As the penultimate week of term comes to a close I can't believe we only have 4 more school days till the end of the Spring term. It has been a busy week for the school and an exciting one with the end to our search for our permanent Headteacher. I am so delighted to have been successful in my quest to serve you all and I commit to providing your children with the best education possible within our Christian vision.
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10-11
We held the last two parent consultation afternoons with Inclusion this week, along with parents evenings on Wednesday and Thursday. I do hope you all enjoyed the opportunity to speak to your child's teacher and also to explore the school, your child's classroom and books.
Year 1 had a great day out at the Tower of London on Wednesday - see all the fun they had below.
Yesterday we were delighted to welcome Imaan Rabeeb Mirza from the Fasl Mosque who very kindly came in to speak to the whole school about Ramadan. We are also thrilled that we have scheduled a special Eid assembly in the first week back of the Summer term led by one of our parents and many of our Muslim pupils.
Yesterday Year 3 took part in a Stone Age Workshop as part of their topic and today Year 5 pupils have been cooking pizza in the hall. Year 6 have been out all day at the AFC Wimbledon and from the pictures it looks like they had a fabulous time.
As you will all know today is Maths Day and we have seen some very creative number-based costumes from staff and pupils alike! We have met a number of our parents who are using Maths every day in their jobs and were able to show the children how in our morning assembly.
More details on all these great activities and events are further down this web update.
Next week:
Good luck to those taking their ABRSM exams next week.
On Monday I will be focusing on Palm Sunday in my weekly whole school worship and every child will receive a palm leaf cross to bring home that day. We will also have time to discuss my new appointment.
All are then welcome to our special Easter service taking place at the church on Tuesday at 9:30am which will be led by our pupil faith group, lead ambassadors and the church clergy. We look forward to seeing as many of our families as possible there.
Finally, please be reminded that term ends at 2pm on Thursday. Please do try to be prompt to collect your child so that the staff can get off to their holidays as soon as possible that day too.
Best wishes for the weekend
Angela Harris
Headteacher
Lent Appeal 2024: 'Step In To Help....'
The theme of this year's Lent Appeal is 'Step In To Help....' and this year the charities we are supporting are:
Wandsworth Foodbank
Red Tribe Masaai Academy (Our Global Partnership School)
Red Nose Comic Relief and
Magic Breakfast (as nominated by our Pupil Voice)
Each week we will have a particular focus and encourage the children to think about how they can step in to help others and share their skills and what they have.
We have asked for a £3 donation per child, payable via Parentmail.
Please do add your payment if you haven't already.
As of today we have only received a third of the payments for our Lent Appeal via Parentmail.
Thank you for your generosity so far.
Our PTA:
Congratulations! The PTA is delighted to welcome Mrs. Harris as our new Headteacher! It has been a pleasure to work with Mrs. Harris over the past few months and we are excited to continue to support her and St. Michael's as the school journey continues.
We had previously expressed the desire to welcome the new Headteacher in true St. Mike's style by gunging them at this year's fete... However, we do know that Mrs. Harris suffered that fate just last summer so we would understand if she elects to send a substitute in her place.
We are pleased to confirm that whoever does take the chair will be in excellent company as our very own MP Fleur Anderson has already agreed to undergo the ordeal at what she has described as her 'favourite event of the year'.
Thanks to everyone who has already volunteered help for the fete - watch out for more news as we move into the Summer term.
There were 15 pupils marked as late arriving to school this week
Easter Church Service:
Tuesday 26th March, 9:30am
Doors will open at 9:20am for a 9:30am start
All families and friends are warmly invited to our Easter church service which is taking place at St Michael's Church.
The service will feature the Sing for Joy and Chamber Choirs as well as the Pupil Faith Group.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible for what will be a very special and poignant service.
His Majesty King Charles III
We are proud to display this official portrait of His Majesty, Head of the Church of England
No Dogs Please:
Please be reminded that we have a policy of not allowing dogs in the playground.
