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New Build & Fundraising Archived News

Fundraising for IT Equipment 21.4.20 

If you can help with our fundraising efforts to assist with providing IT access to students that are not able to attend school due to the COViD-19 outbreak, please click on the link below to the Greenshaw Learning Trust JustGiving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/greenshawlearningtrust

Many thanks for your support.

Kind regards

School Office

Wates Build Update - March 2020 

Brakenhale School

Newsletter – March 2020 – Distributed to close neighbours

I wanted to provide you with an update with the current progress here at Brakenhale School. The new building was successfully handed over to the School at the end of 2019 and since January 2020 the students and staff have been settling into their new building and my understanding is they are thrilled with their new facility to which we are very proud of our efforts.

The new building was known internally as Phase 2 which is now complete. Our last phase of works (Phase 3) has commenced and will consist of the demolition of the existing School to provide a new staff car park, sports pitches and soft landscaped areas. Prior to any demolition the existing building has been subjected to detailed surveys which have included identifying the full extent of asbestos containing material. Naturally for a building of this age asbestos is known and present within the building and in the coming weeks a specialist licensed contractor will be appointed to begin the task of removing this material. I would like to emphasise that this will be undertaken with the building very much in-situ, under controlled conditions and will be subject to professional independent inspection to ensure the area is clear before any further work is commenced.

I completely understand that the task of demolishing the building will be of concern to you. The demolition will likely commence in May 2020 and will continue for approximately 12-14 weeks. Concerns regarding noise and airborne dust are understandable and I would like the opportunity to explain this task in more detail. The attached aerial shot of the site identifies 12 zones. The building will be demolished in sequence so in essence will be demolished working west to east (right to left). Works will only take place in line with permitted planning conditions which are currently Monday to Friday 8am – 7pm and Saturdays 8am – 1pm. I am sympathetic to the impact this may have on residents near the site particularly with the warmer months approaching and currently I have no intention of working beyond 6pm of an evening and Saturdays will be by exception and not the norm.

With advancement in demolition technologies i.e. silencers fitted to all machinery and superior dust suppression controls our aim is to ensure this task is undertaken with the minimal impact to the local community. My contact details are at the bottom of this letter and you are welcome to visit the site office where I can hopefully answer any further questions you may have should the need arise.

Finally, with the ever-increasing concern regarding the Coronavirus/Covid-19 we currently remain open as a site and will continue to operate whilst implementing the advice given to us all from Government. If there is anything we as a site team can do to help for example a trip to the local convenience store to assist with the purchase of some essentials, then please do not hesitate to ask and we will try our best to assist where we can.

I would like to place on record our thanks for your cooperation throughout the construction phase and should you wish to discuss any of the works further with me please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Kind Regards

Paul Quinnell
Project Lead for Wates

Clothing Sale 8.11.19 

LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO!
Entry £1 from 4pm to 5pm
50p from 5pm to 8pm
Bring your own bag
Please come along, bring friends and family. We have had some amazing donations from parents, staff and friends of the school. We have an amazing collection of clothes to sell from a starting price of 50p. There will be clothes in different sections – 50p, £1, £2+ and designer clothes that will be individually priced.
We have:
Items:
• Coats
• Trousers
• Jeans
• T shirts
• Hoodies
• Fitness clothes
• Dresses
• Tops
• Skirts
• Shorts
• School uniform
• Men’s suits
• Evening/Cocktail dresses
• Shoes
• Handbags
• Hats
• Underwear
Labels:
Abercrombie & Fitch
Hollister
Guess
Reiss
Lacoste
Levi
Kenneth Cole
Karen Millen
Asos
Boohoo
Topshop
Hobbs
Hugo Boss
Zara
Timberland
Madewell
Yves St Laurent
Moss Bros
Trespass
Pull& Bear Denim
Toms
Under Armour
Phase 8
Planet
Jaeger
Next
Polo Ralph Lauren
Gap
Marks & Spencer
Superdry
French Connection
Cath Kidston
Monsoon
Fat Face
White Stuff
Wallis
etc. and school uniform.
With thanks,
Karen Roche, Chair of Governors fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

