Yesterday was Autumn term ‘E-safety Day’ at Millfields! The children took part in assemblies with the theme "Play your part for a better internet" #shareaheart for Safer Internet Day!’ This theme encourages children to think about how they play a part in making the internet a positive place, and consider what to do if they experience anything negative online. It highlights the issues and concerns that young people have when they’re online, but the theme primarily focuses on practical solutions and responding appropriately to negative content so that we can all ‘play our part for a better internet’. We also emphasise that they should always tell an adult if they are worried about what has been said to them or someone else online. Each child wrote an e-safety pledge that will be displayed around the school. Please take some time to discuss this with your child.

Also this week, staff and children have been working very hard on making sure that all the classroom learning environments are completed and the teachers have also been meeting with senior leaders to discuss the progress of the children who are new to their class. The teachers have been looking  at the end of year assessment outcomes from July 2016, and discussing how the children have settled in to new classes with new teachers, and are making sure that appropriate provision and interventions are in place to maximise learning this term.

We are collecting food as part of Harvest Festival this week, and next and will be making a donation to the Salvation Army and to the Hackney Food Bank. Please do have a look in your cupboards and see if you can spare any tinned foods, washing powder, UHT juice or milk, or anything else non-perishable. Many thanks for your support as always.

Today we enjoyed listening to the work that the children in both York and Dundee class have been doing over the summer break and in the first few weeks at school. Thank you to all the parents who came to support their children.

Next Week is Maths  Week so your child will be asking you about their classes’ Magic Number –please ask them about it next week, and support us in making  maths meaningful in every day life.

Don’t forget it is the individual photo session on Tuesday 27th September –please be on time and dressed in school uniform.

Finally, have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

We have had a quieter and very hot week in school this week, and the children and staff have all been working very hard in class.

As I mentioned last week, the Millfields Choir took part in the Totally Thames event, that took place last Sunday at the Scoop on the Southbank. The Children’s Choir were fantastic and really made me feel proud to be part of such an amazing musical event. Thank you to Roz and Tom for organising and to all the parents who came along to support their children.

Today we celebrated National TA Day. We celebrated all the hard work and commitment of all the support staff at Millfields –TAs, LSAs, Nursery Officers, Office and Admin Staff, Breakfast Club Staff, Kitchen Staff and After-school Club Staff by having a special pre-school breakfast and then holding special assemblies that celebrated all the amazing things they all do! The support staff all received certificates and there is also a display in the bottom hall that reflects all the lovely comments that the children made about the people who support and help them in lots of ways while they are at school across the whole day. Thank you to you all –you are amazing!

We also had our half-termly Fire Drill practice this week, and I am so pleased that all the children came out of the building sensibly, quietly and in just over 3minutes –well done to staff and children for keeping safe!

Also today, the children in Years 1,2 and 3 took part in a drama workshop. An actor -Phileas Fogg took the children on an exciting globe-trotting journey improvisation to find unique presents from around the world help to find the perfect present for the Queen’s 90th birthday. Through world music, language and culture, it was a celebration of British Values!

I hope you have found the Year group Welcome meetings useful –these are designed for information across the year group, but you will have more time to talk about your individual child at the Parents’ evening later this term. For Year 1 parents, there will be an additional meeting for you to meet the teacher –more details to follow.

Reception parents there is an opportunity to learn about ‘Early Reading' at our workshop on Wednesday 21st at 9.30am. Hope to see you there.

Have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

Welcome back to everyone in the Millfields community -pupils, children and staff. A special welcome to all our new Nursery and Reception children and parents and other new starters throughout the school. I hope you have had a good summer break, and enjoyed time with friends and family.

Welcome also, to all our new staff, Kelly, Rachel, Judyann, Eileen, Carlie and Blaithin -teachers, Noorjahan –SENCo support manager, Laverne -trainee teacher, and Support Staff -Souad, Amy, Selime, Peter, Dominique, Dominic, Iesha, Saibala, Umara and Alena. Also welcome back to Vicky Noakes who has returned from maternity leave.

I am pleased to see all the children back, happy and settled in their new classes with their new teachers. The children have quickly learnt new routines and seem to be enjoying the first week’s activities in class. This week, the children in each class have been agreeing and signing their new Class Charter in line with the Rights Respecting School agenda and have been discussing their rights and how to respect each others’ rights. They have also been revisiting behaviour for learning expectations –supporting and actively listening to each other, discussing and explaining ideas and taking responsibility for their own learning.

As always, the children are learning about the city that their class is named after. They have been learning lots of different facts and figures and will be helping to design their classroom door as part of a whole school competition! Look out for the photos of all the doors in the next few weeks.

The children have also taken part in an class activity to launch their new topic -some have been on treasure hunts in and out of the school, taken part in archaeological digs in class. Y1 visited London Zoo today, while Year 2 went on a trip to the Science Museum as part of their topic: ‘Space Race’. Year 3 visited the British Museum to look at the Africa galleries, while Y4 had visiting workshops on Egyptians and Year 6 on the Mayans. A fire engine also visited school today and the Reception children were delighted to get on board and speak to the fire-fighters as part of their work on people who help us. What a busy start to the term!

