Message from the Head of Prep
We had a wonderfully exciting week with a very special live session. From 3rd October, The National Literacy Trust and The Royal British Legion organised a series of free online poetry sessions for Remembrance 2023 led by professional poet Laura Mucha culminating in a celebration of students’ poetry on National Poetry Day on 5th October at our school.
Laura presented an amazing workshop which featured a number of our pupils reciting poetry they had created to an audience of over 16,000 pupils across 200 schools throughout the country via a live broadcast.
I was extremely impressed by the Remembrance poems which had been written by our pupils. They showed impressive maturity in the writing, editing and presenting of their work. The Upper Prep School participated as the audience in the auditorium while a group of senior pupils, including Drama scholars, visited the film sets and broadcast stations getting an opportunity to ask questions to the film crew.
It was a superb occasion and one we are proud to have hosted at Cranmore. Our particular thanks go to our school librarian, Mrs Sian Watkinson, for booking, liaising and coordinating all aspects of the event.
Mr Heaver
2 OCTOBER 2023
Laura Mucha Poetry Workshop
On Thursday it was National Poetry Day. Mr Everitt’s office was transformed into a film studio for the day as a live poetry event organised by the Royal British Legion and the National Literacy Trust was filmed there. The broadcast went out to over 200 schools around the country and involved over 16,000 students.
Earlier in the week, ten of our Upper Prep pupils attended the first two of Laura’s online poetry writing workshops. They then created their own poems on the theme of Remembrance. They thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and produced some wonderful poems.
Laura could only select three pupils to take part in the final workshop on Thursday, but she commended all ten of the pupils for the very high standard of their poetry. All ten boys were invited to meet her after the workshop and were able to look around the film set as well as chat to her about their poems. Laura imparted words of wisdom and tips, leaving them with the advice to “Never give up writing poetry.” Over the course of the next few weeks, in the build-up to Remembrance Day, we will be displaying all of their poems in the Chronicle, starting with the three Laura selected for inclusion in her workshop.
Strong Oak by Max C (Year 5)
Oh, strong oak, why do you drop your seeds?
I drop them for those who died protecting.
Oh, strong oak, why do you creak in agony?
I creak in agony for those in the land of the poppy.
Oh, strong oak, why are you silent?
I am silent for those who are soundless.
Oh, strong oak, why do you groan?
I groan in remembrance of those on their own.
Oh strong oak, why are you crumbling?
I am crumbling for those who need remembering.
Oh, strong oak, why are you weeping?
I weep for those who are exploring Heaven.
Do you forget the cluster of letters? A library of love lost.
We never forget the piles of promises, Dictations to dreams diminished.
Do you forget the terrifying rip of rifles? Shooting, shouting, shelling.
We never forget the loathsome savagery, Hating, hitting, hurting.
Do you forget the endless fields of poppies? Remembrance to our sorrow.
We remember with clarity, regret and hope.
We Shall Remember Them by Hugo B (Year 6)
Why do you shed your seeds as another would shed bitter tears, oh beautiful birch?
We remember the crests of the dark eminences, the torrid trails crammed full of hollow-eyed soldiers.
Soldiers
Soldiers
Why are you so wistful, birch?
We remember the forbidding ruptures of shells, The igniting of skin, the bubble of avaricious anger.
Writhing
Writhing
Why do you sigh, birch?
We remember the screams of terror, like a dark hand grasping the land.
Grasping
Grasping
Why do you yearn, birch?
We remember the sullen weight of mourning, the dark, constricted pain confined in everyone’s chests and the woeful praying for peace.
Why do you feel so sombre, birch?
We remember the ranting, racing, Flying, facing, Chattering, chasing.
We remember often, lest we forget, But through every day, every minute, every second,
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM
Remembrance Poems
Laura Mucha Poetry Workshop
Our Year 4 to 6 pupils formed the ‘live audience’ in the Auditorium and were filmed periodically during the workshop. Thank you to them for being such a great audience. I hope they feel inspired by Laura’s tips for writing and performing poetry and will go on to write their own poems with renewed enthusiasm.
Laura Mucha Poetry Workshop
One of our Year 8 students, Barnaby H, produced an outstanding piece of art work for the occasion and he was invited to chat to Laura after the workshop to talk about how he had done it. Laura was astounded at how beautiful it was and was even more impressed that he had created it digitally. Well done, Barnaby!
Our three budding poets were also filmed performing their poems for a Remembrance Live Assembly which will be broadcast to schools on 10th November at 10.20am.
We look forward to collaborating more with the National Literacy Trust in the future as we aim to inspire a passion for reading and writing in our pupils.
Mrs Watkinson, School Librarian
Laura Mucha Poetry Workshop for Lower Prep
Praise Postcards for European Day of Languages
Thank you to all those who submitted Praise postcards to help us celebrate the European Day of Languages last week. We hope that all the activities have renewed your enthusiasm to keep developing your language skills and learning about other cultures.
