This week’s newsletter for Rossall Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School.
Dear All
In recent years, the increasing use of mobile phones by children has sparked widespread discussion among parents and educators. Whilst at the IAPS Headteachers’ Conference in Cardiff last week, I was fortunate to listen to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee speak about a number of pertinent issues surrounding positive mental health for both adults and children. In perhaps the strongest element of his discussion that struck a chord with me, Dr Chatterjee spoke of some groundbreaking research he is conducting that is providing valuable insights into the effects of mobile phone usage on young minds. His study is focusing on how excessive screen time impacts cognitive development, social interaction, and physical health in children. I have since been listening to his podcast which is hugely thought-provoking.
I have long been an advocate of not allowing phones into the hands of younger children due to so many reasons: safeguarding, screen time, negative social media… the list goes on. However, I also understand the pressures that both our children and the wider society place upon us as parents to ensure our children remain ‘connected’ in a world that has simply changed since we were children ourselves.
Dr. Chatterjee emphasised the importance of setting healthy boundaries around mobile phone use, highlighting the link between overuse, and issues such as poor attention span, sleep disturbances, and reduced physical activity. He also spoke about exploring strategies for parents to encourage a balanced approach, including establishing screen-free times, promoting walks in nature, and fostering face-to-face social interactions. Children (and indeed some adults – I had stern words with my parents last week!) are becoming all consumed by the accessibility of information and technological connectivity. In Germany, a mobile phone is called, ‘Handy’ (actually from the German word ‘Handfunktelefon’ meaning handheld mobile phone). This is in essence what they are though – so very convenient! Weather checks, world news, the internet (!), cameras, games, music players, messages from friends and family – they are an ever increasing crutch to finding out something immediately or to ‘feel good’. Countless studies have shown that phone activity causes the release of dopamine in our brains, making us feel motivated and happy.
For me, Dr Chatterjee’s study outlines the need for thoughtful, age-appropriate use of mobile phones, and I absolutely urge all parents to be actively involved in monitoring their children’s screen time, if they are allowed it, whilst gently guiding them toward responsible use of technology. We will most certainly continue to endeavour to do our part as a School.
On Wednesday afternoon, children from the Association of Junior Independent Schools from across the North-West, gathered at Rossall for the annual AJIS Cross Country event. The cross country meeting marks one of the most exciting days in the Prep School sporting calendar. The event brings together talented runners from over 20 schools, competing not only for individual victories, but also to contribute to their team’s overall performance.
Thankfully we were blessed with perfect conditions – in stark contrast to last September! After the postponement of last year’s race, followed by the rearrangement in May (in glorious sunshine), and set against the beauty of Rossall’s Chapel, the course once again provided a tough yet rewarding challenge for all children who took part.
One of the defining features of the AJIS Cross Country event is the emphasis on sportsmanship and camaraderie. Whilst individual performances were celebrated, teamwork was obvious for all to see. Pupils could be heard cheering for their friends and competitors alike, creating an atmosphere of encouragement and support.
My congratulations to Mr Condon (in his 26th year of organising the event), the Prep School staff team, as well as our 6th form students, for the planning and smooth running of the races, as well as providing such a warm Rossall welcome to all schools in attendance.
Have a wonderful (screen free where possible) weekend.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Mr M Turner
Headmaster of Preparatory School & Nursery
Extra News:
Rossall Shines at the 36th AJIS Cross Country
The Rossall playing fields looked spectacular as schools arrived from across the North West of England to take part in the annual Junior Independent Schools Cross Country. Now in its 36th year, the Preparatory School are proud to be the hosts of this prestigious event, (the last 26 hosted at Rossall), where over 500 runners gathered for a stern test of endurance, stamina, teamwork and determination.
There were four races in all, with approximately 130 competitors in each event. This was a wonderful opportunity for the Rossall runners and a thrilling experience for many who were competing for the first time against children from other schools. On home soil, the Rossall team ran superbly, showing excellent team spirit. There were some exceptional individual performances with Rocco finishing 7th and Oleg 12th in the U11 Boys, and Sarah-Anne 11th in the U10 Girls. A special mention must also go to a number of Rossall runners who competed against children a year or even two years older.
The atmosphere was electric throughout the afternoon and the dedication shown by all our runners, as well as the Preparatory and Sixth Form helpers, created a wonderful team spirit amongst the Rossall children.
Pupils, teachers and parents all left praising Rossall for the event, with one teacher commenting ‘this is by far the best event on the AJIS circuit’-what a nice chap!
Sophia and Bow to Star on the Stage in Cinderella!
We are delighted to announce that Sophia and Bow will be starring in Cinderella at the Grand Theatre for the Christmas Pantomime.
