17 May 2024
17 May 2024
Dear Parents
Our exam season is in full swing now and Year 11 and Year 13 are impressing staff with such a focused, hard-working and calm approach. Their resilience is commendable. I am equally proud of the rest of the pupils, who are being respectfully quiet as they navigate the school site whilst the exams are on.
Mental Health Awareness Week This week students have been celebrating Mental Health Awareness week. Mrs Lindholm led an assembly on why we all need to be talking about mental health. We looked at helping students realise the impact we can all have on our mental health, through positive actions such as exercise, particularly as ‘movement’ is the key theme of Mental Health Awareness Week. Students have also explored resources in Tutor time, and played ‘social bingo’ in House time, helping them build connections with others from different year groups, recognising that social connection and a sense of belonging is such a key part of positive wellbeing. Today, we were treated to another assembly from 8B on the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’, sharing evidence-based advice on how to look after your own mental health. Year 12 Psychology students also ran a tuck stall on Friday, raising money for RESTORE, an Oxfordshire-based mental health charity. On top of this, Year 12 students also finished their MHFA England ‘Mental Health First Aid’ course this week and are now qualified Mental Health First Aiders. All in all, it’s been a very mentally healthy week!
Residentials
There has been in a frenzy of excitement across the week, as pupils in Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6 have been dropped off at school with suitcases and bags ready to embark on adventure galore!
Year 3 had their first residential, enjoying a night at PGL Liddington. They had an amazing time and were blessed with some lovely weather. They braved the zip wire, rock climbing and giant swing, and although some nerves were evident, they were all so proud of their accomplishments and had so much fun challenging boundaries. They used up lots of energy on the aero-ball and loved learning how to do archery. It was a wonderful laughter filled two days. Mr King and Miss Carpenter were both extremely impressed with the children's teamwork, resilience and the way they all challenged themselves.
Cheerily waving off parents on Monday morning, Year 5 travelled to Shropshire, spending a fabulous week away at Condover Hall. With so many activities available, they have certainly made the most of every facility, conquering their fears in daring feats like the leap of faith and the gladiator wall! They have demonstrated incredible resilience, collaboration and determination in team building activities like buggy building and racing around in kayaks - it was a very wet finish for some!
Year 6 meanwhile have had a fantastique time in France, staying in Chateau D’Ebblingham. They have challenged themselves in all sorts of ways. We hope parents saw the Instagram post of them very happily and confidently embracing the high ropes and swinging through the trees! They have also made the most of many French delicacies, tasting traditional culinary delights including biscuits, chocolate, bakery treats and also snails, though I am not sure Chef Paul and his team will have many requests to add these to our school menu! Other visits have included a goat farm, a visit to Bolougne and the Nausicaa Aquarium The fabulous home cooked food and comfy beds at the chateau have been very welcome at the end of each busy day.
All our Junior children have been amazing throughout this week and a real credit to the Cranford values. We hope they return full of happy, fun memories. Thank you also to our amazing staff team enabling these incredible experiences. I am pretty sure everyone is looking forward to recharging batteries over the weekend!
With best wishes
Dr James Raymond