THANK YOU, WELL DONE... AND HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY! It hardly seems any time since I was writing to wish everybody a happy summer holiday in 1999. Yet already a year has passed and my sentiments are very much the same. The last school year has been very demanding for pupils and for teachers - not to forget the parents, of course, particularly those whose children have been sitting examinations. Yet, as always seems to be the case with those associated with St. Michael’s, challenges have usually successfully been met and difficult hurdles overcome. We started the year with news of wonderful external examination results for the 1999 leavers and we have recently had very pleasing SATs results confirmed for Year 9 pupils. The successful Mission in November, the work of parents in organising events including the Christmas Fayre, the Carol Concert and much more combined to give the autumn term an atmosphere of achievement. In that vein, the school year continued, with successes in the Motorola, in Art and Technology competitions and other high profile events. But as Headteacher, I am equally aware of all the daily, seemingly smaller, achievements brought about by staff and pupils who bring such commitment to all allthat goes on in the school. Those daily that goes on in the school. In fact, I know that those daily achievements are at the heart of making St. Michael’s a school of which I feel very proud. Of course not everything goes right in any institution in which so many people are working together, but the difficult times are far outweighted by all the positive things that go on. I thank all associated with St. Michaels for the support you give to me and to your school. I am well aware that your hard work has made 1999-2000 another highly successful year. Have a thoroughly enjoyable summer break! G. A. Maxwell ( Headteacher)

IMPORTANT DATES Letters went out to parents this week as reminders that, though teachers return to school after the summer holiday on 4th September, pupils do not return until the following day - Tuesday 5th September. School breaks up this Friday, 21st July, and as was stated in that letter, pupils will leave school at 2 o’clock. All of the usual buses will arrive early to take them home.

DAMP SQUIB TURNED INTO A REAL CRACKER When a group of Year 9 pupils set aside a whole Sunday to represent the school at the British Steel Fire Safety Awards in Redcar, flames of enthusiasm were sadly quenched when the rains poured down and the event was postponed! Happily, the organisers were able to re-schedule and re- locate the Awards and, last Thursday, the same pupils went along to British Steel Headquarters to learn that they had picked up a fantastic prize of £700!! Mr. Dunning was very proud of the team, especially as they had built up their entry while they were also preparing for SATs exams. The money will be used to purchase a digital camera to enhance the recording of work at KS3 and KS4 levels and to supplement the provision for graphic materials within the Technology Department.

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