Cranmore Prep Chronicle 6 November 2023

6 NOVEMBER 3 JULY 20232023 Message from the Head of Prep

It has been lovely to welcome the children back after the half-term break and to hear of all the fun they had over their holidays. Thank you to all of those families who donated towards our Action Day fundraising and to those who have brought in contributions this week for our annual shoebox appeal; I know those efforts make a tangible difference to people’s lives.

We were delighted as a school to be able to host the IAPS District Heads here on Wednesday. Among our guests were thirty of the leading Heads from across the region. They were tremendously impressed with the school, the tours given by our pupils and hospitality shown throughout the morning. This week in assembly we have spoken about Remembrance and at 11am today we paused to listen to Miles play the Last Post and to observe a twominute silence. On Sunday, our thoughts and prayers will turn once more to those whose lives have been lost in conflict.

Tomorrow, we look forward to the playing of the Henkes Shield and to our CPA Fireworks 2023. Starting on Monday, we will be marking Anti-Bullying Week and all pupils are invited to take part in Odd Socks Day on Friday to celebrate the fact that we are all unique.

Mr Heaver

Remembrance Activities Earlier today, the whole school paused to mark Remembrance Day with assemblies in the morning. At 11am, all pupils took part in two minutes’ silence, followed by a poignant performance of the Last Post by Year 8 pupil Miles K. Many pupils wore their poppies with pride throughout the week.

A Message from the King In May this year, some of our current Year 7 pupils created cards addressed to the King on the occasion of his Coronation. Over half-term, we received this card in return. Thank you to all the boys who took the time to create their beautiful cards.

Mrs Watkinson, School Librarian

This Week’s House Cup Winners Congratulations to Morton House in the Lower Prep and Radford House in the Upper Prep for gaining the highest number of merits this week!

Squishy Circuits Year 4 and the members of Science Club got creative in their studies into electricity before half-term, using playdough to create circuits and demonstrate the effect of salt on conductivity in dough. We found out that LEDs only light up in one direction (they have polarity) and that these bulbs need a higher voltage to make them illuminate than the filament bulbs we use in circuits experiments. Using non-conducting dough, made to a different recipe, offered the opportunity to get creative and make some fantastic animal themed models including a tortoise, butterfly and crab by combining the two types of dough and LEDs.

Dr Verny White, Head of Upper Prep Science

Action Day On the Friday before half-term, our Upper Prep pupils took part in our annual celebration of talent, Action Day. There was a thrilling display of musical, theatrical and comedic talent and all pupils had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

3CS Assembly about Courage 3CS performed their class assembly on Thursday to the Lower Prep and their parents and grandparents. The theme of the assembly was courage and they explored what courage was and shared ways in which they had shown courage. They then retold the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the Bible and explained how these men showed courage and had faith in God. To finish they reflected on how to help someone else who was feeling worried. Mrs Sinclair is very proud of how they performed and sang the songs.

Reception News This week, Reception learnt all about Remembrance Day and coloured in their own poppies. They listened carefully and made thoughtful contributions to our class discussions about respect and the bravery of the soldiers.

Well done, children!

Miss Hurl and Mrs Prothero

Remembrance Poems As we approach Remembrance Day, here are the last three of the excellent poems written by our Year 5 and 6 poets for the Remembrance poetry workshop with poet Laura Mucha. Congratulations again to all ten pupils who took part.

Remembrance poppies by Elliot W

On the 11th of November, We wait to remember The burning red poppies, nice and bright, As we stand for those who went to fight.

At eleven o’clock we stop and think Of the people who saw no pink.

The sound of shooting guns fills the air.

You feel like you can do nothing but stare.

All you can really do is hope That the soldiers find strength to cope.

Helmets weighing, trees swaying, soldiers straying.

Opponents taking, ground shaking, legs aching.

No colour around you, just brown, It makes you feel kind of down.

Holes in homes, Names on stones.

So, on the 11th of November remember to drive over…..

TO A POPPY FIELD

Remembrance Poems

War Oak by Hugo P I walked and walked until I found an oak, A special one which could talk.

I asked, “Why do your nutritious nuts fall?”

It answered, “It falls to remember, remember The work that was done for us by the warriors who wept for weeks.

They wept because their friends fell for us.”

I asked, “Why do you plant roots?”

“We plant roots because each righteous root Is for an unnamed soldier that we should remember.”

I asked, “Why do you grow?”

“We grow to help you grow in strength.”

Remembrance Poems

The Lurking of Others by Teddy L I grow up strong and beautiful, I die down weak and sodden, I’m trodden and trampled by the lurking of others.

But when I grow up again,

Soldiers grunt and whizzing shots rip through the air, The stench of death, The whine of people, The saw of bullets.

