813JANUARY 2024 3OCTOBER JULY 2023 2025 Message from the Headmaster As we close the first half of this academic term, I am delighted to reflect on all that has been experienced and achieved. We began by coming together as a community, with parents meeting staff at the information evenings and pupils collaborating in team building exercises. Together, we proudly showcased our school at the Open Morning, which was followed by an event for our Alumni who commented positively on how Cranmore has grown and developed since they left. In the following weeks, the rhythm of school life fell positively into place providing an environment in which academic endeavour, personal development and community spirit came together to create a truly enriching experience. There has been a structured programme of study skills sessions and GCSE drop-in clinics being offered by teachers. School Council and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee meetings provided a forum to discuss pupil-led initiatives, demonstrating the strength of student voice and leadership. Pupils have played in teams securing silverware and progressed in regional and national competitions, outperforming local rivals along the way. Our community has shown compassion and generosity by making donations to local shelters and foodbanks as well as investing time in making Christmas shoeboxes for those in need. Looking beyond our school community, to wider society, we have had opportunities to explore how to stay safe, respectful and responsible online. We have learnt about diverse cultures and their contribution in European Languages Day, during Black History Month and the much-enjoyed Diwali themed lunch earlier this week. GCSE Geographers studied urban landscapes first-hand on their fieldwork trip to East London. Over half term, GCSE History students embark on their trip to Munich, and our Computer Science pupils travel to Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Such experiences remind us of the power of experiential learning, and these journeys offer invaluable opportunities to connect the curriculum in the classroom to the wider world. Finally, I want to thank every pupil, parent and member of staff for making this term so vibrant and successful. Whether you will be travelling, resting, or exploring new interests in the coming weeks, I wish you a safe and restorative break. Mr Everitt
Black History Month Talk On Friday, we were delighted to welcome Azaria Sanusi from the African Caribbean Education Network as part of our Black History Month celebrations. Azaria delivered two inspiring sessions — one for Years 7 to 11 and another for Years 5 to 6 — each thoughtfully adapted to the age group. She shared fascinating insights into the long and often overlooked history of people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK, encouraging pupils to think deeply about how ideas of race have developed over time. Through powerful examples and open discussion, Azaria helped students explore topics such as stereotyping, bias, and racism, while highlighting the importance of equality, equity, and justice. Her talk was both thought-provoking and uplifting, reminding us all of the value of understanding, empathy, and inclusion within our school community and beyond. Mr Kelly
Karl Nova Visit Pupils from Years 7 to 10 received a visit from multi award-winning poet Karl Nova on Wednesday as part of Black History Month and in celebration of National Poetry Day. Karl performed several of his poems, talked about how he became a poet and performed an incredible freestyle rap. He also focused on our school’s value for this year, compassion, and taught the pupils how being strong and compassionate are compatible, contrary to some of the messages being propagated on social media. Some pupils were so inspired that they went on to create raps to help them memorise the periodic table in their Chemistry lesson!
Pupils’ comments included: “Karl opened my eyes about judging others.” “He inspired us to be inclusive.” If you would like to order a signed copy of one of Karl’s books for your son, the ordering page will remain open until Wednesday 22nd October: https://www.authorsabroad.com/bookshop/curious-case-karl-nova Mrs Watkinson, School Librarian
Year 8 Engineering Excellence During the Year 8 Design and Technology lessons this half of term, pupils have started to tackle exciting engineering challenges using our MTa STEM Kits. This week pupils had to design and build a ‘human’ model with moving arms that mimicked real human motion. Working in teams, they explored joint movement and balance, earning extra marks for human-like features and free-standing designs. The results were creative, clever, and full of engineering ingenuity! The members of the Design and Technology department are looking forward to seeing what the Year 8 pupils design and make during the next half of term! Mr McGhee
Study Skills Sessions for Years 8 and 9 with Elevate Education Following the very instructive session on Study Skills for Year 7, two sessions were held for Years 8 and 9 last week, which have been designed to build upon the input received in previous years. Specifically, pupils focused on: • •
Time Management in Year 8 Memory Mnemonics in Year 9
Feedback from pupils was very positive: • •
97% would recommend the content to other students. 95% considered the programme time well spent.
