Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 218

Friday 20th January 2023

Message from Mrs Hall

UNRC Article 31 recognises the children’s rights to play and rest. We are very fortunate to offer lots of free clubs at Whitehouse as we want all children to have the opportunity to learn, play, develop new skills and gain new experiences. Therefore, it was a delight to coach and referee the Y6 netball team this week as they played an important match against Broke Hall. Throughout the game I reflected on how much they had learned about the game since Y5, how well they had listened to advice during the match and how well they worked as a team (well done, Ms Salmon). The children should all be very proud of their performance as they clearly demonstrated ‘The Whitehouse Way’ (courage, reflection, perseverance and responsibility), winning 13-3. Thank you to all the parents/carers who supported the match, we hope you will be able to join us at the quarter finals!

Attendance for the previous week:

Class with the best attendance: Cobras (98.6%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: What is the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?  Which Saint represents each country and what is there story? (UNRC Link: Article 7: I have the right to have a name and a nationality). 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.  

Awards

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Purple Man Reading Competition

Well done to the winners of the Purple Man competition from last week:  

Times Table Rock Stars

Results are in for the first round of TTRS battles for this term.  In LKS2, Hedgehogs defeated Owls, Squirrels beat Badgers and Rabbits overcame Foxes.  In UKS2, Pandas beat Ocelots, Chameleons beat Lizards whilst Macaws and Jaguars beat Toucans and Tigers.  Battles for this week have already commenced so get yourself logged on to TTRS and get battling!  If you want to see how many battles your class has won, check out the TTRS display next to the KS2 library.

News from the House Captains

Hello Everyone,

Once again, there will be a sports competition that will take place the week beginning 23^rd January 2023.  We hope that you have seen our posters (which have been placed in your classroom) explaining what the activity will be about.  However, if you haven’t seen it, we can briefly explain:

The Five in One Race:  This half term, the House Captains have decided to lead a fun sports event for all years to compete in!  The Five in One Race is a 50m track where you have to do different skills whilst running the track.  This is how you race it:

• Run the first 10 metres
• Hop for 10 metres
• Skip for 10 metres
• Jump for 10 metres
• Run backwards over the last 10 metres and over the finish line

You are racing against the clock, so be speedy!  All participants will receive points for taking part.

We hope you all enjoy the competition and we can’t wait to see you all running!  Years 1 and 2 will take place on Monday, Years 3 and 4 will be on Tuesday and Years 5 and 6 will be on Wednesday.

Fun Joke:  Why was the footballer upset on his birthday?  Because he got a red card!

From the House Captains 😊

Art Competition

A reminder that we have an Art Competition running to create something with your recycled Christmas cards and paper. You could decide to make a wreath, a new card, a gift box or anything else you can think of!

The closing date is Monday 6^th February 2023.  We look forward to seeing your inventive creations!

Online Safety

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) have released a new learning activity and picture book (PDF) for 5 to 8 year olds, which can be used by parents and carers at home.  The book is all about online friends and how online friends are not always as they seem.  You can see all the resources for free by clicking on the link below.  If you ever have any online safety concerns or would like advice on an online matter, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Cox via the school office.  https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/resources-tab/parents-and-carers

Year 6: Parent/Carer Session - Mummification

On Wednesday, the Year 6 children enjoyed an interactive session with their parents/carers, learning about how and why the Ancient Egyptians mummified their pharaohs…by practising mummification on a tomato!  They removed the brains and discarded them, removed the liver, lungs, intestines and stomach, saving them carefully.  They weighed the heart and finally preserved the tomato in salt to preserve it by removing the moisture.  The Year 6 children had a great time and were able to remember the different stages of the mummification process very well.

Families Connect Workshops

This half term we are running the Families Connect Workshops on Friday afternoons.  This is an eight-week programme.  Activities will be fun and interactive and will support you to build strong relationships with your family.  Your child will get to work with you in school, joining in with games.  The sessions will end with refreshments.  If you are interested, please come to our information session on Friday 20^th January 2023 between 2.30pm and 3.00pm in our Blue Meeting Room.  Please sign in at the school office.

NHS Free Courses: Mental Health

Please note the NHS are running a number of Parent/Carer online workshops which are available for free.  If you are interested in reserving a place and seeing what else might be available please scan the QR code or visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search for Psychology in Schools Team – NSFT.  Courses available include the following:

Supporting our Young People with OCD: 6^th February 2023 at 1.00pm or 6.00pm

Supporting our Young People with Anxiety: 7^th February 2023 at 6.00pm

Supporting our Young People with Challenging Behaviour: 7^th February 2023 at 7.15pm

Supporting our Young People Manage Big Feelings: 6^th March 2023 at 1.00pm

Supporting Your Child to Attend or Get Back to School: 6^th March 2023 at 6.00pm

Supporting our Young People with Low Mood: 7^th March 2023 at 6.00pm

Y6 Netball Match (Written by the Team)

On the 18^th of January the netball team played Broke Hall in a rematch after drawing against them before Christmas. As this was a cup game, one team would be knocked out of the tournament. Everyone played extremely well and worked brilliantly as a team. Mrs Hall (the team’s coach) led the team through the game, supporting everyone along the way! All the girls played exceptionally well guided by their team captain (Ebun) with everyone contributing to the victory. The score ended up being 13-3 to us meaning we are going to the Quarter Finals! Shout out to Mylie as she got the player of the match!  

Teacher’s Strike

You may be aware that one of the Teacher’s Unions announced 4 days where their members may strike. These days are 1st February, 1st March, 15th March and 16th March. Teachers have been asked to notify the Headteacher if they intend to strike so that plans can be put in place to organise the safe opening of the school on each of these days. Please be assured that we will keep you up to date and give you as much notice as possible of any arrangements as soon as we can.

Drinks in School

Can we please remind parents/carers that our school policy is that children should only bring water into school to drink throughout the day.  We would ask for your co-operation in ensuring that no other drinks are sent in. 

Flu Clinics

Cases of flu are still high throughout the country so if your child has not yet received the flu immunisation this winter, please be aware that the School Immunisation Team are holding one final clinic in Ipswich.  This will be held on 4^th February 2023 at the Martlesham Parish Rooms from 1.30pm to 4.30pm where the immunisation can be given.  Please note you will need to call in advance and book a slot.  You can call the team on 01462 427008 to make a booking.   

Dates for the Diary

Friday 20^th January 2023 – Information Session for Families Connect – 2.30pm

Monday 23^rd January 2023 – Young Voices Choir Trip to O2

Tuesday 31^st January 2023 – Y5 Parent/Carer Guided Reading Session – 9.00am to 9.45am

Wednesday 8^th February 2023 – Parent/Carer KS1 Phonics Share – 2.40pm

Monday 13^th February 2023 to Friday 17^th February 2023 – Half Term Holiday

Wednesday 22^nd February 2023 – French for the Family Afternoon – Hedgehogs Class

Wednesday 1^st March 2023 – French for the Family Afternoon – Squirrels Class

Thursday 9^th March 2023 – Right Respecting Gold Verification

Wednesday 15^th March 2023 – French for the Family Afternoon – Foxes Class

Wednesday 15^th March 2023 – Parent/Carers Evening (in person)

Thursday 23^rd March 2023 – Parent/Carers Evening (in person)

Friday 24^th March 2023 – Whole School SMSC Day

Monday 3^rd April 2023 to Friday 14^th April 2023 – Easter Holiday