It is hard to believe that we have reached the end of another half-term and are now halfway through the school year. The weeks seem to pass more quickly than ever, and as we pause to reflect, it is wonderful to recognise just how much has been achieved in such a short space of time. This week has been another lively and successful one at St Michael’s, with classrooms buzzing with purposeful learning, positive attitudes and children increasingly taking ownership of their progress. It has been a real joy to see pupils so engaged - working with determination, sharing thoughtful ideas and taking pride in their achievements as they continue to grow both academically and personally.

During Collective Worship this week, we reflected on the phrase “salt of the earth” and Jesus’ words to his followers: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” In Jesus’ time, salt was precious - used to preserve food, enhance flavour and cleanse. Through this teaching, Jesus reminds us that each of us has an important role to play in the world: to protect what is good, to bring kindness, love and compassion, and to make a positive difference wherever we are. At St Michael’s, we strive to live this message each day by embodying our school values of love, creativity, integrity and resilience, and by journeying together with Christ as we seek to serve others and make the world a better place.

This week’s pupil shoutout goes to Caelen S in Year 6. Caelen is a pupil with many talents, but his exceptional computing skills truly stand out. He has an impressive ability to design eye-catching and creative posters - one of which is attached to this email. Listening to Caelen speak so confidently and knowledgeably about his ideas is a pleasure, and seeing those ideas come to life is even more impressive. Well done, Caelen - we are incredibly lucky to have you as part of our St Michael’s family, and we are excited to see where your talents will take you in the future.

Congratulations to all of our Stars of the Week. Our weekly celebrations are a wonderful opportunity to recognise the dedication, creativity and perseverance shown by pupils across the school. It is always uplifting to celebrate their achievements and the positivity they bring to their learning. We were also proud to celebrate Leo, Noah, Sophie and Amy for their commitment and success in sports and performing arts outside of school. If your child has an achievement beyond school that you would like us to celebrate, please do let us know - we love sharing these successes as a school community.

Chapter 6 of The Mottlesnatch is attached, and we encourage all children to take part. Every entry earns five house points, contributing towards the House Cup. Congratulations to Edison House for winning this week’s House Cup!

Our fantastic student leadership team are hosting a St Michael’s Talent Show in March. Full details can be found on the poster attached. If your child would like to take part, please email the admin account so we can register their interest. All funds raised will go towards an in-school project chosen by the leadership team themselves.

After half-term, Miss Evans will be launching a Netball Club for Year 4 and Year 5 girls, which will take place on Tuesdays. This is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop their skills, teamwork and confidence while staying active. If you would like your child to attend, please email the school office to register their interest.

Our next SEND coffee morning will take place in March, and a leaflet is attached for further details. The previous coffee morning was extremely informative, and we are pleased to share that Sarah James, SENDIASS worker, will also be attending.

Please note that school is now closed for half-term. The first day of Spring 2 will be Tuesday 24th February, as the school will be closed on Monday 23rd February for a staff INSET day.

Dates

• Tuesday 24th February – Return to school
• Thursday 5th March – World Book Day

As this half-term comes to a close, we wish you all a restful and enjoyable break, filled with time spent with those you hold dear. Should you need to contact the school, our admin account will continue to be monitored.

“Be the kind of person who brings out the best in others - seasoning the world with kindness, compassion and hope.”

Kind regards,
Mrs Louisa Sillett
Head of School