Cruckton Hall
School
Cruckton ·
Shrewsbury
· Shropshire · SY5
8PR · Tel
01743 860206 · Fax
01743 860941
13th December 2002
Dear Parents, Friends and Old boys
The first term of a new year has gone almost as quickly as the previous one! Yet we seem to have been able to pack in all the important events, as well as some new ones. We have a very nice bunch of young men here with us at the moment and all are working well for themselves and along with staff for the vast majority of the time. It is a pleasure to be able to report the events and successes of the past term to you all.
We have discussed some new
initiatives and aims during the past term, all to improve the quality of our
service and but for the extra work caused by the new Care Standards would be
further down the road in our mission. A
new position as Head of residential services has been appointed and we look
forward to next term when Mr
Celebrations for Christmas week
are now complete and were all very special.
Shopping on Monday was a huge logistical travel problem but eventually all
the school arrived safely and
New boys this term are: Robert Pitt from Walsall, Matt Armstrong from Rugby, Jago Baldwin from Market Drayton, Arran Pearson and Joel Hislop from Telford, John Tress from Suffolk, Will Bodinnar from Coventry, Matt Geddis from Kent, Aaron Broster from Nuneaton, Marc Chapman from Plymouth and Andrew Hazel from Coleshill returns to follow an ‘A’ level course at The Community College, Bishop’s Castle.
I have little news from our leavers but it was lovely to see: Matt S, Steve Powell, Chris Tedds and Michael Knight at the Bazaar all looking confident and well. Wayne Edge called by last week looking very suave and we wish him and his wife good luck for the birth of their first child in January. Stefan Allen also came back to reminisce at the Carol Service. Matt Churchill drove into school with Gavin to show us his beloved truck, very nice too, many hours of devoted work had gone into the renovation and the raising of the suspension. He had taken his first day off work since leaving school four years ago to come up and discuss a new business venture!
The Christmas Bazaar and parents day was a wonderful success yet again. We topped our previous total in the Big Top with over £2300 being collected and donated during the week – thank you all for your generosity. Nearly everyone felt that the marquee was far better and more spacious for the event. The teachers enjoyed their opportunity to speak with parents and feel these meetings are becoming even more productive as the parent partnership evolves. How we increase the individual interview time is being debated and although Mrs Meyer and Mrs Martin were busy until nearly 4 o’clock, I am sure we can improve this for the summer term event.
Successful NVQ’s
in ‘Caring for Children and Young People’ have continued apace this term thanks
to Mrs
Annual performance awards were presented at the Christmas dinner. They were given to: Tony Roberts, Paul Hook and Matt Armstrong for English, Jamie Fletcher and Rowan Crump for Maths, Tom Williams, Martin Bates and Bryan McGuire for Science, Jovi Kerr and John Tress for ICT, Matt Armstrong for Geography, Aaron Lee and Joself Leybourn for Art, Matt Bodey and Tom Hilton for Flute, Martin Bates for Guitar, Ashley Smith and Paul Hook for French, Tom Williams and Micky Walker for History, Jovi Kerr and Josef Leybourn for Woodwork, Russell Hearn, Matt Armstrong and Matt Geddis for Home Economics, Tom Higginson and Paul Hook for Music, finally but not least Alastair Horton for best overall effort in the Junior class.
The railway police have visited
to give a safety lecture to both the junior and senior boys. IMPACT the travelling careers presentation
was given to years 10 and 11 in September but the highlight of the term was an assembly
given by Paul Marsden MP. He spoke very movingly on “Laughing in the
face of Death”, the difficulties of life in
Citizenship is now being
incorporated across the curriculum and through PSE. We now have an elected School Council
following elections at the beginning of term.
Mr Carless, Mrs Doyle and Mr Newell are staff
members who have been involved. The
Council members are: Daniel Thwaites, Anthony Biggs,
Paul Hook, Aaron Waters, Lloyd Davies and Tom Williams. Hopefully the boys and school will benefit
from their deliberations and experience.
Ecological initiatives have already begun within school and locally in the
Hanwood and Pontesbury
Parishes. Suggestions have been made and
results achieved for improvements to the boys’ facilities and well-being, as
well as a link with a school in
There were no Music exams this term but lessons remain as popular particularly with the arrival of the new piano for Mrs Dixon. She has also been looking to investigate and develop Music Therapy with our boys. The Flautists now number eleven students and they need to buy another flute. Gron Jones, Tom Hilton and Paul Hook accompanied Mrs Senior to play Silent Night at the Carol Service to persuade me of their need. The guitar group remains healthy, but I have noticed some large speakers and an Amp around school so it begins to look unhealthy for the residents and neighbours.
