Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 273

Friday 14th June 2024

A Message from Miss Siddall

Due to the success of last year’s Summer Fair, we have decided to organise this event again. However, we really need the help of our parents and carers to run stalls. If you would like to join the P.F.A or have some time to help run events and share ideas then please contact Ms Salmon: pfa@whcps.org.  We really hope that you are able to support the school so that we can raise some money for new resources for the children. In addition, if you work for a local business and they would like to donate a raffle prize for the Fair this would be gratefully received. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance for the week before half term:

Class with the best attendance: Toucans (99.40%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: Paralympics: What is it and why is it held?  (UNRC: 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 good life.)   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.

Year 6: Crucial Crew

On Thursday last week, Year 6 attended the 30^th anniversary of Crucial Crew.  The aim of the event is to encourage good citizenship and reduce accidents, injury, crime and protect young people through education and awareness. The children were able to take part in a range of workshops delivered by Suffolk Police, Lighthouse and Suffolk Fire and Rescue amongst others.  The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshops, taking part in fire evacuation drills, finger printing and role play during gang workshops.

Celebrating our Children

This week we would like to celebrate Sakura from Year 5, who has been working very hard at her Karate.   During the end of year awards ceremony, Sakura was given a trophy for the Most Improved Student as well as two medals for being in the competition squad and for achieving medals in previous competitions!  Well done Sakura, what a wonderful achievement!

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.

EYFS:

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Year 1: Felixstowe Trip

Last Friday, Year 1 went on a sunny trip to Felixstowe as part of their new History unit: Why do we love the seaside?  They began their adventure near Languard Fort and the container port and then made their way through the nature reserve, and were able to enjoy a wildflower hunt, which related to their new Science unit about plants.  After a long walk, they had earned a rest in the beautiful sunshine to enjoy their packed lunches.  However, they didn’t sit for long, as it was time to explore the fantastic Martello play park as well as the beach.  Sandwich bags in hand, the children searched for pretty shells and tried to make sandcastles, but the beach was very pebbly so this proved to be quite tricky!  Year 1 made their teachers very proud with the way they represented the school, showing outstanding behaviour and respect to the other beach goers.  Well done Year 1. 

Year 3: Ducking Down the Deben

As you will remember, last week Owls class went ‘Ducking Down the Deben’ and this week saw the turn of the Badgers class.  They had a wonderful day in their wellies, taking lots of river measurements and learning more about how rivers start and develop.  Well done, Badgers class, for all your wonderful behaviour and for being so engaged throughout the day!

Summer Fair: Please Help!

As you are aware our Summer Fair is planned for after school on Friday 5^th July 2024.  However. we are in desperate need for further help so we ensure this can take place.  If you are willing to do a little to help, please do let the office know, so we can inform Ms Salmon.  We are also in need of prizes for our raffle.  If you or anyone you know would be willing to provide one, again please speak to the office or directly to Ms Salmon. 

Please also note that we will be holding a Non-Uniform day on Monday 1^st July 2024, where we would ask for a small donation of chocolate or sweets.  These will then be used on the tombola at the fair.

Readers’ Cup

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

Attendance: Duck Race Winners

Well done to the winners of our Duck Races the week before half term:

U11’s Dynamo Cricket

Last Wednesday, Ms Salmon took nine boys, from Years 4, 5 and 6 to an U11’s Dynamo Cricket event at Ransomes Sports Ground.  Having only played cricket together in their after-school club, the boys played some very good cricket on the day.  This event was a ‘developing’ one which meant there was no winner after all the games had been played.  Ms Salmon was extremely pleased with how the boys’ skills developed throughout the event.  The whole team batted extremely well, looking for gaps where they could gain 4 or 6 points.  The team played against a number of other schools including Bildeston, Britannia, Colneis, Bealings and Ranelagh.  When it was the turn of Whitehouse to field, they were outstanding, with some brilliant catches from Lucas, who caught four players out in a row!  Well done to you all: Lucas, Muhammad, Tawhid, Ben, Dexter Otto, Jack, Junior and Lenin.  Although it was a developing event, the team came away having won all of their games!  Super work boys!  Thank you to all the parents and carers who helped by transporting the children and for your support. It was greatly appreciated.

Sports Day 2024

“Sports Day is the best day EVER…It is so much fun!” Year 1 Pupil. 

Last week saw our pupils from each year group (Nursery – Year 6) represent and compete against their peers, as part of their 'Houses' within their classes, in our annual Sports Day. As with previous years, Mr Jordan planned and conducted 8 individual sports day sessions over three days to allow each year group the opportunity to take part in six different athletics-based events during their own sport day session.

This year’s Sports Day took on the theme of this summer’s upcoming Paris Olympics 2024.  As a

result, each class was allocated an Olympic country to represent during their sports day session. To

celebrate this, each Sports Day began with an Olympic style opening ceremony with parents/carers and family members lining the playground to cheer and clap as each class, and their country, was introduced and welcomed onto the KS2 field. It was amazing to see the amount of effort each class had gone to produce banners and signs to celebrate the ‘Houses’ the pupils would be representing during their session.

The pupils’ effort, behaviour and enthusiasm throughout each sports day session was amazing. It was great to see so many pupils putting in so much effort, competing with big smiles on their faces and demonstrating ‘The Whitehouse Way’. It was also amazing to see so many parent/carers and family members in attendance, enjoying the events and cheering the children on. Mr Jordan would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our pupils, staff, Sports Leaders and particularly parents/carers and family members for helping to make this year’s sports day yet another huge success!

