This morning’s beautifully performed Nursery play conveyed the miracle of Christmas and was almost miraculous in itself. It is difficult to believe that these children were performing for the first time at the end of their first term. No wonder that, when I looked into the darkness of the audience, all I could see were broadly smiling faces. Our smallest children wandered calmly and sedately past the Senior School window when I was taking Collect in there earlier in the week. The beautiful, tiny angels and serene kings moved at their own pace towards the theatre for their rehearsal. Inside the building I was talking about someone in my own town who sells the Big Issue. The point being, of course, that though the tinsel, frankincense, gold, myrrh and Christmas shopping are all part of our experience, the first story of Christmas is about a couple with little money, desperately trying to find a roof over their heads for the night.
Hockey Season Round Up
Last week, saw the hockey season at Crosfields draw to an end and WOW what a busy time it has been! All girls from Years 3 to 10 have represented Crosfields weekly and there has been close to 150 games played across 10 weeks. Results have been varied throughout the weeks, but the girls' attitude and enthusiasm has always remained positive.
We entered many competitions and tournaments throughout the season. Our U13A team spent a Saturday morning competing in the Hall Grove tournament, the U9A team started the season with the ISA tournament where, Hope Year 4, won ‘Player of the day’. Mrs Bowden and Mrs Seward took the U11A team to the Olympic hockey stadium in London to compete in the ISA competition and had tremendous success as they won the Bowl Competition. Last week the U13A team ended the season playing in the ISA national competition and finished third in the Plate competition. This is just a snippet of success that the girls have had as there are lots of memorable moments every week.
The Inter-house competitions concluded the hockey season for most year groups and were played to an impeccable standard. It is always lovely to see the girls come together as a house, showcase all they have learnt during the season and compete with enormous house passion. As we get an opportunity to reflect on the hockey season, it is important to note the hard work and dedication applied by the girls across all age groups and thus the tremendous improvements that have been made. We must also recognise and appreciate the hard work put in by staff to make all this possible. As we head into the Spring Term, we look forward to the boys hockey season for Years 3 to 8, which will start after half term.
Miss Edwina Westcott, Head of Hockey
Football Season Round Up
The dust has settled on the Year 3 to 8 boys’ football season and, with roughly 170 fixtures played across all teams, age groups, national and regional competitions entered, it’s fair to say it has been a busy time of year! While the results have, expectedly, been varied it has been pleasing to see so many boys out and about enjoying football on a Wednesday and a Friday afternoon and having positive experiences of football.
The U11A team represented Crosfields at ISFA and IAPS competitions this term and progressed out of the group stages in both events, earning plaudits for their style of play in the process. The U13A team entered the ISFA Cup and ISFA Shield this season and played some fantastic football in both competitions. Unfortunately, both cup runs were cut short, going out in the 2nd round in extra time to Millfield and Thorpe House respectively.
Inter-house competitions rounded off a positive season in each year group and the games were fiercely competitive and played to an incredible standard. As we get an opportunity to reflect on the football season it is important to note the improvement across the age groups and the work put in by both staff and pupils to achieve this.
As we head into the Spring Term we look forward to Years 9 and 10 football seasons for both boys and girls as well as the Year 3 to 8 girls' season after half-term.
Mr Andrew Clarke, Head of Football
Junior Christmas Fair
Last Thursday, The Acorns RotaKids organised the Junior Christmas Fair and it was a huge success. The organisers said ''This was our first event, and we had a lot of fun putting it together, from talking to the Juniors in Collect to the event itself. Everyone who wanted to run a stall had the opportunity to do so helping us to raise a total of £1012.32.''
They added ''As a group, we have chosen to donate the money to Ambitious about Autism. We hope the school enjoyed the fair. Thank you so much to everyone for their support and generous donations."
The Acorns RotaKids
Good Luck Emily!
This weekend, Year 9, Emily will compete in the Southern Region Schools Trampoline Competition in the Isle of Wight and will represent Crosfields School.