The Year Group welcome meetings are happening next week. These sessions are an opportunity for you to meet your child/ren's new teacher and find out what they will be learning in school and what a day in the life of a child in that year group looks like. There will also be some handy tips about how you can support your child at home.

If you have any questions, please speak to the class teacher in the first instance –preferably at the end of the school day as in the morning, it is important that the children get in to class on time and begin their daily routine. You can catch me or another member of the Senior Leadership Team at the school gates in the morning or at the end of the day. The dates and times of the ‘Welcome Meetings’ are on the school website and in this Mag.

Thank you to all of you - parents and carers for making such a great effort with school uniform. All of the children are looking rested and refreshed and extremely smart in their new uniforms. A reminder that children should be wearing black or navy sensible shoes and please, no tops with hoods .

Please remember to look for information on the school noticeboards, on the new digital screen in the playground, on the school website, via text or email, as well as on the Millfields Mag. If you have not let the office know your email address or you have recently changed your mobile phone number please let them know asap. There will be an information update form coming home with each child in the next week to ensure that we have all the correct information.

This weekend is the Thames Festival, and if you have never been before, it is well worth visiting the many activities that take place along the South Bank, and also an opportunity to come to the Scoop outside City Hall where Millfields Choir will join lots of other school choirs from across London to sing as part of the festival.

I hope you have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

Welcome Back!

I hope you have all had a good holiday and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

At the beginning of each academic year, there is a Year Group meeting for parents and carers who have children in Years 1-6. This is an opportunity to meet your child's teacher and to find out about what your children will be learning this year, as well as some of the class and school routines and expectations. The teachers will also let you know how and when it is best to contact them. There will be time for questions too!

All meetings will take place in the bottom hall. The meeting times are below:

Class Welcome Meetings 2016

Monday 12th September at 3pm -Year 1

Tuesday 13th September at 3pm -Year 2

Wednesday 14th September at 3pm -Year 3

Thursday 15th September at 3pm -Year 4

Friday 16th September at 3pm -Year 5

Monday 19th September at 3pm -Year 6

*Reception Classes will have a meeting later in the term once the children have settled as the parents and pupils have all had home visits.

Autumn Term PARENTS' EVENING: Wednesday 16^th November 2016

What an amazing year again – and all over already! We have had so many amazing events, successes and celebrations this year! Thanks to all the children, staff, parents and the wider community for all of your support, enthusiasm and energy – none of the amazing things that happen at Millfields could happen without all of you. As I reinforce every year, the Millfields School community is something special and I hope we will continue in September and do it all again!

As always we are very sad to see all the children in Year 6 get ready to move on to the next stage in their educational journey. This group of Year 6 children have been a great group from the beginning of their time at Millfields. Some of them were the first children to come to Millfields Children's Centre. The end of year performance of ‘The Jungle Book’ was brilliant – great staging, costumes, acting, singing and most of all good humour and fun. This year group has been so hard working, enthusiastic and excited to learn and take part in so many other aspects of school life. With the added pressure of new SATS exams this year, they have exceeded all our expectations. All of the children have become confident and articulate; there have been lots of big personalities as well as quiet talented individuals in many fields – writers, actors, singers, musicians, sportsmen and women, footballers, cyclists, politicians, dancers, singers, ambassadors and entrepreneurs! We will definitely hear some of your names again in the future, of that I am sure. Remember –make sure your voice is heard and be the best that you can be! Well done – we are going to miss you all!

We have had a great week of celebrations. We were winners of the Hackney Cycling League – a fantastic achievement, so well done to the whole team who won medals and the shield, and were treated to a pizza lunch yesterday. The football team who won the Hackney Champions League, receiving a medal and a cup for the school had a pizza treat as well. All our fantastic musicians who took part in the Clapton Music Festival and to those who have taken their guitar grade music exams—30 passed with 11 distinctions 9 merits and 9 achieving Grade 3 - our best ever results! Well done to all the children at Millfields who take part in so many events and to the children who come to school every day and work hard – we presented 100%Attendance certificates to the children in assembly today. Also today, the ‘Always Good’ children went on a trip to the Clapton Portico for brunch – it is an amazing building to be in and the children enjoyed their treat!

There have also been a few trips this week.  Year 3 enjoyed their time at the Natural History Museum, Year 2 visited an urban beach and Reception classes went to Victoria Park. Thank you to the staff who organise the trips – and all the teachers who make them run so smoothly and make sure that the children have a great learning experience.

Last, but certainly not least, we are again, saying a goodbye and a huge ‘thank you’ to some members of staff who are moving on to many varied and exciting ventures in the UK and the rest of the world! Farewell to teachers – Lloyd, Esme, Abigail, Celeste, Wayne and Children Centre Manager Terry, and to support staff – Abby, Marta, Simone, Luana, Gallina and Penny. Good luck to Kate –TA who is going on maternity leave and to Kasia who is taking a year sabbatical. I know you will join me in thanking them for all their work at Millfields, and wishing them all the best and good luck for the future! Also good luck to all the children who are moving out of London to new houses and new schools –we will miss you all!

