Head’s Blog 13th September 2019 Friday 13th September 2019

It has been a phenomenally busy week but great fun too. I enjoyed getting to see the emerging personalities at the Year 7 camp out on Friday night, as the new Year 7 joined in so that they were almost indistinguishable as new, such was the welcome that they were shown. Hats off to Fraser Wiseman who masterminded the logistics and to all the team of teachers who came to make it fun.

Thank you to the many parents who have attended the coffee mornings in Pre-Prep and the welcome evenings in Prep this week. We have a few more such events next week and in the week after that. Do look out for what’s in the calendar.

Settling into a new environment can take longer than just a few days, however, and I am mindful that if a child has moved schools, or perhaps countries and house, that this can be almost overwhelming and progress towards confidence will take longer. There might be tears, there might be anxiety and quite possibly some large differences in the content covered or novelties in the way things are done. We are here to help and strong routines and confident parents will help us and your child.

From a well-being perspective, it is of course okay to find things daunting when they are different and all of our new members of staff are expending more emotional energy understanding new routines and getting on top of new expectations.

During this academic year, we expect that ISI, the Independent Schools Inspectorate will visit us with very short notice to check that we are a compliant school. Compliance, as I am sure you are aware, is enshrined in a great deal of law but also best practice and inspectors when they come will want your views on what you see and what your experience is.

As the school has very strong routines, good governance and well-established staff expectations, we expect to meet all the standards in this inspection. But you can help us by letting us know if there’s anything that you see, hear or experience that is not what you would expect.

I hope very much that you have a restful and enjoyable weekend. I’m looking forward to being a tiny speck on your TV screens as part of the Prom in the Park for the last night of the Proms so if you’re watching I’ll give you a wave!

Jill Aisher

Latest News

Pupils give magical performances in music concerts

Prep pupils treated classmates and music teachers to a variety of musical performances this week in their half termly concert.

Performed in three instalments within their bubbles, the musicians showcased a variety of pieces, varying in both genre and instrument.

And although parents were unable to attend the concerts due to Covid-19 restrictions, the pupils’ families received a recording of the event.

Gordon Baird, Director of Music, said “We were delighted by how these first concerts of the academic year went despite the absence of the children’s parents. It was a lovely intimate experience for the children to play or sing to their friends and we heard some confident, accomplished performances.

Mr Baird added: “For some, it was their first time playing in a concert in the Prep school and we look forward to organising many more opportunities for them to perform throughout the year.”

A montage of the three music concerts can be found on the St Michael’s YouTube page at https://youtu.be/Bj_Wx4P9heg.

Pupils make a spooky guess

Spooky spiders and plump pumpkins sparked Halloween fun at St Michael’s this week.

Supported by the school’s Parents and Friends association, pupils enjoyed two games which offered great prizes to winners.

Coordinator of the Halloween competitions and P & F committee member, Kelly Downey said: “Given the restrictions currently in place, the P&F are focusing on strengthening the school community for parents and children this year.

“The competitions are a simple way for the children to have some fun in the week before half term, while raising some funds for the P&F.”

Children in Pre-Prep were tasked with guessing the number of spooky spiders in the jar, while Prep children were asked to guess the weight of a pumpkin. Pupils made a donations to the P & F in exchange for each guess they made.

And the winners of the games, Herbie W (Pre-Prep) A Ward, M Little, L Lutzow and H Owen (Prep), were awarded Halloween hampers which will help them celebrate this year’s festival in spooktacular style.

Kelly added: “The funds raised for the P&F will go towards funding activities and facilities for the children to enrich their time at the school.”

For more information about St Michael’s P & F association visit stmichaels.kent.sch.uk/parents-friends

Pupils give thanks in harvest celebrations

Strawberries and sunflowers were just some of the items celebrated in last week’s harvest assemblies.

The annual Pre-Prep event, performed as three instalments this year, saw Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils sing, dance and give prayer for the harvest while learning about the festival from their music teacher, Mrs Raveyeh.

Reflecting on the success of the events, Louise Raveyeh said: “I am quite moved by the children’s enthusiastic singing in our harvest celebration.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to realise that there is joy in giving and sharing what we have and happiness for those who gratefully receive it.

“Their singing and eagerness to share with others was heartwarming.”

During the assemblies pupils sung songs about harvest time, nature and the variety of fruit and vegetables grown in this country.

Louise said: “I wanted the children to be thankful for what they have by realising what an amazing rainbow variety of food we have, created with individual characteristics just like them.

“I wanted them to realise the sense of joy that there is in sharing what we have.

“The songs reflect our celebration of what we have and realisation of the process of planting, harvesting and sharing.”

And it wasn’t just songs that helped the children express their thanks. Helped by their generous parents, Pre-Prep donated hundreds of food items and household essentials to the Swanley branch of Trussell Trust food bank.

Head of Pre-Prep at St Michael’s, Zerrin Leech, said: “We had tables, cupboards and bags festooned with food last week as our families gave very kind donations of food and other items.

“A huge thank you must go to the pupils’ parents for their wonderful generosity once again this year which will be gratefully received by the Trussell Trust.

“Thank you also to Mrs Ravayeh for leading our three harvest assemblies. They have been lovely with lots of new songs as well as my all-time favourite, Cauliflowers Fluffy.”

Year 7 celebrate start of term with sunset BBQ

Sunsets and sizzling sausages set the tone for the new term last Friday as Year 7 pupils celebrated the start of their senior education journey.

The annual event, traditionally held as a Camp Out, was delivered as a fun-filled barbecue night which the children enjoyed with teachers including St Michael’s Acting Head, Mrs Bridges.

Throughout the evening pupils tucked into dinner cooked by Deputy Head Mr Wiseman, and toasted marshmallows on an open fire.

And to make use of their new term energy, games and group bonding activites were carried out, followed by a walk up the school’s famous Warren where the sunset was relished in all of its glory.

Reflecting on the sucess of the event, Head of Year 7 and 8, Mrs Shield, said: “Unfortunately, we were unable to camp this year, but that did not dampen anybody’s spirits.

“One of the highlights of the evening was our twilight walk to the top of the Warren where we marvelled at the beautiful site that our school occupies.

“We viewed the bats swirling the skies in the dusk of late summer and ended the evening with a well-deserved hot chocolate – not forgetting the squirty cream and yet more marshmallows.

“Life-long friendships were made and re-established after the long summer break.”