As we come to the end of the Spring Term, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been a short but incredibly full and meaningful half term.

Throughout this term, our worship has taken us on a journey through the Fruit of the Spirit. The children have explored gentleness, self-control, love and peace to name but a few, thinking deeply about how these values shape the way we live, learn and treat one another. From learning to “Stop, Think, Choose”, to stepping beyond differences with courage and kindness, to practising peaceful listening, it has been wonderful to see these ideas lived out across the school in classrooms, on the playground and within our wider community.

This week has been a particularly special way to end the term. Our Year 4 pupils led a beautiful service in church, sharing the Easter story with confidence, respect and understanding. They reminded us all of the powerful message at the heart of Easter.

We also enjoyed a fantastic talent show today. Well done to every child who took part — it takes real bravery to stand up in front of others and share your talents, and we are incredibly proud of you all.  (Pictures and a report will appear in next term's first issue of Weekly News and Notices.)

A verse that captures the message of this season comes from John 11:25:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”

We have been exploring how the Easter story is ultimately one of hope and new life. Even in times of difficulty, sadness or uncertainty, the message of Easter reminds us that light can come from darkness, and that there is always hope ahead.

As we come to the end of term, we have taken time to review a number of our key policies and procedures to ensure they remain clear, consistent and supportive for our whole school community. This includes updates to our medical, sickness and behaviour policies, revisions to our Parent Code of Conduct, and the introduction of a new ‘Who to Contact’ page on our website to support clear communication. Please take a few moments to read the information below so that you are familiar with these updates ahead of next term.

We are also continuing to develop our work as a Rights Respecting School. As part of our journey towards the Silver Award, our Rights Respecting Coordinator has recorded a short introduction for parents, explaining what this means for our school and for your children. This approach helps children to understand their rights, respect the rights of others and develop as responsible, thoughtful members of society. We would encourage you to take a few moments to watch the recording, which is shared below, as it provides a helpful insight into an important part of our school’s ethos and ongoing development.

As we move into the Easter holidays, we recognise that this time can bring a mix of emotions for families. While it can be a time of rest and enjoyment, it can also bring anxiety or stress, particularly when routines change. We are also mindful that some members of our community may be supporting loved ones who are unwell or may be experiencing loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts, and that our school community stands with you in care and compassion.

If you are looking for activities and support over the holidays, we encourage you to connect with the Roehampton Family Hub, which offers a range of opportunities for children and families, as well as helpful information about what is happening across the borough.

Above all, we hope that the coming weeks provide an opportunity for you and your families to rest, spend time together and recharge.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support this term. It is a privilege to work in partnership with you and to be part of such a caring and committed community.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday 13th April 2026.

With every blessing,

Mrs Harris 

Headteacher

Dear PTA Members,

As we head into the Easter break I wanted to thank everyone for their support to the PTA over the whole Spring term. It is always a little quieter during this term as we get ready for the Summer fete and end of academic year.

This Term's Highlights:

• We kicked off the term with our PTA meeting, followed swiftly but the pre-loved uniform sale. Thanks to the Year 6 reps bringing our Winter Disco to all year groups ahead of the half term break. The second half of term saw year 4 and 5 reps sell some yummy cakes and raise over £800 to help the school. Lastly our year 3 reps have been busy sticking self-portraits to paper for your school tea towels. 

Looking Ahead to Next Term:

• TBC: Year 6 cake sale to be scheduled following Autumn term cancellation

• 17 April: Our last pre-loved uniform sale of the year, but there will still be uniform for sale at the summer fete

• 24 April: Year 2 cake sale.

• 15 May: Year 1 cake sale.

• 12, 19 & 26 June: Mufti days in the build-up to our Summer Fete.

• 26 June: The Big Help Out – supporting the Summer Fete.

• 27 June: Summer Fete.

• 7 July: PTA Meeting.

• 10 July: Reception cake sale.

The following PTA committee roles need replacements to step forward before the end of the Summer term. If you are interested in any of the roles please do reach out the pta@stmichaels.wandsworth.sch.uk

• Chair

• Sponsorship lead

• Communications lead

The Summer term will be busy, but lots of fun, and will create great memories for the children and the community. We look forward to all the support you will provide as we gear up for the Summer Fete on the 27 June.

Have a great Easter break and see you all soon.

PTA Chair

on behalf of the PTA Committee

PTA Website 

Singing For Joy This Morning:

Well done to Mrs Harris' group and also the wonderful Chamber Choir under the direction of Mrs Minster.

Lent Review: Love, Serve and Grow Together

What a special time we have had marking the season of Lent. The children have been working through our 40 Days of Kindness activities - there are still some to go. (Parents - make the most of these as holidays start!) We have shared skipping ropes and gifts with the Maasai Academy, donated food to the Wandsworth Foodbank and honoured Red Nose Day by wearing red. 

I would like to extend an extra thank you to all of the children and families who have taken part and given money to our Lent fundraising activities. This money will make a big difference to the Red Tribe Maasai Academy and those in need that are supported by money raised from Comic Relief along with the families in our community who rely on Wandsworth Foodbank. I am so proud of the way in which St Michael’s does indeed work together for the good of all. 