After numerous workshops and a final audition, they were selected from a group of young hopefuls to entertain audiences over the Christmas period. They will be performing alongside stars from Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and even learning tricks from legendary Blackpool entertainer, Steve Royle. Good luck, Sophia and Bow!
Year 6
What a whirlwind of learning it has been for us in Year 6! In History, we have been diving into the impact of rationing during World War 2. After living through the COVID-19 toilet roll panic (who could forget that?), we really appreciated why rationing was needed back then! We were amazed to discover that even the Royal Family had to follow rationing rules. Of course, some of us couldn’t help but wonder if there were any cheeky loopholes in the system! Next week, we are counting down the days until our trip to the Imperial War Museum, where we will explore even more about the impact of war and conflict.
Speaking of World War 2, we have just wrapped up reading Star of Fear, Star of Hope. This book sparked some powerful conversations about the treatment of Jews during the war. Mrs. Kenmare and I (Mrs. Scott) were truly moved by the deep empathy and understanding shown in these discussions. It is clear that the future is in good hands—our Year 6 class is determined to learn from history and ensure that such mistakes aren’t repeated.
In Science, we have transformed into forensic investigators. We have been investigating how light travels and how our eyes see, all in a bid to crack the case of the stolen laptop. With this knowledge under our belts, we’re ready to start eliminating suspects next week. Watch out, thief—Year 6 is on the case, and evidence is on our side!
Rossall Rotation this week saw us pizza making. On a cold, wet Thursday afternoon this was the perfect snack to keep our energy levels up.
It is currently a very busy and exciting time in Year 6! Alongside all our learning, we are hard at work preparing for some big events. Our Harvest Assembly is coming up next Friday, and we are polishing our choir performance for the assembly concert (keep an eye on your emails for more details). We are now counting down the days until our trip to the Imperial War Museum, where we will explore even more about the impact of war and conflict.
Year 5
The Year 5 classroom was the scene once again of a most heinous crime this week, when a note written in black ink was found stating an unkind message about Mr Condon’s body odour! Little did the perpetrator know that Year 5 would be learning about the amazing process of chromatography in our Science lesson, and any budding detective would be sure to discover whose pen was used to commit this despicable crime. Once all the black pens were confiscated from pencil cases and trays, our investigation began… Using filter paper, water and scientific knowledge, it did not take long to identify the pen used, and looking at our class photo, you do not need to be Hercules Poirot to spot the owner of the offending pen!
Our class novel, The Queen of the Falls, has captured the imagination of the class, and just as our story was reaching a cliffhanger moment, we were shocked to receive a visit from the heroine of our story, Annie Edson Taylor! The class were thrilled to fire prepared questions at our main character in the hot seat, and she certainly entertained the class with her amusing answers and strong deep south accent.
Who knows what will happen next week in Year 5? It really has been a wonderful week of learning.
Year 4
As we embrace the upcoming autumn season, Year 4 has been venturing into the realm of poetry this week. Through their exploration of autumn-themed poetry, they have creatively written rhyming couplets that beautifully capture the essence of this time of year. Their enthusiasm for language and creativity has been commendable, and the resulting poems demonstrate a thoughtful engagement with the natural world around them – as well as their love for it!
” As the fiery orange leaves fall from the tree,
I can’t help but run around like a busy bee” – Anna
In addition to our poetry lessons, we have also observed and learnt about the National Day of European Languages, which provided a wonderful opportunity to enhance our understanding of diverse cultures. Linking this celebration to our modern foreign language lessons, the students have been particularly focused on Spanish. This fantastic day supports not only language acquisition but also an appreciation for the rich variety of languages in Europe, encouraging inclusivity and cultural curiosity among our pupils. We had a fantastic time sharing our experiences and travels of Europe discussing everything from foods to music and everything in between. The class were amazed at the fact the Spanish alphabet has an extra hidden letter with a subtle sound to differentiate it from the others.
In the spirit of celebrating Happiness Week, Year 4 undertook a delightful initiative. Our class has been sharing the things that bring them joy, fostering a positive classroom atmosphere and sharing our love of hobbies, foods and anything that brings us happiness. To further promote happiness and kindness, we played a game of Happiness Bingo, where the children reflected on actions that contribute to the well-being of others. This engaging activity not only highlighted the importance of kindness but also helped us recognise and appreciate the small acts of joy that can brighten someone’s day. We heard some incredible stories that helped bring joy and happiness to our lives. Some of our favourites included Alicia explaining that her loving family and friends bring her joy and that just sitting on the lawn in the garden brings Aidan a relaxing joy.
What a week!
Year 3
As we conclude September, Year 3 participated in another remarkable week of learning.
