Another busy week of learning and enrichment at Millfields! Year 4 were amazed at some of the interesting and unusual facts that they learnt at the interactive Egyptian workshops on Wednesday. The children really enjoyed dressing up and looking at artefacts. Year 1 had a great time finding out about dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Dome that visited school this week. They found out lots of facts and learnt the names of dinosaurs as well as looking at clues about how dinosaurs lived. Year 2 took off in to space inside the Space Dome that was also in school this week. The children were very excited and enjoyed learning lots of facts about space and the night sky! Also this week, the children from our Autistic Resource Provision visited the London Transport Museum as part of their work on moving things and transport.  The children told me that they had great fun going on the different vehicles and are doing lots of work based on what they saw on their trip. Please ask your children about their learning experiences in school.

On Monday, 120 Year 5 and 6 children visited the Royal Opera House to see the ‘The Magic Flute’. One of our own students, Ilya Greatrex was part of the performance and Millfields children and staff all said that they were very excited and proud that Ilya was part of the performance and they also said he was brilliant! Well done Ilya!

In assembles this week we have been learning about Harvest, it’s significance and the Harvest traditions at this time of the year. We are collecting food donations for the Hackney Food Bank so please bring your donations to the main reception –we are collecting until next Wednesday.

Well done to our Year 5 and 6 Orienteering Team – Hugh, Milton, Kaspar, Solomon, Suki, Aoife, Frey,

Exauce, Louis, Joseph, Aa’sim and Hamza. The whole team scored really well and after one out of eight events taking place amongst Hackney schools over the next academic year, we hold the top 7 spots, with Louis and Hugh in joint place at the top of the table with 100 points each! Congratulations and keep it up!

I am sure that you will know by now, that ‘Beat the Street’ was launched on Wednesday! Congratulations to the winners of our in-school poster competition –Chieyiem, Isobel, Molly, Liam White, Evy, Indie and Janiayah who took part in the official launch at the Orbit in QEOP. Well done and thank you to all the children who designed posters and entered the competition. The standard was very high with some very imaginative designs and ideas! If you have not yet registered, please do it as soon as you can and get involved with the individual and school challenge!

The newly elected Junior Road Safety officers, Viggo and Leila, went to the Hackney Museum yesterday to learn more about their role for the coming year and how to encourage and support our school community in crossing the road safely. As part of our drive to ensure that the children are able to cross the road safely and that all our parents and carers keep the children safe at the start and end of the school day, there is a consultation drop-in session at the school on Thursday 28th September at 3.45pm. It will outline plans to temporarily close roads around the school entrance. Please try to drop in if you can!

Next week is ‘Maths Week’ at Millfields. The children will all be working on individual and class projects about the magic of numbers! There are workshops planned for parents and carers in each age-phase, -please see dates inside mag and sign up at the main office. To round off the week of celebration of Maths, Friday 29th September is non-uniform day when we are asking children to dress up as Maths Magicians! There is also a Maths raffle where you can win Maths Books, Maths dictionaries, pencil sets and Maths games. It is 50p a ticket all next week –the winning tickets will be drawn on Friday afternoon!

Finally, please ensure that you let the main office know if you change your phone number and also make sure that you have a second number that we can call. Also, from after half term, the Mag is going to be sent via email only, so please ensure that you have given the office a current and working email address.

Have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

Today is National TA Day! So today we have been celebrating and thanking all our support staff – teaching assistants, Learning Mentors, PE coaches, LSAs, After-school staff, office and admin staff, premises and cleaning staff and kitchen staff for all their dedication and hard work every day! We had a special breakfast and staff were awarded a special sticker!

