It has been a busy week in class, around school and in the local area this week at Millfields.

A big 'thank you' to the parents in Yangtze Class and Mekong Class who came into school to watch their child's Sharing Assembly this morning. They have done lots of work already this term and I hope you enjoyed the children sharing it with you!

Also this week, our Reading Champions visited the Town Hall on Wednesday to attend the launch event for this year. Our Champions were true ambassadors for Millfields, and spoke confidently and critically about their role! Thanks to Vickie for supporting them.

Also, the whole school is being encouraged to dress up as part of a non-uniform day on Friday 24th October. We will be wearing red clothes for 'Show Racism the Red Card'. £1 donations - cash or card, will be collected at each gate on Friday morning. Thanks in advance!

Please note that the half term is Monday 27th October to Friday 31st October. Monday 3rd November is an INSET Day and children will be back in school on Tuesday 4th November.

Have a good weekend. Take care, stay well and keep safe. Jane

In class this week, the children have continued to work on Black History Month learning and the children are responding to and learning through reading specific texts in each year group. Early Years - Coming to England, Year 1 - Look Up, & Mae Among the Stars, Year 2 - The Bus Ride, Year 3 - Long Walk to Freedom, Year 4 - Walter Tull’s Scrapbook, Year 5 - March On and Year 6 - Hidden Figures. The discussion and debate around their learning has been fantastic. Children at Millfields love to learn and ask lots of probing and curious questions, so their learning and making connections across subjects in school and the wider community and beyond, has been brilliant.

Another reminder that to celebrate the end of Black History season, the children's work will  create a showcase and display in school that will be shared with the school community on Wednesday 22nd October. There will be music & choir, food, displays of learning outcomes, photos pupil voice, writing samples and homework projects displayed and hopefully some poetry performances. Save the date! Look out for more information about the homework project in the next few weeks. Then on Friday 24th October, the children are invited to wear red to school that day to support 'Show Racism the Red Card'. £1 donations will be collected at each gate -cash or card on the Friday morning.  Look out for more information -see the poster inside the Mag, and hope to see lots of you there!

A big 'thank you' to the parents in Ganges Class and Yukon Class who came into school to watch their child's Sharing Assembly this morning. They have done lots of work already this term -some great costumes, great acting, singing and dancing. I hope you enjoyed the children sharing with you!

Please remember to complete your Christmas Card templates and return to the main office ASAP. Also , if your child needs something to do this weekend, please let them design a new Bike Bus Log/Sticker. see the email sent earlier today.

Thank you to the parents who have already made a donation to the FoodBank Appeal as part of Foodbank Fortnight. Either bring some food donations to the main office. or the school gates, or make a one-off or regular donation via the bank details on the poster that was sent out earlier this week.

Finally a few reminders, please complete the WOW trips letter and make a contribution via Scopay as soon as you can. https://forms.gle/cvLozA93Lpt6SpXT7

Next week - Monday 13th and Tuessday 14th October are this term's Parents' Evenings. Please make sure you sign up via SCOpay to make an appointment before 10.30pm on Sunday 12th October. We look forward to seeing you all then. The Book Fair will also be open during Parents' Evenings and in the playground before and after school. Remember that the school gets a large commission on the books sold. so please support us!

And a final reminder: INSET Day -school closed for children on Monday 3rd November.

Have a good weekend. Take care, stay well and keep safe. Jane

We are at the end of week 5 already this academic year, and the children and staff have been as busy as ever!

We have had a very busy and productive week at Millfields - the children have been really engaged in their learning as always. The best part of my day is walking around school and visiting each class to see and speak to the children about what they are doing in class. The children always talk about their learning enthusiastically and want to show me their fantastic work.  It is such a pleasure to witness and be part of every day.  Time seems to be flying by! Only 4 weeks until half-term!

Just a reminder that half-term is Monday 27th - Friday 31st October, and Monday 3rd November is an INSET Day, so children are back at school on Tuesday 4th November.

Thank you to everyone for their individual and collective support during and after yesterday's incident outside school. It seems miraculous that nobody was hurt, but we are aware that some children and adults may still feel anxious or worried. Please just remember that these occurrences are rare, but just a reminder that we need to be vigilant when on the roads around school as, although it is a School Streets zone that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists at the beginning and end of the school day, cars can still access the roads. Thank you again for your cooperation and support.

Thank you to the Millfields' community who were involved in the Clapton Jumble Trail last weekend -it sounds like it was a huge success as always, with some money from advertising boards going to the PSA. A special mention to Frida and Cecily from Ganges Class who made their own cookies to sell and made £17.40 that they donated to the  school -thank you!  Thank you also to everyone for the great effort at the first Bake Sale of the year -please make sure you know when it is your class turn and get baking!

