Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 255

Friday 12th January 2024

A Message from Miss Siddall

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope that this newsletter finds you well and that you were able to enjoy the Christmas break with your families. The term has started positively and the children are eager to learn more about their enquiry questions.  To find out more, please refer to the year group newsletters, enquiry homework menus and curriculum overviews which were sent earlier this week.  The curriculum information can also be found on our website (https://www.whcps.org/the-whitehouse-curriculum/).  Please also have a look at our wonderful new video (https://www.whcps.org)

Year 4 and Year 6 both have open sessions in the next few weeks so we look forward to seeing many of you soon. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance for the week before Christmas:

Class with the best attendance: Foxes (98.00%)

Year 4: Christingle Service

On Monday, just before the Christmas holiday, Year 4 walked to St Thomas the Apostle Church on Bramford Lane for a Christingle service. This visit tied in with our half term’s RE learning about Christianity. 

The children enthusiastically contributed to a retelling of the Christmas story and shared their understanding of the significance of a Christingle.  Led by Reverend Revely, everyone sang some Christmas carols which was a lovely way to welcome in the Christmas holiday.  Thank you to all those parents and carers who came along to join us. 

SEND Families

Please see below a link for a SEND Support Tool available for children aged 0-25.  The tool offers information, advice and services that can assist a child or young person to receive support for their special educational need or disability, on a variety of topics including education, needs, early help, social care and health.   https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/sendsupporttool.page

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:

Readers’ Cup

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

A Message from Mrs Zantboer, Attendance Officer

What can you do to support your child’s good attendance?

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine
• Lay out clothes and backpack the night before
• Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes early
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to the teachers, pastoral team or other parents for advice on how to make him/her comfortable and excited about learning
• Develop a backup plan for arriving at school if something comes up. Call on family members, neighbour or a friend to help.
• Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session

Absence Procedures

Parents must inform the school office, leaving a message on the absence line 01473 741249 ext.1.

When leaving a message please state the following:

• Child’s name
• Class
• Reason for absence

If a child is absent from school without a reason being provided, you will receive a call to ascertain the reasons for any absence. Longer term absence, without any reason given, may result in a welfare visit from one of our team and ultimately your child’s absence may result in being unauthorised.

Punctuality

 Poor punctuality can lead to your child….

• Feeling embarrassed in front of their friends
• Missing the beginning of vital lessons making them fall behind
• Missing important instructions for the rest of the school day
• Learning bad habits which could affect their employability in the future

Please work with us to provide your child with the best chances of learning by ensuring that they are in school every day and on time.  Thank you for your support and co-operation.

Census Day: Special Menu

Please note the Spring Census Day is next week on Thursday 18^th January and so we will be having a special menu for the day. 

This is always a wonderful time for your children to try a school dinner if they do not usually have one, as it involves the children’s favourite meals!  There is no cost for children in Reception or Key Stage 1 and the meal is £2.43 for children in Years 3 upwards unless they are eligible for a free school meal. 

Please note Pick and Mix options will also be available that day.

Year 5/6 – Parent/Carer Survey

Whitehouse and other schools across Ipswich have been working with an evaluation partner to better understand the barriers that are preventing children attending school.  As part of this we have been asked to invite parents/carers of children in Year 5 and 6 to complete a short survey.  This will only take 5 minutes and the links to access these are detailed below:

English survey: https://impacted.typeform.com/IpswichEnglish
Polish survey: https://impacted.typeform.com/IpswichPolish

Latvian survey: https://impacted.typeform.com/IpswichLatvian

Portuguese survey: https://impacted.typeform.com/IpswichPortug

The surveys are open until Friday 26^th January 2023 and we would be grateful if you could please help by giving a few moments of your time to reply.  Thank you for your continued support.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 15^th January 2024 – Spring 1 after-school clubs commence

Thursday 18^th January 2024 – Census Day: Special Menu

Wednesday 24^th January 2024 – Year 6 ‘Mummification’ Parent/Carer Session – 9.00am

Wednesday 31^st January 2024 – Year 4 ‘Viking Long Boat’ Parent/Carer Session – 9.00am

Monday 12^th February 2024 – Last week of Spring after-school clubs

Friday 16^th February 2024 – SMSC Whole School Day – Online Safety

Monday 19^th February 2024 to Friday 23^rd February 2024 – Half Term Holiday

Friday 8^th March 2024 – Reports sent home

Tuesday 12^th March 2024 – Parents Evening

Wednesday 20^th March 2024 – Parents Evening

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

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

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