Most of our classes have been on a WOW trip this week to support learning about topic for this term. Reception classes visited the Homerton Fire Station as part of their topic on ‘People who help us’ and they really enjoyed going in the fire engine truck and using the hose to spray water – it was very heavy apparently! On Monday, Year 1 classes visited London Zoo as part of their science work on living things. The sun was shining and the children practically had the zoo to themselves! A huge thank you to Daniel Latham’s Mum’s friend who works at London Zoo and arranged for some of the children in Liverpool class to feed the giraffes. It was an awesome experience for the children and adults! Year 2 visited the Science Museum to look at the space exhibits as part of their work in class on space and Neil Armstrong. They really enjoyed the interactive experience in the 4D cinema! Year 3 and Year 4 both visited the British Museum, to look at the Egyptian exhibits in Year 4 as their topic is Ancient Egypt, and Year 3 looked at the African galleries as part of their topic on ‘Africa Uncovered’. Finally, Year 5 visited Sutton Hoo in Suffolk yesterday as part of their topic on Vikings. Although it was a long journey to get there, the information and experience was brilliant and really made the topic come alive for the children.

Yesterday was ‘E-safety Day’ at Millfields and all of the classes were asked to talk about the importance of staying safe online. Years 3-6 also had a visit from our Community Police Officer who talked about the dangers of the internet, social media and social networking. You should have received a leaflet to help at home with staying safe online and there is also a section on the school website with links to parental and pupil support for safer internet use.

As usual we have been very busy at Millfields. Year 5 classes have also celebrated Roald Dahl Day by taking part in a live national drawing activity with Quentin Blake to celebrate the fantastic books we all love to read! Dundee class have also been taking part in the school fitness week with Joe Wicks – the children have loved the exercise which has helped them get ready for learning.

Also this week we are getting the children ready for the return of ‘Beat the Street’! For those who don’t know, Beat the Street is a fun, free real-life walking and cycling challenge delivered on behalf of the National Charity Partnership - a partnership between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Tesco. It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring the whole school community together and get the children, staff and families excited about keeping fit! Plus there are lots of prizes to be won for you and the school! How does it work? Beat Boxes’ will be positioned throughout East London, including one outside our school. Players receive a card or fob which they tap on the Beat Boxes as they walk, cycle or scoot around town, earning points for themselves and their team –Millfields! Look out for packs coming your way very soon!

You should also have seen a flyer this week advertising a pilot scheme -’Safer Streets’ that will ensure that the junctions around our school are a safe place to cross at the beginning and end of every day. We need your support through the consultation that opens next week –Wednesday 20th September until 20th October There is a drop-in meeting on Thursday 28th September from 3.45pm –6.00pm, that will give you more information, so hope to see lots of you there.

Finally, we are extremely happy to announce that we were invited to share our good practice around inclusion, diversity and pupil voice and are featured in this year’s Parliamentary Review - a guide to cross-sector best practice. There are a few copies at the main office or see www.parliamentaryreview.co.uk

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

Welcome back to everyone at the Millfields -pupils, children and staff. A special welcome to all our new reception class children and parents/carers 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; Lilly –SENCo, Fintan, Kamilah, Kimberlie, Rosie and Alex—teachers, Donna –Main receptionist, Micpia –Catering Assistant, Keder –Y3 trainee teacher, and Support Staff –Christina. I am also pleased to let you know that Deputy Head Kate had a baby boy and Lucia, Y1 teacher also had a baby boy in August. Congratulations to both families.

All the children seem happy and settled in their new classes with their new teachers and they have quickly learnt new routines.  They all seem to be enjoying working in new classrooms, and enjoying the first week’s learning.

I am delighted to say that in July, after a very intense day’s visit, the school was re-accredited with Unicef Level 2 ‘Rights Respecting School’ status. As a result, we have started the school year by celebrating this achievement and each class have been discussing the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) and the class have agreed and signed their new Class Charter. This year the whole school will be focussing on 5 articles from the UNCRC. They are as follows: Article 12: respect for the views of the child, Article 14: freedom of thought, belief and religion, Article 17: access to information from the media, Article 24: health and health services, Article 31: leisure, play and culture.

