Newsletter 5th May

Key EventsDate
Bank Holiday8th May
Year 6 SATs weekTuesday 9th – Friday 12th May
Reception to Secret GardenFriday 12th May
Year 1 trip to Millennium Bridge Tuesday 16th May
Year 5 Ash Class trip to Crick InstituteWednesday 24th May
Year 5 Willow Class trip to Crick Institute Friday 26th May
Half TermMonday 29th – Friday 2nd June
Class picture dayTuesday 6th June
PTA AuctionThursday 15th June
Year 2 Trip to the Seaside Thursday 15th June
Summer Fair Saturday 1st July
International Evening Thursday 13th July

Laurel’s Update

Today we have had a special assembly, picnic lunch and bake sale to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. I hope you enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend in whatever way you choose to mark the occasion.

Next week, we look ahead to our year 6 children completing their SATs assessments in English and Maths. The children are well prepared and I enjoyed visiting their classes this afternoon where they were having a circle time and sharing ‘feel good Friday’ highlights and competing in a bench ball match. The assessments present an opportunity for the children to demonstrate our values of achievement and responsibility while being kind to themselves and each other.

Class news

Butterfly Nets

Year 2 are learning about the lifecycle of  Butterflies. If you have any butterfly nets or gardens that Year 2 can borrow, please email Amy & Martin year2@brookfield.camden.sch.uk

Year 3&4 Football Tournament

A massive congratulations to the children for not only their performances but representing the school the Brookfield way! I can confirm both teams have made it through to the finals on Tuesday 9th May. The turnaround will be very quick as we have a bank holiday on Monday 8th May. Please can you send the children in again with the same things as yesterday (shin pads, red t-shirt, appropriate footwear, healthy snack, water, etc).

Thank you for the support, see you Tuesday!

David

Lunch Clubs

Dear parents,

WE NEED YOU! Thank you so much to the parents/carers who have already volunteered to trial running a lunch-time club for our wonderful children. In order to make our lunch time provision as exciting as possible, we are keen to offer a range of different clubs: yoga, dance, sewing, languages, chess, reading, colouring... ANYTHING!!!  

If you would be interested in running a club once a week for the duration of this half term, please do get in touch with me so that we can discuss: club focus, age group, number of children and any support or resources you may require.

Please complete the following google form: https://forms.gle/gRbAtzbGkj2W8N2t5​ 

Thank you in advance! 

Lauren

Attendance and Punctuality

Well done to the following classes for the highest attendance: 

KS1: Poppy
KS2: Ivy

Year 6 SATS Week

Next week, we will be running our Year 6 SATS week.

What are SATS? 

  • ​​SATs are the Standardised Assessment Tests that are given to children at the end of Key Stage 2.
  • ​The SATs take place over four days, starting on Tuesday 9th May ending on Friday 12th May. Monday 8th May is a bank holiday this year.
  • The SATs papers consist of:

○Grammar, punctuation and spelling (paper 1: GPS) – Tuesday 9th May

○Grammar, punctuation and spelling (paper 2: Spelling) – Tuesday 9th May

○Reading – Wednesday 10th May

○Maths (paper 1: Arithmetic) – Thursday 11th May

○Maths (paper 2: Reasoning) – Thursday 11th May

○Maths (paper 3: Reasoning) – Friday 12th May

Last week, we ran a SATS parent information session. Please see the slides attached which give an overview of the SATS week and should answer any questions.

If you have any questions, please email: year6@brookfield.camden.sch.uk or call the school directly on 020 7272 9627 to speak with Faye (Year 6 Phase Leader).

Lunch Hall Top Table

This term, our 'Top Table' focus will be to celebrate this term's value of 'achievement'. A huge congratulations to the following children who were chosen to be at the Top Table today as a result of their various different achievements this week.

Updates from the Office

Breakfast Club

Did you know that you can access our breakfast club from 8am each morning? No need to book, simply turn up before 8.30am, and the children can enjoy a delicious breakfast selection, choosing from bagels, a wide selection of cereals, and juices.

PTA News

NEW DATE FOR THE AUCTION – Thursday 15th June

URGENT - We still need your help, please read!

Auction planning is underway, but we really need people to get involved & help out.
All the money raised is critical to creating the amazing Brookfield Forest Garden Project.
THE FOREST GARDEN MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD without the funds raised from this
event.
We have a few fantastic people who have already stepped forwards to help, so please give
them your support & volunteer too.
We need people to help with:
* Asking local businesses for donations
* Asking bigger companies for donations
* An auctioneer/s
* Organising the bids
* Designing a poster and auction brochure
* Providing food
* Serving food
* Providing entertainment
* Running the bar
* Setting up for the event
* Clearing up after the event
We would also love for you to get in touch with any item or service you could donate to
auction off, or if you have any contacts with people or companies that would be willing to
donate something.
To give you a few ideas previous auction lots include: Cookery course - Photography session
- Sports tickets - Holiday homes - Dog walking - Jewellery - Website building - Home tidying.
Please email us: brookfieldschoolpta@gmail.com

Please keep reading…
URGENTLY NEEDED - NEW PTA Co-Chairs!

