As we come to the end of the Spring Term, we give thanks for all that we’ve shared and achieved together over these past weeks. It has been a joy to see our children engaging so fully in a wide range of experiences—from workshops and educational visits to special events like Book Week and the Celebrations of Learning from Years 1, 2, 3 and 4. These opportunities have enriched our curriculum and brought learning to life in so many meaningful ways.
This term, we’ve taken time to reconnect with our school’s Mission and Motto and to introduce our new Vision, Bible verse, and school values—Love, Serve, and Grow. Each week, we have explored a different element through worship, reflection, and classroom life, helping us to deepen our shared understanding of what it means to flourish academically, socially, and spiritually through humility, gentleness, and compassion.
As we look ahead to the Summer Term, our focus will turn to the Fruit of the Spirit. Each week, we’ll explore one of these powerful qualities—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—and consider how we can live them out in our everyday lives, both in school and beyond.
We are so grateful for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers. As parents and carers, your role in nurturing and guiding your children is invaluable, and we continue to walk this journey with you.
We also recognise that for some, school holidays can bring increased anxiety, loneliness or isolation. As a community that seeks to love, serve and grow, let us continue to carry those values with us beyond the school walls—watching out for one another and offering kindness and support to those who may be struggling.
As we move through the final days of Lent, may we continue to take time for reflection, and as Easter approaches, may we remember the true meaning of this season: the hope, sacrifice, and love shown through God’s gift of His only Son.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
May the joy of Easter bring peace and renewal to your families.
Wishing you all a restful, blessed, and joyful holiday.
Mrs Harris
Headteacher
Message from The Co-Chairs of Governors:
Happy Easter from the School Governors:
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and the wider school community
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Easter is a time of hope and renewal as we celebrate the resurrection, experience warmer weather and see new life around us.
One of the key objectives of the board of governors is to ensure sound financial management. As a board we are focusing on financial efficiency and are delighted that the recent investment in LED lighting has improved the school’s energy efficiency to a level D. The school was at level F in 2019 so this is a significant improvement - our thanks go to Jason Harris and his team of contractors for their hard work.
Governors have met this term to discuss benchmarking our financial spend against similar schools across South West London. This is always an interesting exercise as we analyse our funding versus similar schools and discuss with the SLT how money is spent. Changes in the funding formula mean a diminishing pot and a challenging time ahead as we look to set our budget for the next school year. For this reason we rely on every additional penny that we are able to raise through donations to the governor fund and of course the incredible work of everyone who contribute to the PTA. We thank all of you who are able to support the school by donations of time and money. This is a key part of the success of our school community and its contribution to the school is immeasurable.
We wish Eid Mubarak to all who celebrated last weekend and a Happy Easter to you all.
Sarah Marshall Co-Chair of Governors
Message from The PTA:
Dear PTA Members,
Spring has well and truly sprung! The PTA committee would like to express its sincere gratitude to everyone who has volunteered their time this term. Here is a quick summary of this half term and a look forward to the Summer term.
This Term's Highlights:
Well done to both Years 4 and 5 for two amazing cake sales! Both raised over £800. Thank you to all who supported and contributed to these efforts.
Thank you to all those who have been taking part in our Mad March Challenge. We look forward to announcing who has walked the furthest next term and how much we have raised. Thank you to the Year 3 representatives for organising this event and for the amusing video marketing!
Looking Ahead to Next Term:
24 April: Our final PTA meeting of the academic year will be held on Zoom. Details to follow.
25 April: Year 2 cake sale.
2 May: Our last pre-loved uniform sale of the year.
16 May: Year 1 cake sale.
6, 13 & 20 June: Mufti days in the build-up to our Summer Fete.
20 June: The Big Help Out – supporting the Summer Fete.
21 June: Right Royal Summer Fete!
11 July: Reception cake sale.
The Summer term will be busy, but lots of fun, and will create great memories for the children and the community. Thank you to all those already leading stalls for the fete – we will need more volunteers closer to the time. We are also recruiting for a new Treasurer and would love a Co-Chair to come forward as well.
