The Courier

Dear Parents

Despite the wet weather we have had for much of the week we have enjoyed another happy and productive five days here in school. The Year 3 and 4 children in particular had great fun over at the Old Rep in Birmingham watching The Snow Queen. More trips to the theatre for Christmas productions are planned in the weeks ahead.

It has been great to see so many children and parents coming to the book fayre during the library in the week. This has been very well attended and sales have been really brisk. Thank you very much for supporting this as there is a financial benefit to us and we are able to order lots of new and exciting books for our library. Of course, it is also a great chance to inspire the children to read for pleasure and to extend their interests. I think that’s what is called a win-win. Many thanks indeed to all of the FoC volunteers who have helped out with manning the stall and processing the payments. We simply couldn’t run this without your help. 

We finished the week with the annual Christmas art day which is always a favourite with the children, although the cleaners are not quite so keen! I know the children are excited about the many creations and displays they have put together and we look forward to inviting the parents into the school to see them all next Tuesday.

In assembly this week we lit our first advent candle as we began the official countdown to Christmas. My advice was to enjoy the build up as much as the event itself, something we will do our best to keep in mind in the final three weeks of term.  

The Christmas bazaar is another highlight that we look forward to next Friday and I hope to see many of you there. In the meantime, I wish you all a peaceful weekend.

Please click on the link below to view the weekly calendar of clubs, events, fixtures and additional information for the week. 

Weekly Calendar - 2 December 2019

The following clubs are not running next week:

• Monday - Choir (due to Music Exams)
• Tuesday - No after school Boys Hockey Club (Y5&6)
• Friday - Orchestra (due to Bazaar)

Please note Tuesday Girls after school hockey club (Y5&6) will be at school and will finish at 1645.

All the co-curricular clubs can be viewed on SOCS Co-curricular and detail the dates the clubs are running.  

SOCS Co-Curricular

Crescent School

Good luck to Stephanie and Sienna who are swimming at the ISA National Finals at the London Olympic Pool tomorrow.

We are all very proud of you.

It was an especially colourful assembly this morning, as you can see from the photo.   There were lots of fantastic Christmas accessories on display as the children looked forward to their special festive art day. You are all invited to come and see the outcome of all their hard work at our Open Corridor session next Tuesday 3 December.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

On Wednesday 27 November Crescent School’s Year 5 pupil, Michael Mercer, took part in Winning on Wheels – a wheelchair sports event organised by Think Active and hosted by Warwickshire College in Henley-in-Arden.

During the day Michael took part in different wheelchair sports and activities including, basketball, racing, rugby and dance, alongside children with disabilities from across Warwickshire from Year 5 through to Year 11.

Michael had an amazing time trying out and playing all the different sports and had the privilege of meeting Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Triple Paralympian, Mandip Sehmi.  Manni (as he likes to be known) showed the youngsters the basics of wheelchair rugby.  They were even all allowed to have a go in the special sports wheelchairs, the ones that allow you to slam into each other!

Michael said, “It was really fantastic to meet Manni and to have a go at all of the wheelchair sports.  I really enjoyed the day it was a lot of fun.”

It was a great opportunity for Michael and our thanks go to Think Active for organising the event.

Annalise was awarded with a Blue Peter badge for writing a factual story called Marathon Man. The story was all about the man who attempted to run a marathon in under two hours. Annalise described how the running conditions were perfect: “not too hot, not too cold!” And he did it! His name is Eliud Chipkoge. 

Well done Annalise.

Crescent School

From Monday 2 December 2019 the Crescent School Christmas Post Box will be open for the festive season.

Year 6 will be running the Post Box by the pupil door every morning from 8.15am-8.40am. We encourage children to drop  their Christmas cards in here to save disruption of lessons.

The Christmas cards are then sorted by the Year 6 elves and delivered on the final day of term.

All cards must have the full name of the recipient and their class and we ask for a small donation to our school charity Shine A Light.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Thank you to everyone who visited this week and to the FOC for all of their help. We made over £1,200 and this will really contribute to our class libraries. If you would like any more books, please look at the scholastic book club website using the link below. You can order and get books delivered to school for free. 

Go to http://schools.scholastic.co.uk/the-crescent to browse the latest books and order online. For every £1 you spend on this month’s Book Club, our school will earn 25p in Scholastic Rewards.

Please place your order online by Monday 9 December 2019.

Thank you to all for your generous contribution to this year's Poppy Appeal.  Crescent School raised an amazing £381.77 over £150 more than last year - it must have been the four extra deliveries of slap bands!

Crescent School

Please can you ensure all School Uniform, PE kits, bags and accessories are clealy labelled with your child's name.  We have lots of uniform in lost property, which hasn't been marked, that we are unable to return to the correct child.  

Thank you.

Crescent School 

Crescent School are now registered for the Book People's Big Book Boost.  The Big Book Boost is a brand new fundraising scheme that provides schools with books. Every time you place an order with them over £10, they will donate £1 to Crescent School to spend on books! 

Please search on their website either under The Crescent School or enter the postcode CV22 7QH to select Crescent School.