Please consider becoming a co-chair next year.
IF NO-ONE COMES FORWARD THERE WILL NOT BE A PTA NEXT YEAR!
As I’m sure you are aware school budgets are becoming more & more stretched. The PTA
helps to fund lot of the extra activities that enrich your children’s education.
Last year we gave the school over £28,000. The money we raise goes towards lots of extra
activities such as drumming, FAB art projects (this year it was Damien & B-Better Dance),
Forest school, etc. We also give money to fund new books for the school, trips, free fruit for
the juniors at playtime as well as many more things.
Without a PTA your children will also miss out on all the events we help organise such as the
disco, quiz night, school fairs, bake sales, etc.
Don’t worry if you think the role is too much for you. It is shared between two people, so
have a chat amongst your children’s classes or on your WhatsApp groups if you think there
is anyone who will join with you.
We will also still be around if you need help and support. Now is a good time as we will have
plenty of time do a handover.
If you want to find out more, please email us at brookfieldschoolpta@gmail.com we are
very happy to meet and have a chat about what the role entails. Thank you.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone that ran, baked for, and came to the Coronation Bake
Sale. On Thursday we made a fantastic £287 and people were so generous with their baking
there is enough to do a second bake sale in the infant playground today!

Information and Events for Parents and Carers

Camden Music Service

To all families who have children in Years 3 to 6 who are learning to play an instrument ...

I'm delighted to be able to invite your child to try out our half term holiday music course from May 26 to 28 at Camden School for Girls. Please see the attached flyer for more details. Your child could try out one of our Super Groups, play in a concert and make new friends! (If your child already plays in one of our Super Groups, please ask them to bring a friend along!)

About the music course our families say:

  • "Thank you for the opportunity that you've given our daughter in being part of your fantastic programme. The relationships and learning that she has experienced with you have been way beyond anything we could have ever imagined!"
  • "I caught up with R and S who came to SuperBlast for the first time.  They’re still buzzing!  They both fed back about the fantastic time they had and how everyone should go along next time."
  • "Thanks for inviting us. H was nervous on the first day, but he gradually gained confidence and actually really enjoyed the Sunday afternoon and concert. It was his first experience of ensemble playing and he now realises he can do it."

Do get in touch if you'd like to know more.

With all good wishes,

Rachel Barnes

Deputy Head of Camden Music Service

Parenting Event

To mark May's Mental Health Week, on both 24th and 25th May, there will be a 1-hour session on supporting our mental health as parents, using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping). It'll be between 9.45am to 10.45am at Moon, 63 Chetwynd Road, NW5 1BX. Booking is by donation, with proceeds going to the Brookfield Forest Garden Project. If you'd like more info or want to book, here's the link - https://www.mwhealth.co.uk/destressing-parenthood-with-eft/

The Mayor of London's Clean Air Day challenge 2023

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is calling on young Londoners to lead the way in celebrating  clean and healthy air for everyone this Clean Air Day.

The Mayor is looking for new poster designs about what clean air means to you, to showcase why clean air is so important for our city, and celebrate the steps we are all taking to lead the way on cleaner air for all Londoners.

He is now inviting London school children aged 4 to 14 to create designs, with the chance to have them featured as part of this year’s Clean Air Day celebration with posters featured on advertising across London or the Mayor of London’s social media channels.

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/pollution-and-air-quality/mayor-londons-clean-air-day-challenge-2023

Cost of living crisis

Camden Early Help

Everyone needs a little help sometimes. If you're feeling worried about your child, or you want to make a change in your life, Camden Early Help is here for you, your children and your whole family.

What we offer

  • Free support service for families with children aged 0 to 19 in Camden
  • Practical and emotional support with a range of life issues
  • Working with you and your family to help make changes
  • Helping you and your family to feel connected in your community. ​

Please click here for further information

Managing Debt

If you owe money and you’re struggling to pay your bills:

  • get in touch with an organisation like Debtline for free and confidential advice
  • speak to the organisation you owe money to – for Council Tax arrears, call 020 7974 6414
  • ask your energy supplier for temporary credit if you cannot top-up a pre-payment meter
  • use Citizens Advice's budgeting tool to set out your income and expenditure
  • do not ignore letters or bills about money you owe. Contact a local organisation in the Camden Advice Network or call a national advice organisation such as StepChange

Energy suppliers might be able to let you pay in smaller amounts or take a break from payments. You might also be able to apply for a grant to pay off energy debts.

If you need to take out a loan, do not approach a loan shark or take out a payday loan. Consider credit unions or other ethical loan providers. Find out more at credit-union.coop, call 020 7561 1786 or email info@credit-union.coop.

If you owe a loan shark money, or if you’re being threatened, get confidential help from Stop Loan Sharks.

If you don’t know where to turn, call us on 020 7974 4444 (option 9) or contact Citizens Advice Camden.

Cost of living Crisis Fund

If you're struggling to afford essentials such as food, energy bills or housing, you may be eligible for a £500 payment through our Cost of Living Crisis Fund.

How to apply:

There are several ways to apply for support from our Cost of Living Crisis Fund. you can

Please see : https://www.camden.gov.uk/financial-support-for-residents1​ for further information.

Climate Action Updates

Climate Action

In 2021 Brookfield became one of the first schools to sign the Camden School Climate Charter - a declaration of the climate and ecological emergency and commits the school to become zero-carbon by 2030.
Work is underway to implement different measures to achieve this, but if any parents have expertise and/or enthusiasm for sustainability, please get in touch with the Climate Action Group kate.taylor@gmail.com

Clothes Swap

Do you hate how quickly your kids grow out of their clothes, some barely worn? Do you frequently have to find last minute costumes or outfits, and don't want to buy new? Or have you been meaning to clear out the clothes your kids no longer need? Here's your solution!
Join a WhatsApp group to sell, buy or give away unwanted clothes in good condition, for the benefit of other Brookfield families.
For juniors, join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hyy4fJN0PPREtLLNO25CWO
For infants, join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HgnPDcbwbKAI2crMhjs6zK

And finally, our ECO TIP of the week! Beginning of May marks #NoMowMay. Thinking of mowing your lawn but don't have the time? Don't feel guilty, leave it for the insects and the birds to complete their breeding and for flowers to set their seed. Nature will thank you, while you enjoy a cup of tea