Finally, the D&G board campaign is back for another year. D&G have very generously offered to donate £25 per board that goes up, up to 100 boards, potentially meaning £2500 of funding for the PTA if we get this many volunteers to put a board outside their house from 2nd June - 27th June. If you are able to help then please follow this link and sign up before the 25th April: https://forms.gle/ngTvkjCvi1p7EKzx7
D&G would like one of the students to design artwork for the boards. If this is of interest, then please produce your artwork for the theme of a ‘right royal summer fete’ on an A4 piece of paper and submit to the school office by COB 25th April.
Here is another reminder of our relationship with Douglas and Gordon:
"Douglas & Gordon are delighted to announce their continued longstanding support of St Michael’s School – we are approaching our 10 year anniversary of collaboration and they have some exciting ideas to mark this! In addition to their support at the Christmas and Summer events, a new initiative has been announced to directly benefit St Michael's.
All families associated with the school will receive priority, free, no obligation sales and lettings appraisals. Furthermore, if any families proceed to sell or rent their home through D&G, then D&G will make a further donation to the school from their commission fees. Please contact Tom for any property related questions or to book your free, no obligation appraisal on the details below and use the code D&G St Michael's Donation so we can qualify for their donation."
Tom Yeomanson tyeomanson@dng.co.uk 07522 228 224
Lent Appeal 2025:
Acts of Kindness This Week:
This Year 2 pupil brought in her favourite book to share with all the other children in school
Mrs Harris (aka The Easter Bunny!) delivered an egg to every member of staff this week
Thank you to everyone who has kindly donated to our Lent Appeal so far.
We have up to now raised £381 towards our chosen charities, Learn To Love To Read, the Red Tribe Maasai Academy (Our Global Partnership School) and Red Nose Day.
ADDITIONALLY, we raised a staggering £552.55 for our Bible Bake Off and monies from this also go to Learn To Love To Read and the Masai Academy.
Payment via Parentmail will remain open up until Easter Monday if anyone would still like to donate to these great causes.
Thank you so much again.
News and Notices:
Big Bible Bake Off:
Wow, wow, wow!! What an amazing time we had with the Big Bible Bake Off. A huge thank you to parents and carers who helped bake and decorate such incredible cakes and bakes. I was blown away by the range of cakes, incredible decorations and the thought and explanation of how and why cakes and bakes were made and the link with the teaching of the Bible and Easter. It was clear that the children had a fabulous time seeing all of the creativity and tasting the delicious designs! We had Joseph in a technicolour coat, the Last Supper, representations of empty tombs and Calvary, the Lost Sheep parable, Bibles complete with verses copied out in icing, cakes in the shape of crosses, cakes baked without yeast, and gingerbread fish with banana bread loaves! All I can say is watch out Paul Hollywood and move over Mary Berry…..
A big thank you to Steve, Lou, Megan and Debbie for being wonderful judges and awarding all of the bakes with special commendations. I hope you enjoy seeing all of the creativity on the photostory.
Miss Sharon Cunningham
Year One Teacher and RE Faculty
Baz Moffat Visit:
Baz Moffat kindly visited to deliver a PSHE talk to our Year 5 and 6 girls, sparking a wonderful and open discussion about girls in sport.
Together, we explored the barriers that often prevent girls from participating in sports as they grow older, from societal expectations to changes in themselves, and discussed ways to support one another in overcoming these challenges.
This conversation was not only valuable in highlighting the importance of staying active but also in empowering our girls to recognise their right to participate in sports confidently. As they transition into secondary school and beyond, it is so important that they feel encouraged to pursue their interests, challenge stereotypes, and have their voices heard in sport.
By fostering these discussions early, we can help build a culture where girls feel valued and motivated to stay involved in sports, promoting both their physical well-being and their self-belief.
Freya Hotten
End of Term Church Service:
This week, Year 4 led a whole-school Church Service, retelling the story of ‘The Three Trees’ and reflecting on the period of Easter and its links with our school values ‘ Love, Serve, Grow’.
The children worked hard to learn their lines, songs and actions, and it is safe to say their hard work really paid off, we are very proud of them!
As always, the music was a particular highlight, so a huge thanks goes to Mrs Minster for her hard work in preparing this.
Thanks also go to the parents for their support with helping the children learn their lines and find costumes, Miss Tahlia and Lisa for their props making and Mr Efford for his directorial and technical skills!
Lucy Barter
New Learn To Ride Cycle Training:
We are delighted that Wandsworth have now offered a new training course for children in Year 3 and above who haven't yet learned to ride a bicycle. They will provide bicycles and helmets and the dates offered to St Michael's pupils are in June.
Sessions last two hours and there will be one instructor for every two pupils taking part.
Please book via the following sign up link if you would like your child to take part.
Mrs Goodchild is running 10 marathons in 10 days in aid of the Christian charity WK Foundation, which amongst other things runs a year long holistic hospitality training progrmame called Nourish for at risk young adults in SW London.
It is now under two weeks until our Easter Camp, running from 14th - 17th April 2025, and it will be our busiest camp yet!
We have less than 10 spaces remaining on certain days, so book your child in now to avoid disappointment.
Any questions regarding camp, please do drop us an email: info@homeworkgenies.co.uk
Easter at St Michael's Church:
Phase Reviews:
EYFS and Nursery:
As we approach the end of another bustling term at St. Michael’s, our Early Years children have had a fantastic time filled with new experiences, exciting learning, and memorable events! We have been so proud of how they continue to grow, adapt, and embrace every opportunity with enthusiasm. From special celebration days to engaging activities and inspiring visitors, there has been so much to enjoy.
In nursery, our young learners have been busy tending to their sunflower seeds, which they planted at the start of the term. With great patience and care, they have watered them daily and observed their growth using magnifying glasses. They’ve loved comparing the heights of their plants—some tall, some short—and taking pride in their progress. One of the most exciting moments was the arrival of the chicks! The children learned about the life cycle of a chicken, how to care for them, and the importance of handling them with gentleness. Before saying goodbye to the chicks as they moved to their new home, the children worked together to build a special enclosure where the chicks could explore.
Mathematical development has been a big focus this term. Nursery children have been exploring the composition of numbers 1 to 5 using Numicon, natural objects like beans, and other hands-on materials to deepen their understanding of early number concepts.
Reception children started this half-term on an exciting adventure as explorers for the day! They had a brilliant time searching for fossils like real palaeontologists and learning all about dinosaurs. This was a fantastic introduction to our 'Explorers' topic, which has taken us on a journey through different climates and cultures. We created seasonal wheels to explore the UK’s changing weather and even compared our climate with Africa’s diverse environments. We also investigated how rain clouds form and discovered three different types of clouds to look out for. More recently, we ‘traveled’ to Kenya to learn about the Maasai people and explore the country's landscapes using Google Earth. This inspired us to create rainstick style instruments using ideas from patterns on traditional Kenyan fabrics.
In Maths, Reception children have been developing their understanding of doubles and odd and even numbers. They’ve worked hard to grasp number composition up to 5, using strategies like finger counting and number sentences. We also explored 3D shapes—perhaps they can spot some during their Easter adventures!
In Literacy, we have seen incredible progress in writing. The children have been using finger spaces, full stops, and capital letters, and their literacy books reflect their growing confidence. They’ve also been practicing breaking down longer words and applying their phonics skills with great success. We are so proud of all their achievements!
As we wrap up the term, the EYFS team and I want to thank you for your ongoing support. We wish you a wonderful Easter break and look forward to another exciting term ahead!
Chloe Fryer
EYFS and Nursery Phase Leader
Lower Phase:
We have come to the end of another fabulous half term in Key Stage 1. The children have continued to WOW us with their excellent attitude to learning!
Our Year 1 children have thoroughly enjoyed working with the familiar storybook Beegu. They put lots of effort into their narrative writing, using vivid adjectives and extending their sentences with conjunctions. Their final published pieces were impressive and are now proudly displayed in the classrooms!
In Science, the children explored everyday materials and had fun conducting fair tests to determine material strength. Meanwhile, in History, they were captivated by the Great Fire of London, learning key facts about this significant event and how it led to important fire safety improvements.
The RE focus for Year 1 has been the Easter story and its significance within the broader narrative of the Bible. They explored the events of Holy Week to deepen their understanding of why Easter is a time of remembrance and gratitude.
In Maths, our Year 1 students have been strengthening their place value knowledge up to 50 and exploring both standard and non-standard units of measurement. They wrapped up the half-term with a fantastic assembly, proudly showcasing all their amazing learning. We couldn’t be more proud of them!
Our Year 2 children have also been working hard this term, showcasing their impressive narrative writing skills inspired by Katie in London. They have explored tenses, descriptive language, and subordination to add depth and detail to their writing.
In RE, the children have been exploring the big question: How do Easter symbols help us understand Easter? They examined various symbols associated with Easter and their meanings, deepening their understanding of why Easter is celebrated and how these symbols help Christians remember key elements of the story.
In Maths, Year 2 has been busy studying multiplication and division. They have learned how to share equally, use the inverse to check their calculations, and confidently solve division problems.
To add to all this excellent learning, our Year 2 had the wonderful opportunity to share their learning with parents in a special assembly. They spoke with confidence, sang their hearts out, and took us on an engaging journey through their learning!
Gemma Jennings
Deputy Head and Acting Lower Phase Leader
Middle Phase:
What a whirlwind (but wonderful!) Spring term it has been for the Middle Phase! Both year groups have been buzzing with activities, planned to spark their learning and bring it to life. As we draw this term to a close, it is lovely to look back on everything we've experienced. I know both staff and children are definitely ready for a well-deserved break!
As a Phase, we've embraced all sorts of enriching opportunities. In February, Wellbeing Week was a real highlight, focusing on both mental and physical health with a range of activities organised by our brilliant Wellbeing ambassadors and Mrs. Stewart. World Book Day was a true celebration of reading and the magic of stories. The children dived headfirst into an immersive workshop, taking part in a court trial of Goldilocks, as well as completing a variety of activities linked to our phase author, Benjamin Zephaniah. Mrs Lee also organised a wonderful French storytelling workshop, which was very entertaining, giving the children lots of opportunity to try out their expanding French vocabulary. Très bien, tout le monde!
The term has been jam-packed in Year 3 and it is wonderful to see how the children's curiosity and creativity is growing every day. We have covered a range of topics in Maths including fractions, length and perimeter and measuring capacity and mass. We hope the latter came in handy when weighing out ingredients for the Big Bible Bake Off this week! In English lessons in Spring 1, we explored fairy tales and persuasive writing, specifically in the role of the 'Big Bad Wolf' trying to declare his innocence, which involved role-playing a court scene. This half term, the children have been developing their descriptive and figurative language in a variety of narrative and poetic tasks, based on the mesmerising story of The Tear Thief. In Science, we have enjoyed learning about different forces through a variety of practical investigations and have tested the strength of different magnets. We have now moved on to studying plants. The children have been very interested in the RE topics this term; firstly learning about Hinduism, then understanding the Beatitudes in the Bible and, recently, examining the roles played by key characters in the story of Easter. We are looking forward to continuing to find out what it means to be a Hindu in Britain after the Easter break, with a trip to a local temple in May.
The main highlight of our term was the Year 3 assembly all about Ancient Egypt! We could not be prouder of the children for their performances and, by acting out scenes about the River Nile, hieroglyphs, society, famous pharaohs, gods and goddesses, our 'sticky knowledge' is well and truly embedded. The costumes were enhanced by the lovely colourful neck collars which we designed and stitched carefully in our DT lessons. Particularly memorable was the demonstration of the mummification process! In class, we tried this out on tomatoes too!
In January, the Year 4 children also showcased their Geography, PSHE and English learning in their assembly about ‘Mountains’. It was wonderful to see how enthusiastic they were, with brilliant acting and singing by all! We also enjoyed a visit to the Science museum, where the children were in equal parts entranced and disgusted by the ‘It takes Guts’ workshop, taking us on a tour through the human digestive system. Recently, we brought our History learning to life with Anglo-Saxon and Viking Day, with a Red Nose Day twist! The children fully embraced Anglo-Saxon and Viking life, including raiding and defending a village and an engaging round of Anglo-Saxons vs Vikings ‘Capture the flag’, concluded with settling for peace and the payment of Danegeld.
This term, 4B and 4E have developed their creativity, knowledge and skills in a range of subjects. Their sewing in DT has led to some wonderful money pouches, and the Islamic art they produced is a welcome addition to our class decorations (we will return them at some point- promise!). Through Science investigations, the children embedded their knowledge of teeth and the Digestive System and have developed their understanding of the different states of matter, applying their scientific knowledge to real-life problems like drying socks! In English, inspired by the epic tale of Beowulf and heartwarming narrative ‘The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane’, we have been so impressed with their creativity and writing, creating captivating narratives, non-chronological reports and even job applications. In maths, they've developed their understanding of the concepts of multiplication, division, fractions, length, perimeter, and area, applying their knowledge to solving a range of problems.
A particular highlight in this final week has been ‘The Big Bible Bake Off’. The Middle Phase entries were incredible and we all enjoyed touring the school to see the innovative bakes on display! Even more, we enjoyed sampling the bakes in our classrooms- they definitely passed the taste test! This week, Year 4 led a whole-school Church Service, reflecting on the story of ‘The Three Trees’ and reflecting on the period of Easter and its links with our school values ‘ Love, Serve, Grow’. The children worked hard to learn their lines, songs and actions, and it is safe to say their hard work really paid off, we are very proud of them! As always, the music was a particular highlight, so a huge thanks goes to Mrs Minster for her hard work in preparing this.
I want to say a massive thank you to all our pupils, parents, and staff for your incredible dedication and hard work this term. As we head into the Easter holidays, I'm wishing each and every one of you a restful, rejuvenating and joyful break. I hope you get to spend lots of precious time with your loved ones, and that you come back feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the new term. Thank you so much for your continued partnership. I hope the spirit of Easter brings you all blessings of hope and renewal.
Lucy Barter
Middle Phase Leader
Upper Phase:
As the spring term draws to a close, we pause to reflect on what has been a truly enriching and busy term in Upper Phase. It’s remarkable how much we have packed in, with so many shared experiences, achievements and learning opportuntnies that have brought both year groups together as a phase.
We began the term with a real treat: a visit to the Wimbledon Theatre. Although it feels like a distant memory now, it was a fabulous way to start the term. Children from both year groups were captivated by the storytelling and staging of The Nutcracker, which sparked imagination and wonder across the phase. As part of Children’s Mental Health Week, we also took the opportunity to slow down and reflect on our wellbeing. From baking sessions to thoughtful discussions, it was heartening to see pupils showing empathy and maturity as they explored what it means to care for themselves and one another. We were especially privileged to welcome Baz Moffat, a former Team GB rower, trainer and coach, who spoke to our Year 5 and 6 girls about the importance of looking after both body and mind during times of change. With over 20 years' experience in fitness and sport, Baz is a leading voice in the women’s health movement and helped the girls reflect on how staying active and informed can empower them as they grow and prepare for secondary school.
World Book Day brought a creative buzz to the school, with our special Shakespeare theme. The upper phase teachers planned drama activities inspired by the witches of Macbeth to delicious bakes and imaginative writing. We were also thrilled to celebrate success at the indoor athletics competition, where Years 5 and 6 joined forces to take an impressive third place. Their teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship serve as a reflection of their service to one another and collaboration as a marvellous phase.
