Headmaster's Message

Dear Parents

I know that there will have been lots of butterflies in tummies last Sunday evening as everyone prepared for their return to school after the summer break. In my house, we used to call this the ‘Songs of Praise’ syndrome, as this was always family viewing on a Sunday evening. I’m quite sure that the butterflies were there for teachers as well as children, all of whom were nervously looking forward to that first day back after the summer holiday. Well, I’m delighted to report that the butterflies very soon fluttered off and that everybody came back with a smile on their face and we have enjoyed a very positive first week of term.

I based my first assembly around the idea of ‘saying hello’. We tried it in a few different languages and tried to guess where the children had been on their holidays. The message was that a simple smile and a greeting is often enough just to break the ice and make other people feel at ease and welcome. I hope we made you welcome to the school this week, and I say this to both new and existing parents and families.

In particular, it was great to see the new Reception children coming in for their very first week and settling in so quickly. I know that Mrs Pullen and Mrs Noyce have been delighted with how the boys and girls have settled down and this augurs well for the terms ahead. Inevitably, they have tired a little as the week has gone on but they have all done really well.

Elsewhere in this week’s newsletter you will find information about communications between the school and you as parents. I hope you find the time to read this and make contact with us if there is anything you aren’t sure of. I know how important it is to provide information at the right times and in an accessible format that enables you to balance busy work and home schedules. This is something we continue to refine and build on and in the rest of the year.

I would also like to flag up for everyone the Crescent 70th celebrations that are coming up this term. Next Friday sees children and staff dressed in the style of one of the seven decades of the school, and on Saturday 29 September there is a double celebration with events on here at school and a ball in the evening. Please do look at Ms Lowe’s piece in the Courier, all the details you will need are in there.

I am pleased to report that the children have been delighted with the changes to the school, both in the changing area and the science lab. These two new much improved facilities will continue to provide great benefits to all of the children over the coming years and it is great to see them being embraced and enjoyed by the people who matter most.

Coming back after the holiday is not always the easiest thing for children and teachers, particularly after the wonderful summer we have enjoyed this year. I indulged myself a bit this week and told the children about my recent camping expedition in the Cairngorms with my two boys. The weather wasn’t so great up there mind you but this just added to the sense of challenge and remoteness.

It’s always good to set ourselves challenges and to approach them with resilience and good humour and these are the values that I am sure will stand us in good stead for another great year in school.

Best wishes

Joe Thackway

Communications Between School And Parents

Dear Parents

In the last 12 months we have made it a priority to improve the way we communicate with you. As a parent with school age children myself I know how important it is that you have access to clear and consistent information to enable you to plan your busy schedules around the needs of your children.

There have been a number of developments in the way we communicate with you and this letter is an attempt to set out clearly how we will use the various different platforms available to us, so that you know how and where to find the information you need.

The School Calendar

You now receive a pocket-sized hardcopy version of this at the end of the preceding term. We attempt to get as much detail in here as possible regarding parental events, sports fixtures and educational visits. This is also available in an electronic format via the school website, so you can click and create personal diary items on your own online diary.

The Courier

This is a crucial part of the system. The Courier is delivered electronically to your inbox every Friday. It includes reports and articles on ongoing events in school and will inform you of any changes or additions to the calendar. There is a link at the end of the Courier to the Weekly Calendar that lists all events planned for the upcoming week, including sports and clubs and highlights any late changes to details.

Email by ISAMS

Occasionally it is necessary to inform you of late changes to arrangements. For example, fixtures might need to be cancelled due to poor weather. In this instance you will receive a message via ISAMS, the school management system. This will appear in your email inbox.

We will also use this means of communication if it is a personal message for you, often from a form teacher, or possibly one that is specific to a form or year group.

Texts

We also have the option to send you urgent or time sensitive communications by text.

These are only used when urgent communication is required, such as a late return from a fixture or outing. We would normally use email when there is sufficient time and back this up with a text.

SOCS (School Online Communication System)

SOCS is a communication package that we will be introducing this term to communicate with you regarding co-curricular activities and sports fixtures.

From January 2019, In terms of co-curricular clubs you will be able to select and sign up for your chosen clubs each term and you will also be notified of your child’s acceptance. The only exception to this is Bayleaf Cookery who will communicate directly with parents regarding their club.

In terms of sports fixtures, you will now receive all information regarding team selection, fixture time, date and location (including a link to Google Maps directions) though SOCS. In due course, on the SOCS website, you will also be able to view scores, match reports and upcoming fixture details.

Evolve

Evolve is another package we will use that relates directly to school trips, fixtures, educational workshops and residential visits. You will be able to access information relating to the event as well as giving parental consent and agreement to payment arrangements where appropriate.

Social Media

The school also runs a Facebook and Twitter account. These accounts are used primarily to publicise upcoming events and to give quick fire reports and updates on special events in school or on trips. We might put in some general pictures of the events to give a taste of what is happening as well as short informative reports to keep you up to date.

