The Flagpole

Saturday 6 November 2021 - 9.00am to 4.00pm

Entrance Examinations for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 entry to the College in September 2022 will take place on Saturday 6 November 2021 from 9.00am to 4.00pm. 

Parents of children who are registered to take the exams will receive further information about the day towards the end of half term.

If you have any queries relating to the exams or admissions process, the Admissions Team can be contacted on 01926 634201/262/297 or by email at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Friday 12 November - 11.00am 

On Friday 12 November at 11.00am the Princethorpe College community will gather together to silently reflect on the bravery and the selfless sacrifice made by so many of our country's service men and women.

This service will take place outside on the playground, so please can pupils ensure they bring a coat to school with them that day if the weather is cold. 

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

Wednesday 10 November 7.00pm

All agreed that the novel The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was both engaging and thought-provoking. In a time when mental health issues have become a concern for many, the book does offer a useful perspective on how we lead our lives suggesting that, whilst the choices we make are crucial, there is really no space for regrets, as we never know how our alternative lives might have worked out!

We will be meeting again in the library at 7.00pm on Wednesday 10 November. The book we will be discussing on that occasion is Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi.  The last book we read by this author was well received by all so we have good expectations of this one.  It is short enough to fit into a busy schedule yet covers some deep themes and is written with intelligence and insight. Please join us if you are able, whether or not you have read this particular book. We always welcome new faces and are always ready to try fresh authors.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Tuesday 16 November 2021 - 7.00pm to 8.00pm

The Foundation's Junior School in Rugby, the Crescent School, is holding a dedicated Reception Open Evening on Tuesday 16 November from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

The evening is aimed at giving parents an insight into the Early Years at Crescent and the firm foundation the school gives children for their future learning. 

To book your place please click here.

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley, on 01788 523851 and come to see the school on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk.

Thursday 18 November 2021 - 7.00pm to 8.00pm 

Crackley Hall and Little Crackers, Princethorpe's Junior School and Nursery in Kenilworth are holding a Nursery and Reception Open Evening on Thursday 18 November 2021 from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

This is an opportunity to gain an insight into the Early Years at Crackley Hall and Little Crackers.  Parents will be able to visit the Nursery and Reception classes, see examples of children's work and activities and to talk to the Headmaster, Rob Duigan, and Assistant Head Early Years and Key Stage 1, Susan Glen-Roots and meet members of the Nursery and Reception Team. 

To book your place click here.

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or alternatively email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk.

Friday 19 November - 7.30pm

We are excited to announce that invitations have been posted out today for our annual Prize Giving Ceremony, which will take place on Friday 19 November. The ceremony will be held at Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, commencing at 7.30pm.

Traditionally, the vast majority of last year’s Upper Sixth return to collect their A-level examination certificates. Most will have embarked on their first year at university, apprenticeship or employment and this is a good opportunity for them to catch up.

GCSE examination certificates will be presented to last year’s Year 11, as well as a number of other awards and prizes, including our most prestigious, The Princethorpe Shield. The Year 7 Chorus will be singing, and the String Orchestra and Concert Band performing. 

An RSVP link will be emailed out to all those invited next week, please reply promptly to ensure we can get your tickets to you in plenty of time.

Shellagh Dodds
Examinations and Assessment Manager

Monday 22 November 2021 – 6.30pm to 8.00pm

As part of our VESPA strategy, Princethorpe College will be holding a virtual, interactive GCSE revision evening, on Monday 22 November between 6.30pm and 8.00pm, for the parents and pupils in Year 11.

It will be hosted by Martin Griffin and Steve Oakes who have worked with more than sixty schools to develop effective character education systems using the VESPA model. During the session, Martin and Steve will explore the key principles of having a positive and proactive learning mindset and share tools and strategies for effective coaching and intervention with parents and equip parents and pupils with practical ideas and strategies to support their children throughout their GCSE courses. We do hope that Year 11 parents and pupils will be able to join us for what promises to be a very useful and informative evening.

We look forward to you joining this event. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at lizpyne@princethorpe.co.uk

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Thursday 25 November to Saturday 27 November - 7.00pm

We will warm your hearts with a little help of the heat from the Texan desert in the cold dark November nights....Princethorpe Drama Department will be presenting a wonderful creative adaptation of Louis Sachar's Holes.

The Story  

Stanley Yelnats is in the wrong place at the wrong time….. 

When a pair of sneakers fall from the sky Stanley is convicted through the juvenile courts and sent to Camp Green Lake. 

Camp Green Lake is a boys’ juvenile detention centre in Texas.

There is no lake there.  

The boys spend each day digging five-foot holes in the dried up lakebed.  

Stanley believes his bad luck is because of a curse placed on his family after his great-great-grandfather, Elya Yelnats, stole a pig from a gypsy, Madame Zeroni. 

The action transports us from New York City to Texas and Latvia of old in this wonderful creative adaptation by our Key Stage 3 cast and creative team.

Performances will take place on Thursday 25 November, Friday 26 November and Saturday 27 November at 7.00pm in the Clarkson theatre here at Princethorpe College. Please click on the day you require in order to book tickets on My School Portal.  

We do hope you can join us for this event.

Sunday 28 November 2021 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The PTA Christmas Fair will take place on Sunday 28 November - a fun, festive event for all ages including:

• Christmas shopping market – choose from a range of artisan crafts, jewellery and gift
• Christmas craft room – make a Christmas table decoration
• Refreshments – mince pies and mulled wine, hot drinks and cake
• Bottle and Chocolate Tombolas
• Many other fun stalls

You can also participate in the Christmas Raffle and tickets will be sent out after half-term.  We have some fantastic prizes:

• 1st Prize £250
• 2nd Prize Fortnum and Mason Champagne and Chocolate Hamper
• 3rd Prize £100

Plus, many more….

We would be very grateful for donations of bottles and/or chocolates in order to run the ever-popular tombolas - these can be sent in to school via the Student Hub.

Help Needed:

If you love decorating for Christmas and would like to help in the preparation for the Fair or even at the Fair itself, we’d really like to hear from you. Setting up begins after school on Friday 26 November and runs through the weekend. We greatly appreciate any help, so even if you can only spare half an hour we’d love to see you. Please email PTA@princethorpe.co.uk for more information.

We do hope that you and your family and friends are able to come along to what promises to be a wonderful festive event.

Wednesday 1 December - 7.00pm

To support our next Sports Tour fundraising effort, Mrs Harrison is organising a Christmas wreath making evening on Wednesday 1 December, in the Sixth Form Centre. Arrival time will be 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start. Cost for the evening will be £22 per person and includes all materials to make your beautiful wreath, a welcome tea/coffee and mince pie.

It is open to all Princethorpe parents, staff and friends. In order to book your place(s) please click here by Thursday 18 November. One person can book for a group of people – recommended if you would like to sit together for the evening.

There will be a raffle on the night, so if anyone has a raffle prize they would like to donate, please get in touch with Mrs Harrison. Any questions, please email Louise Harrison at louiseharrison@princethorpe.co.uk