Each class has 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 and doing some work on the city’s twin city.  All of the homework that has been completed over the summer that I have seen is amazing. There are some fantastic models, great booklets, posters and artefacts –well done everyone! The home learning will be displayed in the class and around the school for everyone to see!

As part of a whole school competition, the children have been learning lots of facts, figures and trivia about their class city which will be transformed in to a very informative and decorative classroom door! The children have also taken part in an class activity to launch their new topic and WOW trips to enthuse and encourage learning around new topics will be taking place next week. If you have not yet returned the ‘cover all’ trips and outings letter, please do so ASAP along with £10 contribution. There are additional copies of all letters available at the main office.

The Year Group welcome meetings are taking place next week –you should have received a flyer telling you which day your class meeting takes place, and the information is also on the website.  These sessions are an opportunity for you to meet your child’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.

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 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.

Finally, it is really important that children get in to class on time and begin their daily routine. From Monday 11th, all classes Y1 –Y6 will be able to come in to school from 8.45am –a soft start. Please note that if you arrive after 9am, you will be marked late.

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 the teachers in each year group 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 2017

Monday 11th September at 3pm -Year 6

Tuesday 12th September at 3pm -Year 1

Wednesday 13th September at 3pm -Year 4

Friday 15th September at 3pm -Year 3

Monday 18th September at 3pm -Year 2

Wednesday 20th September at 3pm -Year 5

*Nursery and 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 15^th November 2017

Nearly the end of another academic year already and this is the final Mag! It seems to have gone more quickly than usual but maybe that is because I an getting so much older, having celebrated a big birthday this year with the help of all the staff and children –it was lovely! And what an amazing year it has been again – and all over. 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 very special and I hope the amazing team and community spirit will continue in September, as we welcome new children and families, and do it all again!

Thank you to everyone who came to support the Summer Fair last Saturday –with all the donations and takings on the day we made £6,792, so thank you to all the parents involved, but especially to Alison Quinn for all her hard work that made the day happen!

Today the children all met their new class teachers as part of Transition Day. This is always an exciting time to meet our new teachers –welcome Kamilah, Kimberlie, Alex, Rosie and Fintan. It also a sad time as we also say goodbye……...we will miss you, but wish you all the best in your new adventures to Cynthia, Kelly and Carlie, and congratulations and good luck to Lucia, Carlie and Kate who are going on maternity leave!

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 ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ that took place last night was brilliant – fantastic scenery, costumes, acting, singing and most of all good humour and fun. This year group has been an interesting one, but the children have always been enthusiastic and excited to learn and take part in so many other aspects of school life –they have exceeded all our expectations. During their time at Millfields, they have all become confident, articulate and well-rounded individuals who will go on to great things 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 again the winners of the Hackney Cycling League – a fantastic achievement, so well done to the whole team who were presented with a special medal at the Hackney Sports Awards on Wednesday at Millfields. Yesterday, the ‘Always Good’ children went on a trip for lunch to Tacos Del 74 on Mare Street –it was brilliant and the food was delicious!

Next week we are off to the World Para Athletics on Monday and it is London Day on Tuesday –so have fun! If I don’t see you –have a great summer break! And see you all on the first day back -Wednesday 6th september.

Best Wishes, Jane

We have had another week of lots of trips, visits and enrichment activities at Millfields. Firstly, ‘thank you’ to all the parents and carers who attended Parents Evening on Wednesday. The feedback on the annual reports was very positive and if you still have the feedback sheet to complete and return, please hand it in to the main office. Thank you to all the parents who completed the annual questionnaire. Your feedback and comments are important. I will be addressing some of the points raised in the survey and talking to parents especially those in the current Year 3 and Year 5 in the new academic year.

On Monday, 5 very excited children who had designed posters and created work around what it is like to live in Hackney in 2017, as part of their work on the local area, were special guests at the Hackney Town Hall. The children were invited to bury their work in a time capsule! They met the mayor and deputy mayor and were treated to a tour around the town hall. Well done – it would be great to know what the people of Hackney make of it in 100 years time!

