Weekly Newsletter: Friday 19th June

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another incredibly busy and exciting week at St Michael’s, with children enjoying a range of opportunities both in and beyond the classroom. Earlier in the week, we were thrilled to welcome Alice Sharp, Olympic bronze medallist, to our school. Alice delivered an inspiring assembly, sharing her journey to success, the challenges she faced along the way and the importance of determination, resilience and believing in yourself. Following the assembly, the children took part in a fitness circuit led by Alice, enthusiastically embracing the challenge and demonstrating fantastic energy and perseverance. It was a wonderful experience for our pupils and one that we hope will inspire them to pursue their own goals and ambitions.

Our Year 6 children reached another important milestone this week as they completed their final writing assessments. We were delighted to welcome members of the Essex Moderation Team into school to review and celebrate the children's work. This provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase the high-quality writing our pupils have produced throughout the year and to recognise the tremendous progress they have made. The children spoke confidently about their learning and should be incredibly proud of the dedication, creativity and effort they have shown throughout their writing journey.

During Collective Worship this week, we were delighted to welcome Sheena from Empower. She shared the parable of the Lost Sheep, reminding us that every single person is valued, loved and important. The children reflected on how the shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that was lost, demonstrating that no one is forgotten or overlooked. It was a powerful message about belonging, kindness and the importance of looking out for one another within our school community and beyond.

This week's special recognition goes to Brilliant in Year 6. Brilliant is a credit to our school and consistently demonstrates a determination to improve and refine her work. This week, I had the pleasure of reading one of her assessment pieces based on a fictional hybrid creature called the Hykra. I was genuinely impressed by her sophisticated sentence structures, ambitious vocabulary and ability to engage and manipulate the reader. It was an exceptional piece of writing and a wonderful reflection of the hard work and dedication Brilliant applies to her learning each day. Well done, Brilliant!

Congratulations also to all of our Stars of the Week. It is always a pleasure to celebrate the many successes, talents and achievements of our pupils. Whether these accomplishments take place inside or outside of school, we love hearing about them and sharing in their success. Well done to all of the children who took part in The Mottlesnatch this week. It was wonderful to celebrate your creativity and effort during assembly. The next chapter is attached to this newsletter, and remember that every completed entry earns five house points. Congratulations to Mandela for winning the House Cup this week!

As the warm weather continues, please remember to send your child to school with a named water bottle each day to help them stay hydrated and comfortable throughout the school day. We also kindly ask that children arrive at school wearing sun cream so that they can enjoy outdoor activities safely.

We are looking for a small group of volunteers who may be willing to help keep our sensory garden at the front of the school looking neat, tidy and welcoming. This special space is used and enjoyed by many of our pupils and has previously been lovingly maintained by members of our governing body. If you enjoy gardening and would be willing to spare some time to support us, please contact the school office. We would be incredibly grateful for any help.

Dates and Notices

• Monday 22nd June – Music for Schools Assembly
• Tuesday 23rd June – New Parents Evening
• Thursday 25th June – Year 1 Trip to Hyde Hall

As we head into the weekend, we hope you are able to make the most of the glorious weather and enjoy some special time with family and friends. We are also looking forward to seeing many of you at the FOSM Summer Fete this afternoon, which promises to be a wonderful celebration of our school community. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and encouragement. The partnership between home and school plays such an important role in helping our children flourish, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." — Psalm 107:1

Kind regards,

Mrs Louisa Sillett
Head of School