Weekly Newsletter: Friday 30th January

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another wonderful week in school, filled with purposeful learning, thoughtful conversations and lots of enthusiasm from the children as they continue to grow both academically and personally.

We were delighted to welcome two visitors from the Department for Education into school this morning. It was a real pleasure to talk with them about the journey St Michael’s has been on, and the journey we continue to take together. We were proud to share the many exciting and wonderful things that happen in our school each day, and our visitors were able to see first-hand the excellent learning taking place, alongside the strong sense of community that makes St Michael’s such a special place to be.

During Collective Worship this week, we were fortunate enough to welcome Katie from Empower into school. Reflecting on our resolution stars, which are proudly displayed at the front of the hall, Katie spoke about aiming high and wanting to achieve big things, even when we might feel small. She shared the Bible story of David and Goliath, where the young shepherd David, trusting in God, faced the giant Goliath with courage and faith, showing that strength does not come from size or power, but from believing in God and doing what is right. With some wonderful acting support from Arthur, Jack and Shasmika, the children learned that being small doesn’t mean you can’t do big things. With God by our side, anything is possible. This was a valuable opportunity for us to reflect together on our school motto: Journeying together with Christ.

This week’s pupil shoutout goes to Amy S in Reception. Amy has been writing phrases independently during free flow time. Not only is she confidently using her phonics to spell words, but she also has the most beautiful handwriting. Well done, Amy - we are incredibly proud of you and the excellent attitude you show towards your learning.

As always, a huge congratulations to our Stars of the Week. Each Monday gives us the chance to shine a light on the fantastic learning, creativity and determination shown across the school. It is a real joy to celebrate the children’s achievements and recognise the enthusiasm they bring into their classrooms every day. It was also lovely to celebrate Bow-Elizabeth, Eli, George, Jasmine and Jessica for their excellent contributions to Rugby, Football and Dance outside of school. If your child has taken part in any special activities or successes beyond school, please do let us know so we can celebrate these achievements together as a community.

Chapter 4 of The Mottlesnatch is attached - please encourage your children to take part. All entries receive five house points, which make a significant contribution towards the House Cup. Well done to Thompson House for winning this week’s House Cup!

At St Michael’s, we are proud of our identity and what it means to be a child of our school. Our uniform is an important part of that identity, and we encourage all children to wear it with pride. This week, we have been reminding the children of our uniform expectations and the reasons behind them. Our full uniform policy can be found on the school website for your reference. Friends of St Michael’s (FOSM) are also available to support you with any items you may need. We kindly ask that you take the time to familiarise yourself with the policy for both school uniform and PE kit to ensure consistency across the school.

Notices and Dates

Last week, the term dates for 2026–27 were shared. These can also be found on our website, along with all other important dates.

We would like to remind all parents and carers that St Michael’s is a nut-free school, due to severe allergies within our school community. For the safety of all children, no nut products should be included in packed lunches or snacks. This includes items such as peanut butter, Nutella, and any products containing nuts. Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep all children safe.

Meet Year 2’s very own Harley Hansen!
Harley is 7 years old, full of energy, and has set herself an incredible challenge. On 26 May 2026, Harley will be climbing the highest mountain in Wales - Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) - to raise money for a charity that is very close to her heart. You can read more about Harley’s inspiring story and support her fundraising by donating via the link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/hrh?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Well done, Harley. Just as we have learned through our Bible teaching this week, being little does not mean you cannot do big things. We are incredibly proud of you and wish you the very best of luck with your climb!

As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding week, we hope you all enjoy a restful and happy weekend with time to relax, recharge and spend together as a family. Thank you, as always, for your continued support as we walk alongside your children on their learning journey.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5–6

Kind regards,
Mrs Louisa Sillett
Head of School