From the Head

From the Head of Pre-Prep

As Mrs Leech has been at Stubbers with Year 2 this week, updates will follow of the children's adventures next week.

We have been delighted to welcome the following individual to St Michael's this week:

Emma Blakiston - HR Manager

Emma has worked within the education and youth sector since 2018 as a Human Resources Practitioner. She is passionate about putting people at the heart of everything and is looking forward to working with, and for, the team at St Michael’s Prep.

She grew up in Sussex and now lives near to Folkestone where she enjoys coastal walks with her dog, Ruby; together they explore the Kent countryside.

She used to own a cake business and made several wedding, birthday and christening cakes for friends and family. She still loves to bake and cook in the kitchen with her husband to see who can be most creative!

Safety of pedestrians on zebra crossings

Can all parents please be aware of all pedestrians, especially children, using the zebra crossings at all times but especially during drop-off and pick-up. We had an incident this week where three cars drove over a zebra crossing while children were in the process of crossing. 

I will repeat the statement I have said in previous communications on this subject that there is no train to catch, no meeting to attend or no appointment to make that is more important than the life of a child. Take a second to imagine what words you would use and how you would explain that you hit a child on a zebra crossing because you were late. There will always be another train and meetings and appointments can be re-arranged.

Mr Wiseman, Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Chickenpox

Several cases of chickenpox have been reported in Pre-Prep children over half-term. Please watch for any symptoms and keep your child home until spots have crusted over and they have fully recovered.

Mrs Carlton, School Nurse

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

Pre-Prep Sports Day

Pre-Prep pupils participated in their annual Sports Day on Friday 23rd May. The weather and children were fantastic; Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 demonstrated the skills they have learnt in their PE lessons this year with enthusiasm and positive spirit when trying to earn points for their house.

Highlights of the day included the Reception children long jumping into the sand pit three athletes at a time, some impressive Year 1 200m and Year 2 400m races and parents showing us all how to do it with a blistering Parent’s Race lap. Everyone went home with a well-deserved participation medal and there were lots of smiles throughout the day.

At the end of the Year 2 session, the points were totalled (accounting for differences in House numbers) and the Pre-Prep Sports House Cup was awarded to Rochester for 2024-25. Congratulations to all of the pupils for taking part. 

A huge thank you to the Pre-Prep and Sports staff who helped to run the events on the day and all of the family members who came to support and encourage the children. 

Mr Davies, Pre-Prep PE Teacher

Wear it Green Day for the Mental Health Foundation

Splashes of green could be seen across Prep on Friday 23rd May as pupils and staff supported Mental Health Awareness Week in recognition of the important topic and work being done by St Michael's Wellbeing Committees for both the pupil and staff bodies.

As part of this day, we supported the Mental Health Foundation with donations, proudly raising £388.95 for the cause. 

Thank you for your kind contributions.

All aboard at Otford Village Fete!

Thank you to everyone who visited our stand at the Otford Village Fete on Monday 26th May. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, the Fete was a fantastic celebration of the community that we are so lucky to have surrounding St Michael's. From dog shows and music performances to fair rides and food trucks, there was so much for the event's thousands of attendees to enjoy throughout the day.

St Michael's stand, run by our pupils and staff, invited local families to enjoy train-themed colouring competitions, activities and story time sessions which were very popular. A special thank you to Year 8 pupils William, Theo, Xander and Demi for being exceptional representatives for St Michael's at the Fete, as well as Mrs Smith, Mr Smith, Mrs Neylan, Mrs Vathi, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Shield, Mrs Owlett, Mrs Thornton, Miss Binns and Miss Usher for hosting our stand. It was wonderful to see so many St Michael's families throughout the day as well as meeting many new faces. We are very proud to have been part of this wonderful event.

Writing to St Michael's after the event, the Otford Fete Committee said: "Thank you for contributing to the amazing success of the 2025 Otford Village Fete. Your support helped make the day truly special and we couldn't have done it without you!"  

Celebrating Walter’s remarkable achievement: Wakeham Choristership Award

We are thrilled to announce that Walter, a talented Year 5 chorister, has been awarded a prestigious Wakeham Choristership at St Olave’s Grammar School. This esteemed Scholarship offers a unique opportunity to sing as a treble in the Choir of the King’s Chapel of the Savoy, one of the Chapels Royal belonging to His Majesty The King as part of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Walter's musical journey has been shaped by fun, dedication and a clear passion for singing. Since joining Prep, Walter has been an active and highly valued member of Treble Trouble and most recently the Chamber Choir, in which he has performed as a soloist. Whilst continuing to work on his vocal technique and expanding his repertoire through weekly singing lessons, we are delighted that Walter's commitment and talent has been recognised with this significant accolade.

