Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 236

Friday 23rd June 2023

Message from Mrs Hall

There are only four weeks until the end of the term and we are still expecting the children to continue working hard in all of their lessons; we still have lots to cover on the summer curriculum, so attendance at school is crucial. This week has continued to be very warm, please ensure that the children bring a water bottle to school and a sun hat.  To avoid disappointment please check the school calendar for trips, visits and events. Please note a letter was sent out detailing the class changes for next year, all the children will have an opportunity to meet their new class teachers on Wednesday and Thursday. If you have any questions about this please speak to your child’s Phase Leader. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance for the previous week:

Class with the best attendance: Puffins (97.27%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for the week after half term will be: World Refugee Day. (UNRC Link: Article 22: I have a right to special protection and help if I am a refugee.  A refugee is someone who has had to leave their country because it is not safe to live there).  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.

Reception: Easton Farm Park Visit

The Reception children had a super trip to Easton Farm Park on Thursday 15^th June 2023.  They learned all about farm animals and had the chance to meet and stroke many of the animals including a sheep, a goat and even a large black Kune Kune pig called Hilda!  This was very different to the cute, fluffy rabbits and goats which they were able to cuddle.  All of the adults were very pleased with the amazing behaviour of the children and hope they all had a good time.  Thank you to our super parent/carer helpers and school staff who accompanied us too!

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).

National Sports Week

It has been lovely to see photos of your children taking part in their various chosen sports activities: here are just a couple of examples.  Chance, in Year 1, has been working on his trampoline gymnastics skills.  In just six lessons Chance has already been able to do a front landing unsupported and stand back up afterwards.  Well done Chance, keep up the good work!  Meanwhile Olivia, also in Year 1, has been working on her Gymnastic skills and completed her Level 2 qualification last week.  She also is learning to swim and is busy working to achieve her Turtle badge.  Well done!

Nominations Needed!

In last week’s newsletter, we informed you of an exciting Prize Draw being run by National Book Tokens.  There are five fantastic prizes of £1,000 in book tokens up for grabs to be spent on new books for school libraries.  Nominations can be made by school staff, parents, friends, relatives and members of the local community over the age of 16. Making a nomination could not be simpler and the whole process takes less than two minutes.  Simply follow this link: https://www.nationalbooktokens.com/schools#nominate-your-school-title and complete the online form.   The closing date is 30th July 2023 and the five lucky winners will be drawn at random on 31st July 2023.  Individuals may only make one nomination but with every one it increases out chance of winning!

Library News

The recruitment campaign is underway to select our new team of Voluntary Pupil Library Assistants for the next academic year.  Any child currently in Year 4 or 5 is eligible to apply provided they are not also a Prefect, House Captain of Sports Leader.  If you have a child in Year 4 or 5 please remind them of this opportunity and encourage them to visit me in the library at break or lunchtime to pick up a job description and application form. Our fabulous team of current Pupil Library Assistants will be in the library during lunchtime next week and are happy to talk to anyone interested in applying to tell them a little more about what the role involves.  The closing date for applications is Wednesday 5^th July 2023.   

Finally, the race to get all overdue library books returned by 30^th June 2023 is well underway.  Please could you encourage your child to have a good look at home for any overdue school library books and return them to school ASAP.  Any class which clears their list of overdue books by that date will be entered into a prize draw and will get a special mention in our Celebration Assembly.

Lost Property

Can we please ask you to have a little look around your home and see if your children have brought home any clothes by accident which belong to another child?  We have had a couple of coats get lost in school and are trying to trace them.  If you do find anything please return it to the school office.

Whitehouse Prefects

We are very pleased to announce our prefects for 2023-2024.  These children have all been extremely hard-working and responsible members of Year 5 this year and are great examples to us all of following the Whitehouse Way.  Well done to you all.

Summer Holiday iCards

Ipswich Borough Council have confirmed that they will again be offering the opportunity to buy an iCard for your child to use over the summer holiday.  The cost of the card is £6.00 and will enable the children to access over 350 activities throughout the summer, including BMX bike rides, Rollerskating and much more.  To get more information and to purchase a card for your child please look at the following link:  www.ipswichfit.co.uk/summerholidayicard.

Nursery Spaces - September

We are pleased to let you know that we will have some spaces in our popular Nursery from September 2023.  We offer spaces for either 15 hours a week or 30 hours a week for those who have a 30-hour code (or who wish to pay for the extra hours).  We accept children from the term after their 3^rd birthday.  Timings for our sessions are: Morning: 8.30am to 11.30am or Afternoon: 12.15pm to 3.15pm

If you would like more information please contact the school office and ask to speak to Miss Sara McCullum who will be able to assist.

Non-Uniform Day

We will be holding a non-uniform day on Monday 3^rd July 2023 and would ask for a non-cash donation of sweets or chocolates.  These will then be used for the Tombola stall at the fair on Friday 7^th July 2023.

Dates for the Diary

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

Monday 3^rd July 2023 – Non-Uniform Day (Bring donation of sweets/chocolate for school fair)

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