13th March 2020 Dear Parents This edition confirms that it has been “business as usual” at Cranmore with a full programme of sport, music and cultural activities. Of course, media reports are unanimous that we are going to face more challenging times ahead. Naturally, Cranmore will comply with any Government directives which are introduced to minimise the impact of the virus and we already have contingency plans if the school is required to close for a period. On a brighter note, I have been watching a few episodes of University Challenge in preparation for tonight’s CPA Quiz. I am sure it will be a wonderful social occasion and I look forward to seeing many of you there. Yours sincerely Michael Connolly
Nursery News Taking care of our sunflower seeds to make sure they grow
Planting seeds in Pre-Nursery
We made telephones to talk to our friends
The children were very brave when Animazing visited!
Collecting wild garlic at Forest School
The Tiger who came to Tea party
In Science, the children explored their sense of touch
Nursery News Year 4 visited the Nursery on World Book Day for shared reading. Everyone looked wonderful in their costumes!
Junior News World Book Day
Clever and creative costumes were in abundance on World Book Day. Activities ranged from shared reading between year groups, a themed lunch, follow-up activities from the previous week’s author visit and many more individual class activities. It was a wonderful day celebrating our school’s love of reading!
Junior News Year 1 History Workshop about The Plague and The Great Fire of London
Year 3 enjoyed a fascinating visit from Surrey Search and Rescue
Pastoral News NSPCC Speak out. Stay safe. workshop
On Wednesday 11th March, Years 1 to 6 welcomed the NSPCC to Cranmore, where they delivered their Speak out. Stay safe. programme. This consisted of an assembly for Years 1 to 2 and Years 3 to 6, and workshops for Years 5 and 6. Pupils were given information on how to keep themselves safe from harm and how to get help if they have any worries.
Ms Schembri
Senior News Witches and War Years 7 and 8 enjoyed an immersive introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth this week. On Monday, Al from Globe Education led a dynamic workshop which involved them all. On Tuesday, they visited The Globe for a compelling performance of the play. The weather was grey, in keeping with the atmosphere of Macbeth, but the experience was intense and educational. Mrs Hopkins
Senior News World Book Day in the Senior Department
Senior pupils celebrated World Book Day with some wonderful costumes, took part in the shared reading activity with the Junior Department and enjoyed the themed lunch, as well as taking part in some other individual class activities. Well done to everyone for their incredible dressing up and enthusiasm for reading!
Senior News E-safety Day On 26th February, we welcomed Alan MacKenzie (https://www.esafety-adviser.com/), an e-safety specialist, to school to give some presentations to pupils from Years 3, 4 and 5, and then Years 6, 7 and 8. The younger pupils had a talk that focused on age-appropriate materials, explaining the different ratings for apps and games and why we have them, the problems with in-App purchases as well as who to turn to if they have problems online. He finished the first session with a great story called Troll Stinks, a modern take on the classic Three Billy Goats Gruff, but this time the Goats find a phone and are mean to the troll, a fun story with an important message. The older children’s session was different and focused on giving the pupils information about their favourite and most used apps such as Instagram and Snap Chat. He was very good at explaining about how these services make money through advertising and how their design hooks you in to continue to use their services. He was also clear in debunking the modern myth that even though people think if they have deleted a post, it is gone forever. There were more than a few raised eyebrows at this comment. Alan then went on to inform the pupils about what companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook do with the data they post online and what rights they have to this data. He put up some of the terms and conditions of Instagram, one of the favourite Apps of younger children, and explained that, whilst the children have the copyright to their pictures, Instagram can essentially do what they like with them without your permission, even sell them to other 3rd parties. It was a great session, giving pupils the facts to enable them to make the right choices. The session for parents in the evening was also informative. Alan will be sending me over his slides and I will distribute them to parents next week. The main takeaway from this session was the need to take an active rather than passive interest in your child’s online activity, check their devices and what they are posting regularly, but also if they enjoy gaming, join in with them as they play. Alan showed some clips of some of the games young children are playing that have high PEGI ratings and this was quite a shock for us as parents, so a good understanding of what they are doing is vital. If you have any questions or need further information, a good place to start is https://www.internetmatters.org/. This is a great site that gives age-specific advice. Mr Hinds
Sports News Sports Report for week ending 6th March Despite the slightly unpleasant weather conditions of late, plenty of sport still took place last week. On Thursday 27th February, our U9 boys played in their first competitive hockey fixtures of the academic year against Hoe Bridge. No fewer than 8 Cranmore teams represented the year group from the school. On a rare fine afternoon with blue skies, the matches proved a good test and were very enjoyable for all the players. On the same afternoon, two U13 hockey teams travelled to Danes Hill for matches. Cranmore played superbly, creating plenty of goal-scoring opportunities on both pitches. One game finished 2-1, the other 4-0, both in favour of Cranmore. On Friday, a Cranmore U10 team participated in the Caterham School Hockey Tournament. Across 5 matches, Cranmore scored 14 goals and only conceded 2. The undefeated Cranmore team went on to be crowned Tournament Champions. Well done all!