Mrs Jane Barker has launched ‘Equi-Enterprises’ a small company registered through the Young Enterprise initiative. The Board of Directors and teams comprise: Martin Bates – Managing Director, Dean Brown – Personnel Director, Tom Williams – Financial Director, Tom Higginson – Sales and Marketing Director, Tom Crowe – Sales Team, Anthony Munk – Production Director, John Tress – IT Manager/Production Team, Tom Denton – Production Team, Henry Brittain – Artwork Director, Jamie Fletcher – Company Secretary. They began by attending a Director’s Day at Telford International Centre with Miss Emily Miller and Mr Simon Bailey. During the day Tom Denton stood up and gave a brief presentation to the full audience and Tom Crowe received a voucher for £10 for giving a correct answer. They now move forward and have to decide on either a product to market or service to provide. The latest thinking is a combination of recycling products into saleable items. Watch this space for sale of shares after floatation!
Charity events at school this
term have included a Hog Roast and firework display on the sports field raising
£2200 run by Rainbow Appeal and assisted by Miss Davies, Neal Clews, Gregory
Taylor, Andrew Hazel and Aaron Adamson.
The appeal is for a residential block for children undergoing therapy
for leukaemia. A number of staff also
attended a
Mr Newell’s life skills course
has started well with visits to Snailbeach mines, Wroxeter museum,
Finally Mr Carless took Lloyd Davies, Gron Jones, Richard Lees and Matt Mertens to the Woodwork Show. He is a very happy bunny this term with the new workshop and design/drawing room now in full production. He has plenty of storage space and does not have to travel between two rooms any more. He has also organised an editorial team of Simon Smith, Martin Bates and Tom Williams who have begun to produce a copy of ‘Talking Terms’ with lots of help from other helpers and contributions.
Twelve boys represented the
school in a Special Schools Cross-country championship at
House events have included: The Pontesford hill run which was won by Webb House with Hill, Darwin and Clive teams very close on their heels, all less than a second behind. Individual Hill champion this year was a popular Nathan Williams with Lee Peace and Gareth Smallman in second and third places; Basketball was won by Clive House; the Swimming Gala by Webb, the Cruckton Factor was won by Webb House with Matt Mertens becoming
Senior Champion and Daniel Thwaites Junior Champion. The House Championship trophy was won overwhelmingly by Webb who have a very strong senior team.
Ju-Jitsu gradings were held last week with the following awards: Tom Hilton blue belt 1st tab; Matt Mertens, Goronwy Jones, Lee Peace, Henry Brittain and Paul Hook green belt; Tom Denton and Dominic Stamper gained yellow 2nd tab. Renchi Ken Treherne has presented the student of the month award to Matt Mertens, Lee Peace and Gron Jones during the term.
The major activity this term was
the bonfire party and barbeque in November.
A wet cold night but everyone including most of the staff attended and
had a good time. Otherwise activities
have been dictated by the weather but warm winter evenings have been enjoyed
with a multitude of options being offered during the term such as Warhammer with Messrs Corbett and Campion. Also,Mr
Barrett has reintroduced archery on a return visit and a club may be starting
soon. Football has become a weekly
activity with Mr McBride and boys challenging allcomers,
usually Mr Marshall, Mr Pawlowski and Mr J Davies being
the losers. Cosford
firework display, Cookery, stables, indoor games, gym, market, mystery tour,
painting, shopping, rounders, climbing, walks, bike
ride, fair, Christmas decorations, making pickles, torch tig,
cinema, ice skating, horse riding, Telford town park, speedway, swimming, golf
driving range, car boot sales, fishing, boxing.
CHIP’s trips went to
The conclusion of 2002 looms with the end of the month and we look forward to the new year of 2003. The boys and staff have returned home, tired but satisfied, with plenty to look forward to in the New Year with new challenges, new buildings and new opportunities for the boys. I thank you all for your support and efforts throughout 2002 and together may we push the boundaries forward for another successful year.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.
Remember the school term begins and boys should return on Monday 6th January 2003.
Yours sincerely