Welcome to The Courier, Crescent School's e-newsletter.

It’s been another busy and exciting week here at Crescent School. What with St George’s Day, the Girls Football Tournament, Year 4’s trip to Brandon Marsh and Year 5’s Taster Day at Princethorpe College, there have been plenty of comings and goings. In amongst all that we have had lots of lovely learning.

Do keep an eye on the Events section, as we have lots planned for the term ahead and read on to find out what else has been happening in school this week.

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Headmaster's Message

Headmaster's Message

Dear Parents and Friends of the School

Whilst the same can't be said of the temperatures just yet, the new term here at school has certainly been hotting up over the week gone by.

I particularly enjoyed a walk around the children’s outdoor learning and forest school activities this week. It was great to see so many of them actively engaged working together collaboratively and taking responsibility for their own learning. This applied to those children making dens and identifying mini-beasts in the forest school just as much as those figuring out how best to traverse the new climbing wall and avoid inevitable disaster on the large scale Jenga game. There was lots going on and the children are certainly enjoying this still-new and developing aspect of school life.

It has been an active week in many ways, with the Year 4 class having a fab time over at Brandon Marsh as part of their biodiversity studies, as well as the girls’ football tournament going ahead yesterday and tag rugby earlier in the week. The theme for games lessons has been more summer-like with athletics and cricket the main focus, and plenty more sport and outdoor activities to come over the remainder of the term.

I would just make a very quick plug for an article that is repeated in this week's Courier regarding the upcoming Birmingham 10-kilometre run. A number of parents and staff are taking part in this event to raise money for the Children's Hospital in memory of our great friend Barnaby Williams. I am giving it a go myself and have creaked into action over recent weeks in what I can loosely describe as ‘training’. Suffice to say my glory days, such as they were, are over when it comes to running, but please do have a look at this article and link if you'd like to contribute to the fund raising at all. There is also the Mud Run event coming up, as well as the Concert for Barnaby and football tournament, all planned for June, so lots to look forward to there. Barnaby, we won’t forget you.

Good luck to our swimmers taking part in the town gala on Saturday. I hope it goes well and thanks to those staff and parents who are helping out on the day; it is most appreciated.

Whatever you have planned for the weekend, I hope you are able to spend some quality time with your families.

With all best wishes.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Important Information

The Barnaby Bear Football Tournament

We are all looking forward to a chance to celebrate Barnaby Williams’ amazing young life in our inaugural Barnaby Bear Football Tournament on Saturday 8 June.

To help us with our preparations, please let us know whether your child will be able to come along and play or spectate. It is open to all children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and everyone is welcome. The likely start time will be 9:30am and we should be all finished by lunchtime. Full timings will be announced later once we know the details of the format. To some extent this will depend on the number of children wanting to take part.

There will be two mini-tournaments, one for the U9s and one for the U11s, with little trophies on offer for the winning teams and a sporty version of Barnaby Bear to be won by the overall winners. The children will take part in House teams, and there may be more than one team per House.

Please complete the form below if your child is able to take part in the tournament. If any parents would like to be involved in the morning, either refereeing, serving refreshments or coaching one of the teams, please let us know in the form below.

Barnaby Bear Football Tournament

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

House Easter Decoration Competition

Thank you to all of you who submitted entries for this competition. Mr Thackway showed the entries in this PowerPoint in Assembly today.  Congratulation to Niamh for her winning entry and Iris, Evelyn and Uma who were our runners up.

Well done to everyone that took part.

Mrs McCollin
Head of PE and Games

 

Weekly Information

News

Crescent Community Takes On The Great Birmingham Run

Mr Thackway, Mrs Yates and her son, former Crescent Head Boy, Joe, along with a number of parents from the wider Crescent community, will be joining Tina and Chris Williams on Sunday 5 May when they take on the Great Birmingham Run.

They will be running in memory of Barnaby and are raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s Neuro-Oncology Research Fund. The fund supports the research imaging in which Birmingham Children’s Hospital is a world leader. This includes studies on Medulloblastoma, including developing new tests for more rapid diagnosis and subtyping that will aid the earlier diagnosis of the condition.