In Mathematics, we have successfully finished our unit on three-digit place value. We will now build upon these foundation skills as we progress to our addition and subtraction unit.
In English, our exploration of Seal Surfer continues, with our specific focus being structured paragraph writing. Following Tom’s surfing accident, students crafted diary entries from his perspective, detailing the events before, during, and after the incident. We then used paragraphs to recount a stormy walk, incorporating interesting adjectives to enhance our description of the setting.
In Year 3, we have been making meaningful connections across all subjects. While participating in Beach Schools as part of Rossall Rotation, we have demonstrated impressive knowledge of coastal features and engaged in thoughtful discussions regarding the impact of erosion. Additionally, we have showcased our creativity and problem-solving skills by proposing and designing potential sea defences.
We look forward to more exciting learning experiences in the weeks to come!
Year 2
Another week and yet another busy one in Year 2!
Early in the week, our science lesson was filled with lots of movement and exercise as we investigated how our heart rate changes. The children learnt how to check their pulse and predicted what would happen after they completed each activity.
Later in the week, we added to our Lowry paintings and practised drawing different types of buildings. The children thought about distance and perspective, with some excellent examples of drawing things in the distance!
We had a riveting afternoon in the Astronomy Centre with Dr. Lister for Rossall Rotation on Thursday. Following on from our last session where we learnt about comets, we learnt about stars and nebulas. Dr. Lister was blown away with some of our questions about space – such as ‘what would happen if the Earth was flat?’ We thoroughly enjoyed learning more about space and objects moving through it!
Year 1
This week in our Wellbeing and Relationships lesson we have been sharing lots of ideas about how we can keep ourselves healthy. We talked about the importance of eating healthy, exercising, keeping ourselves clean and looking after both our physical and mental health. This connected nicely with Happiness Week, as we thought about the importance of emotional wellbeing, having enough sleep and limiting screen time – which had a mixed response! In RS we have been thinking about caring for others; who we care for, who cares for us and how we can show that we care.
In English, we have been thinking about what we would need to pack for a trip to the South Pole and writing lists. We looked at non-fiction books and used the internet to find information about penguins and where they live. This research also helped our Humanities work where we compared Antarctica to where we live.
In Maths, we have been learning about comparing groups and using lots of maths vocabulary to identify which groups have more, fewer or are equal. We have also been introduced to ‘Greater Gator’ who loves to chomp on the biggest numbers.
We have had our second session of Golf this week where we have had the chance to practise our putting skills and our big swings.
Reception
Helping children learn about the world around them and the environment is so important. One of the ways in which we can do this is to help them learn about the changing seasons. The advent of spring, summer, autumn and winter each brings with it its own unique natural characteristics and the ideal opportunity for helping children learn. Young children are usually keen to learn and improve their understanding of the world around them and the chance to gain new knowledge can be incorporated into a variety of activities.
One of the best ways of helping children get an idea of the changing seasons is to get outdoors and explore. In the autumn there’s the excitement of crunching through autumn leaves or finding the first conkers as they fall from horse chestnut trees. We thoroughly enjoyed our walks around the school campus and the activities in the ‘Secret Garden’ as we looked for signs of Autumn, observed the different colours we could see, collected leaves and looked for conkers. To enhance the children’s learning experience even more, we have read several books and stories that are related to the different seasons, especially Autumn. We loved the story about the ‘Leaf Thief’ and had fun stealing leaves from the ‘Secret Garden’ to make wonderful leaf collages with. We also used some of the leaves to print with, using Autumnal coloured paint.
Our wonderful collection of autumnal objects is growing by the day and causes great interest for the children as they use tweezers to prise the shiny conkers out of their shells and use the magnifying glasses to look for bugs on the leaves. We have even used all the conkers collected for our Maths lessons! So, if you are out and about over the weekend, we would love more exciting things for our collection please!
Nursery
This week in Sanderlings:
Autumn has begun to creep into the Baby Room and the Sanderlings have been using their senses to explore a range of activities to help promote expressive arts and design. Firstly, we painted with Autumnal colours to create some lovely artwork. We tried to hold a paintbrush and also used our hands, which was much more fun! In addition, there have been lots of songs, actions and vocalisations, with the ‘Song Box’ still being a firm favourite. Some of the older children have joined in with familiar songs and copying actions demonstrated by the Practitioners. For the younger of the group, the wall mirrors have been used for self reflection, smiles and waves. Finally, we took part in a water play activity using lemon essence to create a relaxing scent, along with real flowers. We had fun splashing, using our hands and feet.
