Issue No 409
7th September 2007
Dear Friends of Crescent
Welcome back to the start of a new school year, a year in which we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the official founding of Crescent School and the 20th anniversary of our move to Bilton. The main day of celebration will be Saturday, 28th June so please keep this date free so that you can join us.
It was lovely to see so many of you at the Wine and Welcome evening on Monday; I was pleased to hear how useful it proved to be. If you have any suggestions for other such ‘information giving’ evenings that you believe might be useful please let me know.
11+ Selection Tests
Our pupils have always enjoyed considerable success in these tests with between 20 and 30 percent of our Year 6 each year being offered Grammar School places through tests that are designed to pick out the top 5 percent of the population.
This year the arrangements for the tests have changed and the schools have virtually no part to play in the process perhaps as a result of allegations of cheating in some schools. The most significant change is to the dates – the Verbal Reasoning papers now both take place on the same day, Saturday 6th October, and the essay writing paper (designed to help choose between borderline candidates) is scheduled for the Monday of the half-term break! If you think these dates are inappropriate then please contact the admissions service via admissions@warwickshire.gov.uk or on 01926 742039. I imagine these arrangements will be repeated in future years if they prove to be generally acceptable this year. I have offered the use of our school as this would save the authority money as well as making life easier for our parents.
Music Exams
Each year many of our children enjoy success in their instrumental music exams and I am happy to be able to bring you the results of the exams taken at the end of last term.
| Joe Miller | Grade 2 Clarinet | Pass |
| Emily Cheadle | Grade 1 Clarinet | Pass |
| Tom Kalinowski | Grade 3 Clarinet | Pass |
| Julia Hope | Grade 4 Clarinet | Merit |
| Jack Fisher | Grade 4 Singing | Merit |
| Claudia Sherratt | Grade 1 Singing | Merit |
| Josie Brazier | Grade 3 Singing | Pass |
| Hattie Byrne | Grade 1 Singing | Pass |
| Bethany Rees | Grade 1 Singing | Merit |
| Oliver Howes | Grade 1 Violin | Pass |
| Jessica Armbrister | Grade 1 Flute Grade 2 Singing | Merit Merit |
| Jessica Butterworth | Grade 1 Violin Grade 2 Singing | Merit Merit |
| Millie Byrne | Grade 1 Singing Grade 2 Violin | Merit Dist. |
| Georgie Colbourne | Grade 3 Violin Grade 4 Singing | Merit Merit |
Our congratulations to all the children and their teachers – and the parents who have encouraged their children to practise so assiduously.
Classical Guitar
We have had a couple of enquiries about the possibility of our offering lessons in Classical Guitar. If your child is in Class III or above and might like to start lessons, please contact Mrs Burt. If there is sufficient demand we will look for a teacher.
ICT Refurbishment
Over the holidays the ICT suite was completely refurbished and updated. We bought new computers in kit form which were assembled for us at Princethorpe College. Buying kits rather than already assembled machines allows one to buy the very latest technology so our suite really is ‘state of the art’ as well as being more child friendly. I am very grateful to Mr Stuttard and a member of the Princethorpe staff for all their hard work in seeing this project through.
Website and e-mail
It is my intention to make much better use of our new website to keep you all informed about school events. The weekly newsletter has been published on the website for a long time now but I intend to add to this many other features so that it can become your first port of call for information. I also intend to offer you the chance to receive your newsletter by e-mail instead of by paper copy. Details of this will follow shortly.
Open Days
This year our principal Open Morning will be on a Saturday morning in April rather than in March as in recent years. However, if you have friends who are interested in the school but don’t want to wait until April to have a look around we will be holding two Open Days for prospective parents next month on 12th and 15th October. Further details will be published shortly.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
R.H. Marshall
School Uniform
Please, please, please ensure all uniform (including vests and socks), P.E. kit, swimming kit (including bag) and their equipment: fountain pens, crayons, pencils etc. are all named in a permanent form.
