From the Head

From the Head of Pre-Prep

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year. I hope you all had a good Christmas holiday and have lots of wonderful things planned for 2025.

Thank you to all of those who gave gifts and cards to the Pre-Prep staff. We are very appreciative.

The children were all very excited to see the snow this week. From my point of view, I was happy to see it melt quickly. Well done to Mr Smith and the Estates Team who were up in the early hours of Thursday morning to clear our school site.

Next week I shall look forward to seeing the Parents Reps of Year 2, Year 1 and Reception for a coffee and to answer any questions you would like to put forward to them. Year 2 Reps on Tuesday 14^th, Year 1 Reps on Wednesday 15^th and Reception Reps on Thursday 16^th.

Next Wednesday Year 2 will be having a visit from the Natural History Museum to find out all about fossils. We have been lucky to be offered a cancellation slot with the travelling museum.

Just a reminder that in this season of coughs, colds and sickness bugs, please keep you children at home for 48 hours after they have last vomited. In this way we will minimise the risk of spreading their germs to other children and adults. If you can join with us by helping your child to wipe their nose, cover their mouth when coughing and wash their hands, it will help us enormously in school.

Please send your children in with appropriate clothing for the weather. Although it is lovely and warm in the Pre-Prep building, we are conscious that children need to be warm enough when playing outside for half an hour. It really helps us to have clearly labelled coats, hats and gloves.

Overheard in Pre-Prep: "If you don’t take this from me soon, I’ll get a parking ticket!"

Have a lovely weekend,

Zerrin Leech

Parent webinars

Smartphones and screen time webinar with Dr Aric Sigman

Tuesday 21st January 2025, 8pm

More details to follow 

Children’s overuse and misuse of digital devices and non-homework screen activities (smartphones, TV, tablets, TikTok, YouTube, gaming, social media etc.) is increasingly linked with risks to their physical, emotional and academic wellbeing and is now a medical issue. The things that they say and do online can affect relationships or get them into trouble now and create a digital footprint for years to come. During this webinar parents will gain a better understanding of this issue and learn what they can do to establish healthy and safe screen habits in their children and prevent problems. The issue of if and/or when to give your child a phone or smartphone will be discussed. 

Dr Aric Sigman has published a number of peer-reviewed medical papers on this subject and is the author of the book Remotely Controlled. He is a member of the Cross-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood and contributing author to its five recent reports on children’s mental health with significant contributions on discretionary screen time. He is a Chartered Biologist, Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Chartered Scientist awarded by the Science Council. 

House Drama Duologue Competition 2025

Contest dates

Heats: Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th February (All day- pupils allocated audition times in advance) 

Finals: Monday 10th February - Juniors and Seniors from 6pm (drinks from 5.30pm) in the Drama Room 

Junior Division: Years 3 and 4 

Senior Division: Years 5, 6, 7 and 8  

Using a published (can be online), play script (no film or TV scripts or self-written), pupils form into pairs (both from the same house) to perform a chosen section of between 2 and 5 minutes in length. There should be a spotlight on character development and conveying emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the pupil to contextualise the performance and state the title and the author if they wish, but this is not compulsory. Contestants must supply an original, unmarked copy of the script upon entering the room. Marks will be lowered if the script is not supplied. All sections must be presented from memory- no scripts will be allowed for performance.  

Marking

Each section will be marked out of 25 TOTAL /100  

SECTION 1 - USE OF VOICE

Candidates will be expected to show appropriate use of pitch, pace and tone to convey meaning and interpretation of the text. Diction and clarity will be an important part of this.

SECTION 2-CHARACTERISATION

Candidates will be marked on creation of believable characters in both appropriate vocal choice and physicality, including movement choices. The use of additional mediums including props and costume will be considered.

SECTION 3- FOCUS AND COMMITMENT

Candidates will be marked on their ability to sustain their characterisations, know their text and demonstrate their relationship to the audience.

SECTION 4-INTERPRETATION OF TEXT

Candidates will be marked on all their choices in respect of the actual text, including observing period, style and context. House points avail for all entering 

Here's a glimpse at what to expect:

St Michael's win Kemsing Christmas Tree category

We are happy to announce that St Michael's won the category of Best School in the Christmas Tree Festival hosted by Kemsing Church. Well done to St Michael's Year 1 pupils who made the beautiful decorations and thank you to everyone who voted for us! We hope that those of you who managed to visit the Festival, enjoyed the marvellous trees on display.

St Michael's hockey team head to South East Regional Hockey Finals

Wishing the best of luck to St Michael's Aces team competing in the South East Regional Hockey Finals at Hoebridge School next Monday!

Snow much fun!

A frosting of snow brought joy to the children's breaktimes this week.

Music exam results December 2024

We’re delighted to share the following results from the ABRSM exams taken at school on Thursday 5^th December. Well done to all of those involved.

The Eco Committee are focusing on reducing litter as part of the Eco Schools' award this year. If you would like to help reduce litter in your local area, we have some litter pickers that you are able to borrow from the Prep Office for up to 2 weeks at a time. 

Another event you may also like to take part in is the RSPB The Big Bird Watch from 24^th  to 26^th January 2025. Please click on this link to learn more about how to take part: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch. On the Prep Eco Board there will be printed tally sheets that you are welcome to use.   

If you take part in any eco activities out of school please feel free to send us photos. We would very much like to share these achievements with the school community. 

This week at the Breakfast Club, the atmosphere has been buzzing with excitement as children have delighted in numerous card games and foosball matches. Meanwhile, in the Mini-Hive and The Hive, children have been joyfully immersed in creative activities, enthusiastically printing and painting as they embark on the creation of new vibrant wall displays.

Mikey G for excellent participation in our Phonics activity when learning the nk sound

Emma G for great participation in all of our learning and always doing her best when completing tasks

Olivia P for speedy work on writing and Maths

Freddie S for fabulous focus and effort when looking at ways of making 10

Perseus A for trying hard to use his Phonics knowledge to write words independently

Rory D for showing great enthusiasm in Phonics and trying hard to write his sounds

Rupert A for producing a great pirate portrait using pastels and being able to blend them effectively to create different effects

Arthur L for being able to confidently find different ways to make 10 using three numbers

Becca A for independently writing a wonderful, detailed recount of the Christmas holidays

Michael S for working hard to take greater care with his handwriting

Rihaan S for starting the term with enthusiasm and a keenness to learn

Maia B for showing a good understanding of teen numbers in Maths this week

Rowan T for carefully explaining the properties of 2D and 3D shapes when sorting them into a Venn diagram

Noah M for his enthusiasm and engagement when learning about Mary Anning

Bella S for her great use of shape language and justifications when sorting 2D and 3D shapes

Poppy R for completing the twelve days of Christmas reading challenge

Rupert D for settling brilliantly into the class, contributing to whole class discussions and working hard in all subjects

Players of the Match – week commencing 6^th January

Owen wins judo gold!

Congratulations to Owen who recently won 1st place in his category at the Tonbridge Judo Club Competition. We are very proud of you, Owen!

Miranda's swimming medal streak!

Many congratulations to Miranda for winning five medals at the Kent Weald Last Chance County Qualifier last weekend. Competing against many older girls in the combined 10/11 year category, Miranda achieved great personal best times in each of the five events that she entered and came away with two Golds, two Silvers and a Bronze. This has also qualified Miranda for all five events at the Kent County Championships later this month. This is a phenomenal achievement Miranda, we are very proud of you!

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