From the Head

From the Head of Pre-Prep

Dear Parents,

Year 2 had a fantastic time at Stubbers Adventure Centre. Despite the on and off rain it didn’t dampen our spirits and the children joined in with every activity. Sleeping in bunk beds under canvas with their friends, the Year 2 children managed several hours of sleep. Thank you to Mr Davies who led the trip and all of the staff who gave up their comfortable beds for a night!

We had a great assembly on Wednesday about woodwind instruments where Mrs Mumford and Ms Ingram talked to us about some of the instruments in the woodwind family and played for us. They were joined by three pupils, Amelia Rose, Gabriella and Martha who also played for us. If your children were inspired to learn the saxophone after Ms Ingram's superb jazz performance, then please get in touch with our Pre-Prep Music Teacher, Mrs Crane.

The ducklings have been a highlight over the last couple of weeks. Despite them hatching overnight, we have watched them grow and take their first swimming lessons. I can recommend holding a duckling to enhance your wellbeing!

Reception performed their Father’s Day assembly today and the paintings of their dads are portraits to cherish alongside the ones of their mums earlier in the year. One day they may be worth a fortune!

Next week we have two Nursery events with children demonstrating their singing and sports skills. These will be on Monday and Tuesday at 11am out at the Old Pitch. Kindergarten children will follow at 2pm on Tuesday 17^th June with their mini concert and sports event. The Coffee Cart will be at this event to keep you hydrated! 

Year 2 will join Year 3 for a Creative Day on Monday so please deliver the Year 2 children to Prep on Monday. Collection at the end of the day will be back at Pre-Prep.

On Wednesday we will be treated to a strings assembly and on Friday the Year 2 children will be doing a Maths Countdown Challenge.

Overheard at Stubbers: "I’m going to ask for a jet-ski for my birthday as I know how to drive one now!"

Have a lovely weekend,

Zerrin Leech

At the end of this term we will sadly be saying goodbye to the following individuals:

Rhys Morgan - Head of Year 4

As we bid farewell to Rhys Morgan, we reflect on the incredible journey he has had at St Michael's. Starting as a Trainee Teaching Assistant in 2014, Mr Morgan quickly proved his dedication and passion for education, rising through the ranks to deservedly become the Head of Year 4. His lively and energetic personality, combined with a can-do attitude, has made him a much-liked figure amongst pupils, colleagues and parents alike.

Mr Morgan's reliability and leadership have been instrumental in guiding his team to success. His popularity is a testament to his ability to connect with everyone around him, making a lasting impact on the school community. Beyond the classroom, Mr Morgan's enthusiasm for cricket has inspired many young athletes and his coaching has been invaluable to the children.

With a keen passion for History and Archaeology, Mr Morgan has always brought a unique perspective to his teaching, sparking curiosity and a love for learning in his pupils. As he embarks on his next adventure, we know that his positive influence and dedication will continue to shine wherever he goes.

Thank you, Mr Morgan, for your unwavering commitment and the joy you have brought to St Michael's. You will be greatly missed and we wish you all the best in your future at Eltham College.

Words by Mr Wiseman, Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Jackie Clarke - Science Teacher

Mrs J Clarke has been an integral part of the Science Department for the last four years. As well as her teaching, she will be remembered for launching and developing our Years 5 and 6 Quiz Team, supporting the children and contributing to our successes, which led to the National Finals in 2023. Nature Club has also been a firm favourite and she has enjoyed organising and leading the ducklings! Mrs Clarke has embraced life at St Michael’s, supporting backstage in the School Play and at Sports Days—even on her days off. So, even though she is officially retiring and has exciting plans to travel, she may still be seen visiting. We wish her all the best for the future.

Words by Stephanie Clarke, Deputy Head (Academic)

David Craig - Latin Teacher

After five wonderful years of teaching at St Michael’s, our dear Mr Craig is retiring (again!). 

To many, Latin might seem like a “dead” language but in his classroom, it was very much alive. He brings the ancient world into the present—telling stories of Roman heroes, explaining the clever tricks of Greek gods and showing us how Latin still shapes the words that we speak today. Every lesson feels like a journey back in time, guided by someone who truly loves Classics.

