Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 280

Friday 13th September 2024

A Message from Miss Siddall

It has been a successful week in school and I have been very impressed with how well the children have settled back into the routine. I have seen the children working hard in their lessons and using the ‘Whitehouse Way’ to be successful learners.  If you would like the chance to see any of the work your child has already completed, there will be an opportunity next week during the ‘meet the teacher’ sessions which take place straight after school on different days throughout the week - please see the section below for the timetable.   

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: World First Aid Day: What is first aid and how can we use it to help someone? (UNRC: Article 24: I have the right to the best health possible and to medical care and to information that will help me to stay well.).  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.

School Photos: Individual and Sibling

A reminder that we have our school photographer coming into school on Monday 16^th September to take individual photos of our children.   Please remember to send your child in wearing their full uniform and looking their best.  If your child was due to have PE that day, please ensure they come into school in their school uniform instead of their PE kit. 

We are pleased to also be able to offer parents/carers the opportunity to have a photo taken of siblings (this can only include siblings who attend Whitehouse).  These will be done on a first come, first served basis between 8.00am to 8.40am in the Marlow Hall.  Please come in via the KS1 playground and into the back of the hall, where families can queue to have the photo taken. 

Meet the Teacher sessions

Don’t forget we have our ‘Meet the Teacher’ sessions coming up next week.  These take place straight after school and give parents/carers the opportunity to come into the classroom and have a chance to speak to the teachers.  Please note the session times are:

Monday 16^th September:  Year 1

Tuesday 17^th September: Nursery, Reception and Year 3

Wednesday 18^th September: Year 4 and Year 6

Thursday 19^th September: Year 2 and Year 5

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:

ELSA Diabetes Study

Were you aware that there are many children and young people in the UK who are living with Type 1 Diabetes and are not aware of it until they become quite unwell?  The ELSA Study has been set up to screen children aged from 3-13 years of age to pick up this condition early and we are happy to confirm that we will have a screening session here at Whitehouse.

The screening will take place on Thursday 10^th October 2024 and for your child to be included you must give consent.  A flyer has been sent home with the children this week which includes details of how to consent for your child to take part in the screening.  Alternatively, you can access information at the following link: 

www.elsadiabetes@nhs.uk  

Walking Bus

Here at Whitehouse we are looking into the possibilities of setting up a Walking Bus scheme, working with ‘The Way to Go Suffolk’ team from Suffolk County Council.  The team will support us with the walking bus, offering training and DBS checks and assisting us in establishing a route.  Before we can move ahead however, we need to know if this has your support.

What is it?

The Walking Bus is a group of volunteers who take turns to walk a group of children from a designated meeting point to the school.

How much will it cost?

It is completely FREE, with the help of our wonderful parents/carers who might be interested in volunteering.

Reasons to use it.

A Walking Bus will help ease congestion around the school, increase physical activity and overall wellbeing of our pupils and it is FREE!

Your child will be bringing home a letter about the scheme shortly, along with a section for you to complete expressing your interest in both your child taking part and you becoming a volunteer.  Please do try and complete this and send in as soon as possible.

Year 6: High School Places / Opening Evenings 

If your child is in Year 6 it is time to start thinking about their High School Place.  Applications for a High School can be made from now and the deadline to complete this is Thursday 31^st October 2025.  It can all be actioned online at the following link:  www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions.

Many of the High Schools have upcoming Open Evenings where you can go along and hear more about the school and ask any questions you may have, to help with the decision of which school you wish to apply for.  Below are the dates of the Open Evenings we are aware of so far:

Westbourne Academy: Thursday 3^rd October 2024 at 6.00pm to 8.00pm     

Claydon: Wednesday 16^th October 2024 at 5.00pm to 8.00pm

Ormiston Academy: Wednesday 25^th September 2024 at 5.00pm to 7.00pm

St Albans Catholic High School: Wednesday 18^th September 2024 at 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Ipswich School: Saturday 28^th September 2024 at 9.15am

Parents and Friends Association (PFA)

We have been very lucky in recent years to have a wonderful PFA, led by Ms Salmon, who have put on many events at the school for our children and families to enjoy, including our very popular Christmas and Summer Fairs.  Unfortunately, with children moving on to High School, we have a lost a number of our volunteers and are looking for some new PFA members who would be willing to give a little bit of their time so we can continue to hold events.  If you think you might be interested, we will be holding a meeting on Monday 23^rd September 2024 to share information and ideas and make plans for future events.  Please do come along – we will meet at the School Office.  If we are unable to get help, unfortunately we will not be able to hold our Christmas Fair this year.

Special Menu

We are pleased to let you know we have a special ‘Pizza Day’ lunch menu coming up on Thursday 19^th September 2024.  This is a great chance for your child to try a school dinner if they have not tried one before, or have not had one for a little while.  For all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and for all children eligible for a free school meal there is no cost.  For all other children the cost is £2.52 and can be paid at the office in cash, or on Arbor using a card payment.

Suffolk Libraries: Romanian Film Festival

Suffolk Libraries are holding their very first Romanian Film Festival this month, which will be running this weekend (Friday to Sunday).  The Main Ipswich Library will be screening a number of feature films and documentaries which will celebrate and share Romanian cinema and culture to anyone who would like to stop by and watch.  All showings are free so do pop along and learn more about the Romanian culture which many of our families at Whitehouse are part of.  More details can be seen here: https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/resources/ipswich-romanian-film-festival.

Family Breakfasts

We are very pleased to let you know that our popular Family Breakfasts are starting again on Monday 23^rd September 2024. This is a lovely way to start the school week, as parents/carers are invited to come into school at 8.00am and enjoy a simple, free breakfast with their children.  Please come in via the Key Stage 1 playground on Marlow Road, where Mrs Gotts will meet you and show you where to go.  We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Asda: Cashpot for Schools

Did you know if you shop at Asda, you can help earn money for our school?  Cashpot for Schools is a new scheme and is a wonderful way to help us purchase extra resources for the children. 

All you need to do is download and sign up for the Asda Rewards app, which many of you will probably be using already.  Then you just select Whitehouse CP School. 

Then whenever you shop and scan, Asda will donate a percentage of your shop to the school.  Please note this will not affect the rewards you earn for yourself from your shop.  Thank you to everyone who has already signed up!  This will be a wonderful help.

Behaviour on/near Site

Please note we have been made aware of a couple of issues that have arisen since we have been back in school for which we would ask your co-operation to resolve. We know the area gets very busy at the start and end of the day, but would remind parents/carers of the importance of parking safely and also in showing respect to the local residents.  Can we ask that you avoid parking across driveways to enable local residents to be able to access and leave their houses.  In addition, we have had reports of adults on the school site spitting.  Can we please remind all that this is not acceptable behaviour and if this is seen to happen this may result in a ban from entering the site.   Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 16^th September 2024 – School Photos (Siblings from 8.00am to 8.30am)

Monday 16^th September 2024 – Meet the Teacher: Year 1

Tuesday 17^th September 2024 – Meet the Teacher: Nursery, Reception and Year 3

Wednesday 18^th September 2024 – Meet the Teacher: Year 4 and Year 6

Wednesday 18^th September 2024 - Year 2 trip to Ipswich Town Centre (half year group)

Thursday 19^th September 2024: Special Menu: Pizza Day

Thursday 19^th September 2024 - Meet the Teacher: Year 2 and Year 5

Friday 20^th September 2024 - Year 6 Earthquake Workshop

Monday 23^rd September 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Monday 23^rd September 2024 – PFA Meeting (Parents and Friends of Whitehouse) – 3.20pm

Tuesday 24^th September 2024 – Year 5 Gurdwara Trip

Wednesday 25^th September 2024 - Year 2 trip to Ipswich Town Centre (half year group)

Monday 30^th September 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Monday 7^th October 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Thursday 10^th October 2024 – ELSA Diabetes Screening

Monday 14^th October 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Tuesday 15^th October 2024 – Autumn 1 Project Showcase (Nursery, Years 1, 3 and 5)

Thursday 17^th October 2024 – Autumn 1 Project Showcase (Reception, Years 2, 4 and 6)

Monday 21^st October 2024 – Family Breakfast – 8.00am

Friday 25^th October 2024 - Whole School SMSC Day

Monday 28^th October – Friday 1^st November 2024 – Half Term Holiday

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

Wednesday 4^th December 2024 - Reports home to parents/carers

Thursday 5^th December 2024 – Online Parents/Carers Evening

Tuesday 10^th December 2024 – Online Parents/Carers Evening

Tuesday 17^th December 2024 – Autumn 2 Project Showcase (Reception, Years 2, 4 and 6)

Thursday 19^th December 2024 – Autumn 1 Project Showcase (Nursery, Years 1, 3 and 5)

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

Friday 20^th December 2024 – Last day of the Autumn Term

Monday 23^rd December 2024 – Friday 3^rd January 2025 – Christmas Holiday

Monday 6^th January 2025 – PD Day (Children are not in school)

Tuesday 7^th January 2025 – First day of the Spring Term