See below for some more pictures of the visit to the Maasai Academy. We shared videos and photos with the children last week during a visit to church for Collective Worship. We have many ideas about how to strengthen our link with the Maasai Academy through loving, serving and growing together. During the visit, we had a live link up with Year 6 and the children had the opportunity to see one another and ask each other questions. Watch this space!!! There are many ideas in the pipeline about how families can support the work of Red Tribe and in turn how the children at St Michael’s can have a positive link with the Maasai Academy through their curriculum learning. 

Perhaps the most profound lesson I took from my visit to the Maasai Academy was the realisation that the simplest things—items I scarcely give a second thought to, like a pencil, a stick of glue, paper, books, access to the internet, or even a reliable meal—can have a transformative impact on a child’s education. These everyday essentials are not merely supplies; they are catalysts for opportunity, unlocking potential and shaping futures.

In supporting these children, we are not only investing in their individual journeys, but also in the preservation and prosperity of the Maasai community for generations to come. It is both a privilege and a deeply humbling experience to play even a small part in work of such enduring significance.

If you have ideas or are interested in supporting this work, please do let me know!

Thank you again to all who contributed to our Lent gifting and fundraising efforts. 

Miss Cunningham

On Thursday, the whole school went to St Michael's church to celebrate Easter in a very special service led by Year 4.  

Our Year 4 pupils acted and performed the story of Easter beautifully, bringing both confidence and creativity to the stage. Accompanied by the rest of the school in song and praise, they truly did a wonderful job of sharing this important story with our school community, reminding us all of the true meaning of this special time of year.

As well as showcasing their talents, their performances helped us to reflect on the Easter story itself - a message at the heart of our Christian faith. It is a story of hope, renewal, and the promise of new life, encouraging us to look forward with kindness and compassion. We are incredibly proud of how thoughtfully and confidently the pupils presented this message, helping us all to pause and remember the deeper meaning of Easter, as well as reminding us not to eat too much chocolate too. 

Thank you again to the team at St Michael's church for welcoming us and hosting this wonderful morning. 

Hannah Dodman

Deputy Headteacher

Pupil voice has played a vital role this spring term, with both pupils and the school council actively contributing to the ongoing development of teaching and learning. They have been closely involved in monitoring and sharing thoughtful insights on marking and feedback, both in their books and during lessons. Pupils confidently discussed their English writing, offering positive reflections on their progress and engagement with books. 

The school council has also made a valuable contribution beyond the classroom from their involvement in the whole school collaborative art work on our Christian values, to collecting information regarding book recommendations for the school library. Their enthusiasm and engagement continue to strengthen our school community and ensure that pupil perspectives remain at the heart of our work.

Hannah Dodman

Deputy Head

PE this half term

It has been a great half term for PE this term with EYFS and KS1 developing their hand-eye-coordination to develop their tennis skills. Children in KS2 have further developed these skills and started to develop their tactical knowledge and apply the skills to games of doubles concluding in mixed doubles house games or friendlies. It has been a pleasure to see the children develop their resilience and be persistent in developing their skills. We have outlined the personal side of the PE assessment to remind children that the minimum requirement is to put 100% effort into developing their skills. Despite what baseline they have they can all show progression with the right effort. The children have particularly well  and developed their coaching skills with their peers further developing their understanding of the skill/action they have been learning. It has been amazing to see them communicate so positively and constructively to help each other to improve.

I have had the pleasure of seeing some of the dances the children have been learning from around the world. It has been a great unit that has taught them some of the similarities and differences of different dances from different cultures. Thank you to Ms Montgomery for delivering such an inspiring unit.

PE next half term

Next half term the children will be doing volleyball and sitting volleyball with kick and striking and fielding (mostly cricket). Please work on the children's catching, throwing, blocking (long and short barriers) and striking skills over Easter if you have time.

House results

Granville were our basketball and netball house competition winners and tennis will be announced in the new term.

Carl Rochford

Head of Sport

What an amazing term of music it has been at St Michael's! 

All of our children have been singing, playing, listening, and creating some fantastic music throughout the term. There has been much concentration, hard work, and best of all a lot of fun.

I would like to say a big WELL DONE to year 4 for leading the Easter service this term, and to year 3 and the rest of the school for supporting them in the songs. Also, thank you and to all the staff and parents who supported the children in their preparation.

Last week the string ensemble and wind orchestra performed to parents and friends in the hall. Congratulations on some fine playing - it was such a treat for the audience to see the progress that the groups have made.  Also this week the Sing For Joy club and the chamber choir gave their end-of-term concert, singing beautifully as usual. A big thank you to all the parents and friends who came along to support us.

Congratulations to all the musicians who sat their ABRSM exams this term - everyone passed and you should all be so proud of your achievement.

Do try to sing or play your instrument whenever and wherever you can during the holidays, and may you all have a lovely Easter break. 

I look forward to more music-making with the St Michael's children in the Summer term.

Mrs Minster

Head of Music

As April is The Month Of The Military Child we are excited to be taking part in Mrs Harris' assembly at the start of next term.

