Welcome back!
It was lovely to see all the children on Wednesday looking very grown up and smart. I hope that you were able to have some valuable family time over the summer and that you have built some new memories, big or small.
Although the holidays are always welcome there is something lovely and reassuring about getting our Rodings family back together to explore new challenges and experiences.
I’d like to say a special welcome to all our new families that have already joined us, or are about to, as our new Goslings class begins to arrive next week. I hope that you feel part of the Rodings family soon and that you have a pleasant and smooth transition into your time at Rodings.
I would also like to welcome some new staff to school too. Mrs Gates is making a welcome return to Rodings teaching Kingfisher class. We also say hello to Ms Bacon, Mrs Passingham and Miss Rigby who will be supporting children in Key Stage 1 and Early Years.
I can’t wait to see what the children achieve this year!
Playground Project
Over the last few months Mrs Kilpatrick, Mrs Parker and Mrs Cook have been busy putting plans together to make lunchtimes more engaging and purposeful with lots of different activities. On Wednesday, we launched the first phase of new lunchtime activities. This includes a scooter zone, a quiet area for drawing, colouring and reading, small world play zone, giant Connect 4 and a dressing up area. There is one simple rule: if it doesn’t get put away properly it gets removed for a day. Lunchtimes have been so much calmer already with children sharing, creating and playing really nicely together. There are more activities to be added at a later date. Thank you so much to Mrs K, Mrs Parker and Mrs Cook for all their hard work in planning, organising and sourcing items. A big thank you to all those that have donated items too.
Swimming
Due to swimming coach availability only Years 3 and 4 will swim this half term. We have chosen these year groups as Key Stage 2 children need to meet a national expectation of 25m by the end of Year 6. We wanted to keep the momentum going in their swimming before they transferred to a bigger pool in Year 5.
Don’t worry, full swimming sessions will return next summer.
Apologies for any disappointment!
SAVE THE DATE! Breck Foundation Online Safety Parent Workshop
Monday 16th September - 6pm - virtual
Keeping children safe in the fast moving digital world is becoming an increasingly difficult and complex task. Online safety is the modern day equivalent of ‘Stranger Danger’ so it is vital that parents have the knowledge and skills to deal with online situations even if they think they have all their parental settings sorted.
The DEEP Partnership, which Rodings is part of, has joined forces with the Breck Foundation to provide this essential advice and support parent workshop. If you only attend one parent workshop this year, please attend this one. I can’t emphasize enough how important this is.
Breck Foundation will then deliver a workshop to our Key Stage 2 children the following day.
More information, including the link to access the workshop will be published nearer the time.
Two further dates happening next week:
Tuesday 10th September: Year 6 secondary application meeting at 7pm Virtual. Link has been posted on Class Dojo
Wednesday 11th September: Meet the Teacher for Years 1 to 6 - 7pm in school.
Have a lovely weekend!
Mr Raraty
