School Newsletter – 13th March

Key Dates

Monday 16th March, 8.00am – 12.45pm Year 6 Trip to Parliament

Monday 16th March, 12pm – 4.20pm Ibstock Music Event – Year 5 Chamber Choir

Tuesday 17th March, Various times – Online Parent/Teacher Meetings

Wednesday 18th March, 8.50am-9.20am – Parent Zoom – ‘11+ English: What’s Involved’ with Mrs Allison

Wednesday 18th March, 4pm-7pm – Upper School In-person Parent/Teacher Meetings

Wednesday 18th March, 2pm – School Concert, Main School Hall

Thursday 19th March, 3.30pm – 7pm Lower School In-person Parent/Teacher Meetings

Thursday 19th March, 2.30pm – 4.30pm – Second Hand Uniform Sale, Hilden Studio

Friday 20th March, 8am-9.15am – Second Hand Uniform Sale, Hilden Studio

Friday 20th March, 10.30am-11.30am – Spanish Taster Session for 4s and Under, Nursery

Friday 20th March, 9am-9.45am – Shakespeare Club Assembly

Friday 20th March – Don’s Local Action Collection – Easter Egg Collection

 

Dear Parents,

Today’s assembly was a fantastic space-themed presentation led by our Year 1 children. They shared the inspiring story of astronaut Mae Jemison and reminded us how a growth mindset can help us achieve great things. The assembly included a brilliant rendition of David Bowie’s Starman, with our resident rock star, Mr Gilbert, accompanying on the guitar.

On Wednesday, we were wowed by the musical talents of our pupils in the annual Eisteddfod. There were some impressive group and solo singers plus some wonderful instrumental performances. Well done to all those who took part and particularly the winners in each category judged by multi-instrumentalist Kieran Parsons. Kieran also presented an assembly first thing where he played the fiddle and talked about folk music. Thank you to Mrs Katie and Mr Gunther for a memorable event.

Also on Wednesday, we hosted many of our feeder secondary schools at our Schools’ Fair. Conversation flowed and parents fed back that they found the evening enormously helpful. Thank you to Mrs Gina for organising this important element of our 11+ provision so wonderfully well.

On Thursday evening, I attended our Year 5 Shakespeare Club performance of the Tempest at The Exchange in Twickenham. The Roche School was one of three performing schools for the evening as part of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival and our children really shone on stage, bringing the play vividly to life with fantastic costumes, props and outstanding acting. The rest of the school will have the opportunity to see the performance in next Friday’s assembly. Thank you to Mrs Melanie whose passion for drama means every year’s performance is unforgettable.

SPORTS

It has been another busy and successful week of sport with several fixtures taking place across different year groups.

On Monday, our Year 6 pupils played hockey and rugby against Hill House. Both rugby teams performed brilliantly, with the Tigers winning 12–9 and the Lions winning 16–9. Our hockey teams were equally impressive, with the Tigers winning 3–0 and the Lions securing a 5–0 victory.

On Tuesday, our Year 5 pupils also faced Hill House. In rugby, the Tigers won 15–5 and the Lions won 12–6. In hockey, the Tigers achieved a 4–1 win while the Lions followed with a strong 3–1 victory. A fantastic set of results for the year group.

Our Year 3 and 4 rugby pupils played against Hurlingham in a friendly fixture. While all three teams were defeated, they showed great determination and teamwork throughout.

 

⭐ Highlight of the Week⭐

ISA National Netball Finals

A huge congratulations to our Under 11 girls who competed this week at the ISA National Netball Finals in Warwick. The girls performed exceptionally well against 28 of the top netball teams in the country, showing great skill, resilience and teamwork throughout the tournament. After a series of hard-fought matches, they finished in the top eight in the country – an outstanding achievement. We are incredibly proud of their effort, determination and the way they represented the school.

We are also wishing all the teams playing in the upcoming fixtures next week the best of luck, especially to the girls playing in the London Youth Games Finals next week Thursday.

NEXT WEEK

Next week are parent/teacher meetings. All in-person meetings will take place in the main school building including Year 5 and 6 appointments.

It is also Neurodiversity Week. The week helps children understand that everyone’s brain works differently, and that these differences should be respected, valued and celebrated.

On Monday, Year 6 heads off to the seat of government when they visit the Houses of Parliament to learn about democracy. In the afternoon, our Year 5 Chamber Choir will be participating in a workshop at Ibstock Place School.

Our school concert takes place on Wednesday 18th March at 2pm in the school hall. All welcome. That morning, Reception will visit the local library looking at non-fiction and story books on Antarctica linked to their class book.

On Friday, the latest Don’s Local Action Collection is asking for Easter Egg donations to give to children in need in the local area.

Also on Friday we have our next tots taster session, this time with a Spanish theme, 10.30am-11.30am in the Nursery. Book your place here.

FORS

Roll up, Roll up!

Please place your bids for the 🌟Silent Auction🌟!

With some lovely offers from the Roche team, find details here of some fantastic experiences that you or your kids will love! This event is open to everyone, and it closes at 9:30pm on Quiz Night, so get those bids in early. All funds go to the school supported charity Regenerate.

Next week FORS are organising the Nearly New Uniform Sale on the afternoon of Thursday 19th March (2.30-4.30 pm) and the morning of Friday 20th March (8.05-9am) in Hilden House. Summer uniform, here we come! Any uniform to donate can be dropped into the office on Monday 16th or Tuesday 17th. Please remember that payment on the day will be by card only.

AOB

For those of you with a keen interest in our Spanish programme, follow Snr Jon on our amazing new Spanish Instagram feed: the_roche_school_spanish .

We raised £462 at our recent Lunar New Year Cake Sale. Thanks to all who contributed and bought cakes, and thanks to Mr Lee and Snr Victor for organising.

Miss Marcia will be running two weeks of holiday clubs (except the Easter long weekend) during the spring break. Full of fun indoor and outdoor activities the kids always have a ball! These will take place from Monday 30th March to Friday 10th April and are bookable via the Junior Adventure Group website.

We will also be offering a new club on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd April 8.30am till 12.30pm. Francesca who works with us as a child therapist and Pat a Lego Specialist and Creative Facilitator will be leading a Lego Creative Social Skills Club. Based around a Lego challenge, each morning will build confidence, teamwork and friendships. The charge for the club is £80 per day and is available for Year 1 to Year 6. You can book by emailing Francesca directly on francescalucascounselling@outlook.com.

Positively Putney have a ‘Boats, Bonnets and Bands’ Easter Festival happening from 14th March to 12th April. The boat element features a trail of boats decorated by local schools and hidden in shops. Miss Susie and a group of children decorated our boat beautifully. Children who take part in the trail have a chance of winning a £50 voucher for a Putney business of their choosing for the best photo on social media with the hashtag #BoatsBonnetsBands.

Have fun at the Quiz if you are attending (no cheating!).

Charlotte

Upcoming Events

Wow! Over a third of our incredible Year 6 cohort have won Academic scholarships at 11plus.  What a result!

Tour with the Head
Monday 23rd March 9.30am-10.30am

Spanish Taster Session for 4s and under
Friday 20th March 10.30am-11.30am