New playground Equipment
Back in the spring, you helped us raise some additional funds for exciting new playground equipment for the infant playground. We have crates, tyres, wood and other items, and the children have been busy building dens, and exploring the ways they can use the new equipment. See the pictures below during breaktime earlier this week!
Year 6 Leavers Assembly
Reminder: On Friday 21st July at 9.15am, you are warmly invited to attend our Year 6 leavers assembly. It will be a chance for the children to share their memories and say goodbye to Brookfield. We are looking forward to seeing you there (entry via school office).
Year 3 Trip to Highgate Cemetery
On Wednesday, Year 3 visited Highgate cemetery. We were allowed to explore the whole cemetery with our group and looked at the different types of rocks the gravestones were made from. We noticed that some rocks seemed last a lot longer than others, and also looked at how the plants and weather had impacted on how the writing on each gravestone looked. We even found a grave stone made from wood!
Sports Day
Thank you for joining us at the KS1 and Reception Sports Days this week - it was such a joy to watch the children displaying good sportsmanship, and competitive spirit. Check out some pictures below
Free School Meals
Last week we notified you of the upcoming changes to school meals across London. Please read the letter below from the Mayor of London
Mayor of London letter (UFSM) - London Borough of Camden
You can check if you're eligible for additional funding, and apply here https://www.camden.gov.uk/free-school-meals
Please see the letter from the PTA to support this transition to free school meals for all PTA letter
Our school meal provider, Caterlink are also preparing for this change. Please read the letter below and complete the form if your child has any allergies to food that we are not aware of
letter to parents .
Allergy and intolerance form blank
After School Club
After School Club bookings for the new academic year can be made 30 days ahead. After School Club will start on 6th September in the new academic year.
We remind you that we cannot take after shcool club bookings for reception children until after the first half term is over.
Bookings are made via your scopay account
More information about After School Club can be found here
Breakfast club is not bookable, simply turn up from 8am (and before 8.30am), and this will be added to your Scopay account.
Parking
Do you have a driveway that you don't use during the morning? Or do you know someone that does? Two staff members are looking for new parking spaces for the September term. Please email r.williams@brookfield.caden.sch.uk if you are able to help. Thank you
Clothing requests
If you are having a sort out of clothes, we would appreciate any donations of the following items:
- Trousers, joggers and leggings from ages 5 - 12 years
- t-shirts and jumpers from ages 5-12 years
If your child has had a change of clothes, we would really appreciate if you are able to wash and return them to us (not underwear) so that they can be used again.
Please read the letter below from the PTA in support of the free school meal
PTA letter
STILL NEEDED: PTA CO-CHAIRS
Sophie and Nicolai, the current PTA Co-chairs, will both be stepping down next week at the end of this term. If no one comes forward as chair and co-chair we will sadly have to pause PTA events until those roles are filled. Charity rules mean the PTA cannot function without a committee of 3 people, fortunately we have the fantastic Graeme taking over the treasurer role, so it only needs two more people from the whole of the Brookfield community to step up.
All PTA events will be suspended until the 2 roles are filled.
There have been a few people that have expressed an interest in joining together to keep the PTA going with a more collective approach. They are unable to take on major roles, but would like to be involved. Please contact your class reps if you are interested in joining their pressure free WhatsApp group.
However, we still need two people to act as figureheads, help coordinate and be named for The Charity Commission.
NEXT YEARS REPS
A huge thank you to all the class reps for everything you have done this year. Now is the time for new people to put yourself forward to take over the role as class rep for next year. The rep’s job is mainly to help the PTA and the school communicate with their class, they also help organise their year’s stalls for the summer and winter fairs and each year is in charge of one bake sale.
It is vital that each class has either one or two reps to represent them and help pass on important information, so please think if it is something you are able to do.
Please contact your current reps if you are interested in taking on the role. Thank you.
SUMMER FAIR RAFFLE
Congratulations to our raffle winners. There are still several prizes still to be claimed, so please check your ticket numbers on the spreadsheet. Any prizes can be collected from the office or by emailing the PTA - brookfieldschoolpta@gmail.com
Meet the Parents
I am delighted to let you know that Meet the Parents is coming back to Brookfield on Wednesday 27th September from 6.30 - 7.30pm. If you are thinking about where to send your child for secondary school, this is a great chance to hear from families at our local Camden secondaries and ask them whatever you want. For more information go to https://meettheparents.info
Webinar for Year 6
The Anna Freud Centre is offering a free webinar to support you and your child's transition to secondary school. Please find details here: https://www.annafreud.org/training/training-and-conferences-overview/online-conferences-webinars-and-events/transition-to-secondary-school-supporting-your-year-7-child/?mc_cid=32af069b9d&mc_eid=9bb94ee745/
Aerial Days Youth Circus Summer School
Monday 24th - Thursday 27th July, 10am to 4pm each day, for children aged 8-17 years. Experiences and new students are welcome to enjoy 4 days of Trapeze, Hoop, Silks, Acrobatics, conditioning, flexibility, Hulahoop, Plate spinning, Juggling, Diabolo, Games, Obstacle courses, fun and laughter in small class groups!
4 days = £300
single day £89
Free Summer Cricket HAF Programme
Please find details attached, of a free cricket course for 7-11 years old children at Camden Primary Schools, for the first 3 weeks of the upcoming Summer Holidays.
Summer HAF Prog Flyer 2023 CAMDEN
Neighbour Day
Please see the attached poster about neighbour day at Highgate cemetery on 18th July from 5 - 7.30pm.
230628_NeighboursDay_Leaflet PdB
Camden Music Lessons
We want to let you know about how we can help people pay for music lessons in school. It might not apply to you, but you might know someone else who we could help.
Families who qualify for Free School Meals can have a half-price music lesson – we just run a quick check with our benefits department.
For next year, we can also offer half-price lessons to families who get Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Support – for these you might have to send us some proof of your benefit.
From September 2023, a term of ten 20-minute instrumental lessons would cost £59.64 for these families.
Everyone can arrange to pay in instalments to make it easier to manage those bills – just contact us to talk about what will be manageable.
People can apply for lessons here https://www.camden.gov.uk/instrument-and-voice-lessons-in-schools .
Free Summer Holiday Workshops at the Foundling museum for children aged 5-12
Free tickets available to upcoming Summer Holiday family workshops. Tickets are usually charged a small amount per person; however, we would love local families to access our workshops and activities free of charge.
Families can access free tickets by booking through our website and selecting the ‘Golden Ticket’ option when making a booking. The workshops are suitable for children aged 5 – 12 years old.
You can book spaces to these workshops through our website here: Summer Holiday Family Workshops - Foundling Museum
A5 summer workshops flyer 2023
A Thank you...
A Brookfield parent has asked us to include a thank you to all of the parents who helped her when she had lost her daughter outside Nisa near the school last week. She was so very grateful for the support and help everyone gave her in getting reunited with her daughter.
Mental Health Support
If you're feeling down, anxious or worries, help is available:
- Speak to your GP about how you are feeling
- Refer yourself to iCope. this is a free NHS service in Camden and Islington giving confidential support and therapies. iCope also offers intercultural therapy in different languages
- Read more about mental health services in Camden
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.
Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July is still on and we hope you've been able to experiment a bit with your daily routines and implement some eco swaps!
This time we wanted to share with you one bit of wisdom that's really helped us on our journey. Trying to change your lifestyle is overwhelming. We are surrounded by single use items, and it's no surprise that so many people are put off. The important part is to try to do your best. Whether you buy a reusable water bottle first, or try a solid shampoo bar, anywhere you start is great. You are already on your way, you are already thinking about your steps, so congratulations!
Once you've taken your first step, what next? Well, the world is your oyster. Take your pick - bathroom or kitchen, clothes shopping, or gifts? Where will you eliminate plastic from next? You can refuse the plastic wrapper at the florist's, bring your bags to the grocery store, and try not to buy fruit and veg wrapped in plastic in the supermarket. Once you've got the hang of it, it can become quite addictive!
