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Weekly Newsletter Friday 7th March 2025
From the Head
From the Head of Pre-Prep
Dear Parents,
World Book Day was so much fun! The costumes this year were amazing and the children enjoyed sharing their stories and listening to our guest author Dr. Hannah Weston-Simmons who talked about her book, Blood, Bones & Bladders, The Poetry of your Body.
It was good to see so many of you had signed up for Parents' Evening. We think the split of one face-to-face evening and one on-line evening worked well for parents. Please let me know your thoughts, although the first Parents' Evening in the year we will keep as face-to-face so your child’s teacher can get to know you.
We are very excited about the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival this weekend at Kent College. I am particularly looking forward to our Pre-Prep Choir performance and Mrs Churchill is hoping that Mrs Crane’s voice has come back so she will still be able to lead the choir. It’s always good to have Mrs Churchill on standby!
Next week Miss Wines will be singing to us in assembly. She is going to tell us all about opera and Prep have a Music Soiree on Tuesday so spring has definitely made us all sing!
On Wednesday 12th March parents of Kindergarten children who don’t already have older children in Pre-Prep are welcome to join me for a short tour of Reception just to remind themselves of where their child will be in September. I realise some of you haven’t had a look around “upstairs” since you visited with your babies a couple of years ago. We will meet in the Pre-Prep Dining Room at 8.45am.
Year 1 will be going on a trip to Hever Castle next Friday. Year 1 staff will send out any additional information next week.
I will be at the Pre-Prep Heads' conference on Thursday and Friday so please see Mrs Jeffery who will be at the top of the bridge in the morning if you have any questions.
Overheard in Pre-Prep: "I had tzatziki at the weekend. It’s Greek food. I’m all about Greeks."
Have a lovely weekend,
Zerrin Leech
A Message from the Deputy Head
Uniform
It has been lovely to finally see the return of the sun this week and I thought it would be useful to remind you that in this half term, the children have the choice of wearing either their winter or summer uniform, depending on the weather. There is still the expectation for the children to wear either their blazer or school coat* to school each day, regardless of which uniform they are wearing that day.
*I have noticed some children in Years 3 to 6 wearing non-uniform coats to school. It is acceptable to wear a non-uniform coat to school if the uniform coat is lost for one or two days, but the lost school coat must be replaced at the earliest opportunity.
Below is the uniform expectations that can also be found in the Parents’ Handbook:
Michaelmas - 1st ½ of term - Summer or Winter uniform
Michaelmas - 2nd ½ of term - Winter uniform
Lent - 1st ½ of term - Winter uniform
Lent - 2nd ½ of term - Summer or Winter uniform
Trinity - 1st ½ of term - Summer or Winter uniform
Trinity - 2nd ½ of term - Summer uniform
Mr Wiseman, Deputy Head (Pastoral)
St Michael's Colts qualify for National Hockey Finals!
On Monday St Michael's Boys’ Colts A hockey team attended the IAPS Regional Qualifier at Eastbourne College. The boys got off to a strong start, winning their first game 2-0 against Handcross Park School.
In the second game, despite dominating, they were held to a 2-2 draw against Hall Grove School. In their final group game, the team faced Great Walstead School and needed to score plenty of goals to secure the top spot in the group. The boys put in a fantastic performance, winning 8-0 with hat-tricks from Hugo M and Rayaan G and two goals from Oliver A. This result meant they topped the group and progressed to the Cup Quarter-Finals against Junior King’s.
The boys continued to improve with every match and despite creating numerous chances, they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Junior King’s. This set up a crucial Semi-Final against a strong Hurst side where a win would guarantee a place at the Nationals. The team delivered their best performance yet, winning 2-0 and earning their spot in the Final.
In the Final, they faced Hall Grove School once again but were narrowly defeated 1-0.
The National Finals will be held at Framlingham School on Monday 10th March and we wish all the boys the best of luck!
- Nik B
- Thomas D
- Oliver A
- Thomas G
- Adam J
- Isaac O
- Hugo M
- Ruaridh O
- Rayaan G
Mr Thomas, Head of Boys' Games
A delightful Breakfast Concert
On Monday we enjoyed a wonderful Breakfast Concert in the Chapel featuring 18 solo performers representing a wide range of instruments and musical styles. For many, this was an opportunity to share their work with an appreciative audience ahead of forthcoming Music exams, whilst for others this was their first such experience of performing in a Breakfast Concert for their parents. Mr Pears thanked the team of Music teachers for preparing and supporting the performers and he praised the children for their confidence, hard work, commitment and the musicianship shown.
Mr Baird, Director of Music
Years 5 and 6 Maths Countdown Competition
Years 5 and 6 kicked off our Maths Countdown Competitions on Friday 28th February. The event saw competitors playing the numbers game from the classic TV show Countdown. They had to make the target number by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing a group of smaller numbers.
There were some excellent arithmetic skills on display and this year was particularly high scoring. Special mention must go to Thomas G who got full marks on all 6 rounds!
The Year 6 competition also produced a first for the competition with a 4 way tie for 2nd place (only 2 points behind the winner)! We would usually run a sudden death competition to decide the places but as there were so many we decided to all award them 2nd place this year.
A big thank you to all that took part to make it such an exciting event and a special thank you to the seniors who helped with the scoring to make the event run so smoothly.
Year 6 winners:
1st Place: Thomas G
2nd Place: Ella C, Max H, Zi Chen G and Chisom O
Year 5 winners:
1st Place: Isaac O
2nd Place: Thomas A
3rd Place: Ellie S
Mr Fuller, Maths Teacher
St Michael's U11s win Sevenoaks Football Tournament
St Michael's U11A girls' football team participated in the annual Sevenoaks 5-a-side futsal tournament held in the picturesque grounds of Sevenoaks School on Wednesday. The tournament was a round-robin event with seven schools competing and we were hoping for some beautiful football to match the much-needed and glorious weather.
All the girls' teams put on a fabulous display of football, highlighting the rapid growth of girls' football which is wonderful to see. Our girls were full of enthusiasm and determination, winning their first game 1-0 against a tough Bromley High team in a closely fought match.
Next up were a very strong and skilful Alleyn's School. This was another close game which saw our girls awarded an early penalty that Mollie H dispatched with aplomb, followed by a neat finish from Anna W. Alleyn's scored a well-deserved goal, but our girls battled bravely with some resolute defending from Iris L and Ella C to deservedly win 2-1.
In the third game against Walthamstow Hall, the St Michael's girls passed the ball well, playing intelligent football and creating lots of chances, finally winning the game 2-0. Amelia Rose B, Abigail T and Isabel E kept the ball well and found space with ease. With our girls' confidence high, they then beat Sevenoaks Prep 2-0.
St Michael's then met another unbeaten team, Blackheath, who had been winning their games with ease. This was a nail-biter of a game which saw both teams spurn scoring chances. After a titanic end-to-end battle, honours were shared at 0-0.
In the final game, the St Michael's girls were on fire and with a couple of excellent saves by Sophie N, they ran out 3-0 winners. This meant the girls were unbeaten, winning five games and drawing one which secured them the tournament victory.
We are all so proud of the girls; they have come a long way and shown incredible improvement. Huge congratulations!
Team: Amelia Rose B, Ella C, Isabel E, Mollie H, Iris L, Anna W, Sophie N and Abigail T.
Mr Brightman, Director of Sport
Celebrating World Book Day
Pupils and staff across St Michael's have celebrated World Book Day this week. On Thursday Pre-Prep children dressed as their favourite characters whilst welcoming author and GP Dr Hannah Weston-Simons. We were very impressed with the array of vibrant costumes on display.
Meanwhile, Prep children have enjoyed a week filled with World Book Day celebrations focused on celebrating the joy of reading and books.
On Tuesday, Years 3, 4, and 5 attended a talk by author Claire Hatcher-Smith who had come all the way from Canada to speak to the children. Her interactive presentation about her debut novel The Mizzy Mysteries: A Skeleton in the Closet focused on the skill of empathy and how it is an essential component of being a detective. Those children who had pre-ordered her book were excited to receive their signed copies at break time.
On Wednesday morning, our paired reading session brought together younger and older Prep children to share their favourite childhood books. The children's enthusiasm for reading was evident as they read their chosen books together.
Throughout the day on Thursday, ample opportunities to read for pleasure were presented by the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) sessions. When the internal phones in every classroom rang, it was the signal for everyone to drop what they were doing and read their current books. It was great to see pupils and staff alike taking time to enjoy a good story.
Throughout the week, there was a range of special events. These included: daily story times in the Library; fun challenges during Library lessons; plenty of reading-focused activities in the Library during break times; a hugely popular Character Quest, which had the children combing the school to complete a book-based treasure hunt; and two special assemblies.
The two World Book Day competitions showcased the creativity of our pupils. The 'Create a Figure of Your Favourite Book Character' competition featured impressive entries made from various materials, including air-drying clay, paper and even cake! The 'Create a Front Cover for a Sequel to Your Favourite Book' competition also had inventive entries featuring impressive artwork. All entries are displayed in the Library and the winners will be announced in assembly next week.
World Book Day may be over, but the House Reading Competition runs until the end of April, providing ongoing motivation to read for pleasure.
A big thank you to Mrs Citron, our wonderful Librarian for all her hard work, enthusiasm and creativity.
Mrs Andrade, Head of English
Introducing St Michael's World Book Day Traitors...
Can you guess which St Michael's book worms are hiding under the Traitors' capes?
Déjà Vu is open every weekday Monday to Friday.
We still have a number of used roller bags to give away for free: if anyone would like one, please pop in and see us.
We will be open over the Easter holidays on three dates:
10am - 12pm on:
Tuesday 8th April
Thursday 17th April
Tuesday 22nd April
Easter opening times might be a good opportunity to get ready for the cricket season.
After the Easter holidays we will have our full range of summer dresses out on the rails. No winter dresses will be available until September.
YouTube
"YouTube is a video-sharing social media platform that allows billions of people around the World to watch, share and upload their own videos with a vast range of content – including sport, entertainment, education and lots more. It’s a popular space for people to consume content that they’re interested in. As a result, this astronomically popular platform has had a huge social impact: influencing online culture on a global scale and creating new celebrities. However, it is not without its risks.
In this week's guide, you'll find tips on avoiding potential risks such as connecting with strangers, inappropriate content and high visibility."
Words by Alan Martin from the National College
To celebrate Shrove Tuesday this week we've enjoyed making, eating and flipping pancakes.
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.
Players of the Match - week commencing 3rd March
|
Team |
Name |
Reason |
|
Hockey |
|
|
|
Colts A |
Whole team |
For coming 2nd in the IAPS qualifier |
|
Senior 1st Team |
Jack C |
For excellent goalkeeping |
|
Senior 2nd Team |
William C |
For good all-round play |
|
Senior 3rd Team |
Sumraj J |
For good work rate and determination |
|
Colts A |
Whole team |
For coming 2nd in UKSA competition |
|
Colts B |
Nathan H Zi Chen G |
Voted for by the opposition For great defence |
|
Colts C |
Zach R |
For great defence, speed of play and passing |
|
Colts D |
Arthur S |
For great goal and assist |
|
U9A |
Whole team |
For a dominant all round performance |
|
U9B |
William H |
For great attacking play |
|
U9C |
James H Asher B |
For great positional play For scoring 3 goals |
|
U9D |
Arlo S Blake L |
For scoring 3 goals For good work in midfield |
|
U8A |
Whole team |
For a great win and clean sheet |
|
U8B |
Dylan B Beau B Daniel L |
Voted for by the opposition For brilliant dribbling and scoring 3 goals For excellent defending and clearing of the ball |
|
U8C |
Mason T |
For great energy upfront |
|
U8D |
Zihao G |
Voted for by the opposition for great dribbling |
|
Football |
|
|
|
Senior 1st Team |
Betsie B Anouk C Belinda B Georgia R |
Voted for by the opposition for great dribbling Voted for by the opposition for good pressing For determination and good dribbling For great defending and team work |
|
U11A |
Whole team |
For great team work |
|
U11B |
Grace P Jessica H |
Voted for by the opposition For great pressing and defence |
|
U11C |
Isabelle D Isla J Olanna E |
Voted for by the opposition For scoring 2 goals For great tackling when in defence |
|
U11D |
Annabella S Ava Grace M |
Voted for by the opposition For great defence and scoring two goals |
|
U10A |
Louisa R |
For defensive understanding |
|
U10B |
Marney B Abigail L |
For good versatility during the match For good versatility during the match |
|
U10C |
Theia H Araya J |
Voted for by the opposition For great goal scoring |
|
U10D |
Mia Y |
Voted for by the opposition |
|
U9A |
Elsie G |
Voted for by the opposition |
|
U9B |
Sofia F Evie T |
Voted for by the opposition For good skills and displaying great energy on the pitch |
|
U9C |
Elizabeth A Thea L |
Voted for by the opposition For great effort and never giving up |
|
U8A |
Freya E Ilse A |
Voted for by the opposition For industrious work on the wing |
|
U8B |
Charlotte P Zara Autumn H |
Voted for by the opposition For great defending |
|
U8C/D |
Evelyn T Ella F Thora W |
Voted for by the opposition For great versatility For great versatility |
|
Name |
Reason |
|
Emma G |
For solving her addition and subtraction problems independently with super accuracy |
|
Lucas T |
For carefully multiplying and dividing numbers by 2, 5 and 10 |
|
Nieve P |
For a detailed and well-presented timeline of the events of Amelia Earhart's life |
|
Molly F |
For independently writing some brilliant sentences using the ou sound this week |
|
Jonny C |
For working hard on his independent writing using his excellent Phonic knowledge |
|
Aarush N |
For trying hard in every part of school life |
|
Finley C |
For being a kind, considerate member of the class and always including others in his games |
|
Raphael S |
For being a great role model in class by always being first on task and persevering with challenges |
|
Jasper D |
For always listening carefully during lesson input and working hard in all subjects |
|
Jemima G |
For excellent engagement during Phonics lessons and often volunteering good, sensible answers |
|
Edwin L |
For consistently generating wonderfully creative ideas in his independent writing |
|
Arianna O |
For generating interesting and well detailed clues for a fairy tale character |
|
Felix B |
For a fantastic effort in all of our Maths work |
|
Zohan A |
For showing great enthusiasm in every aspect of school life |
|
Ralph C |
For using his knowledge of repeated addition to multiply numbers to find an answer |
|
Sophia P |
For excellent use of time connectives when writing about the boy and the penguin's journey |
|
Oliver F |
For amazing effort and quantity of independent writing when making predictions about books |
|
Isabella S |
For improved effort and confidence in Maths, applying times table knowledge to solve division problems |
|
Poppy F |
For great use of persuasive writing in her advert for a navigator |
|
Lila P |
For always having a smile on her face and a positive attitude towards her learning |
|
Helena H |
For her excellent backstroke technique, allowing her to glide gracefully through the water |
House Point Certificates
Dover: Aarush N
Leeds: Célestine D
Rochester: Callie L
Windsor: Arthur R and Jessica C
Times Tables Certificates
Bronze Times Tables Certificate: Leo V and Savannah S
Silver Times Tables Certificate: Ivan K; Lincoln L and Bella S
Hugo's cross country triumph
Congratulations to Hugo who took part in the U11 National Prep Schools Cross Country Championships at Malvern College last Sunday.
Having walked the challenging course before the race, Hugo placed himself in the middle of the 206 boy line-up knowing he needed to get a good start and accelerate up the first hill. However, as the starting gun sounded Hugo and several other boys tripped in the surge and he found himself flat on the ground at the back of the field losing valuable seconds. He quickly got up (luckily no spikes in the head or injuries) and shot up the first hill, making steady progress through the field of runners.
By the end of the first lap of the hill section, he had made his way up to #95 and by the end of the second lap he was #42. The fast downhill section towards the finish line in the main school playing field allowed Hugo to make up considerable ground and he finished the 2800m race in 11th place with a time of 10mins 21secs.
Congratulations Hugo, your resilience and determination certainly shone through on the day!
Save the date for St Michael's 2025 Senior Schools Fair. This is a fantastic opportunity for all St Michael's families to speak to over 30 senior schools from across the country ranging from independent day and boarding schools to grammar and state schools.
Camp Beaumont Spring Sale
Camp Beaumont, children's activity provider who will be running sessions at St Michael's over the Easter holidays, are running a Spring Sale starting on Monday 10th March and ending on Sunday 16th March at 11.59pm.
Prices are as low as £40 per day when you book for the entire week or £45 for individual days. Please ensure that you quote our host school discount code at the checkout (STMICHAELS25) to receive a further 10% off these prices!
Secure your place now at: www.campbeaumont.co.uk.
World Book Day at Chiddingstone Castle
Junior Bake-Off applications open
Kemsing Cricket Club
Kent Fostering
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