Some of our community believe that the Carol Service is the official start of Christmas. Though there has been a three-year hiatus, the service did not disappoint. Set in the truly beautiful chapel at Wellington, it was wonderful that the first three voices we heard were from the older pupils; three years ago we did not have students of this age. The clarity of the singing by all ages was superb and, indeed, the congregation wasn’t bad either! The adults in the congregation were as stunned as I was at just how clear and apparently confident the readers of all ages were. The Chapel, I believe, holds about 700 and so you would think that it would be quite daunting, but not a bit of it. I always love how the younger children count themselves in so that they can start reading in unison. How stunning it was, also, to hear Simon Dinsdale play the organ so magnificently for the final time as a member of staff. How lucky we have been. Above all, schools are not just about winning matches, attending Maths lessons, learning another language or passing a Lamda exam, they are about community. In the three years we have not been at the chapel and for much of which we were at home, we learnt about the absence of community. Community looks like everyone singing together and everyone bustling out cheerily shaking hands, wishing Happy Christmas and, indeed, so generously filling the collection plates with nearly a thousand pounds for Daisy’s Dream. Community is about shared experience and being part of something bigger than you.
Wishing all in our wonderful community a fabulous break and a Happy Christmas.
Drum Roll...
A very big Thank You for supporting the Rota Kids Pudsey Bear collection.
Mrs Kate Hodges, Charity Co-ordinator
Toy Run Donations
Many thanks to all who donated to Crosfields collection for the Reading toy run! It was delightful to see so many people turning out despite the cold weather for this year’s toy run, which has been held in the local area since 1985, with the route beginning a stone’s throw away from Crosfields School. Hundreds of toys donated by parents and staff, alongside the contributions of around 1600 bikers in this year’s toy run, will mean that thousands of disadvantaged children will have something to look forward to on Christmas morning, in what will undoubtedly be a difficult time for many. The toys donated by those at the school will be put to good use this Christmas.
Thank you!
Mr Luke Collinson, Apprentice Accounts Assistant
New Parents' Evening Announcement
Next half term we will host separate online parents’ evenings across the school. These appointments need to be booked online and will take place virtually (with the exception of Nursery, which is face-to-face). All appointments must be booked via SchoolCloud, our online platform.
Junior School
Nursery: 1st and 6th February (appointments go live to parents from midday on 25th January)
Year 5: 19th and 24th January (appointments go live to parents from midday on 12th January)
Senior School
Year 9: 18th and 23rd January (appointments go live to parents from midday on 11th January)
Parents are invited to choose a time slot with your child’s individual subject teachers and a confirmation email of your appointments will be sent to you once you have booked them.
The booking system opens at midday on the dates indicated above. Should you have any problems, or wish to make any changes to your bookings, please contact parentsevening@crosfields.com
Invitations were sent this week for the scholarship assessments taking place in January. Well done to those selected as it is competitive to be invited to an assessment, let alone be offered an award. Those who have not received an invitation will not be considered for a scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact the head of the relevant scholarship area as indicated in the Scholarship Information Booklet.
Year 8
In previous years, we have been able to re-offer the scholarships of those students who leave us at the end of Year 8 and so we have run scholarship assessments to start in Year 9 for current students. This year, the vast majority of our scholars are staying into Year 9 meaning we are only anticipating having a single scholarship to re-allocate across the seven scholarship areas. It would be disingenuous to run assessments knowing all but one area does not have an award on offer. Instead, we are looking at outcomes current Year 8 students have shown in the different areas and how we might distribute the award to celebrate success more widely. We will not be running scholarship assessments for Year 8 but will be in contact before the end of the Spring term with details of what the award will look like.
Mr Richard Ebbage, Deputy Head Academic (Senior School)
Pentathlon GB South & South East Training Sessions & Events
Please click here for more information to register.
Mr Gareth Edwards, Director of Sport
End of Term Collection Times
The Autumn Term ends on Wednesday 14th December at the times shown below.
The Spring Term calendar for 2023 will be available on iSAMS shortly before Christmas, with copies of the calendar for the term emailed to parents at the same time.
The spring term begins on Thursday 5th January, with co-curricular activities and instrumental lessons recommencing during week beginning 9th January.
End of term timings
11:30 - Nursery & Reception term ends
11:50 - Year 1 term ends
12:00 - Year 2 term ends
12:10 - Year 3 term ends (collect from Acorns Hall) and Year 7 (main car park) term ends
12:20 - Year 4 (collect from Acorns Hall) and Year 8 (main car park) term ends
12:30 - Year 5 (south car park) and Year 9 (main car park) term ends
12:40 - Year 6 (south car park) and Year 10 (main car park) term ends
Older siblings may leave with younger ones, with those from Year 5 up being collected from their younger siblings’ collection point.
Mr Simon Dinsdale, Second Master
Update from Finance
Fee invoices will be sent on or around the last day of term. Due to the transition to a new finance system, you will receive the invoice from the email address fees@crosfields.com under the name Fees – Crosfields School Trust Ltd. We would appreciate it if you can please add this sender to your contacts to ensure safe delivery of the fee invoice. Please can any invoice queries be sent to this new email address.
The invoice will contain your new account number, which needs to be referenced on your payment, along with the student’s name. Our bank details remain the same.
If you have any queries please get in touch with the finance team.
Ms Kathryn Smith, Head of Finance
Junior School includes Nursery to Year 6 and Senior School includes Years 7 to 10.
