Boarders' Bulletin January 2024

Welcome to the January issue of the boarders' bulletin.

One of the shortest terms in the year has seen the month of January fly by and we have now arrived at the last day of this half term. The weekend activities have been varied and there has definitely been a push towards in house activities. The badminton challenge and netball challenge were well supported by all houses.

The whole school production of Chicago was incredible and it was amazing to see so many of our talented boarders performing in the show or working backstage, this bodes well for future productions and the annual house shout next half term.

January also saw the return of Mrs Pack to Head of Blubery after her brief maternity leave. I would like to thanks Miss Flinn and Mrs Rogers for holding the fort last term, they both did a great job in supporting the Blubery girls.

This week saw the boarding community celebrating Chinese New Year at the coach house, following an excellent boarders assembly the week before. Thanks to all those students who made this a resounding success, it was great to see all houses mixing socially at this event. The food tasting is always a big hit with the boarders. Keith, Jess and the team laid on a fantastic Chinese New Year boarders supper on the last night of term, the feedback was wholly positive.

Next half term sees the return of mocks for both year 13 and 11, I wish them well in their revision. It is important there is time in their revision schedule to relax.

Following a recent ABC meeting, if there are any boarding parents that live locally who could support boarding when there are staffing shortages, we’d love to hear from you and we will provide the required training to enable this support to take place (burnettk@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk) .

Happy half term and see you on Sunday 18th February!

Kirstie Burnett, Director of Boarding

NOTICES

Half term station bus: A station coach has been arranged for 4pm on Thursday 8th February and a return to School on Sunday 18th February at 8pm - this is strictly for those who have already signed up for this service.

Early Return: Early return house is Crowden on Sunday 18th February and must be booked in advance. Please email WattsN@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk if this service is required. The early house facility now incurs a charge of £10 per hour which will be placed on your son/daughter's bill.

THE HOUSES

Scott

It’s been a relatively quiet half term in Scott (if that is even possible in a boarding house). We have fully supported the in houses activities programme and it has been great to see Lily May, Paris and Farayal bringing Scott and Blubery (Scobery) together for their Monday night sports hall slot.

There has been numerous baking activities and film nights held, Pitch Perfect is always going to be a popular way to gather the house together!

Year 9 were fortunate to experience the delights of Willow and Sage with Mr Kenny, during its opening week and Mr Parr has led the year 11s to Jumeriah for a curry. The year 12s are busily planning their laser tag activity next half term, which will no doubt end up with something food related.

Year 12s are busily selecting the house shout song as well as auditioning the house for the small group performance next half term.

It has been really pleasing to see so many of Scott representing the school in netball. It is also worth noting the interest shown by year 13 in girls rugby 7s.

A big congratulations to Alex who received an offer for Cambridge, we have everything crossed that she achieves this goal.

Enjoy the half term, ready for a packed second half of the Spring term.

Kirstie Burnett, Head of House

Rammell

As I am writing this, I am contemplating how fast this term has gone and how much we have still managed to fit in. A little scroll of the photos from this half-term is like reading multiple chapters from a book, each represents something exciting and fun that the boys got up to and compiled together, it tells the much wider story of the boys’ life in Rammell. Personal favourite chapters for me was the Italian/Indian world food night, where we got to experience Elliot’s special family recipe for chicken biryani followed by an extra thick creamy tiramisu. I also enjoyed the ‘sporting’ chapter, featuring the Yr10s with their 5vs5 football tournament, house basketball where we were top boarding house, Yr13s attempting (some more successful than others) golf at a driving range and a Cornwallis vs Crowden vs Rammell three way local derby match. The ‘Sunday activity’ chapter has had more pages added into it, with a trip down to Hastings for ice-cream, chips and the seaside added in, and finally we’ve added the 2024 annual pancake flipping competition to the ‘annual traditions’ chapter, where we made and tossed over 200 pancakes for the boys in the space of the evening.