If you would like to support Tina, Chris and the Crescent community in their 10km challenge for Barnaby you can find out more and donate here:

ajbellgreatbirminghamrun2024.enthuse.com 

Year 5 Enjoy A Taster Day At Princethorpe

Year 5 pupils enjoyed a day at Princethorpe College on Tuesday, when they took part in a special Crescent School only taster day. It was an early opportunity for them to experience life at the Foundation’s senior school and start to become familiar with the bigger school environment, helping to make the move to secondary school a less daunting experience

Pupils enjoyed lessons in History, Geography, Latin, Science and Art. They have also had a walk around the school buildings, enjoyed a legendary Princethorpe cookie, spotted old Crescent friends now at Princethorpe, took lunch in the Refectory and participated in other activities including a Q&A with the prefects. In the afternoon, they also had the chance to familiarise themselves with the CEM tests used on entrance examinations day.  

Parents are reminded that Crescent School children are not automatically entered for Princethorpe’s Entrance Examinations. Those wishing to apply for September 2025 entry must complete a registration form by Friday 27 September at the latest, with the Entrance Examinations then taking place on Saturday 9 November.

More information is available from the Admissions Office at Princethorpe, they can be contacted on 01926 634201/297 or by email at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

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Free Autism Workshops For Parents, Carers And Professionals In Coventry and Warwickshire

A free course, running in May 2024, offering support for parents and carers of autistic children who are currently awaiting a diagnosis is available to book through the Community Autism Support Service (CASS).

The Children's Autism Support Programme (CASP) is a four-week course for parents and carers of autistic children under the age of 12 years, living in Coventry and Warwickshire. Sessions will be delivered by qualified Act for Autism trainers who also have lived experience of autism and will help attendees to explore and understand autism so they can better support their child.

The course will run weekly over a four-week period, starting on 8 May 2024. Book your place here:

Autism Workshop

Training and education - Community Autism Support Service CASS (casspartnership.org.uk)

Mrs Yates
SENDCo

 

Bird Artwork

We have freshenened up some of our picture frames in school and what better way than with these wonderful bird drawings from pupils in Year 2. I showed them to the school in Assembly last week and they will be displayed in the lovely breakout work space.

Well done to Isabel, Olivia-Rose and Charlotte.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

Events

Sun Awareness Week

Following on from last year's successful accreditation as a Sun Safe school, we will again be repeating the importance of care in the sun.

During the week beginning 29 April messages regarding safety in the sun will be reiterated to all year groups with follow up activities as appropriate.  We will be holding a Sun Awareness assembly on Tuesday 30 April.

You children may talk about this at home and we hope that you will support them and us by answering any questions that they might have, or by making us aware if they feel the need for clarification.

Mrs Noyce
Teaching Assistant

Year 5 Frank Chapman Centre Residential - Parent Information Session

Monday 29 April 2024 - 4.00pm

All Year 5 parents are invited to a final drop-in session between 4.00pm and 4.30pm on Monday 29 April, regarding the residential trip to the Frank Chapman Centre. 

No new information will be given out but it is your opportunity to ask any quesions.

This will be held in the Class 5F form room.

Mr Adkins
Trip Leader
 

Hunt Book Shop Book Fair

We are supporting our local independent book shop this term by holding a book fair in the library.

It will run before school and after school:

  • Wednesday 1 May 2024 - 08.15 to 08.45 and 15.30 to 17.00
  • Thursday 2 May 2024 - 08.15 to 08.45 and 15.30 to 17.00
  • Friday 3 May 2024 - 08.15 to 08.45 and 15.30 to 17.00

You will be able to pay by card or cash and the school receive 10% commission alongside the knowledge that we are supporting a local independent business.

Thank you to the FOC who are helping to run our book fair.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Class And Group Photographs

Friday 3 May 2024 - 09.00am to 12.00pm

Group and team photos will take place on Friday 3 May 2024. Summer uniform and blazers to be worn please.

Orchestra and Brass group may bring their instruments as props.

Those who are having Sports Team photos taken will be advised so they can bring their kit in. 

Crescent School

Year 4 Production Jack And The Beanstalk

Tuesday 14 May 2024 2.45pm to 3.30pm

I am pleased to announce our Year 4 production this year will be Jack And The Beanstalk.

Refreshments will be served in the Library from 2.30pm.

There are 4 tickets available per families of pupils in Year 4 to book:

Jack and the Beanstalk

Kind regards

Miss Bowdige
Drama Teacher

Crescent School Open Evening For Prospective Parents

Tuesday 14 May - 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Please share news of our Open Evening for prospective pupils.

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to Crescent School's Open Evening on Tuesday 14 May 2023 - 5.00pm to 7.00pm.

Come and find out why Crescent School has been judged Excellent in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. It's a great opportunity for prospective families to get a feel for the school and to meet, Mr Thackway, Headmaster.

We are already taking registrations for places in Reception and Year 3 starting in September 2025. 

To book your place please click here

For more information or to talk to our Admissions Team, please contact our Registrar Mrs Becky Witcomb on 01788 523851 or by email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk.

 

Class 6W Celebration Breakfast

Wednesday 15 May 2024 - 9.00am to 10.00am

The Celebration Breakfast for 6W is on Wednesday 15 May. We will be eating around 9am, so the children in 6W will only require a light breakfast at home (and no snack required) so they can fully enjoy all the treats that our wonderful Olive staff will be laying out for us.

Mrs Webb
Class 6W Form Teacher

Open Corridors

Friday 17 May 2024 - 3.45pm to 4.15pm

On Friday 17 May, 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.

Please collect your child before entering through 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. On this day, Years 5 and 6 will be dismissed through the pupil door. 

If your child is in a Co-Curricular club then they will be expected to attend unless you arrange otherwise. They are unable to attend both.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Reception Stay And Play

Tuesday 21 May 2024 - 9.00am to 9.30am or Wednesday 22 May 2024 - 2.45pm to 3.15pm

This is an opportunity to share your child's learning journey through Reception. 

One parent is able to attend either of the sessions below. Entry will be via the afterschool entrance by the side of school where parents normally collect Reception children.

Tuesday 21 May - 09.00am to 09.30am
 
Wednesday 22 May - 2.45pm to 3.15pm
 
Mrs Pullen 
Reception Class Teacher

 

Year 5 Brain Training

Dear Year 5 Parents

As you will no doubt be aware, the local authority 11+ exams for entry into Year 7 in 2025 are scheduled to take place in September 2024, most likely on the second weekend of September. Registration for the exam will open on 7 May 2024.

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 Thursday 29 August and Friday 30 August 2024. 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, Ms Clark 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 Saturday 9 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 3 May 2024.

Brain Training 2024

Best wishes 

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Awards

Lunchtime Supervisors Top Table Year 2

Thank you to Jonelle, Alexandria, Jed, Daniel, Thato, Anika from 2E and Emily, Zachary, Teddy, Sarima, Regan and Charlotte S from 2W for their good conduct, good manners and respect for others during lunchtimes.

The lunchtime supervisors decided that you are this half term's recipients of Top Table invitations.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

Junior da Vinci Students

Another busy week for children earning their full student status.

  • Shiv, Alex G, Roisin and Emily in 6W achieve theirs in History, as do Sarima and Isla in 2W
  • Alice, Sam O and Grace in 6W earn theirs in English
  • Samuel in 5F also becomes a double student in Art
  • Hazel in 2W earns hers in English
  • Tomisin in 4C achieves his in Science and DT

Congratulations to you all.

Mrs Symons
JdV Lead

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Accelerated Reader Awards

Lots of awards this week:

  • 500k words - Penelope 3SS
  • Millionaires - Kian 4C, Nora 5F and Hattie 6W
  • Double millionaire - Esme 4C
  • Triple millionaire - Alice 3SS

Super reading all.

Mrs Nelson
Teaching Assistant

Accelerated Reader Top Quizzers And Word Wizards

This week's Word Wizards and Top Quizzers are:

Word Wizards, achieving the highest word count from successfully quizzing this week, are:

  • 3LS  Kiki
  • 3SS  Felicity
  • 4C    Lilah
  • 5F    Sophie G
  • 6W   Alex G

Top Quizzers who have quizzed on the most books successfully or made a noticeable improvement in quizzing scores this week are:

  • 3LS  Sophia
  • 3SS  Henry F
  • 4C   Seren
  • 5F    Toni
  • 6W   Shiv

Mrs Nelson
Teaching Assistant

Accelerated Reader 100,000 Words

Year 3, 100k Word Superstars this week are Isabella and Sophia in 3LS.

Well done.

Mrs Nelson
Teaching Assistant

Pre-Prep Reading Certificates

Reading certificates have, this week, been awarded to:

  • Arielle
  • Austin
  • Emily
  • Lara
  • Maia
  • Nifemi
  • Sophie D
  • Tilly

Well done to you all.

Mr Webb
Head of Pre-Prep

Times Table Rock Stars

Results for Battle 18 -25 April - all classes against each other- average score per class member.

