Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 262

Friday 8th March 2024

A Message from Miss Siddall

Thank you to everyone for your support in making World Book Day a success.  Many of the children have come to school dressed as their favourite book characters.  We have also had a wonderful ‘Pop-Up Book Shop’ in school, run by Mrs Balaam and Mr Taylor.  All children, from Nursery to Year 6, have been able to choose a free book to keep, courtesy of National Book Tokens.  We are delighted that we have been able to support all the children in receiving their free book and would like to thank WHSmith for their help in providing the books for us.

Attendance for the week before half term:

Class with the best attendance: Seahorses (100%)

Staffing Changes

After Easter, Miss Waters (Y4) will leave us for a teaching post in a new school.  Miss Waters will be greatly missed by staff and pupils but we are delighted that Miss Ward will be taking over in Squirrels class from April 15th.  We will also be saying goodbye to Miss Rosher for a time while she is on maternity leave.  We wish her and her family all the best. 

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: Ramadan: What is it?  Who celebrates it?  (UNRC: Article 14: I have the right to think what I like and be whatever religion I want to be, with my parents’ guidance).  Resources related to this assembly will soon be available on our website.  To access them, go to Learning and click on our Enquiry Based Assemblies.

Readers’ Cup

Well done to the following classes who won the Readers’ Cup the week before half term:

Beat the Street

Well done to all of you (children, parents/carers and staff) who have been busy walking and cycling around the streets of Ipswich gathering points for the school.  We are very impressed with the amount of effort everyone is putting in to do their best.  We know there is at least one person who has not only been collecting points every day but has also visited every one of the 128 boxes, which is a wonderful achievement.

There is still time to join in, as this does not finish until 27^th March 2024.  We are currently sitting at 4^th in the table, so keep on going. There are lots more points up for grabs especially this weekend when lots of boxes will be double points!

Awards

As you may be aware, the children are encouraged to follow ‘The Whitehouse Way’ in school to help them in their learning and in becoming good citizens. Our ‘Wonderful Week’ awards this year will be given as a recognition that the children have worked very hard in one of these areas:  Courage, Perseverance, Reflection or Responsibility.  This will be shown in the colour coded lists below.  We are so proud of our children at Whitehouse and their wonderful achievements.  Well done to you all.

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Parents/Carers Evening

We look forward to welcoming you to our Parents/Carers Evenings which are coming up on Tuesday 12^th March 2024 and Wednesday 20^th March 2024.   These will take place face to face within the school building.

Please note if your first appointment is for KS2 children (Years 3-6), please come in via the Waterford Road Car Park.  If you are meeting the KS1 or EYFS teachers (Years R-2), please come in via the Main Office on Marlow Road.  If you have not yet made an appointment to meet your child’s teacher, then please check your email as a link was sent out to all parents/carers.  If you experience any issues with booking, please speak to the School Office who will be able to assist.  Thank you for your support.

Moments Matter, Attendance Counts Moments Matter, Attendance Counts

The Government recently published information on their new drive to reduce pupil absence in schools.  Key features of this press release state:

• Every school in England will now share their daily attendance registers across the education sector.  This will form a new world-leading attendance data set which will allow schools to spot and support children displaying worrying trends of persistent absence.
• Fines will increase from £60 to £80 (if paid within 21 days) and from £120 to £160 if paid in 28 days.
• Piloting a scheme of ‘attendance mentors’ who will work directly with pupils to tackle their barriers to attendance
• A particular emphasis will be placed on supporting children with SEND and mental ill health who often need more individual consideration.

Healthy Eating Ideas: Lunchbox and Lunchtime Swaps

When lunchtime rolls around, it is easy to eat more sugar or salt than we realise. Try some of these simple swaps, and remember to check out the link below for lots more lunchbox inspiration!

Lunchbox ideas and recipes – Healthier Families - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair takes place in school next week on Monday 11^th and Tuesday 12^th March 2024. Monday’s Fair will be in the Marlow Road Hall as usual from 3.00pm to 4.00pm and on Tuesday it will be held in the Blue Corridor (EYFS) just near the library and the meeting room.  The session on Tuesday will coincide with Parents/Carers Evening and so will be open for the extended time of 3.00pm to 6.00pm.  It would be lovely to see you come along, and don’t forget with every purchase the school earns, rewards which we can spend on books to add to our libraries. 