But in the silence of death, I’m trodden and trampled by the lurking of others, But I do not grow once again, As soldiers and trucks torture my head.

My petals glide, swing, fluctuate, Until they streak the mud with sweat and blood, The sun rises and falls once more, But I still stay on the floor.

But when the sun rises again, I don’t wake up in fear and pain, But in the silence of the long won battle,

The lurking of others are only the cattle.

Then farmers come in and plough the fields, And now I grow at the height of heels, Now I’m green, yellow and mostly red, But I will not fall down, but rise up instead.

Year 5 Board Games in History Some Year 5 pupils made Roman-themed board games for homework and we had a special lesson during which the boys were able to explain and play their games. Some incorporated their knowledge of chess with their understanding of Roman battle tactics. Others used their vast knowledge of the Roman Empire to come up with dice-based strategy games. The lesson was a lot of fun for both the creators of the games and the students who could play the games for the first time.

Ms Varney

Nursery News The children have learnt all about Remembrance Day in the Nursery this week. They used a variety of mixed media to create their poppy pictures. They were all excited to tell us about their experiences of Bonfire Night and created their own firework pictures using paint and glitter!

Ms Luke, Head of Nursery

Year 3 Forest School Session Year 3 pupils thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Forest School just before half-term, creating some colourful potions and playing in the mud kitchen. It was a lovely way to finish off a busy first half term.

Sport Update Sport this week Football fixtures this week have taken place against Shrewsbury House, Kings College Wimbledon, Milbourne Lodge and Downsend. We have a swimming gala today against Downsend and our football finale takes place tomorrow with the Henkes Shield on the Henderson Field.

The Henkes Shield The Henkes Shield is an annual football competition between Cranmore and Rokeby school, involving age groups U9s to U13s. Established in 1983, this will be the 38th year the event has taken place - with 2 years being cancelled due to poor weather and Covid. Cranmore has won the competition 19 times, to Rokeby's 18. 8. Matches will take place throughout the morning with one point being awarded for each win, 0.5 for a draw. Cranmore needs to achieve 4.5 points to retain the prestigious shield.

Rugby Season Next Week The rugby season starts next week and runs up to February half-term. Please make sure pupils have a mouthguard, base layers, games top, navy shorts, Cranmore waterproof top and bottoms, boots and trainers.

Head of Rugby, Mr O'Neill, sent further information via yesterday's School Post.

Mouthguards Please see link for more information regarding OPRO Cranmore mouthguards

Cricket Coaching at Cranmore Both the ECDC and Horsley CC are coaching cricket at Cranmore during the evenings and on Saturdays. Please see the flyer for more information.

Mr Hodgson, Director of Sport

A Message from our Chaplaincy Team

Remembrance "While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart."

St Francis of Assisi

Chaplaincy News A big thank you for all the shoe box donations that were received this week. We collected 43 boxes and these will now be making their way to those in need.

Reflection This week we focused on Remembrance. We remember the Feast of All Saints and All Souls that took place last week. God has created all of us to become Saints.

We also journey towards Remembrance Sunday. This is the time in the year when we remember, pause and recall the many sacrifices that have been made for our freedom.

Prayer Let us remember before God, and commend to his sure keeping: those who have died for their country in conflict; those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure; and all who have lived and died in the service of humanity.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Notices

Notices

Notices

Notices

Soup

Main

Vegetarian

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Soup of the day – Country vegetable & lentil

Soup of the day Tomato

Soup of the day – Leek & potato

Soup of the day – Mushroom

Soup of the day – Spiced pumpkin

Spaghetti bolognese

Chicken katsu curry

Chef’s carvery – Locally sourced roast turkey with Yorkshire pudding

Chicken & vegetable pie with new potatoes & gravy

Traditional battered fish or fish fingers

Jacket potato & beans

Plain pasta & tomato sauce

Jacket potato & beans

Plain pasta & tomato sauce

Jacket potato & beans

Quorn mince bolognese

No chicken & spicy vegetable jambalaya

South Western stuffed sweet potato

Vegetable & bean burritos

Fresh vegetable lasagne

Broccoli

Chips

Roasted carrots

Peas

Roast potatoes

Pasta

Steamed rice

Roasted Mediterranean vegetables

Sweetcorn Prawn crackers

Mixed vegetables

Additional

Salad bar

Salad bar

Salad bar

Jacket potato & beans

Salad bar

Dessert

Rice pudding with a selection of toppings

Chocolate brownie

Sticky toffee pudding and butterscotch sauce

Iced topped vanilla sponge

Fruity Friday

Sides

Cauliflower & broccoli cheese

Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher

Baked beans