Mr Craig teaches more than just grammar and history. He has taught our pupils to think deeply, how to ask questions and how to appreciate the beauty of language. His classroom is full of energy, curiosity and the occasional Latin pun.

He also has a deep love for Greece. Like Odysseus, he’s been on a long journey full of stories and learning. 

We will miss his wisdom, warmth and incredible way with words. 

Thank you, Mr Craig, for everything. Enjoy birdwatching in Greece and in the UK. 

Vale.

Words by Juliette Poracchia, Head of Languages

In September we look forward to welcoming the following individuals into new roles at St Michael's:

Jolande Lodge - Science Teacher

Emma Shield - Year 3 Teacher

Emma has worked in education in Kent for the last 9 years in various roles including Class Teacher, English Lead, Computing Lead and Online Safety DSL. She has experience teaching in all primary ages from Year 1 up to Year 6. 

Emma is married with a son who is 3 years old. She enjoys playing netball, reading and spending time with her family. She is a former two-time National Champion in Ballroom and Latin, dancing on the adult medallist circuit and is still passionate about the performing arts today!

She is delighted to be joining the St Michael’s team and looking forward to working with the staff to inspire children to be independent and resilient learners with exciting and engaging lessons. 

Anna Murch - Head of Year 4

We are delighted to announce that Miss Murch will become the new Head of Year 4 and a Year 4 Teacher from September. Miss Murch has been at St Michael’s for a number of years and is well-known to many of the children and parents. She is an experienced teacher, known for her care, support and encouragement, and she is looking forward to moving to Year 4 with the current Year 3s!

Words by Mrs Clarke and Mr Wiseman, Deputy Heads

Year 5 Science – childhood photos

Year 5 will soon be starting their next Science topic on the human life cycle. Please could your child bring in three or four photos of themselves as a baby, toddler and young child which you are happy for them to glue into a resource that they will be using. As part of this activity, the children will be describing how they have changed since they were little. Please can they bring their photos to one of their Science lessons by Friday 20^th June.

Thank you,

Mrs S Clarke, Mrs Medd and Mrs Neylan

Special Menu

Next Thursday 19th June our Catering Team will be making us a special menu for World Tapas Day: please click here for more details.

The published Week 2 Thursday Menu (Mexican beef chilli con carne, bean chilli, roasted peppers and corn, rice and chocolate cake) will be served next Tuesday instead.

House Spelling Bees

Spelling skills have been put to the test in our recent Spelling Bee competitions as pupils in Years 3 to 8 have battled letter by letter to be crowned this year's winners.

Increasingly challenging words including puncture, phenomenon, surveillance and pterodactyl resulted in some tense rounds and impressive answers.

Congratulations to Benji S who won the junior competition and Nik B who won the senior competition for the third year running!

Well done to all of the pupils who participated in the competition and thank you to Mrs Andrade and the English Department for organising another thrilling Spelling Bee.

Year 2's adventure to Stubbers

The class of 2025 arrived at Stubbers full of excitement and energy which even the sudden downpour that greeted them couldn’t dampen.

Once luggage was unloaded and tents were set up, it was time to get straight into the activities which over the two days included clip ‘n’ climb, grass sledging, bell boat paddling, archery, team challenges, bushcraft and the fan favourite, jet ski rides!

Once again, the food was a highlight and everyone was responsible and sensible at meal times. Some were even seen to be enjoying a triple chocolate breakfast of pancakes with chocolate syrup, cocoa pops and a chocolate milk carton!

The children were amazing throughout the entire trip. They represented St Michael’s extremely well and all came back just a little bit taller than when they left. I even heard a little voice at 5:45am whisper with excitement to his friend on the opposite bunk bed: "We did it! We slept away from home!".

A huge thanks to the Year 2 Team and other staff who attended, making it such a memorable experience for the children which they will have lifelong memories of. 

Mr Davies, Pre-Prep PE Teacher

IAPS National Swimming Championships

Three St Michael's pupils qualified for the 2025 IAPS Swimming Championships held at London's Aquatic Centre on Saturday 7th June 2025. Bringing together the country's best young swimmers, the event saw many talented pupils race for the chance to secure national titles and this year, Kayla F, Miranda H and Nathan H were set to represent St Michael's following their success in the qualifying competition.

