Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 188

Friday 1st April 2022

Message from Mrs Hall

I am delighted to report in this week’s newsletter that Whitehouse was awarded the Rights Respecting Silver Award by UNICEF yesterday morning. The assessor was very impressed with the children’s understanding of their rights and their depth of thought – we are incredibly proud of the children - WELL DONE everyone. We will be continuing on our right’s respecting journey and hope to secure Gold at the next assessment point. If you would like to find out more about this initiative please visit our website for further information: https://www.whcps.org/our-rights-respecting-school-journey/

Attendance for the previous week

Classes with the Best Attendance – Seahorses (98.4%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: National Autism Day: Celebrating the works of famous autistic authors and artists? 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.

School Streets

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, we have been investigating ways to improve the safety of the streets around school at the start and end of the school day, as well as the issue of parking.  Please note we have made an application to Suffolk County Council to close Marlow Road (as far as Westbourne staff entrance) to traffic at the following times: 

Monday to Friday: 8.20am to 9.05am and 2.45pm to 3.15pm

Please note this will mean the road will be fully closed to through traffic and points of closure will be marshalled.  Residents will still be able to have full access but will be requested to drive at a walking speed through the closure area.  Obviously, there will be full access for emergency services at all times. Should you have any comments or queries you wish to raise, please send them in an email to parents@whcps.org so they can be addressed.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Purple Man Reading Competition

Well done to Hedgehogs (LKS2) and Tigers (UKS2) for winning the Purple Man Reading Competition last week.  Great job.

Awards

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s Special Educational Needs following parents/carers evening, Mrs Porter, Assistant Headteacher and SENDCo, is available to book an appointment to discuss these. Please email the school office by Wednesday 6^th April and they will contact you to arrange the appointment.

Squirrels Class: Homework

Summer, from our Squirrels class, was busy enjoying her homework this week.  She did a pattern experiment using Skittle sweets and also an apple oxidation experiment.  

What great work Summer.  Well done and thank you sharing it with us!

         News from the School Parliament

We wanted the job because we wanted to represent the school.  Once we applied, we submitted a letter and our classmates voted us their representatives.  We have always felt proud to be a role model and make changes to the school and the local environment.

Our last achievement was selling poppies for the British Legion.  We raised a lot of money for the charity.

We have some exciting plans coming in the future!  Watch this space!

Lily, Deanna and Lily

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. 

Reading Competition

Where do YOU like to read?  We really need new photos on our library walls and with the Easter holidays coming up and more freedom to get out and about what better opportunity to take some photos of children reading in different places, the more unusual the better.  Please email the photos of your child reading a book somewhere unexpected and email it to the school by Friday 29^th April.  The photos will be displayed on the walls in the libraries with book prizes for the best in each Phase.  We look forward to seeing your pictures!

Children’s Achievements:

Scarlett in Cobras class loves dance and gymnastics and has been entering some competitions.  This week she had a chance to tell her class all about what she has been doing.  They especially loved to see all the medals and trophies that Scarlett has won.  Well done Scarlett, what a lovely hobby!

Year 3 – Curriculum

Year 3 have been very busy this week, working on 3D shapes and learning all about their properties.  The children were able to explain how many faces, edges and vertices each shape had and to compare them with each other.

Wellbeing Day: Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)

On March 25^th the children all took part in our Wellbeing Day with lots of great activities taking place. A favourite activity for KS1 was having a visit from Mme Godet and her gorgeous dog Alfie, a Bichon Frise. Mme Godet explained how she cares for Alfie and brought along all the products and equipment she uses.  All the children were engrossed in hearing all about him.  Alfie was incredibly well behaved and enjoyed some cuddles from some of the children (and staff!).  Thank you, Mme Godet and thank you Alfie.  In addition, the Year 2 children really enjoyed a lovely walk and made the community a little brighter by litter picking as well as enjoying some colouring activities.  What a lovely day for everyone in KS1.

Wellbeing Day: Year 4

Our Year 4 classes enjoyed several different activities during their Wellbeing Day. 

They worked in pairs to design their own board games and then had a chance to play them.  Following that, the children designed their own wellbeing t-shirt.  They all had a wonderful day.