Thank You, Clothes Sale & Rotary Raffle 24.10.19 

Dear Parents/Carers
THANK YOU!!!
Since I posted that we had opened our new fundraising page (http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/BrakenhaleSchool), several of you have very kindly donated the sum of £278.00. Please keep you donations coming when you can. They are very much appreciated.
Thank you also to those of you who have donated clothes and/or offered to help at the sale on 14th November. It has been great to communicate with those of you who have e-mailed me (at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk) and, this morning, to meet a parent when I picked up clothes that she donated. I have been overwhelmed by your generosity. This leads me on to talk about the sale itself ………
CLOTHING SALE – Thursday 14th November 4pm – 8pm
Reminder – we are collecting clothes, shoes (women’s, men’s and children’s), or home textiles (curtains, bedlinen, cushions, etc) that you no longer wear or use. The items should be wearable, without holes or broken fastenings – the type that you would donate to a charity shop. You can bring sacks of clothing in to the school reception from Monday 11th November. If you have items that you are willing to donate, but are unable to store until then, please e-mail me and I will arrange to collect and store elsewhere.
We still need people to help at the event, even if you can come for just half an hour (e-mail me to offer your help at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk) and, please tell your friends and family to donate and/or come along to buy.
We have many designer pieces that will be on sale, including by Ted Baker, Kenneth Cole, Reiss, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hugo Boss, Yves St Laurent, Guess, Coast, etc. Some items are brand new and/or have never been worn. There will also be ‘jumble’ items and school uniform from 50p. On that note ………
HAVE YOUR KIDS HAD A GROWTH SPURT RECENTLY?????
If so, you may have bought new uniform items for them. What have you done with their uniform that no longer fits them? Please don’t throw it away but give it to us to re-sell. You can help other parents who are finding it difficult to afford new uniform and the money we raise will be used to equip the new building.
ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS DRAW
We are going to take part in the draw again this year, after being so successful last year. The prizes have increased in value to
1st Prize £500 2nd Prize £250 10 prizes of £100 5 prizes of £50
We will send one book (5 tickets) home with each pupil in Years 7, 8 and 9 and hope that you will support us by selling to friends and family. If you do not want your child to be issued with the books, please let me know by e-mailing fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk, naming your child and tutor group. If you are a parent of a pupil in the older year groups and are willing to help, please e-mail me with your child’s name and tutor group and the number of books that you think you could sell.
Let’s make this run up to the move to the new building very successful with our fundraising!!!
With thanks,
Karen Roche
(Chair of Governors)
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

Clothing Sale 27.9.2019 

Dear Parents/Carers
Why are we raising money for our new building?
I know that many of you saw the article on the BBC News last week but if not, you can watch it by clicking on the link:
BBC News Video
We have a new fundraising page where you can donate money and/or create a fundraising activity. You can find it by clicking on the following link:
Virginmoneygiving.com/fund/BrakenhaleSchool
This replaces any of the fundraising pages that we have used previously (eg MyDonate, Just Giving, etc). On the page, you can click on the furniture pictures to donate, or donate any amount by clicking on the ‘donors’ tab.
Please contact me if you are willing to organise an event or take part in one that is organised by a local/national group (eg sponsored bike ride, running race, car wash, etc). I can help you set up the page, publicise your event, etc. The contact e-mail address has not changed and remains as fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
CLOTHING SALE – Thursday 14th November 4pm – 8pm
We need people to donate clothes and help at the event!!! Please e-mail me at the fundraising address above if you can help on 14th November (setting up in the afternoon or selling during the sale).
Tell your friends and family to donate and/or come along
We are going to hold a second hand clothes sale, selling several categories of clothing, including:
• Jumble
• School uniform
• Designer items
• Shoes, and
• Home textiles
In order to support us, please could you put aside any clothes, shoes (women’s, men’s and children’s), or home textiles (curtains, bedlinen, cushions, etc) that you no longer wear or use. The items should be wearable, without holes or broken fastenings – the type that you would donate to a charity shop. You can bring sacks of clothing in to the school reception from Monday 11th November. If you have items that you are willing to donate, but are unable to store until then, please e-mail me and I will arrange to store elsewhere. Similarly, if you have items to donate but cannot bring them in, please e-mail me as we may be able to arrange collection.
I have already been given some evening wear that you will want for Christmas parties.
ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS DRAW
We are going to take part in the draw again this year, after being so successful last year. The prizes have increased in value to
1st Prize £500 2nd Prize £250 10 prizes of £100 5 prizes of £50
We will send one book (5 tickets) home with each pupil in Years 7, 8 and 9 and hope that you will support us by selling to friends and family. If you do not want your child to be issued with the books, please let me know by e-mailing fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk, naming your child and tutor group. If you are a parent of a pupil in the older year groups and are willing to help, please e-mail me with your child’s name and tutor group and the number of books that you think you could sell.
Let’s make this run up to the move to the new building very successful with our fundraising!!!
With thanks,
Karen Roche, (Chair of Governors)
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