We wish Emily the best of luck with the competition and look forward to hearing all about this exciting event next week.
Mrs Becky Seward, Assistant Director of Sport
And the winner of the Foreign Christmas Card Competition is Esha, Year 4!
ISA Poetry Competition Winners!
Congratulations and thank you to all pupils who took part in the Poetry Competition. A fantastic 81 pupils entered the competition and either submitted their ‘I never Knew…’ poem on Teams or hand wrote their entry. The standard was very high and a wonderful range of themes were covered including space, Grandparents, love of school, growing up and the natural world.
Mrs Smith and Mr Ireland read all entries and there was a winner in each year group, with 3 winners going through to the IAS national final.
The shortlisted poems will then be sent to poet and author, Steven Camden, for the second and final round of judging. We look forward to hearing the results.
Year 1 Winner- Mingxi
Year 2 Winner- Calvyn
Year 3 Winner- Shivansh
Year 4 Winner- Eleanor
Year 5 Winner- Henry
Year 6 Winner- Arnav
Shortlisted poems:- Arnav, Henry and Eleanor
Mrs Laura Smith, Curriculum Lead English
2022 Carol Service
We are looking forward to seeing you at our Carol Service on Tuesday 6th December at 19:00 in the chapel at Wellington College in Crowthorne (RG45 7PU).
Parents and children (we suggest of Year 2 age and above) are warmly invited to the Service, which will last about an hour. Crosfields’ pupils and students should wear their school uniform.
Unless a reader or involved in a choir, pupils and students sit with their parents in the chapel. The Carol Service is an atmospheric, formal occasion, and it is inappropriate for phones or cameras to be used, or for applause.
The Years 3 and 4 boys’ and girls’ choirs, Years 5 and 6 choirs, Lower Senior School and Upper Senior School choirs will be leading the Service, along with readers selected from children in Years 4 to 10. All these groups will be travelling to Wellington College during the day to rehearse but will all be back at Crosfields in time for collection at the end of the school day as usual.
Those reading, or singing in one of the choirs, need to be seated in their places in the Chapel at 18:40 with members of the Upper Senior Choir gathering in the nearby Spiritual Room at 18:15.
There will be a retiring cash collection which will be donated to Daisy’s Dream, a local charity providing invaluable support for children and their families who have been affected by a life-threatening illness, or bereavement, of someone close to them.
Please remember that there is no after school care facility beyond 16:30 on Tuesday 6th December.
Put on your woolly hat and scarf and take part in Walk it Wednesday!
Wednesday 7th December will be our last one of 2022, and it would be fantastic to see many of you take part!
If you live too far away to walk, then why not park within our 5-minute walking bubble and walk in from there? If you choose to do this, please remember to park your vehicle safely in line with the Highway Code and consider our local residents.
Choosing to complete just a short walk to school can be great for our health and our environment!
Mr James Sadler, Assistant Bursar
Thank you from the School Shop!
Thank you to all of those that have donated or purchased from the school shop this term. It really has been wonderful to see it being used and flourishing again.
The school shop will be open from 15:30 – 16:30 on Wednesday 7th December and then be closed for Christmas. We will reopen again on Wednesday 11th January 2023.
Please do email shop@crosfields.com over the festive period if you have any uniform requirements whilst the shop is closed and we would be delighted to help.
The school shop welcomes any used uniform that is in clean, resalable condition, and this can be dropped off at the school reception.
Thank you all for your support!
Mr James Sadler, Assistant Bursar
Can we take the stress out of your home to school travel?
Did you know that we offer 5 dedicated home to school routes for pupils in Year 5 and above?
Prices start from as little as £4.50 per journey and go to a number of locations including; Finchampstead, Wokingham, Earley, Lower Earley, Central Reading, Woodley, Winnersh, Shiplake, Caversham, Charvil, Twyford, Burghfield, Mortimer, Spencers Wood and Shinfield.
If you would like us to take the stress out of the school run for you, then please email our office at office@crosfields.com