In Year 5, our Design and Technology project took us to St Cecilia’s Secondary School, where children cooked in a real kitchen, practised their knife skills, and designed pizzas with ingredients that reflected the Eatwell Plate. In RE, we visited St Michael’s Church to prepare our hearts for Easter, reflecting on the meaning of Lent and the importance of living with kindness and purpose. In history, we were able to visit the British Museum, which was a highlight of our learning about Ancient Greece. Children examined artefacts and thought critically about how we understand the past through the evidence left behind. A sincere thank you to our Year 5 parents for supporting this trip. We were also visited by the Loudmouth Theatre Company, who delivered a powerful workshop on the NSPCC PANTS rule. This session helped our pupils understand how to keep themselves safe and gave them the confidence to speak up when needed.
Year 6 has also had a purposeful and productive term. Our pupils completed their Mock SATs with resilience and maturity, showing real focus across reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic and reasoning. In English, the children have explored Macbeth and I have seen some outstanding writing. Additionally, their re-enactment of the final scene was full of drama and powerful performances. In sport, our Year 6 girls, supported by some fantastic Year 5 teammates, were crowned netball champions at the Burntwood School tournament. Year 6 also has the wonderful opportunity to visit the local magistrates’ court and gain valuable insights into the justice system. Back at school, pupils have been busy in the kitchen once again, this time making delicious burgers as part of their DT project.
Each week, during our phase worship, I am reminded of the special talents, abilities and light that shine brightly in every one of our students. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, during moments of quiet reflection or while working together in celebration, our children consistently live out the values of Loving, Growing, and Serving. As we head into the Easter holidays, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our children, families and staff for your continued support and for helping to make our phase such a vibrant, nurturing and inspiring place to learn and grow.
Let us all take this time to rest, recharge and reflect on the true message of Easter. Jesus came to take away our mistakes and set us free.
“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this, God showed how much he loves us.”
— Romans 5:8 (ERV)
Wishing you all a peaceful and joy-filled break.
Adele Stewart
Upper Phase Leader
Department Reviews:
PE News for Spring 2
I want to start by thanking the children for all the effort they have put into PE this half term. In KS2 we have put a big focus into the children being umpires, line judges, net judges and ball boys/girls. This has really helped with the quality of games being played and developed the children's organisation and leadership skills. Many children have expressed that they have enjoyed these roles more than playing which is fantastic as it opens up potential ways that they can engage with sport if playing is not their favourite thing to do. With Wimbledon so close to us and many of the secondary schools in the area supplying ball boys and girls for the tournament I feel that incorporating the role into lessons gives the children a head start.
Early years and KS1 have been excellent working on their hand eye coordination using the tennis balls and racquets. I have also had the pleasure of teaching the nursery children how to use the balance bikes and was pleased to see that much of the groundwork had already been done by parents and the children were already very competent riders. I also had the chance to see our year 5's working on their breakdancing routines and was very tired watching their incredible athleticism to pull off some very tricky moves..
Carl Rochford
Head of Sport
We also had the opportunity to take some different girls to Dover House Road last week and it was a great experience for them.
They played so well and grew in confidence throughout the three games they played. I am really proud of how you applied yourselves and it was a joy to watch you play.
Carl Rochford
Head of Sport
Metro Tennis Holiday Camp at Southfields Lawn Tennis Club this Easter:
Music:
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
We have had another busy term in the music department.
We had a record number of ABRSM candidates entered for exams this term, who all passed. The examiner was so impressed with the range of instruments presented at St Michael's; cornet, trumpet, flute, clarinet, saxophone, french horn, violin and viola were all played. Well done to everyone who worked so hard and performed so beautifully.
Last Wednesday, the pop choir and chamber choir presented a short performance to Lower phase and parents. The choirs sang very nicely, and the year 1 and 2 children and parents really enjoyed listening. "Amazing" and "Try Everything" were two favourite songs.
