11 NOVEMBER 2024
Message from the Headmaster
I was delighted to see so many families at the annual Fireworks last Saturday. Thank you to the CPA and our Facilities team for all their work to organise this outstanding event for our community.
It was my pleasure to host the Senior School Insight Evening on Wednesday for current parents of pupils in Years 4 to 8. is important to us that our existing pupils and their parents have first-hand access to learn what the Senior School experience at Cranmore is about. We will be welcoming Year 9 pupils and their parents to the GCSE Options Evening on Wednesday 4th December and Year 10 will be invited to an EST Sixth Form evening in the Spring Term. Also in the Spring Term, we can look forward to the Senior production of Oliver! Following auditions, the cast has been confirmed and rehearsals are underway.
At Cranmore we celebrate diversity and today staff and pupils were invited to participate in Odd Socks Day. The day marks the start of Anti-Bullying Week and gives us an opportunity to encourage our community to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique.
Mr Everitt
Senior School Evening
On Wednesday evening, many of our Prep families attended our Senior School Event during which they learnt about the wealth of opportunities available in our Senior School. Current and prospective parents were impressed by the wide range of academic and extra-curricular activities on offer and were able to talk to current pupils and staff to gain a deeper insight into the life of our school. They were also treated to an array of delicious food provided by our fabulous caterers, Harrisons.
The Bebras Challenge
This week, our pupils in Years 6 to 11 are participating in this year’s Bebras Challenge. The Bebras Challenge is an international challenge on Informatics (Computational Thinking and ProblemSolving Skills). It is organised in conjunction with the Mathematics and Computing department of the University of Oxford and the Raspberry Pi Foundation in Cambridge. It is an annual computer science competition for primary and secondary school students worldwide. With 87 member countries and more than 2.5 million participating students in 2024, the competition is the largest computer science competition in the world. Full details can be found here: https://www.bebras.uk/
BBC Micro: bits – Gladiators Challenge
Three teams of our Year 8 and Year 6 students have started participating in this challenge. The competition is a challenge for 7 to 11-year-olds in UK schools to design a fitness gadget to help Phantom and Dynamite be their best. The winning team can invite one of the BBC Gladiators to their school. Full details can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/microbit/articles/zc6b7v4
Digital Schoolhouse @ Cranmore – Nintendo Switch Splatoon 3 Esports Tournament
Our annual esports tournament has begun this year, with eight teams competing for this year’s Cranmore Champion title. The game is an immersive careers experience for pupils aged 11 to 18.
Remembrance
Assembly and Parade
Last Friday, Year 11 led a poignant assembly on the theme of Remembrance. They collectively read out John McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. This was followed by a minute’s silence and the Last Post was played by Miles K and Barnaby H. Sam F-L, George A-J and Freddie M paraded in their CCF Air Cadets uniforms.
On Friday, staff and pupils throughout the school enjoyed sporting an array of colourful socks in celebration of the fact that we are all unique for Odd Socks Day.
Music News
My congratulations to Morgan D (8WL) who performed ‘ All Because of You’ so sensitively and expressively on his saxophone in Senior Assembly.
Odd Socks Day
As the regular football season draws to an end for our U13s, the year group had their last block fixture against Shrewsbury House. With some fantastic matches taking place, Cranmore lost one, drew one and won five. Across the Prep school and the U13s, over 300 football fixtures have been played this term. This week, both our U13s and U11s are playing in their respective Surrey Cup Semi-Finals; we wish them the best of luck. A big thank you to Head of Football, Mr Cox, for planning and running a very successful and enjoyable football season.
The U14s rugby team had a fantastic win against John Fisher on Tuesday. The progression of this Cranmore side has been immense and the pupils need to take credit for their hard work and dedication. The U15s also played against John Fisher yesterday.
Sport Psychology Seminar
As part of our sport scholarship programme, we had our termly seminar this week which every pupil in the Senior School had the opportunity to attend. We were delighted to welcome chartered sport psychologist, Michael Roberts. Michael has worked with professional sport teams including Essex Cricket and Gloucester Rugby Club. His work extends to clinical practice in the NHS and in the corporate field. The presentation included topics such as the mental skills approach in sport and the use of various coping mechanisms. The 'Quick Breath' and the 'Game Face' tools were two that proved popular and pupils indicated that they would use them in their next sporting activity. The presentation was superb with lots of positive feedback from both pupils and staff. We look forward to welcoming Michael back in the future.
Mr Hodgson, Director of Sport
A Message from our Chaplaincy Team
This Week
Bible Reading
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces.
Isaiah 25:6-9
Reflection
This week we focus on Remembrance. We remember and give thanks all those who have sacrificed their lives defending the freedoms we enjoy. We recognise the cost that many have paid for our own freedom. In this month let us pray for our loved ones who have loved and lost.
Prayer
Let us pray for all those who have died, especially those from the families of our own school community. Lord, judge them kindly, welcome them into your presence, and give them peace.
“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.”
St Teresa of Lisieux
Soup
Monday
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
Jacket potato & beans
Vegetarian Quorn mince bolognese
Southern fried chicken breast with rustic slaw & chef’s salad
Plain pasta & tomato sauce
Chef’s carvery –Honey roast gammon with Yorkshire pudding
Chicken & sweetcorn pie / School council request – Lamb tagine
Soup of the day – Spiced butternut squash
Traditional battered fish or fish fingers
Sides
Pasta Roasted Mediterranean vegetables
Additional Salad bar
No chicken & spicy vegetable jambalaya
Sliced parsley new potatoes Sweetcorn
Jacket potato & beans
Plain pasta & tomato sauce
Jacket potato & beans
South Western stuffed sweet potato
Roast potatoes Cauliflower & broccoli cheese Mixed vegetables
Salad bar Salad bar
Vegetable & bean burritos
Fresh vegetable lasagne
Garlic & herb
potatoes
Roasted carrots Broccoli
Chips Peas Baked beans
Jacket potato & beans
Salad bar
Dessert
Rice pudding with a selection of toppings
Iced topped vanilla sponge
Sticky toffee pudding and butterscotch sauce
Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher
Chocolate brownie Fruity Friday
