Last week saw the final part of The Mound development take place. Jules has been working hard to ensure the main aspects of the project are finished. We now havea magnificent pond, nature trail and multi sensory garden area. To see how this has been achieved to date, copy the link into your address bar on your web page…http:youtu.be/m-ZNudyUek4
Over the next few weeks all the children will get the chance to have a “tour” and start using these new features. Look out for parent/carer invitations to come and view The Mound… dates and times will be posted online and in the school newsletter.

I was invited to Year 6 on Friday morning to see for myself the range of interesting models, pictures, artefacts and write-ups that the children had created as part of their homework challenge. I was truly “wowed” by the fantastic effort of all the children – well done. We have created a display in the school foyer should anyone wish to come and have a look – you are very welcome!

Thursday – who was the most excited person on the minibus going to Valentines Mansion?? Yep, that’s right ME! I am sure that everyone else was too. We could not have wished for a more glorious day – great weather, very friendly crowds and a Duke and Queen taking time to meet and chat to children and guests.

Have spent a short while waiting we were not disappointed as the Queen arrived dressed in bright blue – a notable shade of the Roding School uniform – I wonder if she knew? We were all so pleased that the Queen spent time here in Redbridge – Valentines Park and Mansion being the first place in London the Queen has visited as part of the Diamond Jubilee.

Having spoken to the staff and children who went I believe that they day was a resounding success and one that we all shall not forget in a hurry.

I hope that we will have the opportunity to celebrate the Jubilee next term as we approach June 5th although this date falls in the half term.

Teachers from Denmark have visited Roding as part of a curriculum development project. The four teachers spent three days with us at Roding. They also visited other local schools- New Rush Hall, Oakdale Junior and Ilford County High School for Boys.
The teachers were from Aarhus in Denmark and commented on how wonderful the children behaved and how hard working and polite they were.
They particularly liked the colourful displays and were very impressed with the Nursery children who they joined on Tuesday’s Forest Schools adventure on our field.
They also mentioned how much they enjoyed the assembly on Monday morning with Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 especially the singing and how quietly the children were when they came into the Hall.

I did make a point of sharing with them the development on The Mound. They thought the idea of the pond and the use of this space would be fantastic for all the children once it is ready in May.

Friday was amazing in school as so many children (and staff) dressed as a sports personality as part of Sport Relief. Throughout the week children have been practising skipping, hula hoop, keep it up and bat and ball as part of activities linked to raising money for Sport Relief. Friday afternoon in the hall saw the “finalists” take part in challenges to find the best in each category… more on that next week.

I am so proud of every child and member of staff who made the day a memorable one, especially as the Friday night TV programme fundraising total is over £50 million. We can all feel proud that our contribution is going on such worthwhile causes.

Thank you to all the children for dressing up and making the school so colourful – you all looked “so fit”!

I would also like to thank Mrs Blewett and staff for their hard work all week in helping to make Friday such a success.

I hope to be able to inform everyone next week on how much money was raised by everyone at the school.

Finally, well done to Mr Wiltshire for taking on James Dujon’s father in a “winner takes all” battle… I won’t reveal who won!

A big THANK YOU to the parents who attended the workshop today.

This morning parents took part in a Maths workshop and found out about some of the strategies currently being taught in Year 3 & 4 in our maths lessons. The “class” were extremely well behaved and had a go at how to use number lines, working out sums using the expanded and compact methods. They also politely listened to me chat for ages about Mental Maths at Roding and how to help children with homework!

Look in the Newsletter or on the website for the next workshop date in the summer term.

Thanks also to Miss Stringer for her hard work and support in preparing for today’s event.

Bill’s New Frock by the children’s author Anne Fine is about a young boy called Bill who one day wakes up “a girl”. He wakes up even dressed in a pink frock and is sent to school like this by his mum. He spends the day at school being treated very differently…

Bill made a surprise VIP visit to Roding today as part of the World Book Day celebrations. A picture of Bill meeting all the children in assembly is below.

Visited school today to see Jules and the start of the pond area taking shape. Using a mini digger, Jules has now dug the large hole and placed inside the pond lining. Other areas will be developed over the next few months. Children from each class will have the opportunity to help Jules as the project develops and each area or zone is created.

By the way… “Channel 5, Thursday night” saw not a bad start to the trophy campaign for Man Utd. The Red Devils have not won the Europa Cup, so all being well, a few good matches and performances will help the team to the title!

School starts on Monday and I am looking forward to finding out all about the exciting and interesting activities and lessons the children will be involved in. I also can’t wait to see peoples faces when they return to work because a few things have changed during the half term break!

Over the last two days we have had workmen on the school Mound clearing brambles and over hanging branches. The weather has limited progress but so far so good. The Mound is being cleared for a good reason. During half term break and for the next 2 months we will have a new school feature developing before our very eyes. The aim is that by the end of April we shall have a unique environmental wildlife space to complement the wooded area the school uses. Children will have the opportunity to use this space throughout the days and weeks ahead for break times, learning opportunities and just to play and have fun. More information about this area will be on display on Parents’ Evening on 29th Feb & 1st March in the Foyer.