  • 1st 6W 101
  • 2nd 2E 83
  • 3rd 3SS 22

Most valuable players in the whole competition:

  • 1st Shiv 6W
  • 2nd Sam B 6W
  • 3rd Toni 5F

Well done, 6W! 🏆
 
Most improved speedsters in the studio are:

  • 1Q - Florence - Busker!
  • 5F - Toni - Rock Legend!

Battle between All Classes - 25 April - 2 May 2024. 

TT Rock stars will block 2x, 5x, 10x and 11x on jamming if you are efficient at them, so you cannot pick easy ones just to score more points in the competition! 

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

Art Frizzmeister 
Deputy Head
 

Artist Of The Week

This week's Artist of the Week are:

  • Maggie 6W - Lovely experimental different brush techniques and brilliant qualities of paint to create texture
  • Remi 6W - Creative use of different brush strokes to add texture
  • Alex T 6W - Wonderful use of colours to create an eye-catching landscape painting 
  • Emily 6W - A lovely combination of colours to add tone and pattern 
  • Sam 5F - A visually exciting piece of fabric personal to him
  • Max 5F - Beautifully created piece of fabric showing imaginative ideas personal to him
Mrs Thackway
Head of Art

Around The Classes

Class 3LS Spanish

Class 3LS have been learning how to ask questions in Spanish. They have also learnt phrases to communicate key information about themselves. Here they are practising their speaking skills successfully.

Mrs Day
MFL Teacher

Class 3SS English

This week Class 3SS have continued to follow the adventures of Max the Hedgehog from our text, The Hodgeheg. We considered what Max would ask the animals who lived in the park. The children wore masks to get into role, practised their conversations, planned their writing using speech bubbles, before writing the dialogue using all the speech structure and punctuation we have been practising.

Mrs Stapleton
Class 3SS English Teacher
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Class 4C Brandon Marsh

Year 4 had a hands on experience at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve this week. As part of their topic on 'Living Things and their Habitats' pupils went minibeast hunting; they used classification keys to identify and group their finds. The children learnt how to sample animals from their habitats using different techniques and they thorougly enjoyed pond dipping, where they learnt about the different species in this habitat. As part of the day the class were asked to reflect on their own personal actions to take care of nature. 

Mrs Johnson
Head of Science and DT
View Gallery

Class 4C Music

Class 4C are busy rehearsing the songs for their upcoming drama production, Jack and the Beanstalk. There are a lot of words to remember, and all the songs are in two parts, which is hard work for a single class to manage, but they are nailing it!

Mrs Barnes
Director of Music

Class 5F Art

This week in Art, Class 5F have been looking closely at the structure and texture of different flowers. They have used a variety of sketching marks to add sensitivity and tone to their sketches.

Mrs Thackway
Head of Art

Class 5F English

Class 5F are reading Kensuke’s Kingdom this term. They have been studying the descriptive language on different pages then worked collaboratively to create a map from what they had read. It was lovely to see the listening that was happening as they showed their creativity.

Mrs Webb
Class 5F English Teacher

Class 6W Sun Awareness Assembly

The children in Year 6 have been hard at work preparing for next week's sun awareness assembly. They will present lots of interesting and challenging facts and figures to the school to improve our understanding of the harmful effects of too much sunshine, and what we can all do to keep yourself safe during the summer months.

We are hoping that this will act as a reminder to the weather gods that we would actually quite enjoy some sunshine, so we can put these important ideas into practise.

Mr Thackway
Headmaster

Go Green Stay Green

World Water Day 2024

One of target areas in the Green Team Action Plan is to help our community reduce water use.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust has some great advice how to save water in the home and in the garden this summer. They explain how the 87% loss of wetlands in the world not only brings about extinction of species but also how sustaining wetlands can help reduce climate change as they act as natural carbon filters.

Please have a read: 

Saving Water in the Home and Garden

Mrs Johnson
Head of Science and DT 

Sport

U9's ISA 7s Tag Rugby

The U9s Tag Rugby squad gave a fantastic account of themselves at an incredibly tight and close fought Midlands ISA 7s tournament that really went down to the wire.

Crescent kicked off their campaign with two impressively comprehensive 8-2 and 7-3 victories, their powerful running proving too much for both Castle House and Edenhurst. This was then followed by a narrow 5-3 loss to eventual champions OVS, meaning Crescent finished 2nd in their group stage and went into the knock-out competition. Then in true heart-breaking style (think Cov City in the FA Cup) Crescent were defeated by the narrowest of margins in their quarter final.