On Monday, two U9 netball teams and an U8 side had a great outing to Manor House. Fantastic netball was played across all three courts resulting in winning performances all round. Plenty more hockey fixtures have taken place, including our U13s versus Shrewsbury House and the U11s away at Danes Hill. It is pleasing to report that all 6 teams were undefeated. Finally, it has been great to watch the pupils in the Senior School enjoy the latest rotation of PE. This has included Gymnastics, Health Related Fitness and Racquets. Also, the Junior School within PE are currently enjoying Movement as part of their activities block.
Mr Hodgson
U10s in the Caterham School Hockey Tournament
Sports News U11s hockey versus Danes Hill
Netball at Manor House
Senior pupils taking part in rotation of activities in PE
Junior pupils enjoying a ‘Movement’ session
Sports News Sports Report for week ending 13th March Last Wednesday saw a great afternoon of hockey for our Year 7 and Year 8 against Danes Hill. This included our 1st VII extending their unbeaten run for the current hockey season. Also on Wednesday, an U10 and an U11 hockey team represented the school at the Wellington College Hockey Tournament. The U11s performed admirably, whilst the U10s had a very successful day, only dropping one match out of the seven. Our U8s netball teams visited Downsend on Friday and enjoyed some competitive matches. Across both fixtures, Cranmore ended up scoring seven goals to Downsend’s four. Well done to all! The 1st VII rugby sevens team participated in the Feltonfleet 7s tournament on Saturday. It turned into a really good development morning for the squad as they got back into their rugby following a prolonged break. Particularly pleasing was the restart work and tackling. The format of the tournament was a six team round-robin with Cranmore winning four out of the five matches. Year 4 boys hockey teams were in action on Monday with six matches taking place against Danes Hill. A very good standard of hockey was showcased by both teams, resulting in some very close matches. Mr Hodgson 1st VII rugby at Feltonfleet
U10s at Wellington Hockey Festival
Sports News U13s hockey versus Danes Hill
U8s netball versus Downsend
Sports News Congratulations to Omar S. who performed superbly at the Dunlop English Junior Squash Championships. He went into the competition as the lowest seed and one of the youngest. His first match was therefore against the highest seed (who actually took the England Title). Omar lost two matches and won three, finishing the competition as 25th in England. He will be still be ranked as 35th in England during March, but is expected to be promoted much higher in April.
We were delighted to receive more news about former pupil Will B., who won the National Cross Country Championships U17 men's in Nottingham in February, which has also confirmed his place to represent the English Schools AA at the upcoming ISF World Schools Cross Country Championships in Slovakia from 18th to 23rd April. On the trophy Will is holding, Mo Farah’s name is engraved for being the winner in 1999 & 2000! He went on to cement his top spot in cross country by winning the National Inter-counties XC Championships U17s in Loughborough on Saturday. Congratulations to Will!
Music News Godalming Festival The Junior Chamber Choir performed beautifully at the Godalming Festival on 3rd March. They received some excellent feedback from the judge and sang their hearts out. Well done to all.
The Senior Chamber Choir received first place and a distinction for their category. They gave a first class performance and thank you to Mr Harris for accompanying the choir on the piano. They were also awarded The GODALMING OPERATIC SOCIETY CUP which is for the ‘best performance in Years 8 & 9’.
Junior Music Assembly
The Junior Music Assembly was an extravaganza of musical performances this Wednesday. We had some very skilled soloists followed by A. Wood demonstrating his virtuoso clarinet skills. I hope that some Junior pupils feel inspired to take up the clarinet as an instrument. The Chamber Choir also charmingly performed their two songs ‘Easter Jubilation’ and ‘Always Sing Your Song’.
Mrs Thornton
Music News Congratulations to this Year 6 chorister who performed ‘Les Poissons’ with such style during Senior Assembly.
The Clarinet Group performed brilliantly in Assembly on Monday.