Kayla F had qualified for the 50m Backstroke in the U11 category. Sadly, due to illness, she was unable to compete on the day. Her qualification alone, however, speaks volumes about her dedication and ability and we look forward to seeing her back in action soon.

Miranda H took to the pool in the U10 50m Breaststroke and delivered an exceptional performance. In the heats, Miranda achieved a personal best time of 44.15 seconds, placing her 8th and securing a spot in the Final. In the Final she showed remarkable composure and determination, improving her time by 0.69 seconds to finish in 43.46 seconds, climbing up to 6th place nationally. This was an outstanding achievement at such a high level of competition.

In the afternoon session, Nathan H competed in the U11 50m Breaststroke. Nathan delivered a powerful swim in the heats, clocking 40.51 seconds which placed him 6th and earned him a place in the Final. Rising to the occasion, Nathan broke the 40-second barrier in the Final with a phenomenal time of 39.86 seconds—a personal best and a major milestone. This incredible performance secured him 5th place overall in the nation.

Competing at a venue as iconic as the London Aquatic Centre was a memorable experience for all involved. Watching Miranda and Nathan rise to the occasion and place in the top 10 in the UK is a testament to their hard work, resilience and athletic talent. We are incredibly proud of them both and of Kayla for reaching the Finals.

Mrs Fornasier, Swim School Manager

A week with our ducklings!

Children (and staff) have been going quackers this week enjoying the duckling hatching programme.

The duck eggs arrived last Tuesday and Year 1 welcomed them excitedly. Our first duckling hatched on Wednesday evening, followed by two more on Thursday morning; we named them Delilah, Jimmy and Kevin. They have been thoroughly looked after by all classes in Pre-Prep from Nursery to Year 2, spending time meeting and enjoying them. Year 2 have also watched the three ducklings have a swim - there was a lot of splashing! 

Meanwhile, the three Prep ducklings, Fluffy, Quackers and Albeak, have been impressed with the range of questions asked by the children during their meet and greet sessions. Some children were lucky enough to see swimming lessons and Year 8 have dedicated their Science lessons this week to a range of duck related research and design projects. We have been amazed by how quickly the ducklings have grown and will be sad to say goodbye at the end of the week.

Mrs H Powell, Year 2 Teacher, and Mrs J Clarke, Science Teacher

Father's Day assembly

Reception performed beautifully in their Father's Day Assembly this morning, singing songs, performing poems and showcasing their amazing portraits of their daddies. 

Tonbridge Cricket Tournament

On Wednesday 11^th June, the Colts A cricket team took part in the Tonbridge Tournament consisting of 24 teams from around the South of England.

In the previous year St Michael's had won the Plate and were now looking to add the Cup to our trophy cabinet. Playing Hazelwood in the first game, we batted excellently scoring 88 off of our 5 overs including 69* from Adam J (this included 50 off just 19 balls). The game started perfectly with Abigail T taking two wickets with the first two balls, leaving us in a very strong position. St Michael's ended up winning by 52 runs. 

The following two matches against St Ronan's and Lancing College were equally well played by the team, winning both. Special mention to Hugo M who took a hat trick against Lancing to seal the victory. This meant that we currently topped the group but were joint on points with Yardley Court who were also unbeaten to this stage, and just so happened to be our last game. In what became a Final, St Michael's batted first and posted an impressive 66 from 5 overs. Yardley kept with the run rate until a very good penultimate over from Rayaan G meant they needed 16 off the last over. Hugo M held his nerve and St Michael's walked away winning by 3 runs, winning the Tournament! 

Well done to all members of the team, it was a fantastic day and each and everyone of the team contributed massively to their success. 

Mr Morgan, Head of Year 4

Woodwind assemblies

St Michael's Peripatetic Music Teachers Mrs Mumford and Ms Ingram led inspiring assemblies about woodwind instruments in Prep and Pre-Prep on Wednesday this week. Speaking to the children about the history of woodwind instruments and the many different types, they demonstrated the wonderful sounds that can be produced with each, culminating in performances by pupils Oliver S, Amelia Rose B, Gabriella A and Martha S on their recorders. 

