December Newsletter 2025

Dear families,

I can hardly believe that we have reached the end of what has felt like a long and very full Autumn term. As we pause and reflect, it is impossible not to feel an overwhelming sense of pride in our children and our whole school community.

Since September, there has been so much learning, growth, and progress. The children have matured in confidence, independence, and resilience, and it has been a joy to see how far they have come in such a short space of time.

This term has been a powerful reminder of what our school values truly look like in action. We have seen resilience in children who have persevered with challenging learning, tried again when things felt difficult, and refused to give up. We have witnessed compassion in the way children care for one another, offer support, and celebrate each other’s successes. Respect has been evident in the relationships across our school between children, staff, and families, creating an environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and listened to. Our children’s curiosity continues to shine through in the thoughtful questions they ask, their eagerness to explore new ideas, and their enthusiasm for learning. Independence has shone through as pupils have taken greater responsibility for their work, their belongings, and their learning. Above all, we have seen ambition, children aiming high, believing in themselves, and taking pride in their achievements.

As we look ahead, the Spring term is full of exciting activities and events. Please keep an eye out for our events calendar and remember to save the dates so you don’t miss out.

I am sure that, like us, many of you are now in need of a well-deserved break. The last few weeks of term have been particularly busy, but they have also been filled with joy, celebration, and festive cheer. Our school has truly come alive with the magic of Christmas. From Christmas parties and festive jumpers to Christmas dinners, church services, visits from Santa, winter discos, and so much more, there has been a wonderful buzz around the school. Seeing the excitement on the children’s faces during these special moments reminds us why these experiences matter so much. They create lasting memories, strengthen our sense of community, and bring a sense of wonder and happiness that stays with children long after the decorations are packed away.

These moments do not happen by chance, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff for the care, time, and effort they put into making each event so special. It is always heart-warming to see how much joy these experiences bring to the children, and it makes all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes truly worthwhile.

As we reach the end of the term, we do have to say a fond farewell to Asha Sangha, our Teacher of the Deaf, who will be leaving us to take on a more senior role at another school working with deaf children. Mrs Sangha has been a real asset to our team, supporting children and families with professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. Her contribution to our school has been significant, and she will be greatly missed. I am sure you will join me in wishing her every success and happiness in this exciting next step of her career.

At the same time, I am pleased to welcome Mrs Anam Zafar, who will be joining us as our new Teacher of the Deaf from January. Mrs Zafar has already met the children and staff and is very much looking forward to getting to know more of our wider school community in the coming weeks.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our families who are celebrating a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance. I hope that the coming weeks bring you much-needed rest, peace, and quality time with loved ones. Please stay safe, take care of yourselves, and enjoy this special time together.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 6th January for the start of the Spring term. Until then, thank you for your continued support and partnership. It truly makes a difference.

 

Warmest wishes,

Ms M Nwankiti

Headteacher 

CHRISTMAS CRACKER DONATION

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our families for their very kind donation of Christmas crackers. Thanks to your generosity, every child was able to enjoy a festive Christmas dinner, helping to create a joyful and memorable experience for all. In addition, I would like to thank THJ Technology for their generous donation, which was greatly appreciated and contributed to making our Christmas celebrations even more special.

FOREVER AND A CHRISTMAS DAY – RODING'S CHRISTMAS SONG

It’s finally here! Roding’s very own Christmas song, featuring our amazing Inspirational Choir, is ready to be shared!

 This is a truly special achievement and something our whole school community can be incredibly proud of. Creating an original song is no small accomplishment, and the commitment, creativity, and enthusiasm shown by everyone involved has been exceptional.

A huge thank you must go to Mr Parry, who composed the song, and to Mrs Gage, who, alongside Mr Parry, worked so patiently and enthusiastically with the pupils to help them learn and perfect it. Their dedication brought this wonderful vision to life. Roding is incredibly fortunate to have such talented children and such passionate, skilled staff, and this project is a perfect example of what can be achieved when creativity, teamwork, and ambition come together.

If you would like to watch the full video, click on the link below! It will only be available for a short while, during the festive period.

https://youtu.be/xThAgtAJUGk?si=88lfucfqPtgqupA7 

CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES – ST PAULS CHURCH, WOODFORD

Thank you so much to our wonderful families for attending our church services at St Paul’s Church, Woodford. It is always a pleasure to come together in such a welcoming and special setting, and to share these moments with our wider school community. These services are a long-standing tradition and provide a valuable opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and strengthen our sense of community. We are always grateful for your support and for helping to make these occasions so meaningful for our children.

