and covering letter detailing your personal qualities, experience and how you meet the person specification for the role. Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 19 March 2018 at 9.00am.  Candidates selected for interview will be informed by Tuesday 20 March with interviews taking place later that week/early the following week, at Princethorpe College.

Further details and an application form are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities.

The College seeks to appoint an outstanding teacher and inspiring leader to join a highly successful sports department from September 2018. The Head of Girls’ Games will play a leading role across the department, making significant contributions to our existing sporting and academic success.  We pride ourselves on the range and quality of the sports that we offer as much as we celebrate our delivery of A-level, GCSE and BTEC (level 2 and 3). The candidate should therefore be able to coach a major sport to the highest level throughout the academic year as well as offering outstanding academic Physical Education.

Candidates should be able to inspire pupils and colleagues alike to achieve their best and encourage even those of limited sporting ambition to actively enjoy and embrace stretching their own potential. They will show the vision and dynamism required to lead an excellent team, combined with the organisational and managerial prowess that a busy department depends upon. They should be a strong team player with proven excellent coaching and teaching ability, and show rigour, creativity and openness in their professional approach.

Single accommodation may be available. Princethorpe has its own pay scale which is above national scales.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the fast growing Foundation that values its staff and offers a rewarding benefits package including discounted places for staff, a pension scheme, child care vouchers and a cycle to work scheme.

Application: To apply for this vacancy applicants must submit a Princethorpe College application form, together with a CV and covering letter detailing your personal qualities, experience and how you meet the person specification for the role. Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 19 March 2018 at 9.00am.  Candidates selected for interview will be informed by Tuesday 20 March with interviews taking place later that week/early the following week, at Princethorpe.

Further details and an application form are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities.

Please click on the link below to read all about what the Reception Class have been learning over the last fortnight.

Reception Round Up