Why are we raising money? 29.09.19 

Dear Parents/Carers
Why are we raising money for our new building?
I know that many of you saw the article on the BBC News last week but if not, you can watch it by clicking on the link:
BBC News Video.mov
We have a new fundraising page where you can donate money and/or create a fundraising activity. You can find it by clicking on the following link:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/BrakenhaleSchool
This replaces any of the fundraising pages that we have used previously (eg MyDonate, Just Giving, etc). On the page, you can click on the furniture pictures to donate, or donate any amount by clicking on the ‘donors’ tab.
Please contact me if you are willing to organise an event or take part in one that is organised by a local/national group (eg sponsored bike ride, running race, car wash, etc). I can help you set up the page, publicise your event, etc. The contact e-mail address has not changed and remains as fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
CLOTHING SALE – Thursday 14th November 4pm – 8pm
We need people to donate clothes and help at the event!!! Please e-mail me at the fundraising address above if you can help on 14th November (setting up in the afternoon or selling during the sale).
Tell your friends and family to donate and/or come along
We are going to hold a second hand clothes sale, selling several categories of clothing, including:
• Jumble
• School uniform
• Designer items
• Shoes, and
• Home textiles
In order to support us, please could you put aside any clothes, shoes (women’s, men’s and children’s), or home textiles (curtains, bedlinen, cushions, etc) that you no longer wear or use. The items should be wearable, without holes or broken fastenings – the type that you would donate to a charity shop. You can bring sacks of clothing in to the school reception from Monday 11th November. If you have items that you are willing to donate, but are unable to store until then, please e-mail me and I will arrange to store elsewhere. Similarly, if you have items to donate but cannot bring them in, please e-mail me as we may be able to arrange collection.
I have already been given some evening wear that you will want for Christmas parties.
ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS DRAW
We are going to take part in the draw again this year, after being so successful last year. The prizes have increased in value to
1st Prize £500 2nd Prize £250 10 prizes of £100 5 prizes of £50
We will send one book (5 tickets) home with each pupil in Years 7, 8 and 9 and hope that you will support us by selling to friends and family. If you do not want your child to be issued with the books, please let me know by e-mailing fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk, naming your child and tutor group. If you are a parent of a pupil in the older year groups and are willing to help, please e-mail me with your child’s name and tutor group and the number of books that you think you could sell.
Let’s make this run up to the move to the new building very successful with our fundraising!!!
With thanks,
Karen Roche
(Chair of Governors)
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

Welcome to New Families 6.09.19 

Dear Parents/Carers
I wish to welcome new families to our fundraising information, and remind parents/carers who have been working with us to raise money for some time of the purpose of our activities. The new building, which is now well on the way to completion, has been funded by the government with a grant of around £20 million. The money can only be used for the building itself and none may be spent on equipment and furniture.
We have to replace the IT equipment as it is not compatible with the new technology that our new school will have. In addition, we are keen to purchase new furniture for our staff and pupils, rather than transfer the old items from the current classrooms.
We have been working hard to engage parents, with some success but we are still a long way from our original target of £50,000. Please contact me at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk if you are able to help in any way.
CLOTHING SALE – Thursday 14th November 4pm – 8pm
Tell your friends and family to donate and/or come along
We are planning an event that will take place later in the term. We are going to hold a second hand clothes sale, selling several categories of clothing, including:
• Jumble
• School uniform
• Designer items
• Shoes, and
• Home textiles
In order to support us, please could you put aside any clothes, shoes (women’s, men’s and children’s), or home textiles (curtains, bedlinen, cushions, etc) that you no longer wear or use. The items should be wearable, without holes or broken fastenings – the type that you would donate to a charity shop. You can bring sacks of clothing in to the school reception from Monday 11th November. If you have items that you are willing to donate, but are unable to store until then, please e-mail me and I will arrange to store elsewhere. Similarly, if you have items to donate but cannot bring them in, please e-mail me as we may be able to arrange collection.
I have already been given some evening wear that you will want for Christmas parties.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have fundraising ideas or can offer to help with the clothing sale.
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
With thanks,
Karen Roche
(Chair of Governors)

