WELCOME BACK!
I’d like to welcome everybody back at the start of this term. I trust you all enjoyed a relaxing summer holiday and are looking forward to what lies ahead. The children and staff have all made a positive start and we are particularly pleased with the way the new Y1 transition arrangements have been going. Thank you!
As you may have noticed, there has been a lot of building works taking place during the summer holiday. We are delighted that all the internal toilets have been upgraded with improvements to the floors, walls, toilets, cubicles, sinks and taps. The kitchen has received a significant redecoration and all external windows have been redecorated inside and out.
Looking ahead, there is still some significant work to be started to the boundary wall, chimneys, roof, guttering and internal doors – hence the need to keep some of the scaffolding up. These will be completed mainly over week-ends and in the October half – term . Thank you so much for your patience during the first week back; particularly in relation to the ramp to the front of the school. I am pleased to say that the ramp is is now up and running.
A SPECIAL WELCOME
A special welcome extends to the following teachers: Becca (Y2), Lillie (Y3), Megan (Y3) Lauren (Y4 teacher and LKS2 phase leader), Amy (Y5) and Agata (Y6)
Learning Support Assistants: Jen (EYFS) Emma (Y1) and Ivy (Y1).
new children in nursery and YR
and the following children further up the school: Harry (1L), Daniel (2B), George and Olivia (4L) Chloe (5L) and Margot who has returned to join 5L!
We trust that you all enjoy a happy and successful start /return.
Events this week….
Friday 14th – Y5 trip to The British Museum
DATES FOR THIS YEAR
Friday 5th October – INSET day
Monday 22nd – Friday 26th October – Half term
Friday 21st December – Autumn term ends
Monday 7th January – INSET day
Tuesday 8th January – Children return to school
Monday 18th – Friday 22nd February – Half term
Friday 5th April – Spring term ends
Tuesday 23rd April – Children return to school
Monday 6th May – May day bank holiday
Monday 27th – Friday 31st May – Half term
Monday 3rd June – INSET day
Tuesday 4th June – Children return to school
Tuesday 23rd July – Last day of term
PLEASE NOTE the date of our next inset day will be on FRIDAY 5th OCTOBER We are currently looking into whether any cover can be provided for children during the course of the day.
MARVELLOUS SCHOOL MEALS!
This half term, we are going to be reviewing the lunch menus and running some promotional / fundraising events in order to increase the uptake of children opting for school dinners. We are aware that numbers have dropped off over the summer months ( to be expected) but hope that with an added push we can get the numbers back up again. Last year school council offered some really useful suggestions around menus, portion sizes and separating out the salad ingredients and we hope to involve them again. If your child hasn’t yet tried school dinners, then I would definitely recommend them to you, particularly with Autumn fast approaching. They are delicious!
CURRICULUM NEWS
ATTENDANCE RESULTS FOR 2017 – 2018
Congratulations to last year’s 4c for securing the best attendance for 2017 – 2018 (97.14%)
Attendance results for last year were as follows:
RKS = 94.47% RS = 94.38%
1M = 94.98% 1L = 94.98%
2L = 95.21% 2G = 96.79%
3F = 96.41% 3C = 96.36%
4E = 95.91% 4C = 97.14%
5L = 95.69% 5O = 94.60%
THANK YOU, PTA !!
First of all I would like to express my profound thanks to the PTA for all their hard work last year, raising money for the school. I am still pinching myself over the amount raised at last year’s auction – AMAZING! I am glad to say that we have been able to invest in a wide range of fantastic resources for the school as well as supporting some exciting extra curricular activities:
Some of the spending headlines are as follows:
– 4 new interactive whiteboards for Years 1 and 2 – approximately £8k
– Money towards this year’s FAB project (illustration), Tanya’s drumming classes and Black History Month.
– A wide range of resources to support Early years and KS1 provision – approximately £4k per year group. This includes solid birch Community Playthings furniture as well as a whole host of other materials and resources to play / interact with.
– Ongoing support towards trips to Paris and Sayers Croft.
– Money for each class to visit The Owl Bookshop to buy some new books for the reading corners.
Money has also been set aside from the main budget to update 2 other Interactive White Boards in KS2. We will also be working with Shakespeare Schools Foundation in some year groups, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in others and using some fabulous new resources from ‘Little Hands’ to support textiles across the school.
We are particularly conscious that this time around, money from the auction has been principally directed towards the EYFS and KS1 and with this in mind, next time around, we will direct more money towards KS2. A lot of the resources were ordered either towards the end of last term or start of this one and have just started to arrive. We had over 60 boxes to unpack on Friday afternoon when the delivery arrived at 3.20pm! A big thank you to the staff and Matthew (Fox’s dad), who stayed behind to help.
Once again, MANY MANY THANKS for making this all possible. The children and school will really benefit from all these wonderful new resources.
CURRICULUM LETTERS AND MEETINGS
This term’s curriculum letters will be going home this Friday with the exception of the EYFS who will be sending home their letters, once all the children have started.
The dates for this term’s curriculum meetings are as follows:
Year 1 – Monday 17th September
Year 2 – Tuesday 18th September
Year 3 – Wednesday 19th September
Year 4 – Friday 21st September
Year 5 – Wednesday 26th September
Year 6 – Thursday 27th September
All curriculum meetings will take place at 9.00am in the lower hall and will be followed by some light refreshments. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. If you are able to help with serving the refreshments, please would you contact the office to let them know. Many thanks!
ACCESS TO RKS CLASSROOM AT THE END OF THE DAY
With so much congestion in the Reception tunnel at 3:30pm, Kevin (P3 Play Centre Manager) has kindly agreed for parents/carers of children in RKS to use the lower hall as a means of collecting their children at the end of the day. RS will continue to use the tunnel as normal. Many thanks!
Each year, one child is chosen from each KS2 class to become a Rights Ambassador. The aim of the Rights Ambassadors is to promote children’s rights and respect at Brookfield. We meet regularly and discuss how we can make sure that children understand and know about children’s rights and how to respect them. Being a Rights Ambassador is an important role in our school. The children will have many fun responsibilities such as planning and helping to run events and campaigns to raise awareness of children’s rights everywhere and ensure that they are respected.
On Friday, KS2 children will be given a Rights Ambassadors application form. This needs to be completed and returned to Laura by Wednesday 19th September. I can’t wait to read all your amazing applications!
MEET THE PARENTS
Our annual Meet the Parents event will be on Monday 24th September at 1830-1930. Families from the local state secondaries will be here, to give you the most up-do-date information about their school experience. Parents from all year groups are welcome at this invaluable event, where you can ask any questions you want and also talk privately to panelists afterwards. We will have representation from Acland Burghley, Parliament Hill and William Ellis schools. To find out more, go to www.meettheparents.info
Parents of primary pupils in years five and six can find out more about what Camden’s secondary schools have to offer their children at our annual Moving On event from 4pm to 6.30pm on Thursday, 20 September 2018 at Haverstock School, Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm. All our secondary schools are due to be there. You need to register for your free place.
SPORTS NEWS
The Y5 and Y6 Netball league starts today. It is a very quick start to the sporting calendar for us and tonight we have ‘friendlies’ which should help ease us in to the league campaign. We will return to school from LSU by 5.30pm. I will receive fixtures for the season this week.
The Cross country competition is taking place on Friday 28th September and in preparation to defend our title I will be starting pre-school training on the Heath from 8am on Tuesday and Thursday. We will meet by the entrance next to Bistro La or you can meet us by the dog’s pond. Please bring spare foot wear/clothes for afterwards (just in case!).
I will need support from parents to help supervise KS2 classes when we take them to the Heath during PE. Please let me know if you might be able to help!
Y4 swimming will start in a few weeks and I will let you know the start date closer to the time.
PLEASE can you also ensure your child has a PE kit. Give them their kit in a bag so they can leave it here at school. You can buy a kit from the office or alternatively provide your own. PE is not an optional subject!
I completed my first triathlon over the holidays and spent last Saturday getting mega muddy! Never stand still, keep moving!
– wise old Haseeb h.khan@brookfield.camden.sch.uk
CLUBS NEWS
We are currently finalising the staffing arrangements for this terms clubs timetable. Letters will be handed out this week and clubs are due to start on Monday 24th September.
NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
We still have quite a collection of plates and bowls left over from the generous edible donations received last term! If you have yet to collect yours, please do so from the office. Thank you!