The Courier

Dear Parents

We have certainly had some chilly starts this week. Keeping vigil at the gate with my Year 6 helpers has been a frosty challenge. I even got a reading of -4°C on my car thermometer driving in on Thursday morning, I think the coldest we have got to so far this autumn. This of course sets me thinking about the dreaded possibility of snow days and bad weather procedure. You will find a quick reminder on our protocols elsewhere in today’s Courier.

It was great to welcome back some of last year’s leavers earlier in the week who came over to talk to the Year 6 class about life at Princethorpe College and how they have made the transition to secondary school. This prospect can seem quite scary from the cosy confines of your friendly prep school and I hope this session went some way to alleviating worries and making the whole process seem much more normal and simply a natural progression from life at Crescent. Our Year 6 children are still waiting for their final offers and interviews but I should be in a position to update you on their successes before we break up for Christmas.

Our Promise theme this week is centred around the idea of forgiving each other and we started the week with an assembly based on the problem of how to fix a friendship when it has gone wrong. We agreed we knew how to fix a hole in a sock or a punctured tyre but it’s not always so easy to put things right when you fall out with your friends. Of course, having the courage to say ‘sorry’ and ‘don’t worry, that’s okay’ can be a great way to start. When dealing with social difficulties that quite naturally occur in a school, it is rare to find that all of the fault lies with one side and openness from both parties normally means issues can be addressed and a way forward starts to emerge.

As I write I am getting news of the girls’ endeavours over at Lee Valley in the ISA hockey tournament. It sounds like we are doing well and making sound progress, much as the boys did in the ESFA football tournament at Princethorpe College at the weekend. Well done to all those who took part.

It looks like things may warm up very slightly for the weekend. A significant part of my Sundays are currently spent on the touchline watching my youngest son’s football matches so I’ll certainly still be wrapping up warm. They haven’t won many games recently, so here’s to hoping for better luck this week.

With my best wishes

Joe Thackway

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.

This week we are back to the category of Good Friends and the idea of forgiveness and working things out. We all know that children don’t always get things right in their friendships and this can end up in upset and worry. Being able to say ‘sorry’ and ‘that’s okay’ can make all the difference.

Please support this message at home with your children

‘We forgive each other and work things out together’

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 26 November

Crescent School

Reception children are excited about their trip to The Derngate next Friday 30 November to see Everywhere Bear.  Please remember to send them in with a warm coat along with a pocket sized snack and non-fizzy drink.

• Amy Robinson
• Freddie Spicer
• Isaac Nelson
• Milly Knott
• Ollie Stevens
• Sienna Moran

Four of our Year 7 pupils returned to their former junior school, the Crescent, on Wednesday 21 November to share their top tips for transition to secondary school.  Organised by Sue Harris, Princethorpe’s Head of Transition, the four pupils, Olivia Sarkies, Robyn Shaw, Roman Thearia and Gabriel White gave a short presentation to their former schoolmates and then hosted an informal question and answer session. 

They talked about the essentials of life as a Year 7, like getting the bus and arriving at school; the different lessons, teachers and subjects; tutor time and houses; moving around school; getting organised, homework and homework diaries; sports and sporting clubs and co-curricular activities and trips.  They painted a vivid picture of life as a new Year 7 and were quick to reassure everyone that the move had been easy.

Talking to the Year 7 pupils allowed the Year 6 pupils to hear first-hand about the move to secondary school and will, we hope, have helped to allay any fears.  Mrs Harris and her team of new Old Crescentians were quick to explain that although the move into Year 7 can be daunting it is also very exciting. 

Mrs Harris said, "I was very proud of our pupils; they spoke extremely confidently and engaged really well with their old friends at the Crescent School.  Transition on to secondary school can often be a worrying time and Princethorpe College works hard to make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.”

On Tuesday 20 November Crescent School held a dedicated Reception Open Evening. It was an opportunity for families to visit the school, listen to a presentation, view children’s work and talk to members of the Reception and Early Years Team.

The evening was very successful and the school was delighted to welcome some 20 families to get a feel for what makes Crescent so special.

Parents are reminded that the deadline for Early Bird applications for places in the Reception class next year is Monday 26 November 2018. Offers to Early Bird applicants will be posted first class on Friday 14 December, with an acceptance deadline of Monday 7 January.

For those who missed this week’s Open Evening there is one further opportunity to visit the school, before the final deadline for Reception applications closes, as the school will be holding an Open Day on Monday 21 January from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

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

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.

I started fundraising in memory of my father who sadly passed away, he was cared for by Myton Hospice nurses. Myton have supported me through Rainbow Ripples a counselling group I attend, because of this I wanted to raise money for Myton to support other families in a similar situation.

I began my first sponsored bike ride of 5 miles in 2014, I was the youngest fundraiser for Myton and was asked to go into Myton and tell my story to the fundraising team for them to use to inspire other young fundraisers.  Each year I set myself a new challenge and increase the amount of miles, my most recent bike ride was for 30 miles. The cover photo is of me after my 30 mile ride.