The Wakeham Choristership is named in honour of Michael Wakeham who had a 49-year association with the Choir. Each year, up to four boys are selected for this Scholarship, following a rigorous selection process that includes an academic test and a choral audition. Successful candidates commence their duties with the choir in June or July, participating in weekly Sunday morning services and special events, including performances in the presence of members of the Royal Family.

Walter's achievement is a testament to his hard work, talent, and the highly supportive musical environment here at St Michael's. We are immensely proud of his success and look forward to sharing his continued growth as he embarks on this exciting new chapter in his musical journey.

Commenting on his success, Walter said: "When my mum told me on Monday that out of 90 boys I’d got one of the four places, I was speechless! I’m really excited to get started next Wednesday with rehearsals at the King’s Chapel and am looking forward to meeting everyone and making new friends. Apparently every Christmas we get to sing to a different member of the Royal Family! We’re going to rehearse every Wednesday after school." 

For more information about the Wakeham Choristership and the King's Chapel of the Savoy, please visit the St Olave’s Grammar School website.

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!

Sasha is a Litter Hero!

A big well done to Sasha who took part in a beach litter pick during half term whilst on her holiday to North Wales. Despite some windy conditions, Sasha persevered with her litter pick on Anglesey beach, using a grabbing stick and even chasing after the rubbish to catch and dispose of it. 

Amazing effort Sasha, thank you for making a difference to our planet!

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. 

Online Shopping Apps

“Long gone are the days where eBay and Amazon were the only means of buying quality items online. The rise of user-friendly, accessible shopping apps has meant that getting clothes, gadgets and other goodies delivered direct to your door can be accomplished with a few touches of your phone’s screen while you’re on the go.

These apps aren’t without their issues, however, and users still run the risk of scams, data breaches and other online safety concerns. Being aware of these dangers will go a long way to keeping your money and information safe, so you can still enjoy what these shopping apps have to offer. Our guide has some top tips to help protect young people on these purchasing platforms”.

Words by Dr Claire Sutherland, Online Safety Consultant

This week in the Breakfast Club, the children have had a great time playing foosball, building imaginative Lego models and enjoying a variety of card games.

Over in The Hive, outdoor fun has continued with energetic games of frisbee. Creativity has been in full swing as well, with the children designing a colourful serpentarium for our wall display, complete with playful paper chain snakes.

Meanwhile, in the Mini Hive, our younger children have been busy crafting thoughtful Father’s Day cards.

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.

International Club Family BBQ

P & F Summer Fest 2025

Sevenoaks Football Academy trials

Otford Allotment Association

House Point Certificates

Dover: Sophia P; Archie W; Luca A; Felix B; Lucas T and Michael S

Leeds: Tiara A; Ariah G; Rudhi C; Teddy D; Reuben S and Iona H;

Rochester: Isla M; Eren E; Emma U; Archie F; Aria L; Dilly E; Theo A and Lottie B

Windsor: Leena I; Kai I; Erin S; Kensi W and Ethan G

Times Tables Certificates

Bronze Times Tables Certificate: Noah M; Isabella S; Sophia P and Alexandra O

Gold Times Tables Certificate: Millie W; Hugo W and Rupert D

Platinum Times Tables Certificate: Lincoln L and Ivan K

Players of the Match - week commencing 2nd June

Player of the Match hat-trick for St Michael's footballers

Congratulations to Arthur, Reis and Ethan who competed in the 7-aside Parkwood U8 Football Tournament on Saturday 24th May.

Nik's football team wins 9-a-side tournament!

Congratulations to Nik who, during half term, won the Kings Hill 9-a-side Football Tournament with his U11 team at Chipstead Football Club. The boys worked really hard and won 1-0 in a thrilling Final.

Isaac and Ollie win Indoor Hockey Championships!

Congratulations to Isaac and Ollie who became U10 Indoor Hockey Champions in Derby over half term with their Knole Park HC team. The boys played 7 games, winning 6 and drawing 1, making them overall Champions with 12 goals scored and only 1 conceded over the whole tournament. 

Staff Sports Camps

St Michael's Sports Coach Gill Cameron will be running the following Summer Camp during August.

OPRO mouthguards

In preparation for Prep girls’ hockey beginning in September and Prep boys' rugby in November, it may be time to start thinking about purchasing a new mouthguard for your child. 

St Michael's is pleased to partner with OPRO, the world’s largest manufacturer of custom-fit mouthguards, to provide a solution that guarantees both comfort and protection. OPRO's revolutionary Instant Custom-Fit Mouthguard offers the same high-level protection as dentist-fitted mouthguards, with the convenience of fitting it at home.

Please click here for a letter from OPRO including the benefits of their custom-fit mouthguards and how to order them. 

Prices start from just £29.99, plus use the discount code STMICHAELSPREP10 to receive 10% off the entire OPRO range.

Follow us on social media!

Make sure you are following St Michael’s social media channels for important updates and content throughout the year.