Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 319
Friday 5th September 2025
A Message from Miss Siddall: I would like to offer a very warm welcome back to school for the start of the Autumn term. I hope you have had a wonderful summer with your family. If you would like the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, there will be a chance to meet them later in September. As usual, there is lots of interesting learning to look forward to over the coming term and some of our year groups have trips already planned, so keep a look out for letters coming home soon. A reminder of the timings of the school day are detailed below for you. Children who arrive at school after 8.55am will need to enter via the school office, as the gates are closed promptly to allow teachers to begin lessons.
School Timings
As lots of our children have moved in to new Key Stages, please find below for your information and start and finish times for our year groups:
Key Stage | Start Time | Finish Time |
Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) | 8.40am | 3.10pm |
Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) | 8.45am | 3.15pm |
Reception | 8.50am | 3.20pm |
Nursery | 8.30am | 11.30am |
If you have more than one child to drop off to classrooms, please start with your oldest child to prevent them arriving to class late. Again, when collecting, please collect the eldest sibling first and then make your way down the school year groups to the youngest child.
School Photos
We are pleased to let you know that we have our school photographer coming into school on Monday 15th 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.
Breakfast Club
Our breakfast clubs are proving as popular as ever this year. Please remember if you want your child to attend, you need to book a space. This can be done via Arbor or at the school office. The cost is £1.00 per child, per day and must be paid in advance. You need to enter via the KS1 playground and enter the back door of the Marlow Road hall, where a member of staff will greet your child and sign them in.
Meet the Teacher Sessions
We are pleased to inform you that we have our ‘Meet the Teacher’ sessions coming up very soon. These take place 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 15th September: Year 3
Tuesday 16th September: Reception and Year 6
Wednesday 17th September: Nursery, Year 2 and Year 5
Thursday 18th September: Year 1 and Year 4
School Dinners
A reminder that the price of school dinners has increased slightly to £2.62. This will be for both hot dinners and pick and mix options. Children who have moved into Year 3 and above will have to pay for their school dinner unless they are eligible for free school meals. If you think your child may be eligible you can apply online at the below link:
If you need some assistance please come and speak to the School Office team who will happily assist.
If your child has a dinner money debt we would ask you to kindly ensure this is paid off immediately and pay for any further dinners in advance.
Parking
As we move into the new school year, we would like to remind parents/carers the importance of ensuring they are parking safely and considerately in the area around the school site. As you will be aware the start and end of the school day is very busy with many cars and pedestrians near the site. Please do think about whether it would be possible for you to leave the car at home and walk to collect your children. We would also ask you to please be considerate to the residents living near the school and do not block the access to their homes when parking. Also, please be aware the car park is not for use by parents/carers, unless they have a blue badge which must be displayed.
Free Parent/Carer Workshops: Children’s Mental Health
As you will be aware a number of young people suffer with their mental health. The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation are pleased to be able to offer a number of free online workshops for parents/carers which offer help in how to deal with a number of mental health issues. To book and view more information please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/psychology-in-schools-team-nsft-32627846273?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo#events
School Absences
If your child is going to be absent, for any reason, please be sure to notify the school as early as possible on the day of the absence. Prompt communication helps us ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students.
How to report an absence:
Thank you for helping us keep our attendance records accurate and for helping us to support your child’s success.
Homework / Project Showcases
A reminder that for all years (except EYFS) we will send out half termly homework menus and then hold subsequent project showcases at the end of the half term where parents/carers can view the homework project the children in the class have completed. These activities have been chosen to link to the children’s enquiry theme and give a choice of tasks to meet different interests and learning styles. Please encourage your children to try and complete some of the suggested activities from the menu or try the suggested day out with your family. The children all get a chance to vote for their favourites, choosing a first, second and third place for the class.
Printed homework menus for Autumn 1 were sent out in July but will be resent this week. They can also be viewed on the website under Learning, The Whitehouse Curriculum Year Group folders where you will also find knowledge organisers which are useful fact sheets with key information that may help the children with their home learning activities. Please see the direct link below:
https://whitehouse-commuunity-primary-school.secure-primarysite.net/the-whitehouse-curriculum/
Contact Details
Can we please ask that if any parent/carer has changed their address, phone number or email that you please inform the office as a matter of urgency. It is very important that we have the correct information so we can reach you in the event of an emergency. Thank you.
Family Breakfasts
A reminder that our popular Family Breakfasts are starting again on Monday 8th September 2025. 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 as many of you as possible.
Brick Festival
The Brick Festival is taking place on Saturday 20th September at Inspire and is a must for all LEGO fans! The day allows you to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and have fun, no matter what your age. We know many of our pupils have attended in the past and had a wonderful experience.
There will be a chance to view new LEGO selections, watch lightning-speed building competitions, mini-figure hunts, and even an area to build some of your own creations as well as purchase LEGO blocks, sets and LEGO themed items.
If you are interested please note you need to book, as the event is always a sell out. You can book a space at www.IpswichBrickFestival.com.
Dates for the Diary
Monday 8th September 2025 – Family Breakfast 8.00am
Monday 15th September 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am
Monday 15th September 2025 – School Photo Day
Monday 15th September 2025 – Year 3 Parent/Carer Reading Session – 2.30pm
Monday 15th September 2025 – Meet the Teacher – Year 3
Tuesday 16th September 2025 – Meet the Teacher – Year R and Year 6
Wednesday 17th September 2025 – Meet the Teacher Year Nursery, Year 2 and Year 5
Thursday 18th September 2025 – Meet the Teacher Year 1 and Year 4
Friday 19th September 2025 – Year 6 Earthquake Workshop
Monday 22nd September 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am
Monday 29th September 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am
Friday 3rd October 2025 – SMSC Day: Learning to Learn
Monday 6th October 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am
Monday 13th October 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am
Monday 13th October 2025 – Year 6 SATs Info Sessions for Parents/Carers – 9.00am / 4.30pm
Tuesday 14th October 2025 – Autumn 1 Project Showcase – Years Nursery, 1, 3 and 5
Thursday 16th October 2025 – Autumn 1 Project Showcase – Years Reception, 2, 4 and 6
Monday 20th October 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am
Monday 27th October 2025 – Friday 31st October 2025 – Half Term Holiday
Friday 7th November 2025 – Tour for new Reception Children (starting Sept 2026)
Thursday 13th November 2025 – Tour for new Reception Children (starting Sept 2026)
Friday 28th November 2025 – Reports Home to Parents/Carers
Monday 1st December 2025 – Tour for new Reception Children (starting Sept 2026)
Tuesday 2nd December 2025 – Online Parents/Carers Evening – 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Thursday 4th December 2025 – CET Christmas Concert
Tuesday 9th December 2025 – Nursery Nativity Event
Thursday 11th December 2025 – Reception Nativity Play
Thursday 11th December 2025 – Online Parents/Carers Evening – 3.30pm to 6.30pm
Tuesday 16th December 2025 – Autumn 2 Project Showcase – Years Reception, 2, 4 and 6
Thursday 18th December 2025 – Autumn 2 Project Showcase – Years Nursery, 1, 3 and 5
Monday 22nd December 2025 to Friday 2nd January 2026 – Christmas Holiday
Monday 5th January 2026 – PD Day (School closed to Children)