If you wish to sponsor me you can on the following link:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Kyle-KerfootBale

Kyle Kerfoot-Bale

The Christmas post box will open on Monday 3 December and will be located by the pupil entrance door until Tuesday 18 December.

There will be Class VI Christmas helpers at the post box from 8.15am to 8.40am each morning who will stamp and post the cards. All we ask is a 1p donation per card towards our term's charity, the Air Ambulance.

Please can all children post their cards here so that lessons are not disturbed by the giving out of Christmas cards.  They will then will receive a lovely bundle from the Class VI Christmas elves on the final day of term.

Win an iPad, £500 worth of books for your school and some tasty smoothies!

The Happy Monkey is trying to write some new smoothie recipes, but he can’t help but monkey around. Rather than fruit, his new recipes include jokebooks, daydreams and cheese!

Could you come up with a sillier recipe? Draw a picture of your smoothie or write your very own recipe – the funnier, the better! If we think your idea is totally bananas you’ll win your own iPad, £500 worth of books for your school and a selection of Happy Monkey smoothies for you and your friends!

This competition is for imaginations only – don’t try to make your ‘silly smoothie’ in real life!

Download the entry form here.

Please send your entries to: 
Happy Monkey Competition 
Scholastic Book Fairs 
Euston House 
24 Eversholt Street 
London 
NW1 1DB

Please include your name, address, school and phone number.

This competition closes on 31 December 2018.

Friday 23 November 2018 - The Merchants Inn

Join us for the Old Crescentians inaugural pub meet tonight at the Merchants Inn as part of the school’s 70th Anniversary celebrations.

A pub famed for its collection of real-ale and love of rugby, The Merchants Inn is nestled on Little Church Street in the heart of Rugby town centre.

This is a great chance to get together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere – all are welcome including partners and friends. 

Monday 26 November to Wednesday 28 November - 3.00pm to 5.00pm

The Book Fair will be in next week with hundreds of new children’s books to browse and buy.

There are over 200 titles for you and your child to choose from, and with prices starting from only £2.99, there’s sure to be a book for everyone.

If you can’t make it to our Book Fair, try our discounted Gift Vouchers available at www.bookfairs.scholastic.co.uk/parents. They’re a great way to ensure your child doesn’t miss out.

Don’t forget that every book you buy can help to get free books for our school library! 

Tuesday 27 November 2018 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

We are looking forward to seeing you for our parents Online Safety Workshop on Tuesday 27 November.

The school playground will be available for parking from 6.45pm.  Please enter the school hall via the Pathfinders entrance where refreshments will be served from 6.50pm for a prompt 7.00pm start.  We envisage the evening finishing around 8.30pm.

Kind regards

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Friday 30 November 2018

Children will be decorating the school for Christmas on Friday 30 November 2018.  They are able to wear a festive accessory with their school uniform such as a Christmas hat, hair accessory or tinsel.

It is a day the children look forward to every year and you will be able to see see their work during 'open corridors' in December.

Crescent School

Friday 30 November 2018

Children in Blue House can wear one item of blue clothing on St Andrew's Day. 

As this is Christmas art day, children are also able to wear a 'festive' accessory if they wish.

Crescent School

Friday 14 December 2018

Our Christmas Jumper Day this year will be on Friday 14 December. On that day, children should wear normal school uniform, but instead of their green pullover/cardigan, they can wear a Christmas jumper.

Please bring in £1 for our charity of the term, The Air Ambulance.

Mrs Monteith

All are welcome to a wonderful evening of carols, readings and the Christmas story to get you in the mood for the festive season.

To mark the school's 70th anniversary, our annual Carol Service will be held at Rugby Temple Speech Rooms, Barby Road, Rugby CV22 5DA  from 6.30pm – 7.45pm on Monday 17 December, and will feature all the extra-curricular music groups involving Classes III-VI.

All children in Classes III – VI are involved and required to attend. It would be lovely for all friends and family from the Crescent community to join us.  Parents and children from Reception, Classes I and II are very welcome to attend, however, please be mindful that the service may be a little late for some of our younger children.

Children who need to change into a costume should arrive no earlier than 6.00pm. Everyone else, including congregation, should be seated at 6.15pm for a prompt start. There will be instrumental and vocal solos taking place as people arrive.

All children to wear winter uniform including blazers and grey tights for girls. 

There will be a retiring collection in aid of the Air Ambulance our termly charity

Kind regards

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

• Harry Slaytor

The list of children reading 500,000 words is steadily building. Congratulations this week to Isla Barrack and Caspar Webb who received their badge in assembly this morning.

Congratulations

I am often asked about how children can check that the books at home are the correct level for them to read and quiz on. The website you need to go to is:

www.arbookfind.co.uk

On the site you can check the suitability of books you may have but also you can search for books within your child's reading range, which may be a useful tool in the run up to Christmas.