Thank you

Sunday 1 December - 2.00pm to 4.00pm

The countdown to Christmas will begin in earnest on Sunday 1 December when Princethorpe College's wonderful Parent Teacher Association will be holding their annual Christmas Fair from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A festive feast of stalls, games, activities, music, refreshments and a special visit from Santa. We can't promise snow but there will be lots of Christmas cheer!

This is a lovely opportunity to visit the College, please do spread the word amongst family and friends, all are welcome.

Entrance is just £2 per car. We hope to see you there.

Tuesday 3 December 2019 - 3.45pm to 4.15pm

All parents are welcome to join us in school on Tuesday 3 December for Open Corridors, running from 3.45pm to 4.15pm. This is a lovely opportunity for your child to show you the work they have produced that is being displayed in their classrooms and along the corridor.  You will also be able to see the Christmas Day Artwork.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Monday 9 December 2019 - 9.30am to 10.05am

Parents, grandparents and friends are invited to our Nursery and Reception Nativity performance of Everyone Loves a Baby.

A lot of hard work has gone into the rehearsals so far, learning the songs, memorising lines, sorting out costumes, scenery and planning the production, and what a spectacle it is all going to be.

Before the performance the staff and children will be busy getting things ready in the hall and I would ask parents to please wait in the Library where there will be tea, coffee and some light refreshments served. 

A link has been sent out to via My School Portal to confirm your attendance or click on  the link below:

https://princethorpe.myschoolportal.co.uk/event/159903

Crescent School 

Thursday 12 December 2019 -  9.35am to 10.05am

Parents, grandparents and friends are invited to watch Classes 1E and 2W's Nativity performance of The Bethlehem Star.

The children have been rehearsing hard, learning the songs, memorising lines, sorting out costumes and the production is going to be fantastic.

Before the performance the staff and children will be busy getting things ready in the hall and I would ask parents to please wait in the Library where there will be tea, coffee and some light refreshments served. 

A link has been sent out to via My School Portal to confirm your attendanceor via the linke below:

https://princethorpe.myschoolportal.co.uk/event/159907

Crescent School

Monday 16 December 2019

Our Christmas Jumper Day this year will be on Monday 16 December 2019. 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, Shine a Light.

Mrs Monteith

Tuesday 17 December 2019 - 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Please join us for a wonderful evening of carols, readings and re-telling of the Christmas story.

This year we will be holding our Christmas Carol Service at Princethorpe College in the Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel.

All children in Years 3-6 are involved and required to attend. Please request permission from Mr Thackway if your child is unable to attend for any reason. All children to wear winter uniform including blazers and grey tights for girls. 

It would be lovely for all friends and family from the Crescent community to join us.  Parents and children from Reception, Years 1 and 2 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 the congregation, should be seated at 6.15pm for a prompt start. There will be instrumental and vocal solos taking place as people arrive.

There will be a retiring collection in aid of our termly charity, Shine a Light. 

A link to book tickets can be found below:

https://princethorpe.myschoolportal.co.uk/event/174086

Kind regards

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Drew has achieved the reading of one million words, this is a phenomenal achievement for a Year 4 child. 

Well done.

Reading certificates have, this week, been awarded to:

• Alfie
• Harry S
• Max T
• Samuel Y
• Seren
• Shiv

Well done to you all.

Well done to Tegan and Abigail who received Playground Conduct Awards, chosen by the Lunchtime Supervisors, in assembly this morning. 

Lunchtime Supervisors

Well done to Esme who received a Play Leader of the Week certificate in Assembly this morning. 

These awards are chosen by the Year 6 Play Leaders.

Christmas Art Day is such a special day at Crescent School; full of anticipation, glitter, paint, glitter, tissue paper and yet more glitter.  The children have really enjoyed themselves, producing lots of cracking, creative artwork.  It has all been so much fun.       

Here are just a few photos from some of the classrooms today.  Please click View Gallery to scroll through.

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

Reception Round Up - 291119

Class 1E have been learning about the meaning of Advent as a countdown to the Christian celebration of Christmas. We have decorated one candle for each of the four Sundays of Advent and discussed the meaning behind each and how we can incorporate it into our lives:

• hope
• peace
• love
• joy

We then made our own Class Kindness Advent Calendar.  Each child has made a numbered pocket and in it they have written an act of kindness e.g. smile at people, play with everyone, share, hold the door. Each day a child will be selected to open the pocket for that date and whatever message of kindness is within, will be the act of kindness that the whole class have to carry out that day.

A lovely way to count down to Christmas.

On Tuesday, Years 3 and 4 travelled to the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham for their Christmas theatre visit to watch The Snow Queen. The story, originally a Hans Christian Andersen tale, centres around a struggle between good and evil. This adaptation of the magical adventure follows inseparable friends Kai and Gerda.  When the heartless Snow Queen steals Kai to help rebuild her broken treasure, can Gerda rescue him in time before she plunges the world into an eternal winter? With the help of an unlikely band of companions, Gerda travels to the Kingdom of Ice to confront the Snow Queen and rescue her friend.

The production was bright and colourful, with dancing and singing. A great time was had by all.