Fundraising Sponsored Walk & Clothes Sale 28.6.19 

Dear Parents/Carers
You may have seen, if you have accessed our fundraising page, that MyDonate is closing today. We are in the process of setting up a fundraising page with Virgin Money, which is another low cost site. When the new page is available, I will ensure that details are sent out by a School Comms message.
Following the poor response to the Family Community Walk, the PTA is organising a sponsored walk for pupils in Year 7 on Monday 8th July. You can sponsor pupils by clicking on the link below
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/brakenhaleschool?utm_term=BmJ5e4M9b
I want to alert you to an event that we are planning for next term. We are going to hold a second hand clothes sale, selling several categories of clothing, including:
• Jumble
• School uniform
• Designer items, and
• Home textiles
In order to support us, please could you put aside any clothes (women’s, men’s and children’s) or home textiles (curtains, bedlinen, cushions, etc) that you no longer wear or use. The items should be wearable, without holes or broken fastenings – the type that you would donate to a charity shop. In September, we will give you a date from which you can bring sacks of clothing in to school or we will collect them from you. More details will be available early next term, including the date of the event.
Finally, I have not previously had the chance to thank our amazing pupil Jamie Prior (and his parents for supporting him) for raising £350 at the end of May. To do this he put himself through an enduring task of running the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. Well done to Jamie for supporting your school for a second time. Everyone at school is proud of him.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have fundraising ideas.
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
With thanks,
Karen Roche
(Chair of Governors)

Fundraising Walks & Marathon 10.5.19 

Dear Parents and carers
We are excited about this weekend’s half-marathon and that Dawn Godwin is running for our school. Please support her if you can by sponsoring her using the link below and giving her a big cheer as she runs past
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/dawngodwin
I will be helping at the water station manned by the Brakenhale PTA on Sunday. Please come and talk to me about fundraising if you have any bright ideas.
The sponsorship for the group of our parents, friends and pupils who walked/ran/cycled The Long Walk in Windsor has increased to a total of £691.00 so our overall amount raised has gone up again. Their page is still open if you wish to donate, at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/joannefox4 The pupils who took part in this event were selected to take part in the XXXX that Mrs Coley reported on last week. We will always try to find a special way to thank pupils who raise money for us.
Please note that the date of the Community Walk, organised by Easthampstead Rotary Club, has changed from 19th May to 7th July. I hope that many of you will and your children will walk with us. We are still working out the logistics of this but I will tell you more about it next week. Please keep the date free.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Karen Roche
Chair of the Governing Body

Fundraising Walks 26.4.19 

Dear Parents and carers
We are so grateful for those of you that are doing wonderful things to support our fundraising and, week by week, you will see the total increasing. We are still a long way from our target so if you are feeling motivated by the others mentioned on this page, please contact me at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk, or visit our fundraising page at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468
On 14th April, a group of our parents, friends and pupils walked/ran/cycled The Long Walk in Windsor. They have raised a total of £591.00 so far. Their page is still open if you wish to donate, at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/joannefox4
Many thanks to Joanne Fox for being the instigator of this event.
Please note that the date of the Community Walk, organised by Easthampstead Rotary Club, has changed from 19th May to 7th July. I hope that many of you will and your children will walk with us. I will tell you more about it next week.
Our amazing athlete, Dawn Godwin is running in the Lexicon Bracknell Half Marathon on 12th May. If you go to watch, please give Dawn a big cheer when you see her. Her sponsorship page is now set up, at: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/dawngodwin If you go onto the page, you will see my name, not Dawn’s. This is because I set the page up for Dawn and it automatically used my name! Any of you who know me will understand that it is definitely not me who is running the half-marathon!!!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Karen Roche
Chair of the Governing Body

Fundraising Easter Egg Raffle 5.4.19 

Dear Parents and carers
Thank you to those of you who supported our Easter Egg raffle, supported by the local Lions. It was won by a pupil in Year 8, who was very excited! We raised about £130.
One of our youngsters in Year 7 took it upon himself to raise some money for us and so joined the boys in Year 9 and I on a tour of the new building on Tuesday. It was very exciting and wonderful to see the fantastic facilities that your children will enjoy from the start of next year. Please remember that, as parents or friends of the school, if you engage in fundraising events or make donations, you will also be invited to an special event to see the building before others!
Note that our total has increased again! Thank you to two parents who have recently made donations. Their kindness will buy some furniture or equipment for the new build. If you wish to do something similar, please visit our MyDonate page using the link below:
https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468
Please note that the date of the Community Walk, organised by Easthampstead Rotary Club, has changed from 19th May to 7th July. I hope that many of you will and your children will walk with us. I will tell you more about it next term.
A group of parents are doing a walk/run/cycle event for our charity on 14th April 2019. You can sponsor them if you follow this link. This is the last opportunity to wish them good luck! https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/joannefox4
I look forward to hearing from you.
Karen Roche
Chair of the Governing Body