Also last week we held our end-of-term concert for the instrumental groups. It was great to see what the musicians can achieve when they collaborate. The String ensemble played Serbian Kolo, and the Guitar ensemble then played a blues piece featuring solos from a number of the guitarists. The concert ended with the Wind orchestra performing an arrangement of The Avengers theme.
Our Let's Rock groups performed this week in their usual lively way. Well done to Jesse and all the children for entertaining us with such a big sound.
The new music club M-tech had such a great response that they ended up running two groups. The children received certificates and awards of excellence this week for their amazing projects - well done to all.
Looking ahead to the summer term now - we will have performances at the summer fair, and also our end of year performances: Leavers service, year 6 production. There will be another round of ABRSM exams, and auditions will be held for children who want to join the chamber choir next year. Keep practising your singing and your instruments everyone, and remember to enjoy it!
Have a lovely Easter,
Mrs Minster
Head of Music Faculty
Let's Rock:
The children in Let’s Rock ended the term with another rock n roll bonanza, bands showcased a number of classic hits including Girl Power who performed 'I Shot The Sheriff - Bob Marley’ as part of a 2 song set. Let’s Rock will be returning after Easter break with new places opening up after school for children in Year 4.
RE Faculty Update….(Did you know that RE stands for Really Excellent? The RE Faculty is really excellent…..but don’t tell the Maths or English Faculties!)
It has been a joy to take part in the various Lent activities in school these last few weeks. As well as Lent activities, each year group has had their own academic studies for their RE topics. At this time of year across the school, each year group looks at a different aspect of Lent and Easter. Each topic builds on the other so that by the end of a child’s time at St Michael’s they have had the opportunity to explore, question, discuss and reflect upon the meaning of Easter for themselves and the wider world.
The Big Question topic titles for each year group are:
EYFS: What’s in an Easter Garden?
Year 1: Is Easter the Most Important Festival for Christians?
Year 2: Do Easter Symbols Help Us to Understand Easter?
Year 3: How is Each Person Vital to the Easter Narrative?
Year 4: How Does Holy Communion Build a Christian Community?
Year 5: How Do Christian Communities Live out the Easter Story?
Year 6: Why do Christians Call ‘Good Friday’ Good?
We wish you a blessed Easter as you commemorate the death and celebrate the resurrection of Christ and take hold of the New Life that this brings as we enter into spring.
Miss Cunningham
RE Faculty
SAS:
We have loved playing outside for most of this half term and are very thankful to Mr Rochford for allowing us to use the PE equipment in the games cupboard - as long as we promise to leave it how we found it!
And Millie and Milo Bear have continued to enjoy their weekly visits to the different families to share in their adventures.
A highlight this term has been today's Dandelion Day where all the children showed their support for military families by wearing something yellow.
We will continue to prioritise outdoor play next term while we make the most of the large group of Year 6 children who will be spending their final term with us at St Michael's.
Caroline Jopp
We Love Reading:
Thank you to Tara from Learn To Love To Read who came in to talk to the children about her work, followed by answering questions from our pupil faith and school council. Questions included:
What made you want to work with children’s reading?
Why was the charity set up?
What book would you recommend to someone who doesn’t love reading?
Why is reading so important?
Who is your favourite author?
What is your favourite book?
Who is your favourite book character?
If there was one book you think everyone should read, what would it be?
Why is Learn to Love to Read so important?
Learn To Love To Read:
Learn to Love to Read wishes all the children and their families a very happy Easter. Well done to all of the children for their brilliant reading this term, and thank you to the children, their families and all of the St Michael's community for supporting us as one of your Lent charities so we can help children across Wandsworth to develop the skill and love of reading!
We are recruiting for reading volunteers in school or online, one afternoon a week - no experience is necessary and full training is provided. If you are interested please email helen@l2l2r.org or visit our website Volunteer | Learn to Love to Read (learn2love2read.org.uk)
Miss Hotten is running the London Landmarks Half Marathon this Sunday for Learn to Love to Read.
Miss Bostock has had to hang up her running shoes for this event now due to a routine medical procedure clashing with her training but thanks everyone who has contributed to this great charity.
