58 JANUARY 2026 2024 3 JULY 2023 Message from the Head of Prep
Happy New Year to one and all. I hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas break.
The term has started with some incredibly wintry weather but that has not stopped the children from enjoying seeing their friends again and settling back into the school routine. Rather fittingly, Reception has started their new topic Cold as Ice. I can report that no penguins have been spotted on school grounds although, with the dusting of snow we had at the start of the week, they would not have looked out of place!
There is a great deal planned for 2026, and the children have already begun looking forward to the opportunities ahead. Our new House Captains were delighted to be appointed this week and are proudly wearing their badges. Our School Council Representatives will be meeting to share their ideas, and our Year 6 Literacy Leaders are excited at the prospect of visiting Year 3 to support them with reading. Outside of the classroom, clubs and sports fixtures will soon resume, along with some fantastic extra-curricular trips and residentials.
Mr Heaver
A Snowy Start to the Term Prep pupils kicked off the Spring Term with a magical snowy playtime on Tuesday. Bundled up in warm layers, they seized the rare opportunity to enjoy a variety of fun, snow-themed games!
Year 3 News Year 3 have begun exploring our new topic on India. We used globes to find India’s location and then labelled the continents and oceans on a world map. Mrs Norris
Year 2 News Year 2 have launched their new topic, The Wonder of Kenya. To kick things off in style, the children learned a traditional African call-and-response song with Mrs Green, and later added the rhythmic beat of Djembe drums during their music lesson.
Year 1 News Year 1 have been exploring imperative verbs this week and had great fun spotting them in a set of instructions for making a jam sandwich. The highlight of the lesson was following the instructions step by step to create their own sandwiches and of course, enjoying eating them afterwards. A delicious way to learn! Mrs Parker
Reception News Reception are thoroughly enjoying their new topic 'Cold as Ice.' To kick start the topic, the children have enjoyed learning about animals that can be found in the Polar Regions and what the climate is like there. In Literacy, they used their sounds to write wintry words on snowflakes, and in Expressive Arts and Design, they made their own beautiful snowflakes, using their handprints and glitter. Well done, Reception! Mrs Prothero
Christmas Jumper Day Fundraising Total A big thank you to all pupils who wore their Christmas jumpers at the end of last term. £550 was raised for Save the Children.
Sports News The first week back has been a highly positive and energetic start to the new term. Despite challenging weather conditions, pupils have shown excellent commitment and enthusiasm, continuing to build on the strong foundations established during the first half of the rugby season. Training sessions have focused on refining key rugby skills, with particular emphasis on effective ball presentation and developing a clearer understanding of the first player’s role at the breakdown. These sessions have helped pupils improve both their technical ability and game awareness, ensuring continued progress as the season moves forward. In Physical Education lessons, pupils have begun the first week of a six-week Health Related Fitness block. This programme is designed to develop overall physical wellbeing and understanding of fitness principles. As part of this unit, pupils have completed the bi-annual PE Aptitude Tests. These regulated assessments measure key physical competencies, including speed, agility, coordination, power, and endurance, and provide valuable benchmark data to track individual progress and inform future learning. In swimming, pupils have been revisiting front crawl technique.
Easter Sports Camp Lions Sports Academy are hosting an Easter Camp at Cranmore from 30th March to 2nd April. Please see flyer and booking link below. Cranmore parents can get a 15% discount using the code: Cranmore15 https://lionssports.academy/bookingpage/School-Camp/Cranmore-School Mouthguards Home Fit Cranmore Mouthguard - please use this link to order Cranmore’s bespoke mouth guard (discount code cranmore10 to receive 10% off). Professional Fit Mouthguard (at local dentists) - Topguards. To book: https:// form.jotform.com/241132543497355 For more information: enquiries@topguards.co.uk
A Message from our Chaplaincy Team
This Week A reading from the Gospel of Matthew Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Reflection
The Epiphany reminds us that all of us are called to share our gifts and talents. The wise men brought different gifts, and God has given each of us unique gifts and talents. The visit of the Magi reminds us that we have something to offer and highlights the importance of worship. We were made for worship—to adore our Creator. In various parts of the world, the Epiphany is marked by the time-honoured tradition of “chalking the doors.” The formula for the ritual is simple: take chalk of any colour (ideally blessed by a priest on the Feast of the Epiphany) and write above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 26 The numbers represent the year (2026), and the letters stand for the traditional names of the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar—as well as the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat (“May Christ bless this house”).
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi - Caspar, Malchior and Balthazar - who came to visit Jesus in the place where he was born. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates as “May Christ bless the house.”
Notices
Notices
Menu
Tuesday Week 2
Monday
Indoor Beach Day
Wednesday
Soup
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Slow cooked Beef Bolognese
Spicy Chicken & Jalapeno Pizza or Pepperoni Pizza
Quorn & Vegetable Bolognese
Margaritta Pizza
Spaghetti
Mixed Potato Wedges
Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
Corn on the Cob
Main
Vegetarian
Sides
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce Additional
Freshly Baked Bread
Cesar Salad Jacket Potato & Baked Beans Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Salad bar
Dessert
Apple and Pear Crumble with Custard
Indoor Beach Day Themed Desserts
Thursday
Friday
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Honey Roasted Gammon with Stuffing & Gravy
Chicken & Vegetable Korma
Freshly Battered Fish or Fish Finger with Ketchup and Tartare Sauce
Spinach, Butternut & Feta Pie with Puff Pastry Top
Paneer & Spiced Root Vegetable Dhal
Stuffed Mushrooms
Herb Roasted New Potatoes
Garlic Naan Bread
Skinny Chips
Cauliflower Cheese
Pilau Rice
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Biscoff Cheesecake
Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher
Garden Peas
Spiced Greens
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce or Jacket Potato & Baked Beans Freshly Baked Bread Salad bar
Chocolate Rice Crispy Square
Fresh Fruit Smoothies