Lexicon Half Marathon 5.3.19 

New Build Fundraising
Please remember the Lexicon Bracknell Half Marathon: Sunday 12 May 2019 has been confirmed as the date of the Lexicon Bracknell Half Marathon.
If you are entering, please considering raising money for our cause. We can help you by providing T-shirts and managing your sponsorship. Please contact me at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk for more information.
In addition, we would like as many of you as possible (parents and kids) to join Mrs Coley and I in a fundraising community walk on Sunday 19 May. The walk will start at South Hill Park and is about 5k (I think!) I will be able to give you more information in due course so watch this space.
Please don’t forget to visit our fundraising page and either donate some money (however small), or buy some furniture.
https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468#
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

Fundraising 18.1.19 

Thank you so much!
I was invited to a celebration event with the Easthampstead Rotary Club on Monday night to collect the cheque for the money that you raised by selling their Christmas Draw tickets. Not only did I pick up the cheque for £1515.00, but we were also awarded £100 as we were the charity that sold and raised the most. Well done to you all and I understand that one of the tickets sold by Brakenhale was a winner!
We have also been given a £250 donation by the XXXX church. This is a kind and generous donation that the church leaders wanted to make and we are very grateful.
Please remember the Lexicon Bracknell Half Marathon:
Sunday 12th May 2019 has been confirmed as the date of the Lexicon Bracknell Half Marathon. If you are entering, please considering raising money for our cause. We can help you by providing T shirts and managing your sponsorship. Please contact me at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk for more information.
In addition, we would like as many of you as possible (parents and kids) to join Mrs Coley and I in a fundraising community walk on 19th May. The walk will start at South Hill Park and is about 5k (I think!) I will be able to give you more information in due course so watch this space.
Please don’t forget to visit our MyDonate page.
https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468
With thanks,
Karen Roche
Chair of the Governing Body

Fundraising 14.12.18 

Sunday 12th May 2019 has been confirmed as the date of the Lexicon Bracknell Half Marathon. If you are entering, please considering raising money for our cause. We can help you by providing T shirts and managing your sponsorship. Please contact me at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk for more information.
We have had a few more donations from anonymous donors during this week, pushing our total up further to £4,243. After we receive our money for the Easthampstead Rotary Club Community Draw, we will have broken through the £5,000 threshold but that is still only 10% of what we need!
In the new year, we will be running some fund raising events. We are thinking of possibly a fashion show, car washing, etc. Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to attend or get involved with.
Following a meeting I had this week, we are considering joining Roman’s (Estate Agent) loyalty scheme. This would mean that if parents sold or rented a property through Romans, we will receive £250. More information about this to follow.

Fundraising Rotary Raffle Tickets 7.12.18 

Dear Parents/Carers
You will see that our total donated has increased to £4,104.28 this week and that is without the additional £1500 we will have made through the selling of the Easthampstead Rotary Club Christmas Draw being added.
Thank you to the anonymous person, who donated £1875.00 (including gift aid) through our MyDonate page. If you would like to make yourself known to me, in confidence, we will be able to invite you to our doners’ celebration events. Please remember that any donation you make on our page (https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468), however large or small is gratefully accepted and every penny will go towards equipping our new building.
Thank you to the parents who so kindly sold draw tickets for us. Although our closing date was 3rd December, we have until 10th December to submit to the Rotary Club. If you have collected any further money or have not yet returned unsold tickets, please send them in on Monday. It is extremely important that all unsold tickets are returned.
The winning tutor groups in Year 7 and Year 8, who sold most tickets and therefore will be the first to tour the new building will be announced before the end of term. Pupils who have returned everything (money if collected, counterfoils and unsold tickets) will be awarded house points that will contribute towards the house cup at the end of term.
I must also thank the staff and governors for the parts they have played in this. In particular, the admin staff not only bought and sold tickets but they have distributed tickets and kept a very close check on the money being returned. It has been a mammoth task.
With regards,
Karen Roche
Chair of the governing body.

Fundraising Rotary Raffle Tickets 22.11.18 

Dear Parents/Carers
Thank you to many of you for working with us to sell the draw tickets for the Easthampstead Rotary Club draw. We have nearly £600 banked already and just over another week of fundraising to go. With the tickets that we have circulated so far we have the potential to raise £5000. Please can you make sure that you return all money/ticket stubs/unsold tickets by Monday 3rd December. There is an additional prize of £100 for the organisation that raises the most money. I don’t think there is another organisation that has circulated as many tickets as our school, so we are definitely in for a chance!
The date of the Bracknell Half Marathon has still not been released but if you are thinking of taking part, please consider running for us. We can help you with sponsorship and promotional materials, etc. Contact me on fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
I look forward to hearing from you.
Karen Roche
Chair of the governing body.

