Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 128

Friday 6th March 2020

Message from Mrs Hall

It was lovely to see so many parents and carers in school this week at Parents/Carers Evening to hear about the great progress your children are making – thank you for continued support. Don’t forget if you missed an appointment then there is a second Parents/Carers Evening on Wednesday 11^th March from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. This will be the last formal meeting before reports are sent home on the 10^th July.  In addition, there are a plethora of sharing events for family members to attend throughout the rest of this term. Please check the newsletter and diary for all the great events that have been planned.

Attendance for the previous week

                                  Class with the Best Attendance – Dragons (100%)

Classes with the Best Punctuality – Elephants, Lemurs, Pandas and Chameleons

Class that needs to improve their Attendance – Toucans (91.1%)

Classes that need to improve their Punctuality – Lions, Cobras, Dragons and Tigers

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next will be: How can I be a good friend?  What qualities do I need to be a good friend and why is it important?  Resources related to this assembly will soon be available on our website.  To access them, simply go to Learning and click on our Enquiry Based Assemblies.

Coronavirus

Please note the Department for Education has provided us with the details of a helpline which can be used by staff, parents/carers and young people if they have any concerns or questions about the Coronavirus. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.  They can be contacted on 0800 046 8687 or by email at DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk.  

As you will be aware the Government and Public Health are issuing advice as needed to limit the spread of the illness and we would ask for your support in encouraging your child to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly.   

Online Safety – Parental Controls of TikTok

TikTok has an age restriction of 13 years, however we are aware some children are currently using the app.  The BBC has written the following article after TikTok modified the app to allow parents/carers to have greater control:  The BBC reports that TikTok, a social video app that allows users to share short videos, is allowing a family safety mode.  This is designed to give parents tighter control over how their children use the app.  The safety feature will allow parents and carers to link their account to their child’s and have direct control over the safety settings. The full article can be found at the following link:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51561050 

EYFS:

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Advance Notice: Family Cooking Session

The children who are currently attending the after-school Cooking Club would like to invite an adult to come and make pizza with them on Tuesday 24^th March from 3.10pm to 4.15pm.  An invitation letter will be sent to parents/carers nearer the date.  We hope you will be able to join us.

Craft Afternoon – Year R Parent/Carer Session

The Reception teachers and children would like to invite parents/carers to a ‘crafty’ afternoon on Wednesday 1^st April from 1.30pm.  We hope you will be able to join us where we will be making some Easter crafts.  You are then invited to join the Reception ‘Grand Easter Bonnet Parade.’

Word Millionaire

Congratulations to Nina for becoming our third Word Millionaire.  Also special congratulations to Harvey who has now achieved two million!

World Book Day Competition

‘Eats Catering’, who run our kitchen, are sponsoring a World Book Day Competition which is open to all children in school.  They are invited to write a short story with the theme ‘Our Planet!’  Entries need to be handed in to the Head of Kitchen, Mrs Bradshaw, by Friday 13^th March and 10 lucky winners across their schools will each win £10 worth of book vouchers.

Author Visit

We are pleased to let you know we will be having author Sam Copeland visit the school on Wednesday 20^th May, to work with some of the children.  Sam has written a series of ‘Charlie’ books which have been very popular.  There will be a chance to pre-order one of his books and have this signed on the day.  More information will follow.

Nursery

Please note we still have some spaces in our Whitehouse Nursery for a start date in September, for children aged 3 and over.  We can offer part time 15 hour funded sessions as well as 30 hour sessions for those parents/carers who are eligible for the extended hours provision. The morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am and afternoon sessions are from 12.15pm to 3.15pm.  For those children who are here for the full 30 hours, the timings are 8.30am to 3.15pm, with an additional charge for lunchtimes.

Sport Relief 2020

Please note we will be fundraising for Sport Relief this year.  On Friday 13^th March, children are invited to come into school dressed in ‘sporty’ clothes for a suggested donation of £1.00.  During the day each class will be competing against each other in a Daily Mile challenge.  Which class will achieve the most number of laps? We hope to raise lots of money for such a good cause!

