3 March 2023
3 March 2023
Dear Parents
We have this week continued our Lent church services at Moulsford Church, which we are doing for every year group this half term. Led by the new vicar Reverend Peters, these services afford all our pupils the chance to consider the key messages and the importance of Lent as a period of new beginnings and growth. The service also provided pupils the opportunity to come together as a year group, reinforcing our sense of community and reflecting on what that means as a pupil at Cranford. Moulsford Church provided a fitting backdrop for the service and we are incredibly grateful to have access to this beautiful venue, so rich in history, on our doorstep.
Agora Presents
Tuesday lunchtime saw the first event for 'Agora'. This is a new society at Cranford bringing together a range of events. Mr Atkinson explored the question 'Are we living in a simulation?' with particular focus on Bostrum's argument that the world around us might be one of many simulated worlds. However, it made no difference to the enjoyment of the hot chocolate on offer which certainly tasted real! The next event will be on the 14 March and is a lunchtime recital.
World Book Day
It was wonderful to see the entire school support World Book Day on Thursday. There were some incredibly creative costumes, featuring a fabulous array of characters from the world of literature, as pupils celebrated the meaning of World Book Day and discussed the pleasure and importance of reading. On Wednesday, Senior pupils enjoyed a book fair in the library, hosted by the brilliant Wallingford Book Shop. On Thursday, the day started for Junior pupils with a special World Book Day assembly, followed by the excitement of the traditional and much loved character parade around the Willow Tree.
Year 10
Year 10 pupils have had an excellent day today, as they begin thinking about next steps beyond GCSEs. They began the day with Breakfast in the Sixth Form Common Room, fuelling themselves ahead of a fun-filled team building event. Working in teams of five, the pupils have had to successfully complete a range of physical and mental tasks, solving challenges together in order to evaluate their own performance and the performance of their teammates. This purposeful activity is designed to encourage them to understand their unique strengths and skills that are transferrable to all stages of life including education, travel and in future in the workplace. There were some exceptional displays of teamwork, communication and competitive spirit on display, in addition to a lot of fun and we hope Year 10 enjoyed learning a bit more about themselves and their friends in the process!
Sporting Success
Junior pupils have had a brilliant week of sport. Our U10 and U11 pupils took part in a tough Cross Country course on Thursday, competing against over 150 runners. Our Year 5 boys, Year 5 girls and Year 6 came in at second place, with Cranford coming third overall. Our U11 Gymnasts also had a superb result at the ISGA competition last weekend, with some excellent displays of strength and agility, finishing 4th. A special mention goes to Chloe in Year 6, who finished 6th overall out of over 40 children.
Have a lovely weekend.
With best wishes
Dr James Raymond
Headmaster