New Build Rotary Raffle Tickets to Raise Money 2.11.18 

BRAKENHALE IS SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR NEW BUILDING
A new initiative for our fundraising efforts is joining the Easthampsted Rotary Club Draw.
The reason for us getting involved is simple. We will receive every penny that is raised back to spend on the equipment and fittings that is desperately needed for our new building. We hope to raise about £7,000.
We will be sending two books of raffle tickets for the Draw to all parents/carers of students in Years 7, 8 and 9 and we are hoping you will be willing to sell them for us.
Please note:
• You are under no obligation to sell all or any of the tickets. If you do not want to participate, simply return the tickets in the envelope provided as soon as possible.
• If you are willing to work with us on this, please sell as many tickets as you can and return the money and ticket stubs (with a name and contact phone number written on them) with your child as soon as possible, but by Monday 3rd December at the latest. Please also return any unsold tickets.
• If you are able to sell more tickets than you have been allocated, please e-mail fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk and we will make sure we get them to you straight away.
If you would prefer that your child does not bring raffle tickets home, please simply e-mail me via fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk. Just state your son/daughter’s name and tutor group.
Thank you very much for your support and I hope that you will be among the lucky winners.
With thanks,
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body

New Build Fundraising: Advertise on our Blue Hoarding - 21.9.18 

New Build Fundraising – Advertise on our Blue Hoarding
You may have noticed that we have lots of blue hoarding around the school. Please will you speak to your employers and ask if they would like to advertise on the hoarding. We offer advertising space at a fixed price until the end of the project. Although most hoarding is inside the school grounds, there are up to 1000 people seeing it every day – parents, visitors, contractors, delivery companies, teachers from other schools, etc. If you find anyone that is interested, please ask them to contact me at the fundraising e-mail address:
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
Please don’t forget to visit our fundraising page and either donate some money (however small), or buy some furniture.
https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468#
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Hoarding Competition 21.9.18 

On Friday 21st September we welcomed the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Roger Meakes. He presented Miss Wilhelmy and her art students with their award for coming runners up in the National Hoardings Competition, along with a cheque for £500 that Wates, the construction company, have donated to the school. Another example of our students achieving great things.

New Build Fundraising 7.9.18 

You will see that our total has increased during the summer holiday, thanks to those of you who have made donations. Some of you have made reference to the amount being small – please do not apologise. We know that it is a big ask to request money of you and any amount, however small, is very gratefully received.
To those of you who have not yet donated and would like to, please go to our fundraising page at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/iwanttobuysomefurniture/472468#
We still have a long way to go, so to remind you and for the new parents, our fundraising is to buy furniture and equipment for our new building. The funding provided by the government is very tightly regulated and can be used for the building only, not including furniture or equipment. The theory is that we should take with us furniture and equipment from the existing building and we will do so if it is functional. However, much of the furniture is old because the school has not had funding to regularly maintain and/or replace. In addition, the projectors and interactive whiteboards that we currently have in every classroom will not work with the new systems in the new building because technology has advanced considerably since Brakenhale was built in the 1950s!
In our December meeting, the governors committed to raising the money needed and we are depending on your support to help us.
I am sure that you can think of ways to raise money and we will support you but just to get your creative juices running, some ideas that have been suggested include gaining sponsorship to run in local marathons, bike rides or other events; pledge auctions, clothing sales, car washing events, pamper evenings, bingo, cabaret evenings, sponsored slims, etc. Get your friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues to take part with you.
We know that some of the larger national and global companies that you may work for will match any money that employees are able to raise for charities. Brakenhale is a charity, under the umbrella of the Greenshaw Learning Trust. We will offer incentives to companies that support you/the school in this way with publicity in the school and beyond. We will also invite those of you who are involved in raising £1,000+ to a special opening event and you, with your sons/daughters will be the first to see the new facilities.
We are about to invite companies to advertise on the hoarding around our site. Please contact me if you know of any organisations that may be interested.
Please contact me if you are prepared to run an event. We will support you in a range of ways and find others to work with you if you want to work in groups.
The Reading half-marathon will take place on Sunday 17th March – if any of you are planning to enter, please consider running for your school. The date of the Lexicon Bracknell half-marathon is yet to be published but please keep us in mind if you are intending to enter.
We have a dedicated e-mail address for our fundraising. Please e-mail me to discuss any ideas that you have on fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body

