Dear families,
Welcome back to what will be a very short half-term!
It has been lovely to see the children return to school so positively, ready to learn and reconnect with their friends. Although the sunshine has only made a brief appearance, it has certainly lifted spirits and the days are beginning to feel noticeably longer. There is something about that late afternoon light that reminds us that spring (and eventually summer) is on its way. Let’s hope we continue to see more sunshine as the weeks pass, and we move closer to the Summer term.
It is hard to believe that we are now almost halfway through the academic year. The growth we are seeing in the children, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too, has been wonderful. From our youngest pupils gaining confidence and independence, to our older pupils demonstrating increasing resilience and maturity, there is so much to be proud of. Classrooms across the school remain purposeful and calm, and pupils continue to show enthusiasm for their learning.
You may remember that in my last newsletter I shared details about an exciting project Roding staff have taken part in – the Hemisphere Project. This initiative is designed to develop racial literacy and challenge racial bias, something we know is sadly prevalent in wider society. As a school, we are committed to ensuring that our children grow up in an environment rooted in respect, understanding and equity. I am pleased to share that our Governing Body is currently undertaking the same training. This demonstrates our collective commitment to ensuring that all members of our school community are informed, reflective and proactive in creating an inclusive culture. We are proud to be engaging in this important work together.
This week, we were also very fortunate to welcome our governors into school. They spent time speaking and eating with children, meeting with the leadership team and teachers, and visiting classrooms to see first-hand how learning takes place across the school. The feedback was extremely positive. Dawn Hallybone, Chair of Governors, shared that the governors found the day very valuable. She commented that it was a real privilege to see the fantastic work happening in every classroom and that they were made to feel welcome in every room they stepped into.
Dawn also spoke highly of our Pupil Leadership Team, including our Head Boy and Head Girl, describing them as a true testament to the school and the values we instil in our children. A particular highlight of the day was the opportunity to speak with them at length. Dawn shared that they are clearly very proud (and rightly so) to represent the school in this way. We are incredibly proud of them too!
This week has also been an especially exciting one for our pupils. We were fortunate to welcome a real-life author, Jeffrey Boakye, to Roding. The children were absolutely buzzing with excitement! Jeffrey delivered an inspiring assembly, speaking about his journey as a writer and the importance of reading, creativity and finding your voice. Many children brought copies of his books to be signed, and it was a joy to see their enthusiasm for literature so clearly on display. Opportunities like this truly help to bring reading to life and encourage our pupils to see themselves as future authors, poets and storytellers.
A gentle reminder that, from time to time, we may need to change dates or occasionally cancel events, although we always do everything possible to avoid this. When changes are necessary, we send out an updated version of the school’s Events Calendar. Please ensure you regularly check Arbor for the most up-to-date information so that you do not miss any important dates.
Looking ahead, we are very much looking forward to celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 5th March. Children are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite story character. We cannot wait to see the creativity on display! World Book Day is always a highlight of the year and reinforces our ongoing commitment to promoting a love of reading across the school.
I would also like to remind you that Parents' Evening will take place on Wednesday 18th March from 3:30pm.
Finally, I remain mindful that for many of our families this period marks the observance of Lent and Ramadan. These are important times of reflection, prayer and community. I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all those observing during this season.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I look forward to all that this short but busy half-term will bring.
Warmest wishes,
Ms M Nwankiti
Headteacher
ASSEMBLY
Last, but by no means least, we welcomed Roberto Lacourt to Roding for an educational assembly and fitness workshops before half-term. Roberto was inspirational in the way he spoke to the children, sharing the value of boxing for fitness, as well as the importance of control and resilience. We saw some of our students (and teachers!) up on stage, and the excitement carried on throughout the day. Every child participated in a fitness workshop delivered by Roberto alongside our fantastic sports ambassadors.
A message from Head Boy – Emad Year 6 
Hello, my name is Darcey, and I am Head Girl of Roding. As Head Girl, I would like to meet and speak to parents and children who are planning on joining our school so I can show them how great Roding is from a child’s perspective.