This week in Sandpipers:
The children have been focusing on Expressive Arts and Design. The staff have been talking to the children about Autumn and have enjoyed going on a lovely Autumn walk to hunt for pine cones and different coloured leaves. The children were also very busy making lots of Autumnal crafts. These included pumpkins, hedgehogs, trees and squirrels. The children loved exploring with different textures and resources. Following on from their love of singing and dancing, the children made their very own natural musical instruments. Empty bottles were used and the children collected stones and sticks to put inside. Finally, it was great fun shaking them and singing their own songs!
This week in Pre School:
Pre School paragraph should read: The children have continued to concentrate on the book of the month ‘Goldilocks and The Three Bears’. Following on from this, the staff and children all discussed what their favourite traditional tale is. On Tuesday the staff asked the children what they would like to do. After discussing lots of ideas, the children decided they wanted to go on a big adventure to the beach. On the way to the beach lots of sticks were collected from around the Rossall grounds. Lots of fun was had and the children even had a sing-song. As it was time to leave they took a detour through the ‘sand dunes’ and made their way down the steep hills. In addition this week, the children have enjoyed exploring tuff trays. Within the tuff trays there were different textures to explore; this varied from sand to artificial grass and stones. Each child used their imagination and the tuff tray was explored as a beach, farm and garden. Finally, the Pre School children have also enjoyed channelling their inner artists and used different art tools such as felt tips, paints and crayons to create some great masterpieces. The most popular area in the preschool room this week has been the home corner; the children enjoyed playing with our new till and groceries. What a lovely week we have had!
Dates for your diary
Christmas
Close at 6pm on Friday 20th December and re-open on Monday 6th January at 8am
Reminders
Please ensure that all uniform is labelled and checked at home to limit items going missing
Useful links for parents
- Free Children’s oral health resources:
- Brush DJ
- Dr Ranji and Supertooth (for ages 0-3 years): How to care for the teeth of children aged 0-3 with Dr Ranj and Supertooth! – YouTube
Dr Ranji and Supertooth (for ages 3-6 years): How to care for the teeth of children aged 3-6 with Dr Ranj and Supertooth! – YouTube
Next week’s menu
Monday: Lunch: Plain chicken strips in tortilla wrap with salad. Beef casserole for babies / Strawberry sponge with custard Tea: Tomato and vegetable pasta bake
Tuesday: Lunch: Chicken and leek pie / Bramley apple sticky toffee pudding with custard Tea: Red lentil soup with bread
Wednesday: Lunch: Meatballs with pasta and tomato sauce / Fruit salad. Tea: Chicken paella.
Thursday: Lunch: Lasagne with garlic bread / Fruit salad Tea: Red pepper and tomato soup with bread.
Friday: Hake bites, chips and beans / Red velvet pudding with custard. Tea: Pizza. Pasta bake for babies
*Crudites are served everyday with snacks.
We hope you all have a lovely weekend and we look forward to another week of adventure, fun and learning with all of our little Rossallians.
Mr Himsworth, Miss Schofield & all of the Rossall Nursery Team
Awards
Year 6
Certificates
6S – Dolly for demonstrating independence and motivation towards all work, both in school and at home; Delilah for applying herself fully to everything she has undertaken this week.
6R – Darcey for showing resilience, perseverance and courage during Mathematics lessons and Hattie for working hard to master new skills in English
Year 5
Willow- Outstanding enthusiasm and effort in all activities.
Henry- Outstanding knowledge and effort to make progress.
Year 4
Starsky – For demonstrating brilliant independence when planning and writing your autumn poetry, you used some superb adjectives to build imagery.
Valencia – For working incredibly hard towards your goals and targets In English, demonstrating resilience and independence in all pieces – very well done!
Year 3
Jaxon for his effort in everything and for trying to always make the right choices
Theo for showing kindness and helping others
Year 2
Jasper – for a fantastic attitude in all his learning
Tabitha – fantastic effort in reading and writing
Year 1
This week’s certificates of achievement go to Grayson and Joshua.
Both children have tried very hard with their sounding and blending during phonics lessons this week and have made an excellent start with their letter sound recognition.
Reception
This week’s certificates of achievement go to Sophia and Monty. Monty is an excellent role model to all the other children in the class. He has also thoroughly enjoyed helping his friends with their Maths work too. Sophia has demonstrated fantastic understanding in our Maths work this week. She has confidently sorted a variety of objects and could say how she had sorted them.
September Tennis Programs with Top Tennis Coaching
We have a range of tennis programs on offer for players aged 6+ happening at Rossall School this term.
Our popular Before School Programs return from Wednesday 4th September (Year 3 & 4 – Wednesdays, Year 5 & 6 – Fridays) as well as a range of after-school programs to suit all abilities.
Contact Nick Arnold for more information:
07789 956147
*Bookings are essential prior to attendance of your first session. Visit our Bookings Page for more info