New Build Fundraising 20.7.18 

At last! We have been approved by BT MyDonate to build our page and start raising money and claim tax back. That means that every £1 donated yields us at least £1.20. From September, you will be able to make donations on the new charity page for our school.
As we have no sealed bids for the drills (today is the last day to bid), they will be sold on EBay during the holidays.
We have received a commitment to donate £1000 from a friend of the school and a few parents have told us that they would like to make a donation and are just waiting for the MyDonate page to be usable. That is great news and we very much appreciate their generosity.
We have not yet had any parents offering to run a charity car wash during next term so please think about this and e-mail me if you would like to know more.
If you have any bright ideas for raising money over the summer, please contact me as I will be picking up e-mails during the holidays. I hope you have a creative holiday!
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Fundraising 29.6.18 

We were generously donated eight brand new ‘18V FATMAX BRUSHLESS COMBI DRILLs (2.0AH BATTERIES, FAST CHARGER BATTERY LIFE INDICATOR, CARRYING CASE) by Stanley’ by a company through one of our parents.
For details about the drills please click on the link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/
You will see that the usual retail price of each drill is between approximately £130 to £150.
We are prepared to give them to the eight highest bidders over £100 by Friday 20th July. Please e-mail your bids to me at fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk
Your money will go directly towards buying equipment, furniture and fittings for the new building and the eight buyers will be invited to a fundraisers’ reception before the building is officially opened.
Thank you, in advance for your support.
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Fundraising 22.6.18 

There is lots going on in the background of our fundraising but we are being delayed by the snail’s pace at which our BTDonate application is being set up. Coming up though, for you to be aware of and think about supporting in the near future are:
• Celebrity Golf event
• Buy a piece of furniture for the new build
• Sponsored bike ride by one of our governors
• Buy a drill
More about these as soon as in next week’s Parent News but please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more.
I have been talking to other schools where parents have raised large sums of money. A popular event that seems to have been successful is ‘Car Washing’. If one, or some of you are prepared to organise this, the governors will be very happy to support you.
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Hoarding Competition 15.6.18 

On Monday 11th June we were joined by the Mayor for the unveiling of Brakenhale and our contractors Wates’ entry for this competition, created by Year 9 students.
The Bracknell Town Council facebook page posted:
Bracknell Town Mayor Cllr Sandra Ingham attended Brakenhale School today to view the art work carried out by Year 9 students under the supervision of art teacher Miss Wilhelmy.
Brakenhale School is currently in the process of a rebuild and took this opportunity to enter the Annual Hoarding Art Competition run by the Considerate Constructors Scheme: https://www.ccscheme.org.uk.
Cllr Sandra Ingham said, “I visited Brakenhale School as a guest of Headteacher Mrs Jane Coley. I attended the unveiling of the school’s entry into the Annual Hoarding. 120 Brakenhale pupils created the artwork going the extra mile giving up their lunchtimes and staying after school to ensure the mural was ready in time. Good luck Brakenhale and very well done!”

New Build Update 8.6.18 

Over half term the site saw some significant demolition with the music block, link bridges and tennis courts all going.

New Build Fundraising 4.5.18 

At last it seems like the weather may be improving and I’m sure you will want to be outside and be active.
I have noticed that there are quite a few cycling events throughout the rest of this year that I ask you to look at https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/#region=SouthEast
and consider whether you would take part, with the aim of raising money for the new build project.
Let me know of other activities you may be thinking of and any support you need from us.
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Fundraising 27.4.18 

Thanks to you all for supporting the Waitrose green disk scheme which has added £215 and to our two runners in Year 8 who raised £300.
I am also very grateful to those of you who are planning to support us and have e-mailed me at the address below to discuss. Let’s hope that your enthusiasm is infectious and that more parents join our fundraising community. We still have a long way to go!
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Fundraising 19.4.18 

I am proud to tell you that our two of our boys in Year 8, who did an unofficial sponsored 10k run on the 8th April for our cause, have already raised over £250, with more sponsorship money to be collected.
We are in the process of setting up a Just Giving page and we will let you know when this is active.