Year 5 also visited New West End Synagogue as part of their RE work for this year. The staff there were very accommodating and the children learnt lots about the religious building and the Jewish faith to reinforce their learning in class. Thank you to Naomi for organising the trips to religious places of worship this year, as this has really enhanced the children's’ RE learning experiences. Year 6 visited Kidzania on Wednesday as part of their ‘thank you and good-bye’ treat!

Thank you to all the parents who came to the re-organised UKS2 Sports Day on Tuesday morning. The weather held and the children were able to take part in all the events and had good fun while being a little bit competitive! Thank you again to Sharon and Dwayne for all their support during all the Sports Days.

Also this week, the school football team won the Hackney tournament—well done to all the boys and girls involved! The winning football team and winning cyclists will all be going out for pizza as a treat before the end of term!

Thank you also to Roz and the music team again as they took the Instrumentalists and 2 choirs to the Hackney Music Festival events this week. As always, we stole the show!!

Also this week, the NSPCC visited Millfields to promote their ‘Speak out. Stay Safe’ campaign. The children in Years 1 –6 all took part in an assembly and Year 5 children all had workshop sessions to learn a little bit more about how to let someone know if they are worried or concerned about something in their life or someone else they know. Finally, it is the Summer Fair tomorrow so I hope to see lots of you at this very popular community event. We think the weather will be fine and are looking forward to fun and games, followed by the now traditional Solly Cup football game at Millfields Park.

Have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

Firstly, I would like to wish all our Muslim families a belated ‘Eid Mubarak’ for last weekend. I hope you all enjoyed the celebrations and time with family and friends.

This week, children, staff and parents have all enjoyed being active and healthy as part of our annual Sports and Healthy Living Week! All of the children have enjoyed learning new sports including goal-ball, dodge-ball, karate, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, badminton and tennis. They have also had the opportunity to take part in Jumpathon, morning aerobics and multi-sports sessions. Each class has also been making a healthy snack like a smoothie, fruit kebab and houmous and vegetables. Thank you to Vicki Wood for organising us all and also a special mention to Alex, Donna and Marcella who have been out before school getting the children, parents and staff warned up with their aerobics routines! Sports Days for EYFS, KS1 and LKS2 all managed to take place despite the rain on Tuesday, and the children really enjoyed taking part in the range of activities. Certificates will be awarded next week for effort, for achievement and for 3 pupils in each class who displayed good sporting behaviour and values throughout the week. UKS2 teachers are looking at their diaries to try to re-arrange the UKS2 Sports Day in the next 2 weeks, but with so much happening towards the end of term, it is proving quite difficult! We will keep you posted!

Yesterday was the Hackney ‘Bike Around the Borough’ event which saw hundreds of school children, staff and parents take to the streets on their bikes. Thank you to Matthew for organising the Year 5 children at Millfields to take part –it was a brilliant event and was enjoyed by all! Also, today is the final Cycling League event, and I am very pleased to say that Millfields have retained the League trophy, being announced winners even before anyone raced today! A fantastic achievement for all the children involved! A huge thank you to all the parents who have helped through the year but especially Karen and Paul who have been amazing — so enthusiastic and encouraging of all the children, and who have given up so much time to support the school cyclists! Thank you!

On Monday evening, lots of parents and staff enjoyed a fantastic celebration of music across Hackney by taking part in the 20 year Hackney Music Service anniversary event at the Barbican. The children in the Jazz Band and the primary schools choir were amazing. Thank you to Roz and the music team for making it happen!

Last night, children, staff and parents enjoyed a special art event at Hanbury Hall which was a celebration of a this term’s work with ‘My Creative Spark’ -an arts-based project in conjunction with Wieden and Kenendy. Thank you to Alice for organising!

Finally, it is Parents’ Evening next week –Wednesday 5th July, so hope to see you there.

Have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane