Newsletter 11th December

See below for all the Festive plans – the Wanderland map, gift ideas and Santa’s grotto.

Diary

Laurel’s update

It has been a pleasure to meet with staff this week and reflect on the children’s wellbeing and learning. I have been so impressed by our children’s resilience and that their successful return to full time school life. Thank you for all the support you have provided from home.

This week we enjoyed outdoor festive singing and our Christmas lunch. Thanks to the music and kitchen teams for creating these memorable events for our children. Please read the PTA section of this newsletter to find out about the Winter Wanderland, I look forward to seeing families tomorrow at the socially distanced grotto and thank the PTA for their careful planning of this.

Next Friday we will be celebrating Pamela’s two years at Brookfield as our wonderful School Business Manager and wish her well with her new role, closer to home in Bromley. Rosie will be joining our administration team and I look forward to introducing her to you in the New Year.

Spring After School Club

Please book your child’s place at Brookfield After School Club for the first half of the Spring term here. Please remember we can only process bookings when you have paid for any clubs attended in the Autumn term.

If parents or carers need to collect their child before 4.30pm e.g. for a doctors appointment, please use the main office entrance.

Spare clothes

The office would welcome donations of tracksuit bottoms from age 6-11. They always come in handy!

Christmas Decorations

Your child should hopefully have brought home their Christmas decoration. To donate, please use the button below:

Dinner money

This half term’s dinner money is £81.60 – please pay by Friday 18th December on ScoPay as usual.

Books featuring diverse characters

Thank you to all the children and parents who recommended books featuring more diverse characters – I’ve really enjoyed reading some of your suggestions. The PTA kindly have given the school £500 to buy a selection of these books for our book corners. They arrived this week and each year group has been a selection to enjoy. 

Vesper and Lois – 10k runners!

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Congratulations to Vesper and Lois in Year 5 for completing their 10k challenge in Regent’s Park. They have raised an amazing £2,000 for charity (Crisis and SANE). You can still donate here.

Obstacle Courses

A great way to keep children regulated (and entertained!) is to get them to do an obstacle course. They can plan their own, write it down, test it, change it and most importantly have some fun. Here is a video from an Occupational Therapist where they have shared  her children’s incredible obstacle course filled with regulating activities. This could be a great thing to do with kids in the Christmas holidays. ​

Clubs for holidays and beyond

Anna Fiorentini Dance School

Christmas Gym Club at Brookfield

Highgate Newtown Gymnastics Club are now taking bookings for the Christmas Gym Club, packed with fun activities on the 21^st-23^rd December 2020, 9am-4pm for ages 4-13, priced at £30 a day. Activities will be taught by British Gymnastics qualified coaches and will include gymnastics, freestyle/parkour, multisport and fitness type challenges with Blaze Pods, arts and crafts, Christmas games and much more!

To secure a space email us: hngymnasticsclub@gmail.com.

Winter camp at Brookfield

Fit for Sport are running a Winter Holiday Camp at Brookfield from Monday 21st December – Wednesday 23rd December – more information available here.

Fit For Sport accept Childcare vouchers and support Tax Credits. Please call Fit For Sport on 020 8742 4990 for further information. Take advantage of Fit For Sport’s 10% early bird discount by quoting ‘WINTER10’ when booking. Valid for a limited time only. More information in the document here:

Wood That Works – Xmas stall

For the past few years we have enjoyed making our wooden Christmas toy kits for your school fair. Some of you have asked where you can find us selling this year, given the circumstances. We will be selling our wooden Christmas kits outside Fam on Swain’s Lane on December 12th, 10am – 4pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there.
Ricky, Honey and Camilla
(Wood That Works Team)

Toys

Thank you to the Toy Project who delivered some brilliant bags of new toys and books for a some Brookfield children. These have been so gratefully and enthusiastically received. For more information about the work of this local charity please take a look here.  If there are any Brookfield families who need some help with affording Christmas toys for their children please email admin@brookfield.camden.sch.uk in confidence.

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PTA NEWS

Winter Wanderland

The winter w(a)nderland is finally upon us. The event is happening over both Saturday and Sunday 4pm-7pm.

Please find the beautiful map (with huge thanks to Lucy Read) below to download or print. You will find on it all the homes that are decorated for your enjoyment.

There are also two stops to collect FREE hot chocolate for kids and purchase mulled wine and minced pies, and two stops will have just the mulled wine and refreshments. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MUGS IF YOU CAN. They will accept card or cash (but we can’t do change)

KEEPING THIS SAFE IS PARAMOUNT >> It’s extremely important the we keep in mind the social distancing guidance and rule of 6. We are also asking that you don’t congregate at the stops.

Santa’s Grotto

The PTA are running a Santa’s grotto this weekend – Saturday 12th December, 12-3pm in the Junior playground. If you haven’t booked your slot, there are still some available – you can book on this Google spreadsheet. Entrance is from the large Chester Road gates.

Santa has been advised of all social distancing requirements so we just need you to remind your children to do the same. We ask that ALL adults wear face masks (unless exempt). Please turn up 10 minutes before your slot, and keep your distance from others.

Please note, due to Covid restrictions and to allow us time to be compliant with all all safety measures we have had to move some families along to the next time slot. Please check the list to confirm your time. We are extremely sorry for the disruption and hope you understand that safety is the most important thing.

Prices are £5 per child (£4 for siblings). Please pay by card on the day if you can, or if you have to, exact cash only (we are trying to minimise cash handling).

Sleigh (bike) Rides

These will take place on the Saturday 12-2pm (or until the battery runs out) from outside the junior playground. Only children in the same family or year group bubble can ride together.

Sleigh rides are not priced, but we are instead asking for donations, so please bring some coins to pop on the bucket (or you can use card as ever.)

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND ANY EVENT IF YOU ARE DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 OR ARE ISOLATING.

Christmas Song

Jill Owen (Y3 parent and music teacher) recorded this Christmas song – a collaboration project for next year, perhaps, but do have a listen.

Gifts

Still time to get yourself a few festive gifts – See the full catalogue here.