Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 325

Friday 17th October 2025

A Message from Miss Siddall: 

Many thanks to all parents and carers who were able to attend the project showcase events this week. It was wonderful to see so many of the children sharing their project work with you. Thank you for supporting our curriculum. The next project showcase is on Tuesday 16th December 2025 (YR, Y2, Y4 and Y6) and Thursday 18th December 2025 (YN, Y1, Y3 and Y5). We will endeavour to send the next homework menus to you before half term so that the children can get started if they wish to, and to give you a chance to complete the family activity if you are able. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance for last week:

Class with the best attendance: Owls (98.67%)

Fantastic Attendance: Keep it up!

We have been really encouraged by the high attendance levels across the school lately.  Thank you for your continued support in getting children into school each day!  It’s clear that many of our children are showing great determination and commitment to their learning, even pushing through the sniffles and showing real perseverance, one of our school’s golden rules.

While the season has brought its fair share of coughs and colds, it’s inspiring to see your children arriving with positive attitudes and a strong sense of resilience.

Just a gentle reminder, if your child is unwell and needs to stay home, please remember to let the office know as early as possible on the day.  This helps us keep our records up to date and ensures everyone’s wellbeing.  Thank you once again, we’re proud of the effort and enthusiasm shown by our school community!

Attendance: Duck Race Winners

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

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:

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies this week was Black History Month (UNRC: Article 30: If I come from a minority group, because of my race, religion or language, I have the right to enjoy my own culture, practise my own religion and use my own language.).  As part of the assembly the children will be learning about the lives and legacies of some black individuals who have shaped our world.  Why not ask your child to share what they learned?

New Autumn Menu

We will be introducing our new Autumn menu from 3^rd November 2025 (after half term holiday).  The menu can be viewed on our website:

https://www.whcps.org/school-dinners/

Pupil Wellbeing:  Understanding the Difference – What is and what is not bullying

As parents/carers and educators, one of our shared goals is to ensure that all students feel safe and supported at school. That is why it is important to clearly understand what bullying is, and what it isn’t. While all unkind behaviour should be addressed, not every conflict or rude interaction qualifies as bullying.

Bullying is:

• Intentional – It is done on purpose to harm, hurt or intimidate
• Repeated – It happens more than once over time
• Power Imbalance – The person bullying uses power (physical strength, popularity etc) over someone perceived as weaker

Examples:

• A student repeatedly calling another student names and encouraging others to exclude them
• A group of students spreading harmful rumours about someone over time
• A stronger student threatening or intimidating another student every day

Bullying is not:

• One-time conflicts – like arguments or disagreements between friends or peers
• Rude Behaviour – like cutting in line or saying something hurtful once
• Accidental actions – like bumping into someone or misunderstanding a joke

These behaviours still matter and should be addressed, but they require conflict resolution, not bullying intervention

How parents/carers can help:

• Encourage your child to talk about their day and how they are feeling
• Ask open-ended questions like, ‘What happened next?’ or ‘How did they make you feel?’
• If your child reports a concern, try to gather the facts and share them with the school, calmly and promptly so we can help appropriately

We are here to work together to keep our school a safe, respectful space for every child.  If you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  For more information you can search online for ‘Wake Up Wednesdays, Bullying’ where you will be able to view more guidance.

Special Menu

To celebrate Halloween, this year we will be having a special school menu on Friday 24^th October, the last day of this half term.  Menu is as shown.  Our themed days are always a great opportunity for your child to try a school dinner if they have not had one before, or not had one for a little while. 

As always there is no charge for children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 or those children who are eligible for free school meals.  For all other children the charge is the same as the normal lunch menu, £2.62.

Jacket potatoes and pick and mix will also be available.

After School Clubs

A reminder that after school clubs have now finished for half term, there will be no clubs next week.  A letter will be coming home shortly for the children to sign up to clubs for the next half term, so keep an eye out for this!

Accelerated Reader

A big well done to all the children below who have recently received certificates for their reading.  

Also, a big well done to Sana in Pandas class who recently gained her Blue Peter Book Badge.  Wear your badge with pride Sana!

School Uniform

Please support your child in attending school wearing the correct school uniform.  This consists of grey or black trousers or skirts and white polo shirts with a red jumper or cardigan. We consider jeans and brightly coloured t-shirts and sweatshirts bearing logos to be unsuitable for school wear.  Heels on shoes should be low and wide in the interest of safety.  All pupils are expected to wear black shoes as part of their uniform.  All items of clothes should be clearly named.  We feel that nail varnish, make up and hair dye is not suitable to be worn in school and would ask that this is removed.

WHCPS PE Kit

Thank you to all parents/carers for your efforts with the PE kit at the start of this academic year, it has looked amazing and very smart! Just a quick reminder that the WHCPS PE kit consists of the following items:

• Red WHCPS logo PE top

• Plain black shorts

• Plimsolls/Trainers (no plimsolls for KS2 PE)

• Black WHCPS logo PE jumper or fleece (optional)

• Plain black tracksuit bottoms, top and jumper (Outdoor PE)

• No jewellery (Please ensure that earrings are not worn on PE days)

Please note that staff will be keeping a close eye on the PE kit throughout the year and ensuring that the fantastic standards of PE kit remain as high as it has been throughout this half term.  If there is an issue with the PE kit i.e. it’s on order, becomes damaged, waiting to purchase a new one etc. please provide your child’s class teacher with a note. Thank you again for your continued cooperation and support! 

U11 Girls 7v7 Football Event

Last Thursday, Mr Jordan and 11 Year 5 and 6 pupils attended the Ipswich and South Suffolk School Games U11’s Girls 7v7 Football event, which took place at Whitton Sports Centre. This very popular annual event begins the start of many Level 2 (Inter-school) football events throughout the year, and provided the first opportunity for the girls to play together as a team. During the event the girls were drawn to play in group 2 and faced tough opposition from Gusford, St Marys, Castle Hill, Hadleigh and Hillside Primary Schools. Despite being the first time the girls had played together as a team against other schools, throughout the event they played amazingly. The girls showed excellent teamwork when attacking and defending, and showed a real understanding of their positions on the pitch. Throughout each match the girls worked really hard to implement the skills and tactics they have been developing during the after-school club with Mr Jordan.

As a result, during their five matches the girls did not lose a signal match, winning 1 and drawing 4 of their matches. During the event the girls also managed not to concede a signal goal! Mr Jordan was extremely proud of the girls’ behaviour and effort throughout the event. A special mention goes to Millie for scoring a hat-trick during one of the games and also for receiving the ‘Fair Play Award’ voted by the young leaders at the event.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 20^th October 2025 - Family Breakfast 8.00am

Monday 20^th October 2025 – Year 3 Local Walk – Owls Class

Tuesday 21^st October 2025 – Year 3 Local Walk – Badgers Class

Wednesday 22^nd October 2025 – Year 5 Greek Day

Thursday 23^rd October 2025 – Year 3 Local Walk – Rabbits Class

Monday 27^th October 2025 – Friday 31^st October 2025 – Half Term Holiday

Monday 3^rd November 2025 – Year 4 West Stow Visit

Thursday 6^th November 2025 – Scholastic Book Fair (after school)

Friday 7^th November 2025 – Tour for new Reception Children (starting Sept 2026)

Monday 10^th November 2025 – Scholastic Book Fair (after school)

Tuesday 11^th November 2025 – Year 3 Stone Age Experience Visit

Thursday 13^th November 2025 – Tour for new Reception Children (starting Sept 2026)

Friday 14^th November 2025 – Year 2 Framlingham Castle Visit

Tuesday 25^th November 2025 – Year 6 Bletchley Park Visit

Wednesday 26^th November 2025 – Year 5 Parent/Carer Science Session – 9.30am

Friday 28^th November 2025 – Reports Home to Parents/Carers

Monday 1^st December 2025 – Tour for new Reception Children (starting Sept 2026)

Tuesday 2^nd December 2025 – Online Parents/Carers Evening – 3.30pm to 5.30pm

Thursday 4^th December 2025 – CET Christmas Concert

Tuesday 9^th December 2025 – Nursery Nativity Event

Thursday 11^th December 2025 – Reception Nativity Play

Thursday 11^th December 2025 – Online Parents/Carers Evening – 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Tuesday 16^th December 2025 – Autumn 2 Project Showcase – Years Reception, 2, 4 and 6

Thursday 18^th December 2025 – Autumn 2 Project Showcase – Years Nursery, 1, 3 and 5

Friday 19^th December 2025 – Last day in school before Christmas

Monday 22^nd December 2025 to Friday 2^nd January 2026 – Christmas Holiday

Monday 5^th January 2026 – PD Day (School closed to Children)

Tuesday 6^th January 2026 – First day back for the children

Monday 22^nd June to Tuesday 23^rd June 2026 – Year 6 Residential Trip to Mersea