New Build Fundraising 16.3.18 

We need your help to raise £50,000 – needed by September 2019!!!!!
I am proud to tell you that two of our boys in Year 8, are going to do a sponsored 10k run on 8th April for our cause. This is not an official event but will be overseen by Mum.
Come on parents, if the kids can do it, so can you!!!!
We are in the process of setting up a Just Giving page but for the time being, the boys will be using paper sponsorship forms and I will be checking them and keeping you informed of how much money they raise. Please sponsor them if you can.
We have two more weeks of March for Waitrose shoppers to support us. The other two charities that shoppers can choose to put their green disks in are well known national charities and so we may be the ‘under dogs’ but please give your support and spread the word if you can.
Other events coming up:
• Mr Thomas (Assistant Headteacher) is going to run the Stockholm marathon
• Mr Basara-Hamilton (and his wife, but I am not sure if she knows yet) are going to do a sponsored 71 mile bike ride
I hope that seeing the activity on the site will motivate you to talk to your friends and colleagues about how you could help your school.
With thanks
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Update 16.3.18 

Finally, all the necessary paperwork has now been completed and we have received the green light on the rebuilding programme for Brakenhale School today we have fenced off parking at the front of the school ready for the contractors to move on site from Monday.
As advised previously, there will be changes to site access which will involve blocking off the Rectory Lane entrance for cars and pedestrians. All access will be via the Conningsby Road entrance. I would ask that wherever possible you avoid bringing cars on site, as I’m sure you can imagine, logistically this is going to be a challenge!
I have spoken to all students during special assemblies on Monday to explain the changes which will overall be minimal. There will be different social areas at break and lunch time and a new queuing arrangement for the dinner hall. We are only losing 3 classrooms during the works and we can easily accommodate this but there will be some changes to the one way system in the corridors. The only other change will be a slight shortening, for a trial period, of break and lunchtime by 5 minutes in order to add in travel time between lessons. My primary concern is that the building works do not disrupt learning time hence my decision to do this. Students will need to get used to the new one way systems and queuing systems and I do not want lessons shortened because of this.
The 18 million pound building project is the result of 3 years very hard work of campaigning to ensure the young people at Brakenhale School, now, and in the future get the very best learning environment that they so very much deserve. I give you my full assurance that this will not detract from the learning in the classroom and the opportunity for all students to achieve their potential.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any queries or concerns.
Ms J Coley, Headteacher

New Build Fundraising 9.3.18 

We need your help to raise £50,000 – needed by September 2019!!!!!
Hot off the press….. we were accepted by Waitrose to be one of their ‘Community Causes’ for the month of March. Please make sure you place your green disks, given at the checkout, in the box – you will see the Brakenhale logo at the top. Tell your friends, colleagues, relatives and neighbours to do so too.
Many thanks to Waitrose for being the first company to support us.
Karen Roche, Chair of the governing body
fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk

New Build Project 23.2.18 

We need your help to raise £50,000 needed by September 2019!!!!!
Everyone at Brakenhale School is getting very excited about the new building and we hope that you are too. Planning permission was granted last week and work will start very soon.
The funding provided by the government is very tightly regulated and can be used for the building only, not including furniture or equipment. The theory is that we should take with us furniture and equipment from the existing building and we will do so if it is functional. However, much of the furniture is old because the school has not had funding to regularly maintain and/or replace. In addition, the projectors and interactive whiteboards that we currently have in every classroom will not work with the new systems in the new building because technology has advanced considerably since Brakenhale was built in the 1950s, and even in the last decade!
In our December meeting, the governors committed to raising the money needed and we are depending on your support to help us.
I am sure that you can think of ways to raise money and we will support you but just to get your creative juices running, some ideas that have been suggested include gaining sponsorship to run in local marathons, bike rides or other events; pledge auctions, clothing sales, pamper evenings, bingo, cabaret evenings, sponsored slims, etc. Get your friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues to take part with you.
We know that some of the larger national and global companies that you may work for will match any money that employees are able to raise for charities. Brakenhale is a charity, under the umbrella of the Greenshaw Learning Trust. We will offer incentives to companies that support you/the school in this way with publicity in the school and beyond. We will also invite those of you who are involved in raising £1,000+ to a special opening event and you, with your sons/daughters will be the first to see the new facilities.
There will also be opportunities to sponsor events – starting by sponsoring Mr Thomas (Assistant Headteacher) who is going to run the Stockholm Marathon in May! In addition, you will be able to elect for some retail companies including Amazon, Waitrose and the Co-op to donate to Brakenhale when you shop.
Watch out for regular updates in Parent News. We have a dedicated e-mail address for our fundraising. Please e-mail me on fundraising@brakenhale.co.uk to discuss any ideas that you have.
Karen Roche, Chair of the local governing body