Home School Links 2021 - 8

Friday 5th March 2021

Message from Mrs Hall

I do hope that you have been able to review all the measures put in place for the full re-opening of school on Monday 8^th March. Our updated risk assessment can be found on our website https://www.whcps.org/covid-19-risk-assessments/. We are really looking forward to welcoming all the children back to school, so that we can continue to support them with their learning and well-being. We really appreciate all your assistance in helping your child to access their online work. If you would like to discuss any concerns or worries please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we still have spaces available for our parents/carers evening on Wednesday 10^th March or please email parents@whcps.org. Thank you for your continued support.

Reading Awards

We are delighted to report that more children have been super busy reading and earned the following awards this week:

Also a very big well done to Filip who has now read a huge 1,070,049 words and become our second Word Millionaire.  This is a wonderful achievement!

Rights Respecting School Accreditation

We are delighted to let you know that Whitehouse has recently been awarded the Rights Respecting Bronze – Committed Award, granted to us by the children’s charity UNICEF. We are thrilled to have achieved the first step in our journey to becoming a Rights Respecting school which has involved making a thorough assessment of our starting point, introducing the RRSA strands to the whole school community as well as committing, at all levels, to promoting and enhancing children’s rights in our setting.  We will now be working towards achieving our Silver award later this year.  

Thank You

Many thanks to all the parents/carers who nominated us on a recent Morrison’s promotion. We didn’t win, however as we were nominated so many times they made up a special book hamper for us!  These wonderful books will be added to our libraries for the children to read.

Lockdown Awards

EYFS:

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Parent Governor Vacancy

Our Governing Body are a very important part of our school. Their key responsibilities include, overseeing the financial performance of the school (making sure its money is well spent), holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction. If you would like to have a say in whole school matters, we currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor, which is a wonderful opportunity for parents/carers to come on board and support all children at Whitehouse.   If you would be interested in taking up this opportunity or would like to find out more about the role, please contact the school office on 01473 741249 and we can arrange for you to have an informal chat with Martin Parker, our Chair of Governors. Thank you for your interest.

Inclusion and Diversity Conference

Thank you to the Norfolk Teacher Training Centre for inviting our EAL Team to be part of their online ‘Inclusion and Diversity March Conference 2021.’  It was a pleasure to share examples of good practice with their trainee teachers who were very complimentary about the EAL provision at Whitehouse as the following comments testify: “Amazing school – everything you could wish for.”  “Wellbeing comes first.”  “Very inspiring.”   “Inclusive – really epitomises no child left behind.”  “Togetherness and community spirit is amazing.”  “Work put in to primarily benefit the children has such far reaching outcomes.”  “Incredible impact on the whole community.”

Dinner Payments and Debt

Unfortunately, we are holding high levels of dinner debt, much of which goes back to before the pandemic began, which we need to get cleared as soon as possible.  Sara McCullum, our Finance Officer, will be in touch shortly with any parent/carer who has a debt for previous dinners taken.  We would very much appreciate you working with us to clear this debt.  We know times are still difficult for many, so Sara will be happy to work with parents/carers to arrange a payment plan to help you clear any debt owing.  Thank you for your assistance and understanding,

We would also ask that any future dinners are paid for in advance.  The cost of dinners (hot or pick and mix) remains at £2.30 a day for children in Key Stage 2 who are not entitled to free school meals and are free for any child in EYFS and Key Stage 1.  We ask that any payments are made online at this link:  https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-meals-uniforms-and-trips/school-meals/ If you have any problem or require assistance please speak to a member of the office team

Menu Update

We are pleased to let you know that with the return of all the children next week, we are introducing a new Packed Lunch (previously known as Pick and Mix) menu for the remainder of the Spring Term.

In addition, we will continue to offer the hot dinner options.  Both menus can be seen on our website at the following link: https://www.whcps.org/school-dinners/

World Book Day

Everyone loves a story!  Why not search on YouTube for ‘World Book Day’ and you will find lots of 10 minute stories read by well-known people.  They are great for a bedtime story for you and your child to share together.

Whitehouse Survey on KS2 Remote Learning

We have been really impressed by the way children and families have adapted to a new learning environment.  At Whitehouse, we are always looking at ways to make learning easier and more enjoyable.  To help us, can we ask you to please spend a few moments answering questions about your child’s experience of remote learning by accessing the links below before Monday 8^th March 2021.  The links can also be found on the website in the Parents Tab, under Parent Surveys.  Please note that children have also been requested to provide their views via Google Classroom.  Thank you for your continued support.

Year 3 Parental Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BSYB52V

Year 4 Parental Survey; https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/H7BY9JL

Year 5 Parental Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/H9RFNMJ

Year 6 Parental Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Y7TXFXG

Dates for the Diary

Wednesday 10^th March – Parent/Carer Evening - Online

Monday 29^th March – Friday 9^th April – Easter Holiday

Monday 31^st May – Friday 4^th June – Half Term Holiday

Friday 18^th June – Whole School SMSC Day

Thursday 24^th June – Suffolk Day

Thursday 1^st July – Year 5-6 Sports Day

Friday 2^nd July – Year 3-4 Sports Day

Friday 2^nd July – Year R, 1 & 2 Sports Day

Friday 9^th July – Reports Sent Home

Monday 12^th July – House Captain Elections

Thursday 15^th July – Nursery Sports Event

Wednesday 21^st July – Start of the Summer Holiday