These types of platform do not lend themselves well to viewing large numbers of pictures of the children. For some events, such as residential visits, we like to make available pictures of the children taking part to parents and for these we would use our Flickr account. If we are planning to upload pictures of events that involve your children onto Flickr you will receive an email from the school that contains the link to the relevant pictures. It is not possible to access our Flickr account without this personalised link.

Website

The school website is the place to look for general information relating to the school such as mission statements, school ethos, inspection reports, policy statements, term dates and links to the other schools of the Foundation. Importantly it also holds details of music lessons that parents can access via the password protected portal. A new password will be sent out at the beginning of each school year.

When you put it all in one letter, you realise just how varied our communications options are. Hopefully, this letter will clarify how and when each of them will be used this year but we are always looking to improve and refine this aspect of the running of the school as time goes by. If you have any queries in the meantime or would like more guidance on using the new systems I, or one of the front office staff, will be more than happy to help.

With all best wishes

Joe Thackway

Headmaster

School Promise Rule Of The Week

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’s promise is an excellent one to start the year with and is in the category of Good Friends:

‘We are kind to each other’

Joe Thackway

Headmaster

Weekly Information

Weekly Calendar

Please click on the link below to view the weekly calendar. This details all the co-curricular clubs running, fixtures and additional information.

Weekly Calendar - 10 September 2018

Crescent School

News

Anti Fraud School Fees Message

Cyber-crime – please be vigilant

Parents are asked to be vigilant when reading emails relating to the payment of school fees and any other items to the Foundation.

We continue to receive reports regarding spam emails being sent to parents of independent schools asking them to pay future fees to a ‘new’ school bank account.

Please be advised there has been no change to the bank details of either Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent and there is no intention to make any changes in the foreseeable future. Any electronic notification that appears to be from any of the Foundation schools changing these details may be fraudulent.

Our bank details are available on the Parent Bills, the Online Payment Portal and for Princethorpe in the Princethorpe College Information Booklet 2018 – 2019, and only those details should be used.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues in the Bursary if you are have any doubts about the correct details or indeed if anything appears suspicious.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Welcome To New Members Of staff

We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new members of staff to the teaching team here at Crescent. We welcome Mrs Nadia Barnett (BA Hons MA PGCE) and Mrs Laura Collie (BA Hons with QTS) on board as Year 5 teaching assistants. Both Nadia and Laura are fully qualified teachers in their own right so we are absolutely delighted to have their skill and experience available to us as we take the two Year 5 classes towards their entrance exams.

Across the school we are now able to say that every class will have a teaching assistant assigned to them. Their role is very much a learning and teaching one and they all play a key part in supporting the children’s learning as well as being part of the pastoral team.

Joe Thackway

Headmaster

Crescent At 70 Celebrations

Before the holidays I was in touch with you about our celebrations we were planning for this term.

On Friday 14 September the school will be off timetable and the children will be studying/experiencing aspects of social history from the past 70 years.

As part of this we would like the children (and teachers) to come to school dressed in the fashion of one of the decades in the past 70 years; this could be an opportunity for you to get your children to wear clothes that you may have worn in the 70s, 80s or 90s.

It will be great to see everyone in a variety of costumes.

Ms Lowe

Senior Teacher

Crescent School Platinum Anniversary Extra Tickets Available

You will be pleased to know that 20 more tickets have been released for the Platinum Anniversary Dinner Dance on Saturday 29 September at Princethorpe College.

A lovely sociable occasion to share with friends over a delicious 3-course meal, with live music and dancing. The dress code for the evening will be black tie and equivalent for ladies.

Tickets will cost £40 per head. These are now available on a first come, first served basis.

Please visit for tickets:

Platinum Anniversary Tickets

Confirmation will be made by email within 24 hours, you will also have opportunity to say who you would like to sit with for the evening.

Ms Lowe

Senior Teacher

Foundation News: Countdown To Entrance Exams Begins

With just nine weeks to go the countdown to Princethorpe College's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2019 has begun. This year the exams for Year 7 to 10 entry will take place on Saturday 10 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

The College's friendly Admissions Team has been kept busy over the summer accepting registrations from prospective parents. The deadline for entrance exam registrations is ideally Friday 5 October, to enable the seeking of references from junior schools. Class VI parents wishing their children to sit the exams do need to complete a registration form and submit it with the accompanying registration fee by this date.

Comments Melanie Butler, Assistant Head, Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "Parents and pupils will still have plenty of time to prepare and opportunities to visit the College in the run up to the exams and the results will be out at the end of November, making for an exam-free Christmas holiday, which has got to be good news."

If you have any queries relating to admissions please feel free to email the Registrars at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or call them on 01926 634201.