On arrival at the Book Fair, please pick up a ‘My Book Fair Wish List’.  If you want to then purchase any of the books available, note these down on your wish list and make the necessary payment.  Where possible we would encourage parents/carers to pay online, which can be accessed by scanning the QR code printed on the Wish List.  Once payment is complete, just hand your form to a member of staff at the Book Fair and they will be able to place your order.  The Book Fair has been open for viewing by the children in school today and yesterday so your child may be familiar with some of the wonderful titles available.

Can you help?

Do you have any spare clothes that would fit our children in Reception (aged 4-5 years)?  Sometimes little accidents happen and we need to change their clothes but we currently we have no spare underwear, trousers or socks.  If you have any that you no longer need, we would gratefully receive these.  Thank you.

U11’s Inclusive Ten Pin Bowling Event

On Wednesday last week, Mrs Porter and Mrs Arnold took six Year 5/6 pupils to take part in the U11 Inclusive Ten Pin Bowling event which was held at Tenpin Ipswich, Martlesham. As with previous Inclusive Ten Pin Bowling events, the session involved each school playing 2 games of bowling. Each school’s total team score at the end of the first game was recorded and compared to determine which position each school would finish. As well as having lots of fun, the team also played extremely well and showed some fantastic bowling skills throughout the event. As a result, of their hard work the team finished the event as the overall winners!

An amazing and well-deserved achievement, well done!

Y5/6 Boys Football

Last Wednesday, the Year 5/6 boys’ football team travelled to Broke Hall Community Primary School to take part in their opening IPSSA league match of the year. Since their previous cup match, the boys have been working extremely hard within their after-school club to continue to develop their football skills, and this hard work definitely showed. Both individually and as a team the boys played extremely well! The team stuck to the game plan and remained disciplined in the new formation. As a result, the boys played some fantastic attacking football, linking up together to create a number of goal scoring opportunities. The boys were very unlucky to hit the post twice and have a shot deflected just over the bar during the match.

Mr Jordan was also incredibly pleased with the boy’s defensive efforts throughout the match. The boys quickly closed down the ball to put Broke Hall under pressure and dispossess them during their passages of play. Three very unfortunate deflected goals handed the win to Broke Hall. Despite the result of the match, the boys came off the pitch in high spirits, knowing that the result did not in any way reflect their performance during the match. Good luck to the boys as they host Sidegate Primary in their next league match.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 11^th March 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Monday 11^th March 2024 – Scholastic Book Fair – 3.00pm to 4.00pm

Tuesday 12^th March 2024 – Year 5 Parent/Carer Session: Flapjack Tasting – 2.15pm

Tuesday 12^th March 2024 – Scholastic Book Fair – 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Tuesday 12^th March 2024 – Parents Evening

Wednesday 13^th March 2024 – Year 3 Roman Day

Friday 15^th March 2024 – Comic Relief

Monday 18^th March 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Monday 18^th March 2024 – Year 3 Colchester Castle Trip

Wednesday 20^th March 2024 – Parents Evening

Thursday 21^st March 2024 – Year 5 – Local Trip to Co-op

Monday 25^th March 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Monday 25^th March 2024 – Last week of Spring 2 After-School Clubs

Friday 29^th March 2024 to Thursday 11^th April 2024 – Easter Holiday

Friday 12^th April 2024 – PD Day (Children not in school)

Tuesday 30^th April 2024 – Class Photos

Monday 6^th May 2024 – May Day Bank Holiday

Monday 13^th May 2024 to Thursday 16^th May 2024 – Year 6 SATs Week

Monday 27^th May 2024 to Friday 31^st May 2024 – Half Term Holiday

Monday 3^rd June 2024 – PD Day (Children not in school)

Wednesday 5^th June 2024 – Nursery and Reception Sports Day

Thursday 6^th June 2024 – Years 1, 2 and 3 Sports Day

Friday 7^th June 2024 – Years 4, 5, and 6 Sports Day

Monday 24^th June 2024 to Tuesday 25^th June 2024 – Year 6 Residential Trip at Mersea

Wednesday 26^th June 2024 – School Transition Afternoon

Thursday 27^th June 2024 – School Transition Morning