Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 166

Friday 1st October 2021

Message from Mrs Hall

I hope you have had the opportunity to watch the school film on our website to gain a glimpse of all the wonderful opportunities available to the children in school.  As a staff, we recognise that in order to provide the very best learning opportunities for the children, we must continually develop and improve our own skills and as such, staff training is a valuable part of our work at Whitehouse. Our continual professional development of staff ensures the best interests of the children are at the heart of our work (Rights of the Child, Article 3). As the safeguarding of children is paramount, all staff have already had safeguarding and online safety training this term to ensure that we are up to date with current guidance and know the procedures we must follow. As a reminder, if you have any concerns about the safety of any child the safeguarding lead at Whitehouse is Mr I Williams (Deputy Headteacher). I am also very proud that our school is involved in the training of the teachers of tomorrow with our current staff supporting and providing training sessions for student teachers.

Attendance for the Previous Week

Classes with the Best Attendance – Seahorses, Starfish and Frogs (98.1%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: Introducing Paralympic Week. UNRC Link: Article 23: If I am disabled mentally or physically, I have the right to special care and education to help me develop and lead a full 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.

Purple Man Reading Competition

A big well done to Hedgehogs (LKS2) and Tigers (UKS2) for winning the Purple Man Reading Competition last week.   It was very close this week with Squirrels class just 1 minute behind Hedgehogs. Keep up the good work everyone!

KS2 Library

Each month we will be running a competition in our Key Stage 2 Library. Our current competition is all about Roald Dahl.  Children who manage to complete the quiz about his books will receive a bookmark.  Then, at the end of the competition, which closes on Monday 18^th October, eight entries will be chosen at random to win a Roald Dahl book.  A copy of the quiz is available in the KS2 library.

Awards

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Year 6 Open Evenings

A reminder to parents/carers of our Year 6 children, that all high school applications need to be completed by 31^st October 2021.  A number of our local high schools have open evenings coming up shortly, which enable parents/carers to learn more about their schools and ask any questions they may have.  Please note below the dates/times of these evenings. Further information can be located on the websites of each school.

Chantry Academy – Thursday 7^th October 2021.  6.00pm to 8.00pm.

Claydon High School – Wednesday 13^th October 2021. Visit the website to select a time slot.

Northgate High School – Wednesday 13^th October 2021. 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Westbourne Academy – Thursday 7^th October 2021.  6.00pm to 8.00pm. 

HSBC Financial Workshops

A big thank you to Harrison, Joshua and Abby from HSBC for providing our children with some engaging financial workshops (via Zoom and in person) this week.  We are very much looking forward to them visiting more classes as the year goes on.  So far our Year 3 classes have learnt about ‘Money Throughout the Ages’ and our Year 6 classes found out how to feed a family healthily on a budget by taking part in the ‘Super Supper Challenge.’  It was a valuable experience for all involved.

Reading Recommendations

Please see below the latest recommendations for books to read to help the children to widen their book choices.  There will be rewards for any children who read and quiz on these books.  This week’s recommendations are: 

After School Club – British Sign Language

At Whitehouse we are keen to equip our pupils with life skills which will serve them well in the future.  Also, as a Rights Respecting School, we are committed to fighting discrimination in all its forms and ensuring that ALL children, including those with disabilities, are welcome and thrive in our setting.  With this in mind, we are delighted to be able to offer an Introduction to British Sign Language after school club for some of our Year 5 children.  It has been extremely well received and our children are keen to look at how we can incorporate more sign language into our school.   In the club, the pupils will learn about the history of BSL, they will learn the BSL alphabet and signs for greetings and how to talk about feelings using sign language.   It is wonderful to see the children so keen to learn this new skill.

After School Club – Classroom Games

Our Year 2 children have also been busy in their after school clubs, one of which is Classroom Games with Miss Swansborough.  The children have loved seeing all of the different games that are available and having a play with each of them.

Dinner Debt

Please note we have a number of children who owe dinner money.  Please can we remind parents/carers to check the balance on your parent app and make payment as soon as possible.  Thank you.

Year 1 Local Walk

Last week our Year 1 classes each went for a walk around the local area as part of their enquiry topic, ‘Where do I live?’  They behaved very well and enjoyed looking around and noticing things they might not have seen before.

Exciting News: New Parent App

Did you see that we have recently introduced a new parent app?  Have you signed up yet? Since moving to academisation we are using a different system to hold all our pupil data and the new app offers much more to our parents/carers also.  The app will allow you to update your contact details, check dinner money balances and top up your account and even check on your child’s attendance.  Have a look at the link to get some more details: https://www.whcps.org/arbor-parent-app/.

If you have not received a welcome email, please message the school office on parents@whcps.org as it might be that we do not have your correct email address.

*** Job Vacancies in School ***

We are pleased to let you know we currently have job vacancies as detailed below. Full details of the vacancies along with application forms are available on our website: https://www.whcps.org/vacancies/.  In addition, application forms can be collected from the school office. The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Friday 8^th October 2021.

Lunchtime Assistant:

• Working under the direction of the Lunchtime Leader
• Engage with and support the children while eating and engaging in safe and positive play outside
• Contribute to the management of behaviour
• Undertake first aid responsibilities
• Working Hours: 1.25 hours a day working term time only
• Scale Point 2.1 (Currently £9.25 an hour)

Cleaner:

• Work under the direction of the Site Caretaker to contribute to the high cleaning standards at WHCPS
• Have a basic understanding of procedures relating to cleaning, such as COSHH
• Working Hours: 3.15pm to 5.45pm, 44 weeks a year
• Scale Point 1 (currently £9.25 an hour)

Whitton United Football Club

Do you have a Year 3 or 4 child who enjoys playing football?  If so, why not go along to a free training session with Whitton United Football Club, who are looking for some new players.  If you are interested in finding out more please call Ryan on 07543 903415.

 Dates for the Diary

Monday 4^th October – Framlingham Castle Trip – Year 2

Friday 22^nd October – PD Day (School Closed to Children)

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

Thursday 18^th November – Parents Evening (remote)

Monday 22^nd November – Ipswich Museum – Year 6 Ocelots and Chameleons

Tuesday 23^rd November – Ipswich Museum – Year 6 Tigers and Toucans

Wednesday 24^th November – Parents Evening (remote)

Friday 26^th November – RRSA Whole School Day

Friday 17^th December – Last Day of Autumn Term

Monday 20^th December to Monday 3^rd January – Christmas Holiday

Tuesday 4^th January – PD Day (School Closed to Children)

Monday 21^st February to Friday 25^th February – Half Term Holiday

Monday 28^th February – PD Day (School Closed to Children)