Have a great summer break, and see you on Monday 5th September. Best Wishes, Jane

We have continued the sports theme this week as the children have enjoyed taking part in a range of activities connected with the Olympics! Olympian, Dannish Walker-Khan visited the school on Tuesday to speak to the children in assemblies about the work, determination and effort that goes in to the training schedule, the taking part and the excitement of performing on the Olympic stage. Dannish himself was inspired after watching the 200m final at the London 2012 Summer Olympics Games. Amongst his main goals were to earn selection for the Great Britain team and we are hoping that we will be able to cheer him on in Rio this summer!

Today all the children who took part in Sports Days received their medal and/or certificates. Two children from each class, who have demonstrated Olympic values over the  week, were chosen by their class teacher to receive an award. Well done to all the winners and to everyone who took part in the sports days with such enthusiasm! It is the taking part and good sporting behaviour that makes it such a great event at Millfields!

As part of the Olympic focus this week, we launched the motivational speech competition in assemblies and lots of children have been putting pen to paper and writing some great pieces that will be judged in school –there will be winners in each year group and then they will be entered in to the Team GB Get Set Network to try to win a prize for their class and the school. Good luck everyone!

Later than others, Year 3 and Year 4 held their Sports Day on Monday; despite the weather, the day was a success

Well done to Rafael and Milo who took part ion the Hackney schools tennis tournament last Friday and came close runners-up! A great effort so well done to you both! Also a group of Year 5 and 6 children visited Lords Cricket Ground this week and enjoyed a master-class in learning some new skills, as well as having a good tour of the grounds.

Year 1 had a great time yesterday at the Tower Bridge Exhibition as part of their work on London and the UK. The children were very keen to tell me stories of lying on the glass floor to see the traffic and river below –very exciting!

Also this week, the KS1 and KS2 choirs took part in the annual Hackney Music Festivals held at the Round Chapel. The singing was fantastic, the younger ones definitely bringing a tear to everyone’s eyes as children from across Hackney all joined together to sing a repertoire of songs. Some of our classes also went along to watch and celebrate their friends’ achievements.

A few reminders: the Summer Fair is TOMORROW –Saturday 2nd July. We hope to see you all there to enjoy all the activities, buy some goodies, taste the amazing food that will be on sale, and to generally be part of our annual community event.

Also, please note that the school is CLOSED to pupils on TUESDAY 5th July due to strike action by one of the teachers’ unions.

Finally, Parents Evenings’ are taking place next week –Canterbury, Nottingham and Glasgow are on Monday 4th July and all other classes are on Wednesday 6th July.

Have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

On Monday, the speaker of Hackney, Cllr Rosemary Sales came to announce the name of the new Millfields Prime Minister.  After a very moving tribute to

Labour MP, Jo Cox –the children clapped to show their support for her work as an MP and humanitarian and to show that their thoughts are with her family and children. After thanking and congratulating all the other candidates and parties for their enthusiasm and passion about the issues, and declaring the result was a very close call, the new Prime Minister was announced!

Well done to Aasma Hajat of ‘Shooting Stars’! On hearing that she had won, Aasma said: ‘I will be the best I can be and we will strive to become a better school and a greener community.’ The out-going Prime Minster, Finlay McNally, said that he was ‘happy for her and that she seems good for the role.’ Aasma and her team ran a great campaign, and I am looking forward to working with Aasma and the new cabinet, who will be elected in the new term in September, on the ‘Shooting Stars’ school, local and national pledges.

All the children across the school really engaged with the democracy theme and took an enthusiastic and an active role in having their voice heard!

This week has also been a busy hive of activity as sports, fitness and health are all on the ‘Sports Week’ agenda! The children, across different year groups,  have all enjoyed trying lots of different sports –football, skipping, volley ball, multi-skills, archery, capoeira and orienteering. Despite the weather, we have also managed to have 3 out of 4 Sports Days! As usual the children have really enjoyed themselves –taking part and winning! Also, as usual, the parents and carers have been very competitive in their races! Thank you to all the parents and carers for their support this week. LKS2 Sports Day will now take place on Monday 27th June –Year3 and 4 should have a letter re-confirming times etc. for the day. Next week, we will be continuing the Sports Week, and trying more activities as well as focusing on the coming Olympics in Rio! I hope that lots of your children will be writing inspirational speeches to win one of our school prizes and then be entered in to the National competition as well.

Finally, it seems that Eid will now probably fall on Wednesday 6th July, which is our scheduled Parents’ Evening. For all our families marking the end ofRamadan and celebrating Eid, we will have a drop-in session on Monday 11th July –times to be confirmed. All other parents will be able to sign up as usual from the end of today.

Please remember it is the Summer Fair on Saturday 2nd July –hoping to see you all there. Also remember that school closes on Friday 15th July at 2pm.

Have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane