Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 281

Friday 20th September 2024

A Message from Miss Siddall

It’s been a positive week in school as our first school trip of the year took place with Y2 visiting Ipswich Waterfront, the ITFC football ground and Christchurch park.  It was also a real pleasure to see all Y1 to Y6 children in assembly this week where we talked about First Aid.

It has been fantastic to see many parents attending the ‘Meet the Teacher’ sessions this week.  I hope it was helpful to see your child’s learning space, talk to their teacher and look at some of the wonderful work they have already competed.  Remember that you can come again for our first project showcase on the 15^th or 17^th of October.

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies for next week will be: European Day of Languages: A celebration of the languages spoken within our school.  (UNRC: Article 7 – I have the right to have a name and a nationality).  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: 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 from 6.00pm to 8.00pm  

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

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

Northgate High School: Wednesday 9^th October 2024 from 5.00pm to 8.00pm

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

Reception 2025: Open Mornings

If you have a child who is due to start school in September 2025, please note we will be holding several open mornings, to give you a chance to view the school and ask any questions you may have.  Please let the school office know if you wish to attend. These will take place at 9.30am on:

Friday 8^th November 2024                     Thursday 14^th November 2024

Monday 2^nd December 2024                    Thursday 9^th January 2025

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:

Rotary Club: Dictionaries

Last Friday, three members of the Rotary Club came in to delivery a special assembly to Year 6.  They very kindly donated 90 illustrated dictionaries to the children, to support them through their learning in their final year in primary school.  The children were extremely excited to receive their own personal dictionary and many of them are already using them during lessons.  Year 6 would like to say a massive thank you to the Rotary Club for their kind donations.

After School Library Sessions: Year 1

We have some exciting news for our Year 1 pupils and their parents and carers!  Starting from next Thursday 26^th September 2024, we are piloting the opening of one of our libraries after school to offer the opportunity for Year 1 parents and carers to visit the library with their child to choose a sharing book to borrow for the following week. We hope that by sharing a picture book the children have chosen with their parent/carer, it will encourage our children to continue on their journey to become lifelong readers who read for pleasure. 

The sessions will take place straight after school in the Early Years Library which is located on our blue corridor and will finish by 4.00pm.   Please collect your child from class as normal and then come around to the main car park on Marlow Road.  You can then get to the library via our ‘Blue Meeting Room’ which is through the gate just to the right of the main office entrance. Mrs Balaam, our librarian, will be pleased to meet you there.

Please be aware, it is not our intention for the child to be able to read their chosen book on their own; instead the book is intended for the parent/carer and child to read and enjoy together.   We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

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!

Attendance: Duck Race Winners

Well done to the winners of our Duck Races last week:

Parents and Friends Association (PFA)

A reminder we have a brief meeting planned for Monday 23^rd September 2024 straight after school for anyone interested in being involved with the PFA to help organise our popular events.  Just come to the school office where Ms Salmon will meet you.

We appreciate any help that can be given.  If we do not receive offers of help unfortunately our popular school fairs will not be able to go ahead.

Attendance: Winter Illness

As we head into the Autumn Term we are finding that the usual winter illnesses are starting to return. Remember, unless your child is vomiting then we actively encourage you to send them into school. We will always closely monitor them and contact you should we feel that they are not well enough to be here and engage fully in their lessons.

If your child is not in school, we do require all parents/carers to make contact with the school, advising us why they are not attending.  This is not only applicable on the first day of absence, but on each day following on from this.  As always, we are here to help should you experience any difficulties in getting your children into school.

Be a Chorister for a Day

We know many of our children love to sing so are pleased to let you know that St Mary le Tower, in Tower Street Ipswich, are holding a ‘Be a Chorister for a Day’ workshop for children who are in Years 3-8 after school on Thursday 26^th September 2024 from 4.30pm to 6.45pm.  More details are on the poster below if your child is interested.

Dates for the Diary

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

Thursday 3^rd October 2024 – Y1 Lions and Elephants local area walk

Friday 4^th October 2024 – Y1 Giraffes local area walk

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

Tuesday 8^th October 2024 – Year 4 Local Walk

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 8^th November 2024 - Open Morning for Reception 2025 children

Thursday 14^th November 2024 - Open Morning for Reception 2025 children

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

Monday 2^nd December 2024 - Open Morning for Reception 2025 children

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

Thursday 9^th January 2025 - Open Morning for Reception 2025 children