Newsletter 15th December – Brookfield Primary School

Key Events	Dates
Inset Day, School Closed	Tuesday 3rd January
Spring term begins	Wednesday 4th January
Mayor of Camden Assembly	Friday 6th January
Year 6 at Imperial War Museum	Monday 9th January
Child Development Coffee Morning	Tuesday 10th January
Ivy at London Mithraeum	Thursday 12th January
Attendance Coffee Morning	Friday 13th January 9am
Good Work Camden Employment Support Session	Thursday 19th January 9 – 9.45am
Bramble at London Mithraeum/Amphitheatre	Thursday 19th January
Year 1 Omved Gardens	Thursday 26th January
Year 4 FAB Performance	Wednesday 8th February
Year 3 FAB Performance	Thursday 9th February
Dress to Express Day	Friday 10th February
Last day of half term	Friday 10th February
Half term	Monday 13th – Friday 17th February
School begins	Monday 20th February
Year 4 to Camden Learning Centre	Friday 24th February

Laurel’s Update

I am writing to wish all our Brookfield families a joyous Christmas and that we look forward to welcoming children back on Wednesday 4th January 2023 from 8.45am for the new term.

Thank you to parents and carers who have encouraged and supported the array of events this week including: a Fun Run on Hampstead Heath fundraising for our Forest School provision, Blossom and Catkin festive songs in the snow, Reception songs, Year 2 Nativity performance, Year 5 West African Drumming, Year 6 FAB Dance sharing, a piano concert and book give away!

This week we have said farewell to three members of staff: Rebecca Nursery Nurse who, after 15 years of Brookfield service, is taking up a role closer to her home, Zima our Cleaning Supervisor who is extending his hours at his main role and Reece who has been with us for a term as a training PE Coach. We have thanked them all in special assemblies and wish them every success in their next roles.

A final thank you to our dedicated catering team who provided a tasty Christmas Lunch to children and staff and the generosity of a Brookfield family who paid for everyone to enjoy this.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our wonderful Brookfield community!

Class news

Christmas Dinner

Wednesday we had a delicious Christmas dinner provided by CaterLink and thank you again to the kind person that funded the Christmas dinner for everyone.

Nativity Play

On Tuesday, Year 2 performed their Nativity play. Their acting skills were fantastic and their lines well rehearsed. Well done year 2! (photo's below)

Reception Festive Songs

The little reindeers sang like angels on Wednesday when they performed their Christmas songs. Excellent job Conker and Acorn (photo's below).

Call for Feedback on the latest Forest Garden design

We shared the latest design for the new Forest Garden area at the Christmas Fayre. The new area at the back of the Junior playground will integrate Forest School and Outdoor Learning, with natural play and a food forest. It is shaping up to be a very exciting and unique educational space! We are currently fundraising and planning to start the installation in the summer holidays 2023. We would love your feedback on the design so that we can make changes before the next stage of planning the works.

Please see the design by following the link and filling out the --> Survey by Monday 16th of January. Any feedback is much appreciated.

Many thanks to parents Anne Schroell and Susie Hyden for doing such an amazing job developing the designs and for all their input into the process. To find out more about the Forest Garden area or offer support please get in touch with Rob the Forest School Gardener at r.logan@brookfield.camden.sch.uk.

Attendance and Punctuality

Our whole school attendance this week is: 93.69%. Our target is 96%

The average attendance figure in Camden is 93.8%

We have had high illness this half term which has affected our overall attendance. We are looking forward to having a fresh start after the break and will see you all on January 4th 2023!

Nursery Catkin	65.2%
Rec Acorn	91.9%
Rec Conker	77.3%
1 Bluebell	64.4%
1 Daisy	91.9%
2 Dandelion	94.2%
2 Poppy	93.9%
3 Fern	88.5%
3 Heather	76%
4 Bramble	94%
4 Ivy	82.8%
5 Ash	88.7%
5 willow	74.2%
6 Elm	94.7%
6 Oak	84.5%

The Book Project

A huge thank you to the book project, the children were overjoyed with the two free books that were given to them to take home and enjoy with family. (See photos below)

Information and Events for Parents and Carers

Special Educational Needs

The Christmas holidays can be overwhelming for some children. Please see the Tips for an Autism Friendly Christmas, complied by Kentish Town Primary School Autism Resource Base, for ideas on how to support your children.

Tips for an Autism Friendly Christmas

Supporting Attendance and Punctuality: Coffee Morning

Faye, our Attendance Lead, will be running a coffee morning to discuss our school's 'Attendance Policy' and to answer any questions you may have regarding attendance and punctuality at Brookfield.

We will also be signposting support available at school. We hope to see you there,

Faye Winslade

Cost of living crisis

Supermarket Vouchers for Families

Supermarket vouchers will be posted by the Council in mid-December to families living in Camden with children aged up to 18 who are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax support. Any families whose children attend Camden schools and receive free school meals will also receive vouchers. Families will be sent £40 per child and those with more than one child will receive multiple vouchers. The vouchers can be used in a variety of supermarkets. Please note that postal strikes may delay delivery – if they have not received them by 21 December 2022, they should call Camden Council on 020 7974 4444 (option 9). An additional £15 supermarket voucher per child will be sent in February 2023.

Cost of Living Crisis Advice

Camden Council has developed an advice and support booklet which can be downloaded here.

Updates from the office

After School Club

Our new spring term club offer is available, please remember to book using the booking system on the the website.

We cannot accept booking if you are in any arrears, so please ensure you pay via Scopay.

Trip Permission

You may have received an email or text this week about completing the trip permission form please be sure to fill it out for each child. If the form is not filled out then your child may be unable to go on school trips next half term. We have made the form electronic and easy to complete. You can complete it here - Trip permission form

Lost Property

We are still getting items of clothing in school without names which is very difficult to reunite with their owner. Please make sure you name all your children's belongings.