Year 5/6 Boys Football

This week saw the Boys Football Team turn their attention back to the league, as they travelled to an unbeaten Gusford Primary School.  The boys started the first half with some pleasing defence work as Gusford put our team under pressure.  An excellent goalkeeping display, with some amazing saves from our Goalkeeper Max kept Gusford out for large parts of the first half.  Eventually, Gusford were able to convert one of their chances, but despite going a goal behind, the boys showed real perseverance.  Their hard work paid off with a very well taken goal from Jemira just before half time.  The second half was played at the same high tempo and despite the boy’s fantastic teamwork and efforts, they were unlucky to concede goals, eventually losing the game 5-1.  At the end of the match the opposition’s teacher commended the boys on their sheer determination and perseverance throughout the match.  Thank you to all the parents/carers for transporting and supporting the team during the match.  Their next match will be an away match to Rushmere Primary School on Tuesday.  Good luck boys.

World Book Day

We had an enjoyable day for World Book Day on Thursday 5^th March and it was lovely to see so many children dress up as their favourite book character.  In addition, all the children in EYFS had a story read to them by children in Lower Key Stage 2.

In memory of Mrs Scholey, a former teacher at Whitehouse

The Year of the Sea

Written by Mrs Sue Scholey and her Year 6 Pupils

Winter seas are angry,

Grey as a stormy sky,

Hurling waves onto stony shores,

Pouncing on its unsuspecting prey.

Spring seas are boisterous,

Grey has evolved into aquamarine,

Showering spray over slippery rocks.

Delivering flotsam from faraway places.

Summer seas are relaxed,

Sparkling turquoise reflects sun-filled skies,

Cooling sun-scorched bodies,

Tickling the toes of paddling people.

Autumn seas are restless,

Sky blue dissolves into leaden grey,

Threatening the coast with bullying waves,

Removing every last trace of summer.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 9^th – Friday 13^th March – Year 6 Mock SATs week

Wednesday 11^th March- Parents/Carers’ Evening - 3.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Friday 13^th March – Sports Relief – Dress in Sports Clothing for Donation

Thursday 19^th March – Whole School Science Day

Tuesday 24^th March – Cooking After-School Club – Parent/Carer invited

Thursday 26^th March – Flavours of Europe – Year 3 Parent/Carer Session – 2.15pm

Tuesday 31^st March – Fairtrade – Year 5 Parent/Carer Session – 2.15pm

Wednesday 1^st April – Craft Afternoon – Year R Parent/Carer Session – 1.30pm

Wednesday 1^st April – Designing Easter Eggs – Year 1 Parent/Carer Session – 2.30 pm

Thursday 2^nd April – Healthy Eating – Year 4 Parent/Carer Session

Friday 3^rd April to Friday 17^th April – Easter Holidays

Friday 8^th May – May Bank Holiday

Wednesday 20^th May – Author Sam Copeland visiting school

Friday 22^nd May – PD Day – School Closed to children

Monday 25^th May to Friday 29^th May – Half Term Holiday

10^th June-12^th June 2020 – Kip on a Ship

16^th June – Music Festival - Year 4

23^rd June - Kentwell Hall – Year 5 Trip

22^nd June 2020 – 24^th June 2020 – Year 4 Eaton Vale Trip

24^th June 2020 – 26^th June 2020 – Year 5 Mersea Trip

Friday 26^th June Sports Day (Morning) - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

 Friday 26^th June Sports Day (Afternoon) - Year 3 and Year 4

Friday 3^rd July Sports Day (Afternoon) - Year 5 and Year 6

Wednesday 8th July – High School Transition Day

Thursday 9^th July – High School Transition Day

Wednesday 22^nd July – PD Day – School Closed to Children

Thursday 23^rd July – First Day of the Summer Holiday

Did you know we have a school twitter page: https://twitter.com/Whcps_Ipswich where photographs are uploaded regularly? So far we only have 111 followers but would like to have many more!