The Junior Time Management sessions helped pupils allocate their time effectively and avoid distractions. Pupils were armed with strategies for organising their study time and prioritising topics that required most focus. The Memory Mnemonics session delved deeper into specific techniques for organising thoughts and retaining and retrieving information. Pupils were encouraged to stick to short sharp sessions, studying for 25 minutes with a 5-minute break, to help the brain focus and not get tired. Bursts of physical exercise were also encouraged before a working period to help get blood moving, raise energy levels and increase productivity. The use of 5 pile was recommended as a way to study languages. The 5 pile consists of splitting your vocabulary into 5 groups. Once you learn and test yourself on group 1, you move onto group 2 and once you have memorised group 2, you test yourself on groups 1 and 2 before you move onto group 3 and the process repeats until you have reached group 5. Further pupil comments included: “10/10. The memorising games were really helpful and will definitely help me in the future” Dylan, Yr 9 “I learned how to retrieve information and also how to avoid distractions, such as my phone” William, Yr 9 “I learned to revise the hard stuff first!” Josh, Yr 8 “10/10. I learned about assignment chunks” Nino, Yr 8 “Very helpful…I learnt to do homework early and make a timetable” Adam, Yr 8 Mr Pulford, Deputy Head, Academic
Harvest Collection We were delighted to receive the following letter from Myfanwy at Leatherhead Start. Thank you to all those parents and pupils who brought in generous donations. Dear Mr Jakubowski, I am writing to thank the children, parents and staff of Cranmore School for the wonderful Harvest gifts you had collected for LeatherHead Start. All our stock cupboards and the cellar were worryingly low, but with your amazing donation we are able to fill the shelves again and they will continue to help us provide three meals a day for our clients during the coming year. I want to thank the staff who organise the collection so that we have all the things we need and for the children and parents who slip in a few treats like exceptionally lovely biscuits and chocolates which always delight the clients. It was a pleasure to join you all for the Harvest Liturgy this morning. It gave us all time give thanks and reflect on the Harvest we are so fortunate to experience. The children were so well behaved, attentive and sang with great enthusiasm. Very best wishes Myfanwy Tothill Chair of the Board of Leatherhead Start
Sports News On Friday 10th October Cranmore travelled to the National Ski finals in Norwich where 3 Teams, 11 skiers competed (Luke L, Otis P, Jonty H, Samuel B, Harry S, Hugo P, Henry B, Mathias P, Leon G, Jacob S, Max T). 2 of our teams finished 4th in the country, with 1 team missing out on 3rd by 0.4 seconds. The other team finished 5th in the country, again narrowly missing out.
If your child would like to join the school ski programme then please email Mr Barson, max.barson@cranmore.org
A Message from our Chaplaincy Team
This Week A reading from the Gospel of Matthew
Jesus taught his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns. And yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not
you more important than they? Can any of you add a single moment to your life by worrying about things like that?” Reflection
This week we focus on the Festival of the Harvest. Across the Trust we have sought to live out our value of Compassion by collecting donations for the Dorking and Cranleigh Foodbanks as well for the LeatherHEAD START Homeless Hostel. At this time of year let us seek to be thankful for all we have received and grateful for all we have been given. We are also encouraged to be open hearted to the needs of others and recognise more fully that it is in giving that we receive.
Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is error, the truth; where there is doubt, the faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Amen
"Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society." ~ St Francis of Assisi
Notice
Notice
Menu
Week 2
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Soup
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Hunters Chicken
Roast Gammon with Stuffing & Gravy
Ham & Pinapple or Pepperoni Pizza
Freshly Battered Fish or Jumbo Fish Finger with Ketchup and Tartare Sauce
Margherita Pizza
Cheese and Onion Frittata
Chunky Chips Garden Peas
Main
Beef Massman Curry
Vegetarian
Creamy Quorn and Vegetable Panang Curry
Texan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Autumn Vegetable Bake with a Cheddar and Herb Crumb
Sides
Garlic Naan Bread Steamed Rice Green Beans
Herby New Potatoes Broccoli
Skin on Roast Potatoes Steamed Carrots
Potato Wedges Sweetcorn Cesar Salad
Additional
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Dessert
Shortbread Finger
Cherry and Coconut Sponge with Custard
Rocky Road
Sticky Toffee Pudding and Custard
Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Fresh Fruit Platter