She will be running in the October event in its place.
This term has been a busy one for Inclusion as we have held our Spring consultations with pupils and their families. It has been wonderful to celebrate the effort all children have made to meet their targets and to remind every child how proud we are of the progress they have made.
In march we celebrated neurodiversity awareness week. This week ran from March 17th - March 23rd, 2025. Our aim was to recognise and celebrate the diverse range of neurological differences among individuals, challenge stereotypes and promote understanding and inclusion. It was wonderful to talk about different learning profiles and to celebrate the range of unique strengths in our school. We feel so privileged to be a part of such a beautifully diverse and inclusive community at St Michaels.
We want to say a huge well done to all the children and staff for their hard work this term and we hope you have a peaceful Easter break.
Jenny Constable and the Inclusion Team
"Pupils are comfortable as the person God made them to be"
(SIAMS Inspection Report: February 2019)
Inclusion SENCO Surgery Drop In:
Office News and Notices:
Wraparound Care:
Please be reminded that bookings can be done for this on an ad hoc basis. You don't have to book in bulk in advance.
You can book for an hour up until 4:15pm collection (which doesn't include any food) or up to 6pm.
Please refer to the wraparound care link for further information.
Pictured is one of the lovely Easter bonnets the children made this week as well as some beautiful Mothering Sunday craft.
Our Church School:
"Pupils are inspired by RE and recognise it as a challenging but safe space to explore their own and others' religious, spiritual and philosophical convictions critically and responsibly"
(SIAMS Inspection Report: February 2019)
Kingdom Kids:
Kingdom Kids is an exciting and vibrant faith-based lunch club that engages Christian teachings through lively discussions, creative activities, engaging exercises like creating actions for scripture and of course playing games. Over the past year, we have explored a variety of topics, including a study of key themes in the book of James, using them to reflect on what it means to be a good friend.
If your child hasn't yet had the opportunity to join us, they would be more than welcome to invite a friend and see what it's like.
We meet every alternate Monday in the Oasis from 1:00 to 1:30 PM. Week one is for Year 3s and 4s, and the following week is for Year 5s and 6s. Everyone is welcome to attend, so please come along for a fun time together!
We look forward to seeing you there!
Lucy O'Boyle
St Mike's Church
w/c 22nd April
Gospel Value:
Fruit of the Spirit
Our spiritual question that links to this theme is:
How can developing the Fruit of the Spirit help us grow as individuals and as a community?
Parent Prayer Group:
Hallelujah! He Is Risen!
It has been wonderful to meet and pray for the school, children and school community every Friday morning this term.
In particular we have been praying for the various classes as they adapt to the change of teacher mid-year and for the year 6 pupils as they found out their school places for next year.
We have prayed for the staff; for grace to abound in all their interactions, for wisdom for the senior leadership team and of course for the staff members recently leaving for maternity leave and the joy of new life to come!
We are so grateful for a school that offers so much to our children and that has as its vision the particular values (recently revised by the SLT): ‘Love, Serve, Grow.
May each child take these on board and benefit from them.
We LOVE this time of year; the spring, new beginnings and the joy of Easter.
For anyone struggling in life at the moment, we encourage you to look to Jesus who said -
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30
You are loved and known by a loving Father God who brings hope to all –
“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out”.
John 6:37
We pray for you and your children to experience the love and goodness of God this Easter.
For anyone that is keen to pray for the school, we would love to welcome you to join us in the Oasis room (or outside on the benches if the weather is fine) every Friday morning just after morning drop off until 9am. There will be pastries and coffee on 2nd May and we would particularly like to welcome anyone who's not been before to join.
Please contact Amy Bell on 07813114020 (3B, 1H) if you'd like to join the WhatsApp group or would like to discover more.
Happy Easter!
Love Nicci and Amy
Every Friday at drop off. 8:40am - 9am
All welcome
Come through the office to the Oasis room.
Do come to the front office to put in your prayer requests in the special box provided and the Prayer Group will collect them on Friday mornings.