It has been another vibrant and productive week at St Michael’s, with classrooms full of purposeful activity, positive attitudes and children taking increasing responsibility for their own learning. It has been a pleasure to see pupils working with focus and enthusiasm, engaging in thoughtful discussions and showing pride in their efforts as they continue to grow both academically and personally.

During Collective Worship this week, we explored the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. In this story, a merchant discovers a pearl of such great value that he gives up everything else in order to have it. We reflected on how this parable reminds us to recognise what is truly precious. At St Michael’s, we see each child as a pearl - unique, valuable and full of potential. We spoke about how learning, kindness and perseverance are treasures worth investing in, and how by valuing their education, pupils can continue to shine and flourish.

This week’s pupil shoutout goes to Anna W in Year 4. Anna is a pleasure to watch during Collective Worship. She sings with enthusiasm and gives her full attention to worship, setting a wonderful example for those around her. Her warmth and joy are infectious, and she brings a smile to everyone she meets. Well done, Anna - we are incredibly fortunate to have you at St Michael’s; you truly light up our school.

Well done to all of our Stars of the Week. Our weekly celebrations give us a valuable opportunity to recognise the fantastic learning, creativity and perseverance demonstrated across the school. It is always uplifting to celebrate the children’s achievements and the positive energy they bring into their classrooms. We were also delighted to celebrate Lavinia, Isla, Millie, Ethan, Phoebe, Amy, Abby, Mya and Florence for their dedication to sports, Beavers and dance outside of school. If your child has achieved something special beyond school, please do let us know so we can celebrate these successes together as a community.

Chapter 5 of The Mottlesnatch is attached, and we encourage all children to take part. Every entry earns five house points, which make a valuable contribution towards the House Cup. Congratulations once again to Thompson House for winning this week’s House Cup!

Thank you for your continued support with uniform expectations. We have already noticed a positive impact across the school and will continue to monitor this over the coming terms. We greatly appreciate your help in ensuring children attend school wearing the correct uniform.

Next week is the final week of this half-term. Our ever-growing collection of lost property continues to expand, so please do take the time to check if your child has misplaced any items.

We are excited to share that our school will soon be benefiting from a brand-new SuDS project. SuDS stands for Sustainable Drainage Systems - innovative solutions designed to help keep our school safe and dry during periods of heavy rainfall.

This project will help protect the school from flooding, enhance our outdoor spaces and create welcoming habitats for wildlife. It will also provide an exciting, hands-on learning opportunity for pupils to explore environmental sustainability in a meaningful way.

Important access information:
While the work is taking place, there will be some changes to the entrances accessed from Clare Road. The path next to the grassed area will be safely cordoned off during the works. The adjacent path will be reopened.

We look forward to seeing our school environment become even greener, safer and more inspiring.

Dates and Notices

Monday 9^th February  – SuDS Project

Friday 13th February – FOSM School Disco

SCS Camp information is attached.

As the week comes to a close, we wish you a peaceful and enjoyable weekend, with opportunities to slow down, reconnect and enjoy time together. We are grateful, as ever, for your ongoing support and for the trust you place in us as we support and guide your children each day.

“The pearl of great price reminds us that every child is precious. A school exists to help each child discover their value and grow into who God created them to be.”

Kind regards,
Mrs Louisa Sillett
Head of School