Thank you

It has been a very busy year so far for sporting fixtures.  As a school we have already been involved in 16 different events.  We are extremely proud of our PE provision and the opportunities we provide our pupils.  This includes the opportunities for pupils to be able to experience Level 2 (inter school) events.  However, we could not attend a number of these events without the support from our parents/carers.  Therefore, Mr Jordan would like to take this opportunity to thank parents/carers for supporting and transporting our children during the fixtures.  It is very much appreciated!  We are now very much looking forward to the Summer Term fixtures!  Watch this space!

Year 5/6 Boys Football

Last week was a busy week for boys football.  The week began with our Year 5/6 Boys Football Team travelling to Britannia Primary School to take part in their second league match in as many weeks.  In what was the toughest match for the boys so far this year, the boys really had to dig in and work hard as a team throughout the entire match.  After a very closely contested start to the match, the boys unfortunately found themselves two goals behind at half time.  A positive start to the second half saw the boys perseverance pay off with an early goal.  Despite having plenty of the ball and scoring twice more during the second half, unfortunately it was not enough to win the game.  Regardless of the score line, Mr Jordan was very proud of the team’s hard work and perseverance.

Under 11’s Boys Futsal Event

Two days later and two teams of Year 5/6 boys took part in the Ipswich and south Suffolk 5-a-side Futsal event. Both teams represented Whitehouse in the same develop league, which was made up of six teams in total.  With each match lasting only 7 minutes, each match was played at a fast pace and high tempo.  Despite being the first time, the boys had played as separate teams, and having to play against each other during one of the matches, both teams showed some excellent teamwork and football skills in both attack and defence.  As a result, Whitehouse Team 1 drew 3 and lost 2 matches and Whitehouse Team 2 managed to win 1, draw 2 and lose 2.  Well done to both Tate and Romey were both awarded with the ‘’Fair Play’ award for their teams. 

Under 11 Girls Futsal Event

On Tuesday this week it was the turn of the girls to take part in their 5-a-side Futsal event which was held at St Joseph’s College.  Just like the boys, the girls were involved in the develop league.  Due to the popularity of the event, the develop league was split into two leagues in which five schools played against each other.  The girls played very well and showed some great individual football skills during their matches.  A special mention goes to Evie for scoring all of Whitehouse’s goals and also to Sophie for being awarded the ‘fair play’ award.  Well done girls, a great effort!

Ipswich and South Suffolk Cross Country Event

On Wednesday Mr Jordan, Mrs Giles and Mrs Pipe took 28 pupils from Year 4, 5 and 6 to the annual Ipswich and South Suffolk Games Cross Country event.  After previously being cancelled due to Covid and conducting virtual cross-country events at school, it was amazing to see so many schools being able to again compete in the event held. Equally impressive was the determination, perseverance and performances shown by all 28 of our pupils at the event.  As a result, 8 of our pupils finished within the top 50 for their age group with a further 3 finishing inside the top 30!  A special mention goes to Max who finished 12^th in the Year 4 race!  A fantastic event with an amazing set of children.  Well done to everyone who took part.

Online Safety – CyberSprinters

Exciting and new interactive online security resources for 7-11 year olds.

Young people are growing up in an increasingly digital world, exposing them to both the opportunities and risks of the internet. CyberSprinters empowers them to make smart decisions about staying secure online.

The digital game (linked below) can be played on a phone, tablet and desktop. Why not try playing one of the CyberSprinter puzzles with your children at home?

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/cybersprinters

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/cybersprinters/the-game

Dates for the Diary

Friday 8^th April – PD Day (School Closed to Children)

Monday 11^th April to Friday 22^nd April – Easter Holiday

Tuesday 26^th April – Y3 and Y6

(3.15 pm look at the children’s books in their classrooms)

Wednesday 27^th April – EYFS, Y1 and Y4

(3.15 pm look at the children ‘s books in their classrooms)

Thursday 28^th April – Y5 and Y2

(3.15 pm look at the children ‘s books in their classrooms)

Tuesday 3^rd May – Year 3 Colchester Castle Trip

Wednesday 4^th May – Year 1 Colchester Zoo Trip

Monday 30^th May to Friday 3^rd June – Half Term Holiday

Tuesday 14^th June – Year R Easton Farm Park Trip

Friday 17^th June – Year 2 Duxford Airfield Trip

Tuesday 28^th June – Year 5 Kentwell Hall Trip

Monday 4^th July to Wednesday 6^th July Year 6 Mersea Residential Trip

Friday 22^nd July 2022 – First day of the Summer Holiday