Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin

Thursday 21st May 2026

A Message from Miss Siddall:     

Thank you to all the parents and carers who have visited the school for a Parent/Carer session in class and to everyone who attended one of our project showcases this week. We hope you enjoyed seeing your children’s wonderful work. Over the next few weeks we will be organising the classes for the next academic year. As soon as this is arranged we will let parents/carers know. The children will have a chance to meet their new teachers at the end of June. I hope that you all have a wonderful half-term break with your families. Please remember that school starts back on Monday 1^st June. Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance: Top 3 classes with the best attendance for week ending 15^th May 2026

                         Ocelots (100%)  Hedgehogs (100%)  Chameleons (99%)

Whole School Attendance: 95%

      Amazing attendance Ocelots and Hedgehogs!  You achieved 100% attendance all week! 🎉

A Message from Our Attendance Officer

As we approach the final half term of the school year, attendance remains a key priority, and we greatly appreciate your continued support in ensuring children attend school regularly and arrive on time.  Please keep us updated regarding any absences by calling 01473 741249 or emailing parents@whcps.org.  In line with school policy, please notify us before 8.55am.

This term., we have seen a number of illness-related absences across the school, with sickness and diarrhoea being the most common.  We understand how difficult this can be for families and are grateful for your cooperation in keeping children at home when they are unwell, helping to reduce the spread of infection within our school community.  If your child has a cold but is otherwise feeling well and does not have a temperature, they can still attend school.

We would also like to remind families of the importance of avoiding term-time holidays wherever possible, as every school day plays an important role in your child’s learning, development and overall progress.

A Call for Help

In readiness for our Year 6 Production, we are need of a few items!  If you are able to help with donations of: black jackets, stripey socks or faux fur these would be gratefully received.  Please be aware that the fur is for cutting up so cannot be returned.  Thank you!

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. Well done to you all.

EYFS:

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

Curious Creatures: Short Story Competition

Suffolk Libraries, in support of their annual Summer Reading Quest, have recently announced an exciting short story writing competition.  Your challenge is to choose one or more of their Curious Creatures and make them the main character in your story.  The information you need can be found below and on their website (accessible via the QR code).  This is a fantastic opportunity to be imaginative, develop your writing skills and have fun taking part in an exciting competition.  Good luck!

The Children’s Commissioner’s National Survey

Dame Rachel do Souza, who is the Children’s Commissioner has just released her National Survey: The Big Future, which is open for children of all ages to take part in.  She would like to hear from as many children as possible, from all backgrounds and in all parts of the country. She would like to know their views on what they would like to see in their communities, to understand what their biggest concerns are and what they hope for the future.  To join in, please help your child to access this survey at this link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/TheBigFuture/.

Accelerated Reader

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

Nursery Spaces Available for September

We are pleased to confirm we still have some spaces available for our popular Nursery in September.  We offer sessions from 8.30am to 11.30am each day (total of 15 hours a week) and children can begin the term after they turn 3 years old.  If you are interested in enrolling your child please come to the main school office for an application form. 

Year 6 Mixed Netball

On Monday, the Year 6 Mixed Netball team played their last IPSSA league game. We knew this was not going to be an easy game for us, as we had already played Sidegate in the Knockout cup. Sidegate’s outstanding track record for sport is generally outstanding!

The first quarter began slowly for Whitehouse and Sidegate, where only 5 goals were scored. However, Sidegate took the opportunity to get a couple of goals in their net despite great defending from Mohamad and Millie. Whitehouse continued to show some amazing play, passing the ball quickly, with some great efforts, though our goals just weren't going through the net. The game ended with a win from Sidegate.

Ms Salmon was exceptionally pleased with the way all the team played and carried on despite Sidegate's lead. Well played team! A special congratulations to Mia for being awarded player of the match from Sidegate and also from Ms Salmon for her outstanding defending and determination to win the ball back each time she could.  Miss Last awarded her player of the match to Muhamad for outstanding defending!  Well done to you all, Mia, Akorede, Millie, Idunnu, Ruby, Leonardo and Muhamad.  Ms Salmon and Miss Last have both loved watching the Year 6 after-school netball team as they have developed in confidence, teamwork and most of all perseverance.  Thank you to all those who come to watch and show your support to the team.

Upcoming Events (School)

Thank you to all those parents/carers who came along to our PFA Summer Fair meeting last week. Ms Salmon is thrilled to announce with all the help offered the summer fair will be going ahead after school on Friday 3^rd July.  We are in need of raffle prizes, so if you would like to kindly donate a prize, or have any contacts with local companies who would be willing to donate, please let Ms Salmon or the school office know.  This would be very gratefully received.

If anyone else would like to be involved in the planning or helping on the day, it is not too late, just let the school office know so we can put you in touch with Ms Salmon.

Attendance: Duck Race Winners

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

Is Your Child Prepared for their First Phone?

This is a question that so many parents/carers struggle with, balancing the positives, the negatives, the need, cost and so much more.  The problem with such a question, is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer.  Darren Laur has written a really useful article for parents/carers. Within the article he uses the acronym PREPARED which takes away the complexity and allows parents/carers to make decisions based on their own circumstances.