The children will be able to share with the whole school what it is like to have parents in the military and are also inviting everyone to wear something yellow on Wednesday 15th April to mark Dandelion Day.

Also next term we will hope to meet outside more often and a date will soon be arranged for our annual Forces Tea Party when we invite the SAS group's parents to join us for strawberries and cream!

Caroline Jopp

(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. 

Sharon Cunningham

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The Spring Term this year has felt particularly short but no less full than normal and I have just returned from the wonderful school Easter Service lead so beautifully by year 4.

How blessed we are to be part of a school that so wholeheartedly delights in the hope of Jesus!

We are so grateful for the light of the Lord that fills St Michael's church and school and that each child is able to experience.

• 'For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.'  Psalm 71:5
  
  

We have continued to meet every Friday morning - sometimes as a small group, sometimes a large group, but always with the tangible presence of God. 

''For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matt 18:20

We have covered many different subjects in our prayer time; for year 6 as they received their places for senior school, for the amazing St Michael's staff in all they do for the school, for the SLT for wisdom and encouragement, for all the pupils to feel valued and supported by their teachers and their peers, for any families in our community that are particularly struggling, whether it be health, financial or relational issues. 

Thank you Father God that you care deeply for the lives of every member of the St Michael's School community and we ask that you would reveal yourself to them in your beautiful way 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.

Please contact Amy Bell on 07813114020 (4R, 2J) if you'd like to join the WhatsApp group or would like to discover more. 

Wishing you all a happy and hope filled Easter! 

Love Nicci and Amy

Southfields Library Events:

This term's figures:

Attendance for this term:   

96.3%

(Our target for the year is 97%)

Number of late arrivals this term:  

459  late marks and 50 'U' marks (this involves 160 children in total)

Number of unauthorised absences this term:  

 199 unauthorised sessions involving  43 children!

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY PUPIL ARRIVING AFTER 8:50am RECEIVES A  'U' MARK ON THE REGISTER WHICH DENOTES UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

Please follow the link to our Attendance Policy including notification on our fines system (see pages 4 and 7)

LINK

Medical Policies: A Reminder:

To ensure the safety of all pupils and to support the smooth running of the school day, we would like to remind parents of our Medical Policy and procedures for administering medication in school.

Medical Policy LINK (See page 7)

A Statement About Medicine Procedures (See page 5)

From next term, we will be adhering to our medical policy more stringently. This is to ensure consistency, safety, and to reduce pressure on office staff.

Please note the following key points:

• Antibiotics will only be administered in school where a prescription requires a four-times-a-day dosage.

• Other medicines (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen/Nurofen) will only be administered at lunchtime, unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed with the school in advance.

We ask for your support in following these procedures, which are in place to ensure that medication is administered safely for all pupils.

If you are unsure whether your child’s medication can be administered in school, please speak to the office team who will be happy to advise.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sickness Policy Reminder:

Behaviour Policy Reminder:

At St Michael's we know that at note or email home doesn't always tell the whole story. To ensure we are working as closely as possible with our families, we have updated our behavior policy to prioritise personal and transparent communication. 

Where possible and appropriate our staff will now aim to share behavioural updates or concerns with you verbally, either through a brief chat at the end of the school day or a phone call. We believe this allows for better context, clearer understanding and a more collaborative way to support the children's success.

Behaviour Policy 

Parent Code of Conduct:

We are very proud of the strong relationships we have with our families at St. Michael’s and the way we work together to support every child to Love, Serve and Grow.

To help maintain a safe, respectful and positive environment for our whole school community, we have recently updated our Parent Code of Conduct.

This sets out clear expectations for how all members of our community communicate and work together. In particular, we ask that all communication with staff is respectful and appropriate, both in person and online, and that concerns are raised in a constructive way.

We understand that from time to time parents may feel worried or frustrated. When this happens, we are always here to listen and to work with you to find a resolution — however, this must be done in a way that models the values we expect for our children.

You can read the full policy here:

Parent Code of Conduct

Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a kind, respectful and safe school community.

Who To Contact - Clear Communication Pathways:

We know that when questions or concerns arise, parents want them to be addressed quickly and effectively. To support this, we have created a new “Who to Contact” page on our website.

This provides clear guidance on:

• who to contact in the first instance

• the correct sequence of communication

• expected timeframes for responses

In most cases, your child’s class teacher should always be the first point of contact, as they know your child best. If needed, matters can then be escalated to phase leaders or senior leaders.

Following this structure helps us to:

• resolve issues more quickly

• ensure the right people are involved

• avoid delays or miscommunication

We kindly ask all parents to follow this guidance and allow the stated timeframes for responses before escalating concerns.

You can view the guidance here:

Who to Contact 

Thank you for working with us to ensure clear, respectful and effective communication.

Spaces are available in the following clubs in particular:

w/c 13th April Worship Focus:

Hope

Spiritual Question:

"How does hope help us face change with courage?"

Dear God

Fear surrounds me on every side, and everything in my life feels uncertain. 

Please help me to be strong and courageous and to leave fear in the past. 

Remind my heart of your steadfast love and your constant protection. 

Thank you for always being here for me and giving me the courage I need to live a full life

Amen