We also politely request that all dogs are kept away from the entrances to the school as we have some children who are nervous of walking closely past them.
Thank you.
Summer Term Clubs:
These go live at 10am, tomorrow Saturday morning!
Please remember only to book ONE CLUB PER CHILD on Go Live Day.
Additional clubs may be booked from Monday via Parentmail.
The Santander Financial Education Recognition Scheme:
This was launched in collaboration with Twinkl and aims to promote financial literacy among children and young people in schools across the UK.
Recognising the importance of instilling healthy financial habits from a young age, the scheme not only prepares them to manage their finances effectively but also contributes to their mental health and well-being.
Understanding how to navigate financial pressures in today's world is crucial, and the resources help lay the foundation for students to develop confidence and resilience in handling financial challenges.
The aths faculty and wellbeing leads look forward to sharing these resources with our school community.
Adele Stewart, Maths Faculty and Deputy Mental Health Lead
Year 1 Visit to the Tower of London:
On Wednesday the Year 1s headed off to the Tower of London. We had a perfect day with lovely sunshine and great views of the Thames.
We visited the Tower of London to learn more about the Great Fire of London. We met Samuel Pepys' friend Willam Swift who got us to act out the events of the fire. We visited the White Tower and saw the Royal Armouries. Those cannons were massive!!
We walked along the tower's wall which helped us to compare the past and present day London. This inspired us to draw our own pictures of the buildings around us such as the Shard, the Walkie Talkie and the Gherkin.
We loved our day out and definitely felt like we went back in time to 1660.
Sharon Cunningham and Mrs Craythorne
Ramadan Assembly:
Presentation on Ramadan by AMYA UK
Yesterday morning we were delighted to welcome Imam Rabeeb Mirza from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), to come and speak to our Reception to Year 6 children about this Holy month of Ramadan.
He kindly delivered a short talk/presentation on the significance of Ramadan for Muslims which was designed to foster understanding and build bridges of mutual respect and appreciation between communities.
Imam Mirza provided some valuable insights into the religious significance of Ramadan and his visit was also aimed at promoting diversity, inclusion, and understanding within our school community.
The children had the opportunity to engage in an interactive session where they could ask questions and deepen their understanding of this topic.
We are also all looking forward to our special Eid assembly after the Easter break which will be led by some of our Muslim families and their children.
Year 3 Stone Age Workshop:
On Thursday, Year 3 enjoyed a fascinating workshop all about Prehistoric times as the finale to our history learning.
Ogrod the Stone Age man taught us all about the hunting skills and tool making abilities of early humans. He brought along many interesting artefacts for the children to examine and handle including antlers, bone harpoons, axe-heads, a lump of iron ore and even 80,000 year old arrow tips!
It was interesting to find out that farming originated in Turkey and how trading began. There was also a very brief Copper Age before the Bronze Age.
We later went out to the outside classroom and enjoyed listening to the story of Og and the Wolf, did some quick cave drawings and threw spears (rubber ended) at a woolly mammoth.
In the afternoon Og reappeared dressed as someone from the Iron Age and we played games to find out what foods were and were not available in ancient Britain.
Thank you for all the super effort with the children’s costumes. It made the experience all the more memorable.
Rachel Lee and Molly Guinness
Year 5 Pizza Making:
The year 5 children have been busy making healthy and balanced pizzas for DT. They surpassed expectations when tasked with creating a healthy after-school snack tailored specifically for Year 5 and 6 students.
The young chefs skillfully incorporated various wholesome ingredients to ensure a well-rounded meal.
This project honed our students' culinary skills and deepened their understanding of making healthier food choices while adhering to the design brief with great success.
Adele Stewart
Maths Day:
What an exhilarating day it has been! Today, our school was buzzing with excitement as we celebrated Maths Day. From colourful number-themed outfits to engaging activities, the energy and enthusiasm was evident throughout school.