Wanted Old Pre-Loved Uniform

Mrs Stapleton is looking for old, pre-loved uniform which is not suitable to be sold on/handed down for an art project as part of our Platinum Anniversary Celebrations. Specifically anything with an old or new logo on, pinafore dresses, summer dresses, PE tops etc. If you have any such items please drop them into the school office.

Many thanks.

Mrs Stapleton

Class III Teacher

Top Tips For Navigating The Courier On Your Phone

To help families new to the school, and as a reminder for all, we thought we would share some tips for navigating The Courier on your phone.

Each weekly edition of The Courier will have a general overview message followed by an index list of the news and information, split into categories, as clickable title links.

Here are some top tips for navigating The Courier on your phone:

Click the title link of the article or event you are interested in (this will open the newsletter in your browser with the article you have selected)
From here you can scroll through all the articles in this category
To get back to the top of a category quickly, use the green arrow in the bottom right of your browser. Click this and you will jump to the top of the page, the category index
The category index will list all the articles in that category that week
Select ‘Newsletter Index’, to return you to the main newsletter index listing all the categories and articles
To move between different editions of The Courier use the green button with three white lines at the top of the newsletter. Click this and you can choose which weekly edition of The Courier you would like to browse.

Events

Heritage Open Days At Princethorpe College

Sunday 9 September 2018 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Built in 1832, St Mary's Priory was one of the first Catholic buildings in England after the reformation.

On Sunday this weekend Princethorpe College is taking part in the Heritage Open Day festival. You are all invited to come for a tour of the magnificent building and learn all about its history, including the amazing women that made it the place it is today.

From 1833 until 1966, St Mary's Priory was home to a congregation of Benedictine nuns who ran a boarding school for girls. This community sold the priory in 1966 and a new school was established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who had previously run a boys' school in Leamington Spa. Princethorpe College is now a fully co-educational Catholic independent day school.

The archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 9 September from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. Areas open include Pugin’s magnificent chapel, the cloisters, nuns’ cells, library (former church) and roundhouse.

No booking is required; just turn up and join the next available tour. Entrance is via the glazed link off the North Car Park.

Admission is free and there is complimentary tea and coffee available. They would be delighted to see you!

Individual And Siblings Photographic Photos

Wednesday 19 September 2018

Individual and siblings photographs will be taken in school on Wednesday 19 September. Children are required to wear their Winter uniform.

Crescent School

Learning Platforms Information Session For Class III Parents And New Parents To Upper School

Wednesday 19 September 2018 4.00pm

Parents of Class III and any new parents from the Upper School are invited to learn about the learning platforms that your child will be using.

The session will cover Accelerated Reading, Spellzone and Abacus, how your child will use them in school and how they can be used at home.

It will be held in Class VF form room at 4.00pm, your children can be signed into After School for free for the length of the session and light refreshments will be available. It should last abut 30 minutes.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Ms Lowe

Senior Teacher

Princethorpe College Open Morning

Thursday 27 September 2018 - 10.30am - 12.30pm

The College is holding an Open Morning on Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm. This is a chance to look around the school on a normal working day, prior to Entrance Examinations Day on Saturday 10 November 2018. Year 8 and Year 9 pupils will act as tour guides and show visitors around the school.

Please do spread the word amongst friends and family, all are very welcome.

For further information please visit www.princethorpe.co.uk

Crescent School Open Day For Prospective Parents

Friday 5 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School is opening its doors to prospective parents for an Open Day on Friday 5 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book, so please do help us spread the word.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley, on 01788 523851 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk

Awards

Reading Eggs Certificates

Reading Eggs certificates have, this week, been awarded to:

Alice Diamond
Emily Barnwell
Grace Mercer
Harry Slaytor
Leela Matharu
Maisie Tucker
Oliver Wright
Roisin Banks
Sam Bierton
Sam Oldham
Shayla Panchal
Tegan McLeod

Congratulations!

Mr Webb

Class II Teacher and Assistant Head

Head of Pre-Prep

FoC

Welcome From The Friends Of Crescent (FOC)

Welcome everyone to a new school year of Friends of Crescent (FoC) events.

For everyone who is new to the Crescent the FoC committee comprises of parent and grandparent volunteers from each school year and representatives from the teaching staff. We meet every half term to discuss our planned events and initiatives for the school. Anyone is welcome to join us with your child being able to attend after school free during this time.

We organise social and fundraising events for both children and parents. Funds raised go towards items used by the whole school.

We also run ‘Market Day’ cake/sweet sales for each school year, with funds raised spent on items the children choose.

Finally, we offer an opportunity to purchase second hand uniform at very reduced prices.

Our first FoC meeting of the year will be next Monday 10 September, from 3.45pm - 4.45pm, where we will be discussing our events planned for this term including the Christmas Bazaar. Please come along and join us if you are available. Just add your child's name onto the after school list where they will be looked after free of charge for the duration of the meeting.

Events already planned this term are: