Happy New Year to all our families! It is wonderful to see everyone back, refreshed and ready for the season ahead. While the new year is a time for resolutions, for us, it’s also a time to build on the incredible foundations laid last term. We are excited to embark on new learning, strengthen our friendships, and continue fostering a space where every child feels inspired to reach their potential. We look forward to a vibrant year ahead, shared with all of you.

While the frost settled outside, the atmosphere inside school has been anything but chilly! We launched our first week of the new year with a values assembly, we challenged the children to identify the value of the half term, through a series of stories. They heard about a legendary basketball player who was cut from his high school team and went home to cry in his room , and a world-famous band whose "guitar music" was once dismissed as being "on the way out".

Of course, our wonderful children quickly pieced the clues together, identifying our theme as Effort. We discussed how even the most successful figures—from Michael Jordan to Walt Disney —faced moments where they felt like giving up. By sharing these journeys, the children saw firsthand that perseverance and determination are the true routes to success. We are so proud of how they have already begun applying this "can-do" spirit in their classrooms, proving that with a little extra effort, there is no limit to what they can achieve this year.

On the theme of assemblies, on Thursday, Miss White introduced the school to our Sustainable Development Goal of the month: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The children first recapped what the Sustainable Development Goals are before exploring what this particular goal means and why it is important. They discussed how decent work supports people to earn a fair living, feel valued, and contribute positively to society. The children were then asked an important question: Why should you care? Their reflections were thoughtful and mature, with many recognising that although they do not work at the moment, they will one day, and that understanding the importance of fair and meaningful work now will help them make responsible and informed choices in the future.

Our work with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a vital part of our global curriculum, which aims to help our children grow into informed, compassionate, and proactive global citizens. We believe that education must go beyond the classroom; it should empower students to recognize their own personal agency and understand that they have the power to make a difference in the world around them. This sense of social responsibility starts right here in our own neighborhood. We are incredibly proud of the courageous advocacy shown by our parent community, who are currently campaigning for change with a petition to reinstate a safe crossing on Swingate Lane. Since the retirement of our wonderful Lollipop Man, Peter, this space has remained unmanned. Given the high levels of traffic and the complexities of that particular junction, we share the community's concerns regarding the safety of all. This campaign is a perfect real-world example for our children of how collective action and speaking up can help build a more secure community for everyone.

Support the Campaign: If you would like to sign the petition and support this vital community safety initiative, the link can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/provide-safe-routes-to-school-reinstate-the-swingate-lane-school-crossing?recruited_by_id=1bb566d0-ebb0-11f0-9510-cb15f7f79e80&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf&utm_medium=copylink 

As we move into the new year, we are continuing to prioritise attendance and punctuality to ensure every child can fully participate in school life. Regular attendance has a direct impact on both academic progress and social confidence; when children are consistently present and on time, they are best positioned to reach their full potential.

Please support us by ensuring your child arrives ready to learn by 8:50am. To maintain a smooth start to the day, our gates will close promptly at 9:00am in accordance with our attendance policy.

If there are any barriers preventing your child from attending school regularly, please do not hesitate to reach out—we are here to support you.

Finally, we are thrilled to share an exciting opportunity for you to become even more involved in the life of our school. We are currently looking for a passionate parent to join our Local Community Council (LCC). As the "heartbeat" of our school connection, the LCC ensures that the voices of our pupils and families are heard and turned into meaningful action.

This is a wonderful way to help shape the future of Rockliffe Manor while strengthening our ties with local businesses and charities. The role is flexible, requiring only about six hours per term, and no specialist experience is needed—just an enthusiasm for our community and a commitment to improving the lives of our children. An advert with full details was emailed to all families today, but you can also find the key information below:

• The Role: Involves attending one formal meeting per term and visiting the school to share feedback from staff and families.

• The Benefits: You will gain experience in governance, build new connections, and play a direct role in shaping your child’s school experience.

• How to Apply: If you are interested, please contact Nancy Cook at ncook@inspirerockliffe.co.uk.

• Deadline: Please express your interest by Friday 23rd January

And like that, the first week of Spring 1 is done! We very much look forward to seeing everyone back to school on Monday and hope you all have a wonderful weekend. 

With very best wishes, Mrs Cook and the Rockliffe Manor team

Let’s take a look at the learning that has happened this week…

Our Nursery children have settled beautifully into the new term, with many already showing incredible growth in their communication and language skills. We are also delighted to welcome our new starters to the Rockliffe family; they have joined us with such enthusiasm and are already eager to dive into learning and play each day.

In Reception, there is a wonderful "buzz" surrounding our new global theme, Sustainable Development. The children have been captivated by activities centered on animal welfare, including a creative mission to rescue sea creatures from ice. As Arlia explained, "We had to paint the ice so that it melts, and then the animals can come out!"

Year 1 has hit the ground running this half term! The children are currently enchanted by their new text, Grandad’s Secret Giant, and have been busy describing the Giant’s many acts of kindness. The enthusiasm for English has been so high that some children even asked to stay in during their lunch break to continue their writing!

It has been a fantastic start to the year for Year 2. In English, the children have been exploring the concept of greed, engaging in thoughtful group discussions about making the right choices. Meanwhile, in Maths, they have begun their multiplication journey. It was a pleasure to see them working collaboratively to investigate equal and unequal groups, challenging one another and explaining their reasoning with confidence.

Year 3 enjoyed a brilliant first week of the Spring term as they began their new core text, The Invisible. The children have been crafting expanded noun phrases to describe settings and characters, while using their inference skills to delve into the author’s word choices. Daisy-Mae was particularly proud to showcase her hard work this week. Outside the classroom, the children sharpened their listening skills during PE with the "Bean Game" and practiced their dodging and weaving techniques in an energetic game of tag rugby.

In Year 4, the children have been deeply moved by the story of Auggie in their core text, Wonder. They have been discussing Auggie’s physical features and exploring how his health journey has impacted his education and friendships. Ronnie shared a thoughtful insight, noting that Auggie’s many operations were the reason he couldn’t attend school sooner.

Year 5 have been fascinated by the start of their new History unit. In their first lesson, they explored the key events leading up to World War II, learning how the economic crisis following the first war paved the way for the rise of the Nazi party. The lesson sparked fantastic discussions; while some students like Jacob, Arthur, and Carlo were surprised to learn about Hitler’s transition from a soldier to Chancellor, others like Bessie were quick to share their strong reflections on his impact on history.

Finally, Year 6 displayed wonderful creativity this week while writing poetry. Working collaboratively, they gathered sensory details and figurative language from their core text to craft their own verses. It has also been lovely to see their dedication during booster groups; the children are showing great enthusiasm for their SATs revision and are clearly very eager to do their best.