I feel privileged to be part of the boys story and each day brings something new. Along with the whole Rammell team, we are excited to hear all about their ‘half-term’ and what they got up to when they return after the holiday’

Pippa Williams, Deputy Head of House

Blubery

It seems most of the Blubery festivities often revolve around food and January kicked off in much the same way with a highlight being a sushi making evening led by Ms Flinn and Eve; some delicious snacks were enjoyed and a chilled-out evening! Even in the face of mock examinations and poor weather, the house has been gently buzzing with life ranging from the karaoke machine making a comeback at weekends to Mario-Kart marathons on the Switch.

As January drew to a close, excitement had been building and we were keen to enjoy an evening of musical theatre supporting seven of our girls in their various roles in Chicago. It was an outstanding production and an event we look forward to each year as we are so very proud of our talented girls!

The girls have been enjoying interhouse football and netball with Scott and making the most of Monday sports hall nights – the exercise is proving necessary as there has been some outstanding baking at weekends which has not been helping Mrs Pack’s diet!

With Chinese New Year the Saturday after we break up, we have been having a week of mini pre celebrations. Blubery hosted a small gathering for their friends on Saturday evening and made some beautiful decorations in preparation for the whole boarders’ event in the Coach House on Tuesday night. They were both lovely evenings and it was wonderful to have so many members of the community together.

On a personal note, I would just like to thank the Blubery team for holding the fort whilst I was on maternity leave and special thanks to Ms Flinn for keeping the boarding house full of laughter and fun. I had missed being in Blubery for the term and have been made so welcome since I returned, as has little Finley – he is already loving being a Blubery!

Claire Pack, Head of House

Crowden

We were welcomed back to Cranbrook with a dusting of snow, but the winter chill and January blues were seen off by the warm atmosphere of the house, plenty of cooking and treats with a healthy dose of keeping fit to balance out the half term. Whether it was cookie or brownie making, preparing for Chinese New Year, expelling energy on the football pitch, the basketball, badminton or netball courts, the Crowden lads have shown a mix of energy, resilience and togetherness that has been just the tonic for a tough mid-year season. Well done to all our 12s and 10s for their efforts in reported assessments, and the best of luck to the Y11 and 13s after half term! Bring on the warmer weather!

Nick Watts, Housemaster

School Lodge

All of the boys came back from the Christmas break with renewed energy and excitement (lucky me 🙂 ). This half term is particularly important. Year 9 RA's had recently taken place and therefore the boys had to review their grades, set targets and start working hard towards them. Added to this is the all exciting GCSE options choices, which the boys will be taking in the coming weeks. I wish all the boys every success in these choices, as they well lay the road ahead for the next two years!

We've again, put together a packed schedule. Hockey takes over from Rugby; which I know is very popular with some boys. We all went back to the Valley for another Charlton game; a five goal thriller that sadly ended in defeat. And a huge number of trips again were on offer for the lads to do at the weekend. We've also had quite a number of big birthday 14's with pizza nights and cakes nights left right and centre. I wish all the boys a lovely February half term and the team and I look forward to welcoming everyone back at the end of the month.

Pete Rogers, Housemaster

Cornwallis

A brief but action-packed half term for Cornwallis. Hot tubs, learning how to make homemade Nandos and Jerk chicken on the weekends, social group talent shows and sporting competitions, the increasingly popular coach house, many visits from old Cornwallis boys ranging from those who left a few years ago to those who left just last year whilst also throwing in some roaming around the Kent countryside in beautiful spring weather made for a great start to the spring term. Tutor group trips out to restaurants and golf clubs kept spirits high and the boys also managed to remember (just in time!) to buy some Allantynes for the girls! In and amongst all of this, I am assured that the recent tendency amongst the boys to hurkle-durckle over the weekends is now behind them as a there is much revision to be done as we begin the process of preparing for the Mocks after half term, and the looming public exams that will be upon us very shortly!