As a teacher who sorts out the lost property I do feel it is a sad waste of your money when so much cannot be returned to its owners.
S. Lowe
Weekly Times
Monday, 10th September
12.20 - 12.50 Recorders—Class IV
12.20 – 12.50 Junior Girls’ Games—Classes
III & IV
13.05 - 13.45 Senior Games – Classes V & VI
15.45 - 16.30 Choir
15.45 - 16.30 No Pre-Prep Games – Classes I & II
15.45 “FOC” Committee Meeting
Tuesday, 11th
12.50 - 13.20 Times-Tables Challenge
15.45 - 16.45 Girls’ Games – Classes V & VI
Wednesday, 12th
13.05 - 13.45 Reception Art Club
15.45 - 16.30 Senior Boys’ Games—Classes V & VI
15.45 - 16.45 Camera Club
Thursday, 13th
12.45 – 13.15 Brass Group
15.45 - 17.00 No Art Club
15.50 - 16.50 Tap & Modern Dance
16.00 Staff Meeting
Friday, 14th
12.20 – 13.55 Library and Chess Club
12.20 - 13.00 Junior Boys’ Games – Classes III & IV
12.20 - 12.50 String Group
13.15 - 13.45 Wind Group
15.45 - 16.45 Orchestra
PLEASE NOTE:
Ballet lessons resume this week but the timetable has not yet been arranged. Children should bring their kit on Monday and leave it is school in readiness for their lesson.
Message to all parents of Class VI
Welcome back, it is amazing to think your children are now in their final year of primary school.
This is a hard year for parents and children. It is best not to let it take over your lives. The most beneficial things you can do are to be informed; look round all the schools you are interested in; support your children with homework but always remember to allow time to wind down and have fun.
We are always happy to listen to your worries about the selection processes but ultimately the choices are yours.
I would also like to draw your attention to the Class VI Consultation Evening on Tuesday, 2nd October when many of the local independent senior school representatives will also be in attendance.
S. Lowe
Nursery News
This week we welcome Charlie, Lewis, Olivia, Coral, Theo and Jasmine into nursery. We hope they will be very happy with us.
The nursery team want all the children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in nursery and to feel secure and comfortable with staff. Our aim is to make the nursery a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to their individual needs.
In our nursery we operate a key person system, whereby one member of staff is responsible for providing individual attention to both the child and the parent. The key person will be responsible for settling the child into nursery and will be present and either receive or handover your child at the beginning or end of the session. The key person system plays a crucial part in creating and maintaining good working relations with parents.
Food and eating can provide learning opportunities for all nursery children and early food experiences have an important impact on eating patterns in later life. We provide five child-sized portions of fresh fruit at snack time and either milk or juice. Water is available at any time. We do make a small charge of 25p per session which is payable termly. I will be sending more information next week.
C. McGrellis
Friends of the Crescent News
Welcome to you all! I hope you all had a good holiday, plenty of rest and relaxation, and are ready to start the new school year.
Friends of the Crescent for those of you who are new to the school is our PTA, we organise a number of events throughout the school year with the emphasis on fellowship as well as raising funds for extras to enhance the school and its activities. For example play equipment for the playground was purchased last year.
We already have 2 dates for your diary. Firstly a ‘pub’ Quiz on Friday 12th October held in the school hall from 7.30pm – bring you own food and drink. The teachers remain unbeaten for several years so form your team now (up to 6 people) and get studying! Cost is £3.50 per person or £20 for a team of 6.
Our Ladies’ Indulgence Evening will be held on Friday 16th November. An opportunity to pamper yourself before the stress of Christmas is upon us. Both of these events have proved very popular but the more the merrier!
The first committee meeting will be held on Monday 10th September in the School Library at 3.45pm, any new parents wanting to join us are very welcome, in particular we need people who are willing to act as Class Representatives for Nursery and Reception to come forward. If you want to discuss anything with me beforehand please leave a message with Mrs Morley, the School Secretary.
Jackie Daniel (mother of Luke in Year 2)
FOC Chairman