Weekly Web Update

Friday 14th January

2022

Create, Equip, Partner

Dear Parents and Carers

We are at the end of the second week of the Spring Term already and we've been blessed with some sunshine, despite the very cold and sometimes icy, foggy weather.

There are more lovely displays cropping up around school to mark the start of the term and indeed the year, including a wonderful Chinese New Year tableau in the library.

Speaking of which, have a look below at a profile of our beautiful library and an interview with the librararians who help Mrs Mitchel to make it so special.

The PTA Meeting took place on Tuesday, virtually, and some great things are planned for the coming months. More on this from Rachel and Naomi further down this update.

Year 4 have been doing some dentistry this week as part of their new topic - Burps, Bile and Bottoms! Theyve been learning all about plaque by testing out disclosing tablets in class!

Today we have seen Year 6 take part in a wonderful Victorian Day here in school and Reception and Year 1 pupils took part in a fabulous drama workshop too.

Finally, do have a look at the club spaces still available from the list below. The teachers have offered a wonderful and wide range of activities for the children this term and it would be so nice to see them all taken up and enjoyed.

Best wishes for the weekend.

Ann-Marie Grant (AMG)

Headteacher

Department for Education

Covid 19 Latest Guidance:

To support workforce capacity, from Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest. Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation."

Temporary suspension of confirmatory PCR tests in education and childcare settings

Confirmatory PCR testing following a positive result on a lateral flow device (LFD) will be temporarily suspended from today, Tuesday 11 January. This means that for all education and childcare settings, staff and students who have tested (either at home or through ATS) and reported a positive LFD result will no longer be advised to get a confirmatory PCR test.

This change is informed by public health advice. With high COVID-19 rates, the risk of a positive LFD result being false is very small. We therefore don’t need to ask people to do a confirmatory PCR unless they:

have symptoms (in which case they need to follow the stay at home guidance, self-isolate and order a PCR test)
wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment
have been advised to take a PCR test because they are in a clinically vulnerable group
have been advised to do so as part of a research or surveillance programme

Education and childcare settings are not expected to trace contacts of a positive case as this will remain the responsibility of NHS Test and Trace. From today, Tuesday 11 January, contact tracing is triggered once a positive LFD test is reported.

Students should be strongly encouraged to test twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to their setting. Anyone with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate and follow self-isolation guidance.

Information on the new arrangements can be found in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Reporting test results for schools and colleges

Reporting test results every time pupils, students and staff take an LFD test means the NHS always gets the latest, most accurate information. This helps them to keep track of where the virus is spreading, provide support where it is needed and protect local communities across the country.

Please remind your pupils, students and staff of the importance of reporting all tests results (positive, negative and void) to NHS Test and Trace and their setting. Schools and colleges can access a new template form for pupils, students and staff to report test results. Primary schools can access a new template form for staff to report their results. Tests should also be reported online through the report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result page which should only take a couple of minutes.

PLEASE NOTE:

As a school we ask that the LFT tests are registered with the NHS and that proof is sent to confirm the results for the school record. Once we have seen the results we will update our quarantine register accordingly.

Thank you as always for your support and assistance in keeping our school community as safe as possible.

Facebook:@StMikesCoE

Twitter:@StMikesCoE

News, Notices and Reviews:

Office Polite Reminders:

Absences:

Please let the school know by 9am if your child is going to be absent.

Change of Pick Ups:

Please notify the School Office as early as possible regarding any change of pick ups, copying in your child's teacher every time as well.

Lunches:

Please stick with either school lunch or packed lunch for the half term.

Also, please remember: we are a NO NUTS school.

Birthday Treats:

Birthday treats, such as cupcakes or sweets or lollipops, each need to be indivudally wrapped for distribution at the end of the school day .

Spring Term Clubs:

315-415pm

There are still some spaces left on some clubs, as follows:

Monday:

Dance (1 space) (Years 4 -6)

Tuesday:

Photography (1 space) Years 3-4

Wednesday:

Girls Football (6 spaces): Mornings: Years 4-6

Hockey (5 spaces) Years 4 - 6

Thursday

Board Games (9 spaces) Years 1-2

Football with Kick (8 spaces) Years 4-6

Lunchtime Lords Club:

These are starting up again this Wednesday 19th January at 1pm with Heidi King from St Michael's Church.

She will alternate weeks with years 5 & 6 and years 3 & 4 starting with Years 5 & 6 on the 19th.

Window Wanderland:

St Michael's' School will be taking part again this year!

Follow this link to sign up to this lovely local community initiative:

https://www.windowwanderland.com/event/southfields-london-2022/

Our Libary:

Did you know that our beautiful library was built in 2013 and the whole school helped to create the stunning mosaic that hangs on the outside wall?

As our Junior Librarians (JLs) rightly say, the library - and reading - is at the very heart of the school - and did you also know that it's location was specifically selected by Mrs Grant at the time because she wanted it to touch every section of the school - Lower Phase, Middle Phase, Upper Phase and EYFS?

(The Nursery wasn't in existence at the time!)

These are the words of the current JLs ,who take great pride in their important role:

It is a special quiet place away from the noise of the school
We have our own special JL badge and lanyards
We come in each lunch break to tidy up the library and put the books back in the places where they belong
If we are lucky we get to see Nelson (the Pets For Therapy Dog) when we are in here on a Wednesday afternoon
We help to decorate the Book Review tree with the reviews that pupils have donated.
And we make sure the books are displayed so they match up to the reviews
We are creating a special map of the library with colour codes to make it easier for pupils to find their favourite types of books
We get a chance to act as real librarians, logging new books into the system and helping the younger children log their borrowed books in and out on the computer
We filter out any books that are damaged and help to tacky back them to make them stronger
Sometimes Natalie asks us to help her with her displays

Inclusion News:

"Everyone is different, everyone is special"

Did you know that we have 28 different languages spoken in this school?

Thank you to this year 2 pupil who has taught us how to say hello in Polish!

"Jendobry"

"It doesn't matter if you are black or white.

We are very diversive at St Michael's School but we all feel included"

(Year 6 pupil)

Mental Health & Well Being:

We have been given some take-home nutrition leaflets to inspire pupils and their families to make healthier swaps at home.

Please ask the office if you would like a copy.

The staff are onto their second 'well being' jigsaw in the staffroom.

This one is a very 'sweet' project for them....!

Reflection and Prayer:

This week in Worship the children discussed the following:

KS1: Would you go on holiday to space?

KS2: Is space tourism a good idea?

If you wish to continue the conversation at home, here is a snippet of some of the questions discussed in class...

Prayer for peace of mind

Lead me to your still streams O Lord

Where I can kneel in the waters of life

Lay down my anxious thoughts

And cast all my cares on You Here

I will wait a while

Wait a while

And bathe in the life-giving waters

Bathe my mind in Your Spirit O God

Come fill my being with Your peace

Bathe my heart with Your love O God

Come still my being with Your peace

Bathe my spirit with Your freedom

O God come saturate this life with Your peace

Amen

Prayer for Peace

Peace go with you.

God's quiet within the noise.

God's hope within uncertainty.

God's rest within the toil.

God's presence within your soul.