Our students truly outdid themselves with their creativity and ingenuity in dressing up for the occasion. We saw everything from numbered football tops to t-shirts adorned with complex equations, showcasing the diverse ways math influences our lives. The sheer innovation on display was awe-inspiring, and we couldn't be prouder of our students' and parents commitment to embracing the mathematical spirit.
Through various activities and discussions, our students delved into the practical applications of math, particularly in the realms of financial literacy and money management. It was heartening to witness their eagerness to learn and their growing appreciation for the role math plays in shaping our everyday lives.
One of the highlights of Maths Day was the involvement of our wonderful parents. We were deeply grateful to those who took the time to share their experiences of using math in their work and daily lives. Their insights provided our students with invaluable real-world perspectives, illustrating the far-reaching impact of math beyond the confines of the classroom.
Adele Stewart and Chloe Fryer, Maths Leads
AELTC Nature Weekend:
Saturday 23rd and 24th March
10am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm
The Nature Weekend will take place by the Clubhouse on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course, not far from the entrance to Wimbledon Park on Home Park Road.
Together with the London Wildlife Trust the event will include exploring the power of water and how important water is for wildlife and nature to thrive.
"With frog spawning season focused around the month of March, we are celebrating amphibians and their environment in several different ways; by crafting your own fish, going pond-dipping and hearing the story about the Toad and the Frog.
Explorers can join our Nature Safari walks to look for creatures and wildlife, you can learn about how sustainable drainage works, and there will also be the opportunity to willow weave your own dragonfly and bird feeder.
This event is free to attend and you do not need to book in advance. However, to gauge attendance numbers, it would helpful if you registered your interest by following the link below."
To mark the end of a fantastic term, next week we will be holding a light hearted and fun house talent show for the children on the last day of term .
Children from Years 1 to 6 will split into their houses and children that would like to perform will perform to their House. Our House Captains will then pick some acts to represent their House and perform to the whole school. We are asking the children to perform in groups where possible to allow more children to take part.
We want this to be a fun distraction and children can practice during break and lunchtimes. The children will be given more information on how to sign up over the next couple of weeks but can start coming up with ideas. The event will give children across year groups to come together in a supportive environment either as a performer or spectator.
Carl Rochford
4S Swimming:
Starts Thursday 18th April
Children need to bring the following items for their swimming lesson:
● Swimming trunks/shorts/one piece costume
● Swimming hat
● Goggles
● Towel
● Verruca socks if they have a verruca
PE News:
Learn To Love To Read:
Royal Parks Half Marathon
There are spaces available on this half marathon in October.
Please see the message below from our contact, Jo Norman, at the NHS and also follow the links to the relevant flyers:
"We are currently accepting referrals for individual parent interventions, so if St. Michael’s have parents who would like to receive support, please get the parents SENCO or the class teacher of the child to fill out the referral form with parents, and send to SOUTHFIELDSTRAILBLAZERMHST@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk "
Dear Lord Jesus, by Your Passion and Resurrection You brought life to the world. But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion.
You laid down Your life willingly and gave up everything for us. Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross, Your clothing became the prize of soldiers, your blood ebbed slowly but surely away, and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple.
Stretched out on the Cross, deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid, You cried out to Your Father that the end had come. You had accomplished the work given You, and You committed into His hands, as a perfect gift, the little life that remained to You.
Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions after the example You have given. Let me place my death in Yours and my weakness in Your abandonment, Take hold of me with Your love, that same foolish love that knew no limits, and let me offer myself to the Father with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life. Amen.
Parent Prayer Group:
Meeting in school straight after drop off from 8.30/40am to about 9:15am
Future Dates:
April 15th
June 3rd
1 July
Come through the front office to collect a Visitor pass and then meet in the Oasis room through to KS1 and on the left hand side.
Prayer Box:
Please feel free to come and post your prayer requests in the box at the front desk of the office in advance of each Parent Prayer Group meeting.
.... and finally ... Mr Harris has been showing off his dance moves this week!