From the Head

From the Head of Pre-Prep

Dear Parents,

It’s been another busy week at the chalk face. We had a fire practice on Monday which was one of the quickest we have done. Our second one of the term is always a surprise one, so we’ll see how brilliant we are next time.

It was good to catch up with the Kindergarten and Nursery Parent Reps this week. Thank you to all of the Reps who take on the role of collating your questions and being advocates for you all. It was very clear this term that Pre-Prep needed to change their after-school provision at the beginning and end of each term. You should have all received my letter saying that we will now run a Late Room for looking after those children who cannot be collected at 3.20pm. The Late Room will run until 3.55pm to tie in with Prep school collection. It will be free of charge for those children who would normally be doing an activity on the relevant day. Please note that the first few days of school in September will always be a 3.20pm pick-up unless your child has been booked into the Hive or Mini-Hive.

Next week we will have an NSPCC assembly to reinforce safeguarding to children, obviously at an age-appropriate level. We will also have an assembly about the Kent Wildlife Trust so expect your children to be talking about this on the way home.

Year 2 will be holding their Matball Tournament on Friday 7^th February which parents are welcome to come and watch. A separate communication will be coming out from My Davies about this.

Overheard in Pre-Prep: "Look, I've got crumble and mustard for pudding."  (It was of course custard!)

Have a lovely weekend,

Zerrin Leech

This term St Michael's will be saying goodbye to the following individuals:

David Hooper - Deputy Estates Manager

The time has come to bid farewell to David Hooper who will be leaving us at the end of the February half term. David has been a valued member of the Estates Team since June 2018. In his time at the school David has carried out a lot of work in and around the school buildings, for example: the shelters on the drop-off and pick-up areas, re-furbishing staff and children’s wash rooms and creating better storage solutions in Pre-Prep break-out rooms, to name just a few. Thank you David for your contributions to our school life; we all wish you well in your retirement in Norfolk.

Words by Ian Smith, Estate Manager  

Karan Thatcher - Finance Assistant

Karan has been a great asset to St Michael's and we will be sad to see her go but wish her every happiness in her new home, it's just a shame it is not nearer to St Michael's!

St Michael’s Challenge 2025

We have launched our St Michael’s Challenge for 2025 with children in Years 3 to 6. Our Seniors are looking forward to mentoring and supporting the Prep children with their projects. Please refer to the letter that was sent this week with more detailed information. Dates for your diary: 

Mentor Sessions from 8.35am-9am on Monday 27^th January, Monday 10^th February and Monday 10^th March.

All presentations will take place on Tuesday 29^th April. 

Children will be using their Homework Diaries to record their mentor, ideas and goals. 

We can’t wait to see topics chosen this year and the final presentations.

Mrs Clarke, Deputy Head (Academic)

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:

Advertise your business in St Michael's school play programme

With rehearsals well underway for our next school play My Family and Other Animals which pupils will be performing in March 2025, we are reaching out to local businesses who may be interested in advertising in our programme. If you or someone you know has a business which could be advertised in the programme, please contact the Marketing Team at tusher@stmichaels.kent.sch.uk for more information.

Typically, our play is performed to 300 people across three performances and a programme is available to all audience members. 

Advert sizes available within our A4 programme are quarter-page ads (£30), half-page ads (£60) and full-page ads (£120). All prices shown are inclusive of VAT. 

Special Menus

Throughout the year, our Catering providers Accent will be hosting a range of 'Special Menus' to mark different occasions. 

Details of these can be found on the Pre-Prep Menu and Prep Menu pages of our website alongside the day-to-day menu.

Our next 'Special Menu' day will be on Wednesday 29^th January for Lunar New Year. Please click here to view the menu.

St Michael's second hand school uniform shop Déjà Vu is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays during Term time only. 

While we appreciate all the donations that we receive, please could you ensure it is in a clean, saleable condition as we do not have laundering services on site. We also cannot take trousers, shirts, socks, tights etc. bought from stores other than St Michael’s on-site uniform shops.

Summer dresses will be available to buy from the start Trinity term.

Please note the shop is run entirely by volunteers. 

Melissa Samworth

melbrand@yahoo.co.uk

Otford Village Fete 2025 Poster Competition

We are pleased, once again, to be sponsors of this year's Otford Village Fete. 

This year’s Otford Village Fete will take place on Monday 26th May 2025 and commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Modern Railway. Otford Village Fete Committee are running a competition to design the artwork for this year’s poster.

If your child would like to take part in the competition, please could they create a drawing highlighting some of the railway related changes over the past 200 years. You can learn more about this anniversary by visiting the official website: https://railway200.co.uk.

The winning design will be used on Otford Village Fete’s website, on posters around the village and on Otford Village Fete’s social media published with your child’s first name only. The winning design will be the property of the Otford Village Fete Committee.

There are prizes available for the winning entry and runners-up.

Please click here for more information about the competition

Please click here for the entry template for your child to produce their drawing on.

Please could they put their first name and surname initial only on the form E.g Oliver B. 

Please could all entries be handed to your child's form teacher by Friday 7th March 2025.

This week's focus: Managing Screentime

We all know how persuasive the online world can be and how difficult it can be to manage your screentime.

With ‘persuasive design’ becoming more sophisticated, children are finding it increasingly difficult to put their devices down. Seemingly simple design techniques like infinite scroll, intrusive notifications, clickbait terminology or games that cannot be saved mean that it’s becoming more and more important to set clear boundaries.

This week, our online safety poster contains useful tips to manage screentime as a family, including creating tech-free zones, switching on ‘do not disturb’ and setting up an agreed ‘down time’ when the devices will turn off.

Year 4 Special Effects Make-Up Workshop

Year 4 enjoyed a thrilling Special Effects Make-up Workshop with Kate Griffiths on Monday morning. 

