What a fantastic week it’s been at Rockliffe Manor! The sun has been shining brightly over the school, adding an extra sparkle to all the wonderful activities taking place. From outdoor learning, sports day practice to exciting learning opportunities, there has been so much to celebrate. Our children have truly made the most of the sunshine, showing enthusiasm, creativity, and kindness throughout the week. We’re proud of all they’ve accomplished, here are some highlights below. 

We began the week with a celebration of our vibrant and inspiring Arts Fortnight! The creativity and passion displayed by the children has been truly exceptional—from striking visual art to thoughtful writing and expressive performances. It was a joy to see so many of you at our Arts Fortnight Showcase on Monday, where the children proudly shared their outcomes with such confidence and enthusiasm. The hall was buzzing with excitement as families explored the incredible work on display and enjoyed the video performances that captured the spirit of the fortnight. A huge thank you to everyone who came along and to all the children and staff who made the event such a memorable celebration of learning. I truly believe that this has been one of our most successful arts fortnights and we will soon be displaying the outcomes in our published displays. 

As part of their final farewell celebrations, the children and adults of Year 6 were thrilled to spend a fun-filled day at Chessington on Tuesday. They all wore their leavers hoodies and couldn’t wait to ride the roller coasters, explore the park, and create unforgettable memories with their friends. We knew they’d have an amazing time and have come back with plenty of stories to share!

What a wonderful array of outfit choices we saw on Wednesday, as we held our bring a bottle non uniform day in support of our summer fair next week. The children looked very summery! Thank you all so much for your continued support, if you have any further bottle donations we will also be happy to receive these throughout next week, the bottle tombola is always rather popular at the fair so the more donations the better! 

As I write this newsletter, I can hear the buzz of excitement building across the school as the children get ready to leave for one of their favourite events of the year—Sports Day! The energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and it’s a joy to see everyone so eager to take part. In the lead-up to today, we’ve been spending time in class talking about the importance of our school values, especially teamwork, respect, and perseverance. The children have been reflecting on what good sportsmanship looks like—celebrating each other’s successes, trying their best, and showing kindness and encouragement to their peers, whether they win or lose. We know they’ll carry these values with them today, making it a fun, inclusive, and memorable experience for all.

Before I bring the newsletter to a close, I wanted to share that Miss Gilder will be leaving us today, as she begins her maternity leave. While we will all miss her warm presence and the fantastic support she provides across the school, we are absolutely delighted for her as she prepares to welcome her new arrival. We know you will join us in wishing her all the very best for this exciting new chapter—she will always be a part of the Rockliffe Manor family, and we look forward to hearing her wonderful news in the near future!

With that said, we look forward to seeing you all back on Monday and hope you all have a fantastic weekend. 

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

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

Nursery did incredibly well in their sports day yesterday. They demonstrated great teamwork and sportsmanship, always making sure to support one another. While Sofia’s parents were speaking with Miss Gallagher about the whole school sports day, Sofia and her sister reminded them that it’s not all about winning — it’s about taking part and having fun, especially when Dad started getting a little competitive. 

Reception have been learning about capacity in maths this week and using mathematical language confidently to explain whether their water bottles are empty, full or half full. They have also been practising for their class assembly where they have been reflecting on all of the amazing learning that they have done during their time in reception as they prepare to move into year 1. 

Year 1 has had an exciting start to their new core text, The Lorax. To kick off their learning, the children went on a school-wide hunt, searching high and low for clues to reveal their new story. They worked brilliantly as a team—reading signs, making connections, and using their detective skills to uncover The Lorax! Since then, they’ve been sequencing the story’s events and using time adverbials to retell it in order. Their enthusiasm has been fantastic, and it’s been a joy to see them bringing the story to life through their writing.

Year 2 have been captivated by their new core text, Vlad and the Great Fire of London, which tells the story of a flea and a rat caught up in the dramatic events of 1666. After reading the first section, the children were left on a cliffhanger—and listened eagerly as Miss Roper closed the book, wondering what might happen next! Using their imagination, the children wrote their own endings to the story. Ideas included the rat jumping on the baker to wake him up, and Vlad and Boxton ringing the city bell to warn others. Their creativity shone through, and they loved finally hearing how the story truly ends.

In Year 3, the children have been exploring the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt, focusing on three prominent female leaders and the qualities that made them so successful. The children were inspired by their strength and leadership, drawing thoughtful connections between history and today. In English, they’ve been diving into their new core text, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, where they’re exploring author intent and analysing character choices and consequences. It’s been a week full of rich discussion and deep thinking!

Year 4 have had a brilliant time this week learning about Tudor inventions. After starting with some initial research, the children used Canva’s AI tools and Google to delve deeper into their topics. Bessie was especially excited to discover there’s a pencil museum in the Lake District—the very place where graphite was first found! In maths, the class have also been building their confidence telling the time, particularly when converting between 24-hour and am/pm formats. A fantastic week of curiosity and learning all round!

Year 5 have shown fantastic determination and focus throughout Arts Fortnight. On Monday in particular, they worked incredibly hard to complete their artwork and publish their scripts, taking real pride in every detail. Knowing their work would be shared with parents, the children were eager to do their very best—and it certainly showed! To round off a brilliant week, they also enjoyed a wonderful visit to the Science Museum, where their curiosity and enthusiasm were a joy to see.

Year 6 had a brilliant time at Chessington this week! It was lovely to see so many children showing courage and kindness—encouraging their friends to try rides they were nervous about and supporting each other throughout the day. Back at school, their enthusiasm hasn’t slowed down. They've been taking the lead in preparing props for their end-of-year performance, from designing and painting to building and creating. Their teamwork and creativity have truly shone.