A 3000 year old Egyptian mystery was solved by 5F this week, when they reunited items stolen by tomb raiders with their owners. 

The children had to carefully consider 20 different objects asking the question, 'What does this item tell us about the owner?' They then had to decide which of the four Ancient Egyptians, who had had their tombs raided, the objects belonged to. This involved a range of historical skills which led to Priestess Tiye, Anherkhau the carpenter, Horemheb the vizier and Meketre the nobleman all being reunited with their lost treasures and therefore finally being able to pass into the afterlife after 300 years of waiting!

Crescent School have started a Wheelchair Buddy system. Each week, during lunch playtimes, privilege time and possibly some lessons, we will have another child in the extra wheelchair joining Michael in his activities.

We believe it is an excellent opportunity for the children to get an insight into what it is like to move around the school in a wheelchair in a safe, supervised environment. It also allows Michael to feel more included and share his knowledge and expertise about using wheelchairs. 

Amelia was the first person to join Michael today out in the playground.

Crescent School

Back in September we had a bake sale for Year 6.  Class 6W have chosen and are now enjoying some great toys for privilege time.

Thank you to the FoC and all who bought and donated cakes.

Year 6 have been considering the following key question in RE this term: "Is it better to express your religion in arts and architecture or in charity and generosity?" 

From appreciating Christian and Muslim art and places of worship, to exploring the importance of being charitable and the obedience of worshippers to giving money to different causes, our views have been challenged along the way!

6W debated the argument of whether religious people should sell their buildings and artwork to help the poor. A fantastic opportunity for the children to voice their opinions, counter argue and respect each groups reasons and views. 

Year 6 have been making 3D models using Paint 3D. They have been designing their own towns and villages.

In our DT lesson today Zebeedee taught eight classmates and Mrs Byrne how to make his amazing christmas hats out of cardboard and wool.

A teacher in the making!

We had a new delivery of furniture for the After School area this week.  As you can see from the photos it has transfomed the area.  It is lovely and bright and very comfortable too!

Crescent School  

Friday 6 December 2019 - 3.45pm to 6.00pm

Our annual Christmas Bazaar will include games, crafts and a special visit from Father Christmas.

Reception and Year 1 will be able to attend from 3.20pm as it does get busy in the hall and surrounding classrooms, to give the younger children the opportunity to come and have a go on the games and stalls before the rest of the school arrive. 

Zara Corbin
FoC Chair

Friday 13 December 2019 - 3.45pm to 4.45pm

Please come along and support the FoC 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 Year 4.

You can also purchase pre-loved uniform.

Raffle tickets have been sent home this week. Please return all ticket stubs to the FoC box with cash before the Christmas Bazaar, next Friday 6 December.

This year our annual Christmas Bazaar on Friday 6 December 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
• refreshment stall
• face painting
• nail painting
• a visit from Father Christmas

If you would like your child to visit Father Christmas please fill in the online form 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 1E 

• Reception and Class 1E

Santa Visit Classes 2W - 6Y

• Classes 2W - 6Y

We also require the following donations:

Teddy's for the Teddy stall - please could these be washed and cleaned and left on the FoC table. 

• 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.

On Wednesday we will also be publishing a layout of where all the games, stalls and crafts for the Bazaar will be positioned. We are looking forward to seeing Reception and Class 1 pupils from 3.20pm and the rest of the Classes from 3.45pm. 

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

The FoC will again be filming both the Nursery and Reception Nativity and Classes 1E and 2W Nativity dress rehearsals.

You will be able to purchase a DVD for £13 per DVD, please order via the link below:

Nursery and Reception:

https://bit.ly/2QST0ar

Class 1E and 2W:

https://bit.ly/2QSJLqL

Below are the details of the FoC Year Group Representatives. These reps will communicate with you on all our events via email, whatsapp or facebook. 

Cheques for the FoC should be made payable to Friends of Crescent. 

However, from January 2020 we will no longer be accepting cheques as a form of payment. 

We have purchased a card payment system and will from the start of January 2020 be accepting bank transfers or cash only.

Many thanks

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

Crescent Menu - 2 December 2019 

Crescent School Office

Dear Parents

I would like to make a couple of polite reminders to all parents to help us with the safe running of the school.

Early Arrivals
Please ensure that children who arrive early to school remain accompanied by their parents or guardians until the door opens at 8.15am.  If you need to drop your child off before this time, please take advantage of the Early Birds service.

Winter Coats
With the weather turning colder and wetter, can I please encourage you all to send your child to school wearing the Crescent School coat.  It is helpful when making decisions on wet (or cold) play for the staff here to know the children all have the warm winter layer to protect them.

Dogs on Site
In line with many, if not all, primary aged schools, dogs are not allowed on the main school site.  If you come to school with a dog please keep it on a lead and avoid coming onto the main site beyond the drop off gate (the one next to the parents’ noticeboard).

With thanks for your understanding and support on these important health and safety matters.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

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 - Choir, Orchestra, String, Brass and Wind

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

Crescent School Office

Please see below for useful school contact information:

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

2019/20