What a lovely, albeit chilly, week we’ve had! It has been heartwarming to see the school buzzing with the excitement of learning and to witness the enthusiasm and joy lighting up the children’s faces. Their curiosity, creativity, and engagement continues to inspire us all.

This week, Mr. Smith spent time with the children exploring their science learning journey. He was thrilled to discover how articulate and enthusiastic they were about their prior topics, demonstrating excellent recall and using precise vocabulary. Many children referred to their knowledge organisers, learning strips and recall quizzes to support their explanations. Here’s a glimpse into what they recalled from their Autumn 1 learning:  

The Year 1 children recalled their learning about materials and their properties. Darby explained they conducted an experiment: “We tested which fabric was best for Miss Emslie’s curtains—it was the one that didn’t let light through!”. Eden also proudly talked about their investigation into absorbency, explaining how some materials soak up liquids better than others.  

Year 3 delved deep into the world of rocks and fossils. Without using books, they confidently explained the processes: Ikechekwu shared “Igneous rocks come from volcanoes when lava cools down. Sedimentary rocks are formed in layers.”  Henry shared his knowledge of fossils “Fossils form when animals die. Land fossils are often found in lakes, and marine fossils are found in places that were once underwater.”*  

The older children have been working on advanced topics of Forces and Microorganisms, showcasing their growing confidence and understanding.  

Emily explained: “We learned about air resistance, water resistance, and gravity. We made parachutes and tested which materials slowed the parachutes down the most.” Zac shared how they experimented with boat designs to see which ones were most **streamlined**: “We learned about upthrust and weight—if weight is greater than upthrust, the boat sinks.”  

When recalling their work on Microorganisms, Oscar shared a fascinating summary: “We learned about viruses, germs, fungi, and bacteria. Viruses need a host to survive, while fungi grow in damp places. Some bacteria are good for you, and some can make you sick.”  

Across all year groups, children emphasised how tools like knowledge organisers, learning strips and recall quizzes support their learning. We are so proud of how enthusiastic and engaged the children are in their science learning! These conversations not only highlight their growing understanding but also their ability to reflect and recall key concepts with confidence. We are very proud! 

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to our ‘Bring a Bottle’ day today. Your kindness and generosity are truly the foundation of our school community, and without your support, our Winter Fair wouldn’t be the special event it is. The children had a fantastic time dressing in their own clothes, which added to the excitement and anticipation for the fair. Please remember that we have one more non-uniform day for bottle donations coming up on Friday, 6th December—thank you in advance for your continued generosity!

Last week, we wrapped up our week in the cosiest way possible: with Pyjama Day! The total amount raised from this fun event was an incredible £129. A huge thank you to everyone who donated—your contributions are making a meaningful difference. It’s always a joy to see our school community come together in support of such great causes.

At Rockliffe Manor, we are deeply committed not only to academic success but also to nurturing the values that help shape our children into compassionate, confident, and resilient individuals. Through events like these, we aim to instil a sense of community, kindness, and the joy of giving. It’s a privilege to watch our children grow, not just as learners but as young people who care about the world and the people around them.

Next week will be a short, four-day week as Friday is an INSET day. During this time, our dedicated teachers will be working closely with colleagues from our Trust partner schools to reflect on and celebrate the incredible progress our children are making. This collaboration helps us to continuously improve and ensure the very best learning experiences for all our pupils.

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