| Key Events | Date |
| World Mental Health day | Monday 10th October – Wear yellow |
| SEND coffee morning | Thursday 13th October 9am |
| Year 4 to London Transport Museum | Thursday 13th October |
| Year 6 at Sayers Croft meeting with parents | Thursday 13th October 3.45pm |
| Bake Sale & Costume Swap | Friday 14th October |
| Flu nasal spray immunisations | Monday 17th October |
| Individual Photos | Tuesday 18th October |
| Poppy West African Drumming Session | Wednesday 19th October 2pm |
| Dandelion West African Drumming Session | Wednesday 19th October 3pm |
| Parent workshop – Supporting your child’s MH and wellbeing Part 2 | Wednesday 19th October 9.15 – 9.45am |
| Year 2 PAC Maths | Thursday 20th October |
| Conker to Secret Garden | Wednesday 19th October * |
| Acorn to Secret Garden | Thursday 20th October* |
| Halloween Dress Up | Friday 21stOctober |
| Acorn to Secret Garden | Friday 21stOctober * |
| Half Term | Monday 24th – Friday 28th October |
Laurel’s Update
This week, I am writing to you with an important message about school funding. Today, your child has bought home a letter from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) which is also available by clicking here. We are all aware of the financial challenges that families, businesses and organisations face – Brookfield is facing these too. If we want to maintain Brookfield’s unique provision (specialist music teachers, artist in residence, Forest School, workshops, free fruit for all children, clubs etc.) we need to be creative about paying for these experiences that go beyond what the government funds. Please consider how you might be able to support future PTA events to raise money for the school or, you might be in a position to sign up for a monthly donation. Thank you for taking the time to read the letter from the PTA.
Thank you for attending parent/teacher meetings at yesterday’s open afternoon. If you were not able to meet your child’s class teacher, please make another appointment before the half term break.
Sayers Croft Meeting for Year 6 Parents
In preparation for our residential trip to Sayers Croft, we will be holding a meeting on Thursday 13th October at 3.45pm to give you more information about the trip and to answer any questions you may have.
World Mental Health Day
On Monday 10th October thousands across the country are coming together to say #HelloYellow. Children are welcome to wear yellow.
Thank you for those who attended our first in a series of mental health and wellbeing workshops. Please find the slides here. We look forward to welcoming you to the next one on Wednesday, 19th October at 9.15am. If you have any concerns about your child's mental health and wellbeing, please contact Lillie: l.rosenblatt@brookfield.camden.sch.uk
Please see a brief overview of Brookfield's mental health offer.
Staff Well-Being Week
Dear lovely parents,
Next week, we will be celebrating staff well-being week. At Brookfield, the well-being of our staff and children is incredibly important to us, and each term we run a well-being week for our brilliant Brookfield staff. We encourage staff to avoid booking meetings and ask that they aim to leave school by 4pm, so please do be aware of this. Of course there is no expectation, but if there is anything you would like to do to express your gratitude towards the Brookfield Team in the way of cakes/cards.. anything.. this would be welcomed! Thank you. Lauren x
Halloween Dress Up Day
On the last day of half term the children are allowed to dress up, donations will be welcomed at the school gates to help the school raise money for books.
On Wednesday 19th October, there will be West African Drumming Sharing Sessions for the Year 2 families at the following times:
Poppy Class - 2pm
Dandelion Class - 3pm
They will be in the Music Room. Please enter the school via the office.
Improving Our Playgrounds!
Calling on all parents! We are trying to make improvements to our playgrounds, with a particular focus on our KS2, junior playground. If you have any old resources that you wish to donate to the school for the children to play with during their time outside, this would be greatly appreciated. The kids are REALLY KEEN to have a big dress up box so that they can do some drama outside and put on little performances on the stage. If you have any dressing up items/old costumes for our older children that you could donate, we will be truly grateful!
Blossom Class
Last but not least, here is the curriculum letter for our very youngest children in Blossom Class, our 2 year-old nursery. We are delighted with how well they have all settled and are excited for the year ahead and beyond!
Blossom Autumn Curriculum Letter
Music News
In Year 3, the children have created their own mythical creatures and are composing pieces of music to describe them. The children have the option of bringing an instrument from home if they learn one (not electrical please). If your child has decided to do this, please ask them to bring in their instrument on Monday (10th) and the Monday after (17th). Your child can drop their instrument off in the Music Room at the start of the day.
Black History Month
We would like to invite parents/carers of black heritage into school throughout October to share stories of their choice celebrating black cultures, read a story to group of children or perhaps teach us few greetings in an African language. Equally, if you would like your child to share a story, information, artefacts or photos with their class, please contact your child’s class teacher or Agata (our history lead at year6@brookfield.camden.sch.uk).
Gardening Update
The autumn turn and drop in temperature hasn’t held back the Brookfield gardeners in the last month. There’s been lots of seed sowing for winter hardy veg: mizuna, mibuna, pak choi, winter lettuce, green in snow mustard, rocket, kale and corn salad. We’ve also been broadcast sowing green manures phacelia and white clover in the junior playground. These improve and protect the soil over the winter – keep any eye out for these popping up in the next few weeks.
Thanks to everyone who joined the gardening activities at the community day in September, it meant we could prune the bamboo in the infant’s playground, build a new growing bed and sow it, and give seaweed feed to every plant at Brookfield!
The gardening club has been busy again (on Wednesdays 3.30-4.30pm) with seed sowing, planting out, trying produce we’ve grown, and keeping the gardens maintained. We even did an impromptu fashion show to celebrate the large donation of beautiful plants from Flora Starkey the florist. We’re looking for new recruits for Gardening Club from years 2,3,4 & 5 – get in touch with the school office if you’re interested.
In class lessons, the reception class has sown a wildflower meadow in their garden area, and Year 6 classes have eaten the potatoes they planted as part of their science curriculum last year. A new initiative this term will be the ‘Skills for Life’ gardening group which happens on a weekly basis with sessions with Years 1 and 2, and Years 4 and 5. So far we’ve been planting grasses to give some movement and texture in the quiet area in the junior playground- have a look between the verbena and the mint garden.
Attendance and Punctuality
Another good week for attendance at Brookfield. Our school target is 96% and we are at 95.29%
A special shout out to Ash class who have the highest attendance (ever this term!) with 99.1%
During open afternoon, teachers will have communicated your child's current attendance level to you.
Please continue to talk to your child's class teacher, Phase Leader, the office staff and Faye if you are struggling with attendance or punctuality. We are here to support. Classes are aiming for rewards linked to attendance and the chart below is highlighted in weekly assemblies.
| Upcoming Events | Date |
| Bake Sale and Costume Swap | Friday 14th October |
| Halloween Dress Up | Friday 21st October |
Please do see Laurel's update above about the PTA Direct Giving campaign and letter - this is a big deal for the school / PTA so please make sure you take a look. The letter is here.
Thanks to everyone who baked for the open afternoon yesterday, much appreciated. We raised £209 which is fantastic, thank you so much!
Bake sale / Costume Swap
Old Halloween costumes looking a bit small, fancy swapping for something new? Take the eco option and come to the PTA bake sale and fancy dress costume swap! It will be Friday (14th October) after school in the Infant Playground, hosted by Year 2 and the PTA.
Cakes, bakes and goodies - for sale
Swap Halloween / fancy dress costumes - for free
You can leave any fancy dress clothing donation at the office next week, any bakes can be left at the office on Friday during the day or both can be brought straight along to stalls in the infant playground after school on the day. As ever, no nuts.
We hope to see you there!
Fun Run
The Fun Run will be on Sunday 6th November. As we are fundraising for the Forest school the dress-up theme is... nature. Forms and sponsorship letters will be on the website / newsletter next week.
Other Dates
The Winter Fair will be December 3rd, 12-3.
Quiz date to follow shortly.
From the PTA Team (Sophie, Nicolai & Rob)
31 October and 7 November from 3pm till 6pm (more dates to follow)
Highgate Library Civic and Cultural Centre
Lost Property
We are still getting items of clothing in school without names which is very difficult to reunite with their owners. Please make sure you name all your children's belongings.
Highgate Newtown 1
Highgate Newtown 2
Highgate Newtown 3
Highgate Newtown 4