ST PAULS CHURCH, WOODFORD - CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION

A huge well done to Melani for winning the St Paul’s Church, Woodford Christmas Card Competition — what a fantastic achievement! Melani’s design was truly deserving of this recognition, and we are incredibly proud of her. We hope families have received the Christmas cards and enjoyed seeing Melani’s wonderful artwork shared across the community.

WINTER DISCOS 

Our Winter Discos were a huge success and a joyful way to end the term. The dance floor was full of energy, with children showing off their best moves, from well-practised routines to spontaneous freestyle dancing that had everyone smiling. It was wonderful to see children encouraging one another, laughing together, and confidently joining in, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Thank you to our staff and volunteers for helping to make the discos such a fun and memorable experience for all. 

DEAF FESTIVE PARTY 

Our Deaf Festive Party was a truly special occasion and a highlight of the term. It was so lovely to welcome past and present pupils and their families and to see so many familiar faces come together. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to bring the Deaf community together, allowing parents of Deaf children to connect, share experiences, and celebrate as a community. The atmosphere was warm, joyful, and inclusive, and it was a real reminder of what makes our Deaf provision such a special and supportive place. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a memorable celebration.

SANTA VISITS NURSERY AND RECEPTION 

Reception and Nursery had a very special visitor when Santa came to see them. The children were full of excitement as they welcomed him into school, with big smiles, laughter, and lots of curious questions. It was wonderful to see their faces light up as they shared their Christmas wishes and enjoyed such a magical experience. 

SPORTS FOR CHAMPIONS 

After last year's successful 'Sports for Champions' event, we are excited to be hosting again early next year. The unique fundraising model encourages students to participate in sponsored fitness events, benefiting athletes and school projects alike. Last year, we raised over £1700, which helped us to purchase new netball posts, football kits and some much-needed equipment to enhance our PE lessons, while supporting athletes around the country to achieve their dreams. You can learn more about the project using the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0epDG9BkdFs

 

 

This year, Chris Tawiah, a British basketball player, will be joining us for a fun assembly and fitness workshop delivered to our students. The event will take place on February 2nd 2026.

Today your children will be bringing home their sponsor forms for the event. Please take the next steps:

• Share the form with friends and family over the break
• Use the QR code or the link below to sponsor

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roding-primary-school-fundraiser

• Keep track of your sponsors using the form provided
• REMEMBER to add the child's name and class to the donation. This will allow us to keep track in school and ensure children get the correct prizes.

 

MOBILE PHONES IN SCHOOL – REMINDER FOR PARENTS 

We would like to remind families that children are not permitted to bring mobile phones into school for any reason. The only exception to this is for children in Years 5 and 6 who travel to and from school independently. In these cases, phones must be handed in at the school office on arrival and can be collected at the end of the school day.

Maintaining a phone-free school environment is important for children’s wellbeing, safety, and learning. Being without phones during the school day helps children to focus on their learning, build positive relationships, and engage fully with their peers without distraction.

SPORTING EXCELLENCE AT RODING 

Sixteen athletes from Roding competed against fifteen Year 6 teams from Redbridge on Wednesday 10th December at Mayfield School.  Our team displayed athleticism and sportsmanship – applauding others' achievements and supporting their own contestants, finishing 5th overall. The children behaved superbly and were ambassadors for Roding. I was very proud of them. The relay races in the afternoon generated the most excitement. We won most of our heats with excellent changeovers! 

YEAR 6 DT - DESIGNING AND BUILDING PLAYGROUNDS

Year 6 have thoroughly enjoyed their DT project this half-term, evaluating, designing, building and improving playgrounds. They worked incredibly hard to build structures which were both challenging and safe, then improved the visual appeal by developing a landscape around them which inspired play and interaction. They are looking forward to bringing them home this week. 

TAG RUGBY

Once again, we were lucky enough to have Rob and his team from Wastead Rugby Club coach Roding pupils in tag rugby. It was an extremely popular club, with boys and girls trying out the sport for the first time. They battled the rain and fought through the mud, having great fun while learning about agility, speed and coordination. Thanks again Rob, we look forward to seeing you when the weather warms for Years 1 and 2!