Also a big 'Thank You' to one of our parents, Tom (Mars' dad) who, over the summer, put up the Memorial Wall for our dear colleague, Steve who passed away last year. The children worked with artists Linda and polly from ArtBash to design and create the amazing art piece earlier this year. The staff and Steve's family will be having an event to officially unveil the wall in the coming months.

A reminder that the Parents Evenings before half-term on Monday 13th and Tuessday 14th October. Feedback from some parents was that you felt that an earlier opportunity to meet the teacher would be more beneficial, so that any issues or support could be identified and dealt with earlier! You will receive information on Monday about how to sign up -you will need a SCOpay account, so if you do not have one, please get that sorted ASAP.

Before that, on Tuesday 7th October at 9am there will be a 'Welcome Meeting' for all Reception parents/carers. This will be for the whole year group and will be an opportunity to hear about the learning that will be taking place in class, about routines, and also how you can support your child. The EY team will be there, as well as the SENCo and other members of SLT. Members of the PSA (Parent Staff Association) will also attend.

This week, the Y3 classes have been learning to swim with a daily intensive lesson. They have been so enthusiastic and we can see big progress already! Thanks parents for getting your children prepared!

Another date for your diary is the Black History Season celebration that will take place on Wednesday 22nd October after school.  This is a lovely family event where we share the children's great work and share lovely food too. Save the date and look out for more details soon!

Lastly,  today we celebrate the TAs at school as part of National TA Appreciation Day. Our TAs care for and work with the children and support the teachers every day! They do an amazing job, and we want to say a BIG THANK YOU!

And finally a plea to please write your child's name in their clothing -we have so much lost property already! Thanks for your help with this! And also a reminder that there is the weekly Bike Ride every Wednesday at 8.20am from the main school gate -children and adults welcome!

Take care, stay well and have a good weekend. Best Wishes, Jane

We are at the end of another busy week - it seems like we have been back for ages, and it's only the end of week 3!  Last Sunday was the Thames Festival, and  24 of our KS2 choir members took part in the London School Choirs event. It was a lovely day out and we avoided the rain, the sound of the 200 plus children singing and the whole atmosphere and experience was amazing for the children and their families. Well done to all the children involved and thank you to Bruno and Emma for organising, and also lovely to see Roz who came along too!

Individual school photos were taken on Wednesday, and a big 'thank you' as all of the children looked so smart in their uniforms, as every day this term so far. We really appreciate the effort from all of you to ensure that your children are wearing the correct uniform at all times. The photos are available to purchase via a QR code on the slip that your child should be bringing home soon.  Please see your child's teacher in the first instance, and then staff at the main office if you have not received yours! Sibling photos will be taken later this term - watch out for the date!

Well done to all the Reception and Nursery children who are coming in through the gates on their own now and mostly, skipping down to their classrooms. There are still a few children finding the morning separation difficult but they will soon join their classmates - parents don't worry! The children will get there in their own time!

Thank you to all the Y3, Y4 and Y5 parents who attended the 'Welcome Meetings' this week - I hope you found them useful. The PowerPoints should have been emailed to you for information and for those who could not attend. If your child is in Y1-Y6, you will also  receive a Class Information Page that will give you an overview of the curriculum expectations and topics for this term, as well as other useful and important information for your child's class. Reception classes will have a 'Welcome Meeting -meet the teacher' on Tuesday 7th October at 9am. Information about the curriculum and school day will be shared, you will meet members of the PSA (Parent Staff Association) and there will be coffee and croissants to share, and an opportunity for you to meet other parents from your child's class.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure we have the correct email contact details, and at least 2 in-service phone numbers - this is essential for safeguarding and emergency purposes, as well as an active email address. Please email info@millfields.hackney.sch.uk if you need to update your details.

Thank you to all those parents who have already signed the 'All London Trips' Permission Slip. If you have not, please complete the Google Form on the link below to give permission for trips this academic year. We also  ask for a donation of £20-£50 per child to support the trips and workshops throughout the year -thank you! https://forms.gle/pAAq79SvFPxCDbxf9

The Friday Bake sale starts again today, so please support the school and PSA by buying a cake or two, and when it is your class turn, please help with donating cakes and/or helping on the day.

Thank you also to the parents and carers who came to the Y1 and Y2 parent reading sessions in classes today. This happens every Friday from 8:35am until 8:55am. Everyone is welcome!

Finally, thank you to all of you for making the start of term such a smooth one. Working together -being ready, respectful, safe! We will be sharing the Millfields behaviour expectations and revised policy with you very soon.

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