Collaboration matters Excellence in everything Community first Equity for everyone Continuous growth
Collaboration matters Excellence in everything Community first Equity for everyone Continuous growth
Just like that, another week has flown by at Rockliffe Manor—and what a week it has been! Can you believe we’re already two weeks into the spring term? The children have been making fantastic progress in their learning and are thoroughly enjoying their topics. This week also marked the start of our after-school clubs, which have been met with great enthusiasm. We spoke to some of the children about their experiences, and here’s what they had to say:
"At gymnastics club, we get to play the shape game and take part in fun activities," shared Grace.
"At football club, I like that we get to work as a team, show each other new skills, and celebrate one another," said Jasmine.
"I like going to arts and crafts because I get to use my imagination to make cool creations," explained Grace.
"I really enjoy French club. I love learning a new language and collaborating with others," added Mishael.
If you’re interested in joining one of our clubs, you can sign up via Arbor. Please don’t hesitate to call the office if you need any assistance—we’re always happy to help!
On Monday, Miss Nelson introduced an exciting event that we’ll be participating in this half-term: The Big School Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB. This initiative helps children connect with nature by learning about birds in their environment and identifying common species. Observing birds around the school will also contribute to national data on bird populations. Over the next few weeks, each class will venture out into the playground to record the different birds they see.
Children can also get involved at home by:
Counting and identifying different types of birds;
Learning to recognise birds by their sounds and appearances;
Making bird feeders;
Writing fact files about birds;
Presenting their data in creative formats;
Drawing pictures of birds.
We’re excited to see the many ways our children will engage with The Big School Birdwatch and look forward to sharing their discoveries with you!
As the week draws to a close, it was a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of our wonderful children during today’s merit assembly. Their hard work, dedication, and embodiment of our school values shone brightly.
In Year 1, Raphael was recognised for his outstanding effort in English. His diligent work on letter formation and consistent use of finger spaces—key skills for young learners—earned him well-deserved praise. Well done, Raphael!
In Year 2 and 3, creativity was in the spotlight. Divine was celebrated for his imaginative writing, while Ashwin impressed us with his use of descriptive adjectives and emotive language, which added depth to his work. Both children exemplify the joy of self-expression through writing.
Year 4’s Emre was applauded for his independence in using classroom resources to tackle tasks confidently. His pride in his efforts inspired the whole school—a fantastic achievement, Emre!
In Year 5, drama took centre stage as David was recognised for his exceptional performance during a workshop at Plumstead Manor. His ability to convey complex emotions through facial expressions and body language hinted at a budding acting career. Bravo, David!
Finally, in Year 6, Sophia received recognition for her consistent effort and exemplary attitude across all areas of learning. Her commitment makes her a role model for her peers—outstanding work, Sophia!
A huge congratulations to all the children who were celebrated in assembly and to everyone for their hard work and determination this week. You continue to make us so proud!
Wishing you all a warm and restful weekend. We look forward to welcoming you back on Monday.
With very best wishes, Mrs Cook and the Rockliffe Manor team
Let’s take a look at the learning this week…
Nursery
Nursery have had a fantastic week developing their early phonics skills. They were introduced to the phoneme ‘d’, and it was lovely to see the children identifying whose names in the class began with the same sound. The highlight of the week was exploring the story Would You Rather by John Burningham. The children enjoyed debating fun scenarios, like whether they’d rather be covered in jam, soaked with water, or pulled through the mud by a dog. Dolcie-May confidently shared, “I’d rather be covered in jam because I like the taste of it!” Well done, Nursery!
Reception
Reception has been making wonderful progress this week with their phonics recall and retention activities. In the mornings, the children applied their knowledge to write sentences, starting the day with calm and focus. At the end of each day, they used the “retrieval rocket” with Mr Harracksingh to reflect on what they had learned – a tool the children are thoroughly enjoying. Great job, Reception!
Year 1
Year 1 had an exciting week exploring shapes in maths. Through hands-on activities, they identified and named various 2D and 3D shapes, deepening their understanding through practical exploration. In English, the children loved discussing Grandad’s Secret Giant. They debated whether Billy made the right decision to run away from the giant, using their oracy skills to share thoughtful and confident reasoning. What a great week of learning, Year 1!
Year 2
This week, Year 2 embarked on their journey into multiplication. Building on their knowledge of repeated addition, they worked hard to grasp this new concept. In English, the children explored character development by creating "role on the wall" diagrams for key figures in their core text. They carefully considered the characters' feelings and personalities, presenting their ideas to the class with confidence. Well done, Year 2!