Ms Ebdy
By Harry T 4CC
By Matthew B 4FH
By Jesse C 4FH
By Henry N 4CC
By Walter L 4CC
The Nursery children enjoyed participating in a counting game using the interactive whiteboard. walk around the Cranmore grounds looking for a selection of autumn leaves to use for their leaf symmetry craft pictures. At Forest School they made chalk using a pestle and mortar. conkers from the tuff tray, enabling them to develop their fine motor skills.
Ms Luke, Head of Nursery
Sport Update
U11s qualify for National IAPS and U9s win Downsend Tournament
Our U11s football team are through to the National IAPS having qualified at the Regionals in Ashford. The team went undefeated in their pool with 3 wins and 3 draws. Having won the quarter-final, Cranmore lost 1-0 in the semi-final but then went onto win the 3rd /4th play-off. Finishing 3rd overall meant Cranmore qualified for the Nationals which will take place later this term. The same team did superbly well at the Feltonfleet tournament on Saturday when they reached the final. The Hawthorns won the final 1-0 with Cranmore securing the runners-up position. Finally, regarding the U11A team, Cranmore is through to the quarter -finals of the Surrey Cup having beaten Downsend 3-2 on penalties in the last 16.
U8s versus Surbiton Prep
U11s at Feltonfleet
U9As at Downsend
U10s versus Rokeby
U9Bs at Downsend
Sport Update
The U9 As & Bs were fantastic at the Downsend football tournament on Saturday morning. The U9Bs went undefeated in their competition and then won the 3rd/4th play off to finish 3rd out of 12 teams. The U9 As finished top of their pool and progressed to play Shrewsbury House in the final. The match was even after full time, but Cranmore won 3-2 on penalties. Well done to all boys involved. Year group fixtures have also taken place across the Prep school versus Milbourne Lodge, Feltonfleet, Kings College Wimbledon, Cranleigh and Surbiton Prep.
Cranmore pupils participated in a Biathlon on Sunday held at Downsend and the Guildford Spectrum. There were some outstanding performances both in the swimming pool and on the track. We look forward to seeing the results of qualification for the Nationals.
On Monday, our ski squad participated at the National Indoor Ski Championships at Hemel Hempstead. Cranmore were represented in three age groups. In the team event, one Cranmore team came 2nd overall. In the individuals, Freddie B came first (U14), Theo T came 4th (U14) and Samuel B came 3rd (U10).
October Half-Term Camps
Please see links below and flyers regarding Sports Camps taking place at Cranmore this October halfterm:
- Goalkeeping link
- Football Camp link
Mouthguards
Please see link below for more information regarding OPRO Cranmore mouthguards
Mr Hodgson, Director of Sport
House Cup Winners
Congratulations to Bowen House who gained the highest number of merits in both the Lower and the Upper Prep this week!
The Wonder of Creation
Chaplaincy News
This week a group of students alongside students from St Teresa’s went on the Secondary Diocesan Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage involved walking around Arundel Park and celebrating Mass in the Cathedral. It was a great day of community and friendship where each of us deepened our walk with God. It was the Feast of St Francis and so we also took time to appreciate the world in which we live and to look for ways to protect it.
Reflection
Be very conscious this week of the wonder of our Creation. Let us recognise that God is to be found in nature and in the animals that have been placed in our care. Perhaps go on your own walk in the local area.
St Francis Pray for Us.
Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love.
A
Message from our Chaplaincy Team
"Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
St Francis of Assisi
Notices
Notices
Notices
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Soup Soup of the day – Country vegetable & lentil
Main Spaghetti bolognese
Soup of the day - Tomato
Soup of the day – Leek & potato
Soup of the day – Mushroom
Soup of the day – Minestrone
Chicken katsu curry
Chef’s carvery – Locally sourced roast turkey with Yorkshire pudding
Chicken & tomato pasta bake with Italian style salad
Traditional battered fish or jumbo fish fingers
Jacket potato & beans
Plain pasta & tomato sauce
Jacket potato & beans
Plain pasta & tomato sauce
Jacket potato & beans
Vegetarian Quorn mince bolognese
No chicken & spicy vegetable
jambalaya
South Western stuffed sweet potato
Vegetable & bean burritos
Fresh vegetable lasagne
Sides Pasta
Roasted Mediterranean vegetables
Additional Salad bar
Steamed rice
Stir fried vegetables
Prawn crackers
Salad bar
Roast potatoes
Cauliflower & broccoli cheese
Mixed vegetables
Salad bar
Broccoli
Roasted carrots
Chips
Peas
Baked beans
Dessert Rice pudding with a selection of toppings
Chocolate brownie
Sticky toffee pudding and butterscotch sauce
Jacket potato & beans
Salad bar
Iced topped vanilla sponge
Fruity Friday
Items
Menu
in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher
