From the Head

From the Head of Pre-Prep

Dear Parents,

This has been the week of coughs and colds so if you have a poorly child, I hope they start to feel better soon. Please rest assured that we wrap the children up well at playtime and insist that children wear their coats. We are trying our best to oversee handwashing on a very regular basis and we are coaching children on how to throw tissues in the bin! If you have given your child Calpol in the morning we really need to know this. No Calpol is administered by us before 12.30 without contacting you first so we can ensure we are not over-medicating a child. Please keep your child at home if they are unwell.

I am sure you are all becoming familiar with the words of Yellow Submarine. This is our song for our House Music competition which will be judged on Thursday 29^th February. It is an internal event and not one we are inviting parents to watch. However, there will be photos. Pre-Prep haven’t joined in with Prep for a Music competition for several years so it should be fun.

Next week is a four-day week for the children as Friday 9^th February is an inset day for staff.

On Thursday 8^th February we will all be able to wear our “own clothes” for a donation to MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) who help with lifesaving medical care around the world. This is all except Year 1 children, who will be able to dress up as pirates for the day as they celebrate all the work they have been doing on pirates this half term.

Overheard in Pre-Prep:

Teacher: "It is raining so you will need to wear your coat."

Child: "It's ok, I can handle the rain!"

Have a lovely weekend,

Zerrin Leech

St Michael's Challenge launch

Following the launch of the 2023/24 St Michael’s Challenge in assembly this week, it is now time for Years 3 to 6 to get thinking about which topic they will pick for their presentation. The aim is for a confident presentation (that will be timed, no more than 5 minutes) so children should choose something they are interested in.

The first mentor session is on Monday 5^th February where teachers and the Year 7 and 8 mentors will help with planning their idea. For those who might need an idea or a suggestion, please head to our website (linked below) where you can find five suggestions to get you thinking!

If you have any questions after Monday’s mentor session, please let you child’s mentor or Mrs S Clarke know. We can’t wait to see what the children present on.

Please click here to view the launch letter and suggested topics

Online Safety Day 2024

On Tuesday 6th February we will be joining schools and youth organisations across the UK in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2024. 

Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of technology, which calls on young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers and more, to help to create a better internet. This year the campaign will be focusing on change online, this includes covering:

• Young people’s perspectives on new and emerging technology
• Using the internet to make change for the better
• The changes young people want to see online
• The things that can influence and change the way young people think, feel and act online and offline

Using the internet safely and positively is a key message that we promote at St Michael’s and celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for us to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year. 

We would be delighted if you could join us in celebrating the day by continuing the conversation at home. To help you with this, the UK Safer Internet Centre have created some free activities and information for parents and carers which are available at: saferinternet.org.uk/SID-parents

Whether you have five minutes to start a conversation or more time to spare, there are top tips, quizzes and films which you can use at home with your child.

If you would like further information, have any concerns or questions about keeping your child safe online, please remember to visit the Online Safety section of our school website. Don’t forget, if you have a serious concern at any time, the Online Safety page contains the CEOP report button. This will take you directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre with just one click, where you can receive the help you need.

Mr Baird (Designated Safeguarding Lead) and Mrs Robertson (Head of Computing)

The joy of books and reading will be at the heart of our World Book Day celebrations in the Prep School on Thursday 7^th March. Children in the Prep School will not be asked to dress up. However, if they would like to get their creative juices flowing, they are invited to enter our World Book Day wooden spoon competition, in which they need to create a favourite character from a book out of a wooden spoon and craft materials. There will be two categories: Junior (Years 3, 4 and 5) and Senior (Years 6, 7 and 8). Book tokens will be awarded to the winning entries. Wooden spoons should be given to Mrs Yarrow in the library or to Mrs Andrade. The deadline is Wednesday 6^th March. 

There will be a whole host of book-related activities taking place on the day itself.

Happy reading!

The English Department

Whole School Charity Day – Thursday 8^th February

Our next scheduled Charity Day on the last day before half term will be in support of MSF (Medecin sans Frontiere/ Doctors without Borders). 

This organisation continues to support the civilian population at the centre of the conflict in Gaza. They remain impartial, having offered assistance to hospitals in Israel to treat mass casualties (the offer was declined) and continuing to operate in hospitals and health centres located in and around Gaza itself, treating Palestinian civilians. 

The work carried out is dangerous and three doctors have lost their lives working for MSF in Gaza since the start of the conflict. 

A link to the MSF charity website page regarding the conflict can be found here.

For all the children at St Michael’s, the charity day will consist of a ‘home clothes’ day (not for Year 1 as they will already be in costume for the day), with the children bringing in a donation. A guide for any donations is £2. This should be given to the Form Teacher in morning registration. 

Staff INSET day reminder

A reminder that the last day of school for the children before the February half term break is next Thursday 8th February 2024. 

Friday 9th February is a staff INSET day and the children should not come in for this. 

Golden U9As triumph in St Michael's Netball Tournament

St Michael's held its annual U9 A&B Netball Tournaments on Thursday 25th January; the standard of netball from these 8 and 9 year old girls was outstanding.

Our U9A team played very well in their group games, winning them all with relative ease. They beat Hazelwood 5-1, Derwent Lodge 3-1, Rose Hill 3-1, Sevenoaks Prep 3-1 and Ashford Prep 4-1.

In the Semi-Final they faced Walthamstow Hall. This was a fantastic match with our girls coming out as eventual winners - winning 3-2. This took them onto the Final where they played Hawthorns. Once again, a closely fought match brought out some great skills and a fighting spirit from our girls and they came out as winners of the tournament, winning 4-3. Huge Congratulations to the girls on this great achievement!

Mrs Wade, Sports Coach

U13A netball winning streak

Congratulations to the U13A netball team who achieved yet another netball victory this week at the Hazelwood Versatility Tournament.

It was a fun afternoon where the girls had to switch round positions on court every time a goal was scored. We played Hawthorns beating them 4-1, Holmewood House winning 6-2, Hazelwood beating them 5-2 and the afternoon culminated in a draw against Sevenoaks Prep 3-3.

The girls had so much fun and enjoyed playing in different positions, trying to shoot a goal when some of them are not used to it!

Well done to everyone on another fantastic success.

Mrs Denton, Head of Girls' Games

Exploring rocks and fossils!

It was 3M's turn to enjoy an immersive day of rock discovery on Wednesday as the children took part in a range of hands on activities to broaden their understanding of petrology.

Led by the enthusiastic Mr Berry from The Education People, the pupils observed rock particles and learnt challenging vocabulary, as well as making their own volcano and metamorphic rock replicas.

U10s tackle Tonbridge Rugby Festival

Photographs by Russell Harper (Tonbridge School)

On Wednesday, our U10A team participated in the Tonbridge Rugby Festival, marking the conclusion of their rugby season. Despite facing limited opportunities to play rugby this year due to weather conditions, the boys performed admirably, showing improvement in every game.

While initially struggling against some larger schools in the early matches, by the third game, they found their stride. They secured a victory against the B team from Dulwich Prep, London, and achieved a heroic draw against the New Beacon A team. The day was filled with great rugby and the boys demonstrated significant improvement. Congratulations to all the players for their outstanding effort and performance. Well done, boys!

Mr Thomas, Head of Boys' Games

Pictured above: Tonbridge School Headmaster James Priory with two Tonbridge School students (formerly St Michael's) and Year 5 pupil, Nik.

Rihaan S for beginning to make more effort with his learning activities

Max M for trying hard with his independent writing and having good ideas

Theo A for listening carefully and trying hard in all of our learning activities

Dilly E for working so hard on his reading skills

Sofia B for showing a good understanding of doubling using ladybird spots

Hugo A for using his Phonics to spell words and beginning to use finger spaces

Millie W for impressive reading skills, consistently using expression throughout a piece of text

Luca A for confidently applying his knowledge of number bonds in our Maths lessons

Poppy R for being an excellent role model in our Religious Studies lessons, demonstrating great maturity

Nikita V for consistently working with focus and determination to produce work of a high standard

George P for getting started and then working independently in class

Thomas R for a careful pencil drawing of a pirate ship

Florence J for producing a beautiful timeline about the events in Neil Armstrong’s life

Dylan B for carefully finding change for different items when spending £2

Hugo E for excellent Maths work, using number knowledge when solving money problems

Ethan M for his enthusiasm and sharing of facts when learning about Neil Armstrong

Billy C for working hard in Maths to give change

House Point Certificates 

Leeds: Reuben S and Aliénor D 

Windsor: Elise A

Players of the match - week commencing 29th January

In the Breakfast Club this week children had opportunities to make cheese rarebit crumpets and had fun catching up with one another over card games and table football.

In the Hive, we made cheesy snakes and caterpillars. The children loved making the dough and decorating them with raisins for eyes. They have also continued to make hats using the circular knitting machine, as well as creating lots of wonderful drawings for our competition.

Adam and Hugo's Canterbury Cup victory!

Congratulations to Hugo M and Adam J who were part of the Sevenoaks hockey team to win the U10 Canterbury Cup last Sunday 28th February.

Playing against top teams from across Kent, London and Surrey, the Sevenoaks club won 6 games and drew 1, leaving the team in top position by an impressive 6 points for which Adam and Hugo were the top goal scorers.

Well done to the boys and good luck for the upcoming Kent Cup!

International Club explore the North Downs

Members of the International Club enjoyed a glorious, sunny walk around Kemsing last Friday.

Thank you to Cheryl Chatwin who led the group on a circular walk. We were treated to lovely weather and beautiful scenery (once we made it up the hill!). We enjoyed drinks and food at a local cafe afterwards. Thanks to everyone who came.

The International Club

Please click the above banner for notices including:

P & F Carnival Ball 2024 - book now!

St Michael's Cookbook competitions

Otford Village Fete 2024 programme competition

Otford Village Fete is delighted to invite St Michael's pupils to take part in their 2024 programme cover competition!

Children are tasked with designing a cover for this year's event programme based on the theme of this year's fete, the union between France and the United Kingdom.

Children of all ages are invited to take part and the winning drawing will take pride of place on the programme. Prizes are available to the winner and runners-up. 

All entries should be submitted to St Michael's Pre-Prep Office or Prep Office by Tuesday 19th March 2024 at 9am. 

For more details about the competition, please click here. 

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 12th February

Tuesday 13th February

Please click here to book.

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