Music News
Senior Spring Soiree on Thursday 19th March
The following choirs and ensembles will be performing in the Senior Spring Soiree on Thursday 19th March at 7pm:
Chamber Choir Jubilee Choir C# Orchestra Wind Band
Brass Group Training Strings Chamber Strings Clarinet Choir Saxophone Group Recorder Ensemble Flute Choir
Pupils should go home after school and return no later than 6.40pm for the concert. They should wear their school uniform with senior bow tie / hair bow, no blazer. This concert should finish at approximately 8pm. Parents are warmly invited to attend.
Pastoral Notices Dear Parents Save the date: Thursday 30th April, 6.15pm – 8pm On Thursday 30th April, Caroline Penney will be meeting with Cranmore children from Year 1 to Year 8, to discuss techniques on how to deal with ‘big feelings’. These sessions will be presented in a fun and interactive way. The same evening, Caroline will be providing her ‘Helping your child manage their big feelings’ workshop to all parents, which will also focus on anxiety, depression and anger, and coping strategies. Caroline Penney BSc, SRN, MSc, PGCE is a well-known parenting specialist and systemic family therapist, who has been involved in training parents to help facilitate parenting groups and courses. She has worked in Australia, Nepal, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, in the NHS, and in private practice. Caroline has spent thirty years working in parenting education, social
services, Parent Network, the Maudsley Hospital and the Lantern Family Centre. She has published several books and research articles. The book ‘The Parenting Toolkit’ grew out of her experience over many years meeting families going through difficult times with their children and adolescents and wanting help. In it, she draws together many of the ideas developed in her teaching to parents and professionals. Caroline is the mother of three children and the grandmother of three. Her great-grandfather was Sigmund Freud and her great-aunt was Anna Freud whose work inspired her to develop training to support parents in their relationships with their children. If you would like to attend the evening workshop, please access the booking form which is on the Parent Section of the VLE (Parents – School Forms – Helping your child manage their big feelings: Parent Workshop) by Friday 24th April. Refreshments will be served from 6.15pm and the workshop will commence promptly at 6.30pm, lasting c. 1.5 hours. The invitation will also be extended to St Teresa parents. Copies of Caroline’s book, ‘The Parenting Toolkit’, will be on sale at the end of the workshop. I do hope you can make the session. Jessica Schembri
Chaplaincy Notices
Sports Notices Sports Camps
There are now over 10 sports camps with our associated partner, Activate Camps, being held at Cranmore throughout the rest of the academic year. For more information and to book, please go to:
https://www.activatecamps.co.uk/venues/cranmore-school/
Tennis Sessions
ESTA is delighted to offer tennis sessions at St Teresa’s on Tuesdays and Fridays during the Easter term at the following times: Tuesdays 6-7pm Years 7+ 4.15-5pm Reception to Year 2 5-6pm Years 3 to 6
These sessions are open to children at both schools. Please follow the link below for booking details or contact Kirsti at esta@effinghamschools.org https://cranmore.org/spring-term-programme-2020/
Please use the sports portal via the school website: https://sport.cranmore.org and save the Cranmore sports app for up-to-date information. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cranmoresport
Sports Notices ESTA EASTER TENNIS CAMPS We are pleased to announce we now accepting bookings for our Easter tennis camps! Week 1 at St Teresa's Monday 6th - Thursday 9th April (4 days) Week 2 at Cranmore Tuesday 14th - Friday 17th April (4 days) Full days 10-3pm - £40 Half days 10-12.30pm - £28
Registration each day from 9.45am Full week 10% discount 10% sibling discount for days attended together Please complete the online booking form below or email us directly if you would like to pay by bank transfer. https://www.st-teresas.com/esta/easter-tennis-camp-booking-form/
https://www.st-teresas.com/files/tennis-academy/ESTA%20EASTER%2020%20CAMPS% 20BOOKING%20FORM.pdf We look forward to seeing your children over the holidays for some fun tennis drills, skills and match play!
Sports Notices
Sports Notices LTA MATCH PLAY EVENT AT ESTA
On Saturday 21st March, Jack Lane is running an LTA match play event for 8U and 9U players at ESTA (St Teresa's site).
This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to gain invaluable match play experience in a fun and familiar environment.
Please follow the links below to sign up via the LTA website:
8U mixed @ 10am
https://www3.lta.org.uk/Competitions/Event/?ctn=1-M9W7PKS&evt=1-M9W7RLV
9U mixed @ 1pm
https://www3.lta.org.uk/Competitions/Event/?ctn=1-M9W8DPO&evt=1-M9W8FUX
Your child must have a British Tennis Membership (BTM) number to enter. If they do not already have one, please follow the link below.
https://www.lta.org.uk/member/benefits/
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Jack on esta.tournaments@st-
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Music Notices
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