Year 3
Year 3 have been working on exciting projects in DT, designing their own constellation cushions. The children researched their zodiac signs and used this information to inspire unique designs. The class also enjoyed a trip to the library, where Henry shared his excitement about choosing a new book, and Ikechukwu looked forward to finding a science book. A creative and curious week for Year 3!
Year 4
Year 4 have been mastering division this week, confidently moving from concrete resources to pictorial representations and abstract methods. In computing, the children had their first animation lesson, which sparked great enthusiasm. Carlo showed incredible focus, creating an animation of a man being chased by a tornado, carefully drawing 165 frames! Excellent work, Year 4!
Year 5
Year 5 explored the relationships within their core text this week, identifying and analysing the dynamics between characters. In maths, they worked on developing their fluency in adding and subtracting mixed fractions. It’s been wonderful to see the children’s confidence grow as they tackle these challenging concepts. Keep it up, Year 5!
Year 6
Year 6 have been thoroughly enjoying their science topic this term: the components of blood. They learned about the roles of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, sparking fascinating discussions about the circulatory system. The children were particularly curious about the implications of a high white blood cell count. At home, ask your child about blood vessels – veins, arteries, and capillaries – and their roles in keeping our bodies functioning. Great job, Year 6!
Thank you, parents, for your continued support in your child’s learning journey. It’s been an incredible week filled with curiosity, creativity, and growth!
Birthdays, Merits & Attendance
Ope - Year 5
Anayah - Year 4
Sienna - Reception
Reception - 96.0%
Year 1 - 93.4%
Year 2 - 94.6%
Year 3 - 95.0%
Year 4 - 97.6%
Year 5 - 91.0%
Year 6 - 99.0%
Total - 95.2%
Reception - Paul
Year 1 - Raphael
Year 2 - Divine
Year 3 -Ashwin
Year 4 - Emre
Year 5 - David
Year 6 - Sophia
Dates for your diary
Thursday 23rd January 2025 - Family Stay & Learn 08.50 - 09.20 Arts
Thursday 23rd January 2025 - Year 5 Library Visit
Thursday 30th January 2025 - Year 1 Library Visit
Wednesday 5th February 2025 - Reading Open Morning 08.50 - 9.30
Thursday 6th February 2025 - Year 4 Library Visit
Friday 7th February 2025 - Year 4 Trip to British Museum
Thursday 13th February 2025 - Year 2 Library Visit
Friday 14th February 2025 - Year 6 Trip British Museum
Friday 14th February 2025 - Year 4 Trip to Science Museum
Monday 17th February 2025 - Half Term Children return to school Monday 24th February 2025
Thursday 27th February 2025 - Nursery Library Visit
Thursday 6th March 2025 - Reception Library Visit
Messages from the office
No Nut Products
After School Clubs
Beachwood
Pokémon Cards
Lego/ Duplo
Rockliffe Coffee mornings
PE Kits
Scooters in Playground
Uniform reminder
Please be reminded that we are a No Nut School - We have children with severe allergies to Nut products.
After School Clubs resume Monday 13th January 2025 - you will be able to access these from Arbor on Wednesday 1st Janaury 2025. These are available on a first come basis. Once all spaces have gone we will not be able to offer additional places.
We have available two full time places. If you would like to show your interest please contact the office where we can give you further information.
We wanted to share with you that this morning in assembly we spoke to the children about not bringing Pokémon cards into school. Lately, they’ve been causing a bit of fuss and upset among some of the children, and it’s beginning to take away from important learning time.We know the children really enjoy them, but we’d appreciate your support in making sure they leave their cards at home from next week. This will help us keep the focus on learning and keep things calm in the classroom.
We would like to increase our resources and maybe have a Lego/Duplo station at playtime. If any of our parents have Lego or Duplo that your child no longer plays with we would appreciate any donations.
Every Tuesday morning from 8:50am, Rockliffe will be holding a Coffee morning. Please feel free to pop along and join us. Friends of Rockllife joining to start the planning for events. All welcome
PE Kits - can we please remind you that all children should bring their PE Kits in to School. The children will need a pair of shorts, T-shirt and socks.
Due to incidents in playground with scooters, can parents please ensure that your child does not ride on the playground and other areas of the school. Children to not to be riding passed the school gates, Many thanks.
School Uniform - can we please remind you that all children are requested to wear school colours - Not Hoodies. Also now that the colder weather has begun your child should come dressed accordingly - Coats,Jumpers or Cardigans and appropriate footwear.
Community Information
Inside every child is a rainbow waiting to shine.