Happy reading

Class I have done a great job in English building their comprehension skills, their ability to predict what might happen in a text and thinking of alternate endings to a story.

There were some really creative reasons why Billy's Bucket disappeared from being stolen by baddies, to being used by Dad to wash the car to being stolen by pirates to collect treasure!!

In geography this week, Class II have extended their learning in our topic of 'Around our School', by going outside to carry out some fieldwork.  We identified different settings around our school and visited them with our clipboards. Once there, we considered our senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch to explore the environment around us. 

Class II have been looking at the history behind the traditional Thanksgiving Day which has been celebrated across the world this week. Chloe, Olivia and Nicholas deserved their Junior da Vincis for their creativity making their 'Thankfulness Trees'.

Is a trundle wheel the best choice of equipment to measure the size of Faris' head?  Of course it's not, Mrs Stapleton!  Class III have been learning how to use rulers and tape measures to measure length accurately around our classroom and also around each other. 

In RE we have been considering celebrations in different religions but also through a world view. This month sees the celebration of Thanksgiving taking place across America and Canada and the children have learned the history behind it. As a way of responding, we have created a Thanksgiving tree with all the things we are thankful for; from families and friends to toys, dolphins and even the dentist!!

Class IV have been making kites. They looked at existing ones, compared and contrasted them and then set out to design their own. They used a paper template before cutting out the real one, used junior hacksaws to cut their wood and decorated them. When they are all finished we will be flying them!

It's been protractors and super sharp pencils at the ready in 5Y this week, as we've been learning how to measure angles accurately to one degree.

The children will be putting this skill into practice on Christmas Art Day next week when they'll be creating their own precisely angled stars and Christmas trees.

DT club have been designing a paper straw tower to protect their Prince and Princess Pritt Sticks from the evil monster!

Thank you to all the wonderfully behaved children that attended movie night as well as all the Foc helpers for the evening. We raised over £230 profit from this event which will be used to purchase glockenspiels for the music department. 

The FoC will again be filming both the Nursery and Reception Nativity and Classes I and II Nativity dress rehearsals.

You are able to purchase a DVD for £13 per DVD. Please fill out the form sent home with your child last week (or it can be downloaded here) and return it by Wednesday 5 December with payment either by cash or cheque.  Cheques should be made payable to Friends of Crescent. Please place in the green FoC Post Box.

Friday 7 December 2018 - 3.45pm to 6.00pm

This year our annual Christmas Bazaar will include:

• a raffle
• tombola
• teddy stall
• numerous games (all for 50p to allow your child to fill up their card with 10 stamps from which they can then choose 3 prizes from the prizes stall)
• craft activities of crazy sand
• Christmas decorations and decorate your own Christmas decorations
• plus the usual refreshment stall
• candy floss
• face painting
• nail painting
• a visit from Father Christmas.

If you would like your child to visit Father Christmas please fill in the form sent home with your child last week (or download below). We will then allocate a time (this will be on a first come first served basis) and will publish the time slots to you in advance of the Christmas Bazaar. 

Santa Visit Reception and Class I

Santa Visit Classes II - VI

We also require the following donations:

Raffle stall

• wine
• chocolates
• board games
• new DVD's
• craft kits
• gift sets

For the Tombola Stall, small children's items:

• pens
• games
• mini lego sets
• toys
• crafts items
• sweets etc

Please leave your items on the FoC table.

Thank you so much for your support we really appreciate it. 

Friday 14 December 2018 - 3.45pm to 4.45pm

Please come along and support us by buying cakes and sweets, all priced at 50p each. All the money raised at these market day events goes towards buying toys, crafts and stationery for privilege time for the Class.

Ms Forth is collecting Walkers Crisps packets for Christmas Art Day on 30 November.  Please can you send into school empty, rinsed packets and if possible the multipack bag.  Any flavour will do.

Many thanks

Crescent School

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

Lunch menu - 26 November

Crescent School Office

Please see below for useful school contact information:

The following items are stocked in the School Office and can be added to your account:

• Winter hats
• Scarfs
• Gloves
• Ties
• Swimming hats
• Sports socks
• Hair bands
• Hair scrunchies
• Hair clips
• Sun hats

Music group badges can also be purchased but not added to your account.

• Choir
• Orchestra
• Strings
• Brass

Please do pop in if you need any of the above items.

Crescent School Office

Please find below term dates for this academic year and next:

2018/19

Michaelmas Term
Term starts Monday 03 September 2018
Half Term Saturday 20 October to Sunday 04 November 2018
Term ends Tuesday 18 December 2018

Lent Term
Term starts Monday 7 January 2019
Half Term Saturday 16 February to Sunday 24 February 2019
Term ends Wednesday 10 April 2019

Trinity Term
Term starts Monday 29 April 2019
Half Term Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June 2019
Term ends Wednesday 3 July 2019

2019/20

Please see attachments below for information regarding school holiday clubs that are running over the Christmas holidays. 

The clubs are provided by external providers and not the Crescent School.

Music Mania

Netball Camp