| Key Events | Date |
| Year 1 & 2 choir | Mondays at 2pm |
| Tours for prospective parents (please book via the website), existing parents welcome from February! | Wednesdays 9.15am |
| Year 5 to Parliament Hill show | Monday 6th December |
| Year 6 trip to see & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre | Friday 10th December |
| Winter Fair – see separate news | Saturday 11th December |
| Year 2 Christmas Show | Tuesday 14th December |
| 11am Blossom and Catkin songs in the nursery garden with parents and carers | Wednesday 15th December |
| Christmas lunch, pm year 5 classes sharing West African drumming | Wednesday 15th December |
| Reception songs at 2pm | Thursday 16th December |
| Last day of the Autumn term | Friday 17th December |
Laurel’s Update
The highlight of this week has been meeting with teachers and learning support assistants to reflect on our wonderful children. We have discussed their well being, the progress they are making in reading, writing and maths and planned support and challenge for the coming term.
On Tuesday we welcomed prospective families to our first ‘Meet the Brookfield Parents’ event. Sincere thanks to our panel of children and parents. Judah, Louis and Eva spoke so eloquently in response to questions from the floor – they were true Brookfield stars!
We are tentatively looking forward to our festive events over the coming fortnight. Please be reassured that we will be following Public Health Guidance and will keep you updated if we have to make any changes.
Chicken Pox
We have had 3 cases of chicken pox reported in Reception Acorn class this week. Please see below a letter for reception parents giving information about chicken pox, and what you should do if you suspect your child has chicken pox.
Music Update
The Infant Choir will be performing at 1.30pm at the Winter Fair on Saturday 11th December and the Junior Choir at 2pm. The children will need to come and meet me in the Bottom Hall 15 minutes before they perform. More details to follow.
Year 1 Forest School
Year 1 will be going to a forest school session next Thursday 9th on Hampstead Heath. We need support from parent/carer helpers for this to go ahead! Daisy class will be leaving school at 1:15pm and returning by 2:30pm. Bluebell class will be leaving at 2:00pm and returning by 3:15pm. Please email year 1 here if you are available and we will get back to you ASAP.
Reception trip to St Mary Brookfield
Reception are visiting St Mary Brookfield on Tuesday 7th December to learn about the Christian Christmas story and to make Christingles. We still need a few more parent/carer helpers to accompany us on the trip so if you are able to come along please contact the Reception team here!
Research request
Please see the attached poster requesting volunteers for some PhD research
Camden – Important update to the COVID-19 rules
This week brought the latest challenge in our fight against COVID-19 directly to Camden with the first cases of the Omicron variant formally identified in our borough. Read the statement from Camden Council’s Leader, Cllr Georgia Gould here
The Government has announced new measures in response to the Omicron variant. These include:
- Mandatory face coverings in all shops and on public transport. In secondary schools or colleges, face coverings should be worn in communal areas by staff, visitors and pupils or students in Year 7 and above, unless they are exempt. In primary schools, it is recommended that face coverings should be worn by staff and adults (including visitors) when moving around in corridors and communal areas. Health advice continues to be that children in primary schools should not be asked to wear face coverings
- PCR tests on or before day 2 for all international arrivals. Travellers will need to isolate until they receive the result. Arrivals from red list countries must isolate in a managed quarantine facility for 10 days. We don’t know how long these restrictions will be in place, or whether they will change, so parents should be aware if booking trips abroad that may impact on children’s return to school next term
- 10-day self-isolation for contacts of suspected Omicron cases, including for those who are fully vaccinated. This will be handled by NHS Test and Trace, though schools may be asked by LCRC to help with identifying contacts and further action may be identified by an incident management team. If there is a case of Omicron in a school or a contact in a school, the measures to be put in place will be led by LCRC and Public Health and agreed with the school.
With the Omicron news, it’s more important than ever we take steps to protect each other and help stop the spread. This means:
- Getting both doses of the vaccine as soon as you can, and a booster as soon as you’re eligible. The NHS is working to expand the offer of boosters to all age groups through December and January so please do check you’re eligibility at nhs.gov.uk/coronavirus or call 119
- Taking regular lateral flow tests to check you’re COVID-free – particularly ahead of spending time in crowded, indoor spaces and before meeting groups of people or older more at-risk family and friends
- Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in shops and on public transport, unless exempt
- Open windows regularly to let fresh air in – it helps dilute infectious particles
- Wash your hands and use hand sanitiser when you’re out.
Get your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can
Getting both doses of the vaccine and a booster, when eligible remains the number one way to protect yourself and those around you from COVID-19 this winter. Everyone aged 12+ is eligible to get vaccinated, with the NHS working to expand second doses and boosters to more age groups over winter. It’s not too late to get your first dose.
- Book online nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 for free
- Visit a walk-in vaccination clinic or our vaccination bus camden.gov.uk/getting-the-vaccine
If you or your child aged 12 or over is clinically vulnerable, please speak to your GP about the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
Visit Camden’s COVID-19 vaccination bus
Our COVID-19 vaccination bus offers free Pfizer vaccinations to everyone aged 12 and over. The bus runs Monday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm and will be stopping in the following locations this month:
Brunswick Square, opposite UCL’s School of Pharmacy, WC1N 1AX
- Friday 3 and Saturday 4 December
West Hampstead station, Iverson Road, NW6 2RB
- Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December
- Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 December
Opposite Kingsgate Resource Centre, Palmerston Road, NW6 2JU
- Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 December
Swiss Cottage Market, Eton Avenue, NW3 3EU
- Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 December
Opposite Kirkfell Estate, Robert Street, NW1 3FB
- Friday 17 and Saturday 18 December.
Walk-ins are welcome but please do try and book ahead if you can by calling the Council on 020 7974 4444 (option 9). There are a number of walk-in vaccinations clinics open across the borough. To find your closest clinic, visit camden.gov.uk/getting-the-vaccine. If you or your child aged 12 or over is clinically vulnerable, please speak to your GP about the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
Harington Christmas Sale
Harington Christmas Sale is this Saturday, 4 December 10am – 1pm. at the scheme 55a Cholmeley Park.
Christmas trees, plants, gifts, home produce, art, pottery etc. etc.
If you have never seen the Scheme, then it is worth visiting just to see the site. Quite amazing in the middle of Highgate.
PTA News
Unfortunately the PTA pub evening will have to be postponed until spring term. Don’t worry it will happen soon, but in the meantime we hope to see you all at the Winter Fair!
Talking of which… see here
Christmas Card payment reminder
Thank you to everyone that took part in the Christmas Card Project. The children’s fabulous designs are currently being printed. We hope to get them back to you soon.
If you haven’t already paid, please do so by following this link or giving the exact money in an envelope with your child’s name and class on to Carole in the office. If you are unsure about what you ordered we can let you know if you email brookfieldschoolpta@gmail.com.