Despite a strong start, they drew 5-5 with Mylnhurst in regular time, only to lose out 1-0 in extra time. Mylnhurst then went on to only lose by 1 try in the final to OVS, proving just how close the how competition was! Crescent finished in a very respectable 5th position out of 14 on the day, and the whole squad left with their heads held very high.

Player of the tournament was Kian for his aggressive defence and superb, jinking runs.

Mr Adkins and Mrs Calder

U9 Girls Rugby Primary Festival of Football

Our U9 Girls footballers had the great opportunity to travel over to the incredible Rugby Borough facilities on Thursday to take part in the Rugby Primary Festival of Football, a super event to champion all of the talented young female footballers in the town.

Our 'A' side took part in the competitive side of the Festival, playing some fantastic football, winning 2 games, drawing 1 and losing 1, finishing a brilliant 3rd out of 9 schools overall!

Our players of the tournament were Amber and Penny for their super goalscoring!

The 'B' team took part in the development side of the festival, playing some amazing games to work on their football skills and enjoyment, all led by some super 'Sports Activators' from RHS and Harris.

We are all very excited for the next season and our girls getting stuck into more competitive girls' football!

Mr Adkins and Mrs Calder

FoC Events

FoC - Class 1Q Market Day Bake Sale

Friday 3 May 2024 - 3.30pm to 4.45pm

Class 1Q Bake Sale is on Friday 3 May. As always this will start from 3.30pm and will have a range of yummy cakes and snacks selling at £1 each.

All profits will go to Class 1Q to spend on entertainment for Privilege Time.

Friends of Crescent

FoC - Preloved Uniform Sale

Friday 14 June

As previously mentioned we are going to have a face-to-face Preloved sale on Friday 14 June during drop off. This is a great opportunity to stock up on uniform for the new school year, however for it to be a success we need lots of uniform to sell! Items can be dropped off during school hours. Here is a reminder of what we are looking for: 

Uniform required and accepted in pre-loved:

Sports

  • School tracksuit bottoms
  • School tracksuit tops
  • Sports polo tops
  • Games tops
  • Green sports fleece
  • New sports socks
  • Black shorts 
  • Black skorts
  • Cricket whites

Uniform

  • Summer dresses
  • Winter pinafores (checked tartan)
  • Winter skirts (checked tartan) 
  • V neck jumpers
  • Blazers with logo still attached
  • Summer/winter hats
  • PE bags
  • Music bag
  • Green satchel
  • Green back pack
  • House ties

Items not accepted 

  • Green cardigans 
  • Green round necked jumpers
  • Grey pinafores
  • Grey skirts
  • Green joggers (only for outdoor learning)
  • Green cycling shorts
  • Swimming trunks
  • Swimming costumes
  • Old crescent logo items
  • Blazers without a badge
  • Grey shorts
  • Grey trousers
  • White shirts
  • Socks

Please leave in the box outside or drop it into the school office before the end of term.

Thanks!

FOC 

FoC

FoC - Bag2school Collection

A massive thank you to everyone who donated to Bag2School. It really is appreciated and because of your donations we raised an additional £75.24. It may not seem much but all initiatives like this add up and mean we are able to pay for school enhancements like the Traversing Wall and wall mounted puzzles in Cosy Corner.

Since we started doing Bag2School we have raised almost £500 and none of this could have been achieved without Year 6 parent and FOC Secretary Laura O'Connell who has championed it.

Thanks so much Laura!

Friends of Crescent

Housekeeping

Term Dates Updated With 2025/26

Click here to view the term dates for 2023/24, 2024/25

Click here to view 2025/26.

Crescent School

 

 
 

School Contact Information And Links

Please see below for useful school contact information:

Crescent School Office
01788 521595
Postal address: Crescent School, Bawnmore Road, Bilton, Rugby CV22 7QH
 
After School Club
01788 523850
 
Bills, Fees and Online Payment
01926 634273
 
Registrar
01788 523851
 
Princethorpe College General Office
01926 634200
 
twitter:    @CrescentSchRug
facebook: @cres.school
instagram: @crescentschoolrugby

School Uniform Items Stocked At School

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

The Princethorpe Foundation Employment Opportunities

We regularly recruit for a variety of roles, please do share news of the vacancies with interested friends and family. Current vacancies include:

The Princethorpe Foundation

  • Head of Business Services
  • Events Co-ordinator

Princethorpe College

  • Head of Psychology and Sociology
  • Assistant Registrar
  • Science Technician
  • Administrator/Receptionist
  • Minibus Driver

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.