Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 233

Thursday 25th May 2023

Message from Mrs Hall

We do hope that you were able to visit the Eco-Art Project in the school hall this week. We are really proud of what the children achieved collectively and how they are continuing to develop their understanding of how to protect the environment. A big thank you to Miss Tempest, Miss Jaspal and Mrs Edwards for organising this super exhibition – it was wonderful.  Over the next few weeks we will be organising the classes for the next academic year, as soon as this is arranged we will let parents know. The children will have a chance to meet their new teachers at the end of June. I do hope that everyone has a wonderful half-term break, and don’t forget school starts back on Tuesday 6^th June. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance for the previous week:

Class with the best attendance: Foxes (99.7%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for the week after half term will be: World Bee Day: Why are bees important to human life?  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

EYFS:

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 for last week (a competition that rewards classes with the highest average reading minutes across KS2).

Year 1: Andy Goldsworthy Art Afternoon

Last week, Year 1 invited parents and carers to join us in making some outdoor art work inspired by Andy Goldsworthy.  Lots of families came to support this activity and the children had great fun creating their designs.  A huge thank you to everyone who came to support their children.  Here are some examples of the designs that were created.

Dinner Debt

We still have a number of children who are owing dinner money.  Please note with budgets in schools being so tight, it is imperative that these are paid as a matter of urgency.  If you are struggling to pay the debt, please call the office and speak to Miss Sara McCullum who will be able to discuss a payment plan with you.  Thank you for your support.

Gold Award!

We are thrilled that Whitehouse have been awarded the Gold Award for being a Rights Respecting School and are only the third Primary School in Suffolk to have achieved this prestigious award. The inspectors who visited the school commented that the children had excellent knowledge of a wide range of rights and spoke confidently and articulately about why rights are important to them.  Pupils want to make a difference in their own school community and across the world.

Football Festival

On Wednesday 17^th May, Ms Salmon took 6 Year 4 girls, Ivy, Vina, Sakura, Isla, Skye and Lacey to a 4x4 Football Festival which was held at Ipswich Town Football Club.  The girls looked rather nervous when we arrived but their nerves soon disappeared once they settled into the games.  The team were placed into Group 3 which meant they were up against 6 other teams, with each game lasting for 6 minutes.  Watching the girls play was amazing, seeing the smiles on their faces and the determination showed was priceless. The girl’s perseverance and courage were all Ms Salmon could have hoped for.  Great teamwork from our Year 4 girls!  Ms Salmon was very impressed with the attacking and defending skills shown.  Well done girls!  The children were also very lucky to have had their photo taken with the Sky Bets Trophy that Ipswich Town Men’s Football Club had won for this last season.

Free School Meal Vouchers

Please note if your child(ren) are eligible for free school meals (due to benefit claims, not Universal Free School Meals), supermarket vouchers worth £15.00 have again been ordered for each eligible child. The email should have arrived with you today (from Edenred).  If you have not received this email please contact the school office on parents@whcps.org so we can investigate further.  

U7 Dodgeball Festival

Last Tuesday Mr Jordan took a team of Year 2 children to Suffolk New College Sports Centre to take part in an U7 Dodgeball Festival.  The festival was organised and run by Year 1 college students as part of the sports leadership module for their sports course.  Each dodgeball match involved all of the usual dodgeball rules and consisted of three 2-minute games.  During the festival the Year 2 team played a ‘round robin’ of matches against six other schools within their group.  The team performed amazingly, showing fantastic dodging and throwing skills.  Additionally, the team also showed excellent knowledge and understanding of the dodgeball rules. As a result, the team managed to win a very impressive five of their six matches!  The team consisted of the following pupils:

In the true spirit of festival events, the team has lots of fun and really enjoyed playing against the other teams.  The children were a real credit to the school and showed the true ‘Whitehouse Way’ as they took time to thank their opponents and the umpires after each game!  Mr Jordan was extremely proud of the team’s efforts and also their behaviour throughout the festival. Well done everyone!

Improved Attendance

A big well done to the 30 children who have been given certificates this week for successfully improving their attendance!  What a great effort from you all!

Suffolk Parent Carer Forum

This is a Suffolk based charity made up of parents/carers who have come together so they can help to shape the provisions and services our children and young people access. Please see below for further details and how you can contact them. 

Dates for the Diary

Friday 26^th May 2023 – PD Day – School Closed for Children

Monday 29^th May 2023 to Friday 2^nd June 2023 – Half Term Holiday

Monday 5^th June 2023 – PD Day – School Closed for Children

Tuesday 6^th June 2023 – Victorian School – Year 4 Squirrels Class

Wednesday 7^th June – Victorian School – Year 4 Foxes Class

Wednesday 7^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Nursery 9.15am-10.15am

Wednesday 7^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Reception 10.30am-11.30am

Thursday 8^th June – Victorian School – Year 4 Hedgehogs Class

Thursday 8^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Year 1 10.00am-11.00am

Thursday 8^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Year 2 11.15am-12.15am

Thursday 8^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Year 3 2.00pm-3.00pm

Friday 9^th June 2023 – Crucial Crew – Year 6 (am only)

Friday 9^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Year 4 10.00am-11.00am

Friday 9^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Year 5 11.15am-12.15am

Friday 9^th June 2023 – Sports Day – Year 6 2.00pm-3.00pm

Thursday 15^th June 2023 – Easton Farm Park Trip – Year R

Tuesday 20^th June 2023 – Foxburrow Farm Trip – Year 3

Friday 23^rd June 2023 – Whole School SMSC Day

Monday 26^th June 2023 – Mersea Day Trip – Year 6

Monday 26^th June 2023 – Duxford Trip – Year 2

Tuesday 27^th June 2023 – Mersea Day Trip – Year 6

Wednesday 28^th June 2023 – Transition Morning

Thursday 29^th June 2023 – Transition Morning

Friday 30^th June 2023 – Kentwell Hall – Year 5

Friday 7^th July 2023 – Afternoon Tea for New Reception Intake

Friday 7^th July 2023 – Summer Fair

Friday 14^th July 2023 – Visit to ‘Maggie the Community Playbus’ – Nursery Dolphins Class

Monday 17^th July 2023 – Year 6 Production

Tuesday 18^th July 2023 – Year 6 Production

Wednesday 19^th July 2023 – Leavers BBQ

Friday 21^st July 2023 – Leavers Assembly

Friday 21^st July 2023 – Last day of the Summer Term

Monday 24^th July 2023 to Thursday 31^st August 2023 – Summer Holiday

Friday 1^st September 2023 – PD Day – School Closed for Children

Monday 4^th September 2023 – PD Day – School Closed for Children

Tuesday 5^th September 2023 – First day of Autumn Term for Children