Dear families,
The official countdown to Christmas is upon us, and with it comes a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation around the school. As we step into the final month of the year, it is clear that winter has well and truly arrived. The change in weather has brought colder mornings, muddier days and an endless rotation of hats, scarves and gloves! Yet through all of this, the children have shown their usual enthusiasm, energy and resilience. They continue to embrace school life with positivity, no matter what the season brings.
Some of you may already have noticed that our Christmas tree has taken pride of place in the foyer. This year, it has been thoughtfully decorated in our Roding theme of blue – a calm, elegant choice that gives the space a lovely festive feel. A special thank-you goes to the small group of wonderful children who helped Mrs Wood to decorate it so beautifully. Their care and attention have not gone unnoticed, and every pupil who walks past the tree seems to smile just that little bit more.
With only 15 school days remaining until the end of term, we are preparing for a very busy and exciting few weeks. There is a full calendar of activities designed to bring plenty of festive spirit to the school community. Among the highlights are the Winter Disco, Christmas Lunch and the much-loved Nativity performances in Nursery and Year 1. We also have class parties to look forward to, as well as two wonderful church services at St Paul’s Church. These events are always a special part of the school year, and we very much look forward to welcoming many of you to share in these moments with us.
At this time of year, I am always reminded of how important community is — not only within the school but across our community. The joy of coming together, the generosity shown by families, and the way our children support one another all reflect the values we strive to instil at Roding every day.
Throughout November, we had the pleasure of welcoming many prospective parents who are interested in places for their children to start Reception in 2026. These visits were filled with warmth and positivity, and we received numerous compliments about the school – from the behaviour and confidence of our pupils to the calm, purposeful learning environment. It is always uplifting to hear such feedback, and it is a credit to our children, staff and families who work so closely together to make Roding the community it is.
You may remember that earlier this term, I wrote to you requesting support in raising funds for educational visits and school trips. In response, our children completed a sponsored walk through Claybury Woods. For an hour and a half they trudged through the cold, muddy weather, and yet they did so with enthusiasm and determination. They demonstrated our school values of resilience, ambition and independence in true Roding fashion. I want to take this opportunity to thank every one of you who donated. No matter how big or small the contribution, it is deeply appreciated and will make a meaningful difference to the opportunities we can offer our children. More information about the outcome of the fundraising will be shared soon.
I would also like to introduce an exciting new initiative at Roding: our Junior Leadership Team. This will be a strong, committed group of pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 who will support the school by taking on leadership roles in key areas such as sustainability, eco projects, sport, wellbeing, reading, digital leadership and the arts. Children will be able to apply for these roles, and application forms will be available from Monday. Alongside this, we are thrilled to be launching, for the first time ever, the roles of Head Boy and Head Girl, which will be open exclusively to Year 6 pupils. These positions will give children the opportunity to develop responsibility, confidence and pride as they represent the school in various ways. I am sure you will join me in encouraging and supporting the children as they prepare their applications. We look forward to introducing our new leaders to you in due course.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We are excited for the festive weeks ahead and all the joy they will bring.
Warmest wishes,
Ms M Nwankiti
Headteacher
