Wow, the weeks are certainly flying past. Today marks the end of the third week of Spring 2, and what a week it has been! This week has been an exciting and enriching time at Rockliffe Manor as we celebrated British Science Week! Children across Nursery to Year 5 have been engaged in a range of activities that have deepened their understanding of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and scientific inquiry. Please take a look below to see what each year group has been up to!

On Monday, we began the week with our values-based assembly, where the children explored the theme of responsibility. Through thought-provoking discussions and engaging examples, the assembly helped our pupils reflect on what it means to be responsible—whether it’s taking care of their belongings, following rules, or supporting their classmates. Using real-life scenarios, children were encouraged to consider how responsibility plays a role in their learning and personal growth, helping them build confidence and make good choices. They shared ideas on how being responsible helps build confidence and progress, reinforcing the importance of making good choices and taking ownership of their actions. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home, asking your child how they can take responsibility in their daily lives!

On Thursday, both Year 1 and Year 2 enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Royal Festival Hall, where they watched Julia Donaldson’s The Snail and the Whale, accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The trip was a wonderful enrichment opportunity for the children as this was the first time for many seeing a live orchestra play. Key Stage 1 sang songs and listened attentively to the musicians.  

Year 1 and 2 weren’t the only ones enjoying an outing this week! Year 6 had a fantastic trip to the library, exploring new books and deepening their love for reading. Meanwhile, our Nursery children ended the week with a delightful litter pick at Rockliffe Gardens, embracing the outdoors and caring for their environment. Throughout these experiences, all of the children represented Rockliffe Manor beautifully, demonstrating our school values with pride. Looking ahead to next week, our Year 5 children are eagerly anticipating their school journey—an exciting opportunity for adventure, learning, and personal growth!

A couple of important reminders for next week.. On Monday we would love to invite families from Reception to Year 5 to a special showcase of the children’s learning at 3:15pm in the main hall. Please note, this is a change from the previously shared date. While many Year 5 children will be on their school journey, those remaining at school will still present their work, with an additional showcase planned for the returning pupils.

Next Friday, we will be celebrating Red Nose Day! Our community will come together in a vibrant display of generosity and compassion. Children are encouraged to wear red noses and a red top along with their school uniform. This event is a wonderful way for pupils to showcase our core values: kindness, responsibility, and collaboration. Through their actions, they will reflect on how they can show kindness by giving to those in need, take responsibility for making a positive impact on the world, and collaborate with their peers to maximise their efforts and contributions. We look forward to seeing our school embrace the spirit of Red Nose Day, fostering a culture of empathy and social responsibility within our community.

But for now, wishing you all a wonderful weekend! We look forward to seeing you all back on Monday

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

Let’s take a look at some of the learning that has happened this week, this is our Science Week Special Edition

Nursery

Nursery children have absolutely loved Science Week! They have been exploring life below water through various activities and experiments. From identifying and classifying sea animals to observing how different materials interact with water, they have been enthusiastic learners. One of the highlights of their week was discovering how rubbish impacts sea creatures. When they walked into a classroom filled with litter, they were devastated and immediately wanted to “swim in the ocean” to clean it up! They are now looking forward to playing their part by helping to clean up Rockliffe Gardens during their litter-picking visit today.

Reception

Reception has been busy exploring sustainability in both their English lessons and Science Week activities. They created posters to save the bees and discussed the importance of sustainable fishing, learning how to make responsible choices when buying fish in supermarkets. The children have shown great passion for protecting marine life and have reinforced their understanding of the 3 R’s—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—to keep our oceans clean.

Year 1

Year 1 explored the theme of sustainable cities and were particularly excited about learning how to use renewable energy to make cities more environmentally friendly. They designed and built their own wind turbines, which will be part of a city model showcasing their ideas for a greener future.

Year 2

Year 2 had an equally fantastic time designing their own wind-powered cars and brainstorming ideas for how Plumstead could become a more sustainable place to live. Their creativity and teamwork were on full display as they worked together to create a model city with all the essential elements for sustainability.

Year 3

Year 3’s focus this week was on global warming and its impact on animal habitats. They explored different animal species and their unique adaptations, then discussed the effects of climate change on creatures such as polar bears and arctic foxes. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for the topic were truly impressive!

Year 4

Year 4 participated in a hands-on science investigation each day, exploring the sustainable development goal of life on land. They learned about contaminated water and its effects on plant life, the importance of only flushing toilet paper to prevent pollution, and filtration methods to clean groundwater. These investigations sparked curiosity and important discussions about environmental responsibility.

Year 5

Year 5 delved deeper into water sustainability, investigating water contamination and filtration methods. They learned key scientific vocabulary such as ‘coagulation’ (when dirt particles clump together) and ‘flocculation’ (when these particles float to the surface). Their enthusiasm and scientific curiosity have been inspiring!

Year 6

Year 6 will be taking part in Science week later on in the academic year, so this week we will take a look at their English learning. Year 6 have been applying their writing skills to create diary entries and letters from Billy’s perspective. They focused on using prepositional phrases, subordinate clauses, and conjunctions to make their writing cohesive. Their ability to uplevel and refine their work is improving each day, and their confidence as writers is growing!

A Huge Well Done!

We are incredibly proud of all the children for their enthusiasm, collaboration, and creativity during this week. It has been wonderful to see the children working together, sharing knowledge, and producing fantastic work that we look forward to showcasing to parents.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We can’t wait to see what next week brings!