Sports Day Results 2024

The scores from each of the individual year groups sport day sessions and the overall results have been counted and verified! We can reveal the results, and winning ‘House’ from this year’s sports day is as follows:

GB Athletes Visit

On Monday we were treated to a visit by GB Gymnast Kelly Simm. During Kelly’s half day visit to our school, she met and worked with pupils from Reception and KS1 classes.

Kelly’s visit began with a truly inspirational assembly. During the assembly, Kelly told pupils about her sporting journey to becoming a GB gymnast. The pupils were especially impressed by the video of Kelly’s gymnastic routine on the uneven bars during the Commonwealth Games. Kelly also explained that despite winning numerous medals at British, Commonwealth, European and World championships, that there were times during her gymnastics career where she had to face disappointments, setbacks and injuries. However, with hard work, determination and lots of perseverance she was able to achieve her goals! 

After their assembly each class from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 took part in a short high energy 10-minute fun fitness session with Kelly. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the fitness session and working closely with Kelly. The motivational music, encouragement by Kelly and the fun exercises ensured that each pupil gave 100% effort during the session.  Before leaving, Kelly also took time to conduct a meet and greet with our Yr5&6 Sports Leaders. During their meeting, the Sports Leaders were also able to conduct a Q&A with Kelly, and were also given the opportunity to see the Commonwealth Games Gold medal won by Kelly in 2022. 

Each of our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the visit from Kelly. The opportunity and memories of meeting and working closely with such a top-level international athlete will, I’m sure, stay with our pupils for years to come!

U9’s Boys’ 4v4 Football Festival

On Monday, Mr Jordan and Miss Brundrit took five boys from Year 4 to attend the U9’s Boys’ 4v4 Suffolk FA Football Festival, which was held at St. Joseph’s College. As with previous Suffolk FA football festivals, the main aim of the festival was to provide a very relaxed event, which allowed the players the opportunity to enjoy the game and to make their own decisions during the matches. As a result, the games involved minimal coaching from the sidelines, and no referees! Instead both teams worked together to implement the rules of the game and most importantly enjoy playing football!  The boys did amazingly well! During each of the 10 matches played during the afternoon, the boys showed some fantastic individual skills, as well as some amazing teamwork to pass the ball and set up wave after wave of attacks. When out of possession, the boys worked together to quickly close the ball down and dispossess their opponents.

As a result of their hard work, the boys won 7 out of their 10 matches, drawing 2 matches and only losing 1 match!  Throughout the festival the boys scored an impressive 24 goals as a team!  A fantastic, footballing display boys so well done!

National School Sports Week 2024

Next Monday marks the start of ‘National School Sports Week’ (17th – 23rd June). National School Sports Week is an annual event which aims to highlight the importance of getting children to fulfil the recommended minimum time of being physically active for 60 minutes a day. To acknowledge this event, in addition to our already very active week (lunchtime activities, after school clubs etc.), next week during English & Maths, class teachers will be encouraged to include Teach Active lessons. Additionally, during PE lessons we will be conducting our annual Paralympic Week.  Staff will conduct two inclusive/Paralympic activities to deliver to their class. This includes activities such as Archery, Boccia, Goalball, New Aged Kurling, Seated Volleyball, Goalball and Team Building Activities.

To ensure that children are fulfilling their 60 minutes of physical activity per day, it is recommended that they should be physically active in and outside of school.

Examples outside of school could include:

• Playing in the garden
• Playing football at the park
• Going for a walk, run or bike ride with a family member
• Being active on the play equipment at the local park
• Attending a sports club, or being active at a club outside of school.

Therefore, we would love to see the different ways in which our pupils are being active away from school during next week’s National School Sports Week. Please feel free to share photos with us by sending them to parents@whcps.org.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 17^th June 2024 – Family Breakfast at 8.00am

Tuesday 18^th June 2024 – Year 3 Ducking Down the Deben – Rabbits Class

Monday 24^th June 2024 - Family Breakfast at 8.00am

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

Friday 28^th June 2024 – Year 5 Kentwell Hall visit

Monday 1^st July 2024 – Family Breakfast at 8.00am

Monday 1^st July 2024 – Non-Uniform Day (bring sweets or chocolate)

Friday 5^th July 2024 – EYFS Afternoon Tea for new Reception children (Sept 2024 intake)

Friday 5^th July 2024 – Summer Fair

Monday 8^th July 2024 – Family Breakfast at 8.00am

Friday 12^th July 2024 – End of year reports home

Tuesday 16^th July 2024 – Year 6 Production

Thursday 18^th July 2024 – Y6 Leavers BBQ

Friday 19^th July 2024 – Y6 Leavers Assembly – Parents / Carers invited

Friday 19^th July 2024 – Last day of the Summer Term

Monday 22^nd July 2024 to Friday 30^th August 2024 – Summer Holiday

Monday 2^nd September 2024 – PD Day (Children are not in school)

Tuesday 3^rd September 2024 - PD Day (Children are not in school)

Wednesday 4^th September 2024 – First day of Autumn Term

Friday 15^th November 2024 – Flu Vaccinations (more details will follow)

Friday 13^th December 2024 – Flu Vaccinations Catch-up Session (more details will follow)