There was awe and excitement across the Drama Room as the pupils discovered tricks and techniques used by make-up artists for TV, film and theatre.

Empathy in Action

On Tuesday 14^th January we were delighted to welcome back Ben Solanky from Empathy in Action to meet again with our Seniors.

They revisited the definition of Empathy and reflected on the changes they had suggested, back in September. Their own messages of Empathy have been created into a ‘Wall of Empathy’ on display to promote, raise awareness and start new conversations.

Empathy in Action have gifted the Seniors a bracelet, made with metal from bullets in Cambodia to reinforce the message of peace and remembering the past in order to make a brighter future. The bracelets are engraved with the word Empathy in English and in Khmer, the language of Cambodia.

Mrs S Clarke, Deputy Head (Academic)

Drama Scholars enjoy delights of the West End

On Thursday, the Drama Scholars were treated to a day in London.

We began our trip at the National Theatre where we grabbed a hot chocolate followed by completing a quiz which required a hunt around the building and asking staff lots of questions. Next, we enjoyed a backstage tour which included exploring two of the building’s auditoriums and a visit to the workshops. Here we were lucky to see some scenery and props being created, as well as having a glimpse into the costumes, dressing rooms and general backstage areas. The tour taught the Scholars a lot about present and past productions, and how The National Theatre operates as a building and a working repertory theatre. It was amazing to learn so much - did you know, for example, that they can fit a double decker bus in the huge flys (roof) above the stage? It was brilliant to hear our pupils asking our guide lots of questions. 

After this we took a tube to North London and the Troubadour Theatre at Wembley Park where we saw Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production, Starlight Express. It was great fun and a real visual spectacular. The children really enjoyed themselves and were singing “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when….for Hy-dro-gen” all the way home…. 

Thank you to Mrs Caswell and Ms Gilbrook for accompanying us on the trip and helping out.

Mr Powell, Head of Drama

Freddie becomes British Karting Champion

We are delighted to share the success of Old Michaelian Freddie who has been crowned Vice Senior X30 British Champion 2024 following his success in the British Karting Championships.

Moving into senior racing just after his 14th birthday, Freddie won his debut senior race before winning the Vice Senior title. 

Freddie is progressing to car racing this year, joining Fox Motorsport racing in the Ginetta Junior Championship. Freddie only gained his car licence two weeks ago and his instructor said he learnt more in 30 minutes than drivers he’d coached over 3 days. 

Freddie said: "I'm so excited to step up to Ginetta Juniors with Fox Motorsport and to start the next chapter of my racing career. I've only had one day in the Ginetta so far at Brands Hatch, but I turned up not knowing how to drive and ended the day in pretty good shape thanks to the coaching from Jamie. I'll be practising hard on the sim and if we can do a good job in testing then I'm sure we can arrive at the first round of the season in good shape and ready to score some strong results."

We are so proud of Freddie and wish him every success in the next stage of his racing career!

This week was the start of our Litter Picking Club. Children from all year groups can sign up every two weeks to take part in the litter pick at morning break times. The children were very successful at finding litter even the tiniest of pieces. This activity is an Eco Schools project that the Eco Committee members suggested in their meetings. 

If you would like to do a litter pick in your local area, we have some available to rent from Prep office. 

A reminder that this weekend is the RSPB Big Bird Watch on 24^th-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 are printed tally sheets which 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. 

Nursery had fun taking part in a birdwatch and making bird food this week:​

This week in the Breakfast Club, children have been enjoying a few morning stretches and exercises to kickstart their day. Over in the Mini Hive, the little ones have been busy finger-painting beautiful dragonflies and hand printed flowers.

Meanwhile, in the Hive we’ve had lots of fun creating and designing intricate snake patterns for our Chinese New Year competition, celebrating the Year of the Snake.

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.

Sophia P for working hard on her Phonics and applying her learning well when reading and writing

Isla D for great focus and achievement in our learning activities

Stefania M for speedy and accurate addition and subtraction 

Sasha Z for being a kind and polite member of our class as well as a wonderful role model to her peers

Alaia A for showing great perseverance with challenges in class this week and sharing ideas on how we can help others persevere as well

Rudy F for being a happy and smiley member of the class and for being so enthusiastic to start each lesson

Caspar H for excellent listening and focus at all times, resulting in fabulous independent work

Helena H for producing wonderfully creative examples of direct speech in our English lessons

Dilly E for being a kind and caring member of the class who always thinks of others

Emma U for being such a kind and thoughtful friend to all the children

Eliza C for working hard to correctly use speech marks in her work

Millie W for being a brilliant reporter and writing a detailed recount of Mary Anning's  fossil find

Archie F for carefully counting and adding different amounts of money 

Martha S for a detailed and beautifully presented newspaper report

George P for excellent engagement and confidence when making amounts using coins

Oscar R for incredibly detailed watercolour artwork imagining what it would have been like at St Michael's during the Jurassic era

Arthur R for working hard in all subjects, especially in Maths

House Point Certificates 

Windsor: Poppy F

Times Tables Certificates 

Bronze Times Tables Certificate:  Oscar R; Max Z; Ivy R; Archie F; Jessica C and Lincoln L

Players of the Match – week commencing 20^th January

Dylan swims to first place at Kent Competition

Congratulations to Dylan who swam brilliantly at the recent Kent Tudor League competition.

Dylan won first place in the 50m Butterfly as well as smashing his Personal Best time by 6 seconds!

Half Term Staff Sports Camps

Mr Thomas' February half term hockey camp

Mr Thomas will be holding his Half Term Hockey Camp at Hollybush Hockey Pitch on:

Monday 17th February

Tuesday 18th February

Wednesday 19th February

Please click here to book.

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