St Michael's Eco Club invites members of the St Michael's community to take part in our Big Litter Pick this year. Don't forget, you can borrow litter pickers from the Pre-Prep and Prep Offices!

Please visit our Learning Development Parent Guides page for a collection of valuable resources for parents, focusing on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Here you'll find a variety of courses and information designed to support you and your child. Whether you're looking for educational materials, support groups or expert advice, these resources aim to provide the guidance and assistance that you need. We will update the resources each week so please keep checking this page. 

This week we have added a link to a webinar on Solving sleep issues in children and teenagers by The Giaroli Centre.

Influencers

“The concept of influencers is hardly a new one. Through newspaper columns and TV spots, we’ve long been accustomed to hearing informed opinion from, say, Martin Lewis on money, Nigella Lawson on food or Mark Kermode on cinema. How the digital revolution has changed the game, however, is by providing a plethora of platforms from which literally anyone can have their say.

Online, you’ll find hordes of people holding forth on any number of topics: gaming, beauty, travel, fashion, fitness … virtually anything you can think of. What qualifies them as ‘experts’, however? Is it safe for young people to consume the oceans of content that they generate? By creating the image of a ‘perfect life’, or regularly promoting expensive products, these hugely popular people can cause detriment to a child’s wellbeing. As such, the output of social media influencers should be consumed with caution. This guide brings you the essential info on the influencer phenomenon.”

Words by Brendan O’Keeffe - Educator, Teacher and Lecturer

Shh! It’s all under wraps this week as the children have been busy drawing and using the oven to transform their creations into a special surprise gift for Father’s Day!

For more information about the Hive or Breakfast Club or to book in your child, please contact Nicky Smith at WrapAroundCare@stmichaels.kent.sch.uk.

A Message from The School Shop

The School Shop will be open throughout the summer for your back to school needs. We strongly recommend that all new parents or existing parents with lots of items to buy during the summer period book an appointment to come to the shop. If you have more than one child that requires uniform fitting, please book consecutive appointments for each child. We would advise early booking to ensure you get a convenient time for yourself as the appointments are subject to availability.   

To book an appointment please click here or visit our website and click on the 'opening times and info button'. 

Until the end of term we will be open at our usual term time opening hours: 

8:00am - 9:15am: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 

Should you need any further help, please do not hesitate to email us at stmichaels@sturdyclothing.co.uk or call Lou on 07713 632284 and we will do our best to help. 

Déjà Vu will be open on the following days during the summer holidays from 10am to 12pm. 

Friday 22nd August

Thursday 28th August

Monday 1st September

Please check the website nearer the time for any changes.

If you have any questions or need a private appointment due to being a new family or having multiple children please contact Melissa Samworth at melbrand@yahoo.co.uk.

Donations are always welcome and appreciated, however please do not leave them outside of the shop if it is closed. If you cannot drop your donations off during our opening hours, please email Melissa Samworth for other arrangements.

Discovering Japan with Mrs Isobe-Walker 

P & F Summer Fest 2025

Sevenoaks Football Academy trials

Otford Allotment Association

The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle

History of Otford exhibition

Shoreham Village Players auditions

House Point Certificates

Dover: Arthur L; Isabella S; Harry S; Charlie B; Rihaan S; Peter C; Neve H; Rain K and Alexandra O

Leeds: Frankie T; Jonathan C; Nieve P; Max M; Millie W and Sophia P

Rochester: Samuel S; River R; Jasper D; Lila P; Grace F, Annabella N; Ralph P; Lois F and Rusen E

Windsor: Rory D; Mikey G and Thomas R

LAMDA – Entry Level Award in Solo Miming

Distinction: Faith A; Lottie B; Sophia P; Lila P; Isabella S; Nikita V; Camilla W and Nieve P

Players of the Match - week commencing 9th June

Jenson's Karting Success

Congratulations to Jenson for winning the 2024 Bambino Karting Summer Championship at Bayford Meadows in Sittingbourne. Jenson also won the 2024/25 Winter Championship at Lydd, is currently leading the Championships at Buckmore Park and Bayford Meadows and is currently competing in the British National Karting Championship.

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