P – Purpose

R – Responsibility

E – Empathy and Respect

P – Perception of Risk

A – Adaptability and Resilience

R – Regulation

E – Executive Functioning

D – Digital Discernment

You can view the article at this link:  https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/is-your-child-p-r-e-p-a-r-e-d-for-their-first-cellphone

Athlete Visit

On Monday we were extremely lucky to be visited by Olympic cyclist Alice Sharpe. Alice is a European Bronze medallist, a World Cup Gold medallist, a two times National Champion, and has competed in both the Commonwealth Games and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games! Accompanying Alice was also ex-professional footballer, and former ITFC player, Ian Miller.

As with previous athlete visits, Alice began the day with a truly inspiration assembly. During the assembly Alice told pupils about her life and sporting journey to fulfil her dream of becoming an Olympic cyclist. Throughout Alice’s assembly she provided pupils with the motivational and inspirational message to “dream big” and to work hard, persevere and never give up on your dreams.

After their assembly each class from Reception to Year 6 took part in a short high energy fun fitness session with Alice. The motivational music, encouragement by Alice and the fun exercises ensured that each pupil gave 100% effort during the session!

It was fantastic to see all of the children thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to meet and work closely with such a top-level international athlete. It was yet another truly memorable and inspiring athlete visit to our school!

Bikeability

Last week twelve of our Year 5 pupils took part in a Suffolk County Council led cycling training course known as ‘Bikeability’. Throughout the two-day course the pupils were taught, and assessed, on their cycling skills and safety. The pupils demonstrated their skills during off road/playground-based activities (level 1), before continuing their training on quiet local roads (Level 2). As a result of their fantastic efforts over the

two-day course, we were extremely proud to be informed from the instructors that all 12 pupils had passed both their Level 1 and Level 2 awards! The instructors were extremely complementary of the pupils’ effort and exemplary behaviour throughout the course! Following the success of this year’s Bikeability, Mr Jordan has already spoken to the instructors to enquire about additional dates for next year! Well done everyone!

Year 5/6 Boys Football

After a busy couple of weeks of football, the Year 5/6 boys football team travelled to Castle Hill Junior School to play their final league match of the year. Following their encouraging performance against Britannia during their previous league match, the boys were full of confidence heading into the match. The boys started the brighter of the two teams and quickly settled into the game, playing some fantastic passing football and linking up superbly to mount several attacking opportunities on the Castle Hill goal. The team continued to put pressure on Castle Hill and forced their goalkeeper to make several important saves throughout the first half of the match. The boys also worked extremely hard to defend Castle Hills counter attacks. The boys hard work was rewarded with a very well taken goal from Logan following some excellent link up play and a very well delivered cross into Castle Hills box. A slip in concentration saw Castle Hill level the game heading into half time. The boys began the second half with real determination to apply the game plan that Mr Jordan had discussed with them during his half time talk. As a result, the boys again quickly enjoyed spells of possession and a number of efforts on the Castle Hill goal. Despite being a much more competitive half of football, with Castle Hill also creating a number of scoring opportunities, the boys continued to play some excellent football. A second goal from Logan and a goal from Muhamad during the second half was enough to secure the team’s first league win of the season. Well done boys!

As both the girls and boys football leagues come to an end, Mr Jordan would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents/carers for all of their support in transporting and cheering teams from the side lines throughout this year! We really do appreciate your continued support!

Local Fundraising Event

Please see details below of a local Family Funday taking place on Saturday 23^rd May – everyone is welcome to attend.  Funds are being raised to help a local young man who is needing some home adaptations to support his medical conditions – a really good cause!

House Captain News

The House Captains are excited to announce the winners of this half term’s points competition:  

In 4^th place with 628 points was Emerald

In 3^rd place with 817 points was Diamond

In 2^nd place with 898 pints was Sapphire

In 1^st place with 1099 points was Ruby!

Congratulations to Ruby House who have won a non-uniform day on the first Friday of next half-term (5^th June 2026).

Dates for the Diary

Friday 22^nd May 2026 – PD Day (School closed to the children)

Monday 25^th May 2026 to Friday 29^th May 2026 – Half Term Holiday

Tuesday 2^nd June 2026 – Nursery Sports Day - 9.00am to 9.30am

Tuesday 2^nd June 2026 – Reception Sports Day – 9.45am to 10.45am

Tuesday 2^nd June 2026 – Years 1 and 2 Sports Day – 11.00am to 12.00pm

Tuesday 2^nd June 2026 – Year 3 Sports Day – 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Wednesday 3^rd June 2026 – Year 4 Sports Day – 9.45am to 10.45am

Wednesday 3^rd June 2026 – Year 5 Sports Day – 11,00am to 12.00pm

Wednesday 3^rd June 2026 – Year 6 Sports Day – 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Thursday 4^th June 2026 – Year 3 River Deben Trip – Rabbits Class

Friday 5^th June 2026 – Whole School SMSC Day: Thinking about Thinking

Friday 5^th June 2026 – Ruby House Non-Uniform Day

Wednesday 10^th June 2026 – Year 6 Crucial Crew

Thursday 11^th June 2026 – Year 3 River Deben Trip – Owls Class

Thursday 18^th June 2026 – Year 3 River Deben Trip – Badgers Class

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

Wednesday 24^th June 2026 – Transition afternoon

Thursday 25^th June 2026 – Transition morning

Friday 3^rd July 2026 – School Summer Fair – 3.30pm

Friday 10^th July 2026 – Reports home to parents

Tuesday 14th July 2026 – Year 6 Production- 9.30am and 6.00pm

Friday 17th July 2026 – Year 6 Leavers Picnic and Assembly – 1.50pm

Friday 17^th July 2026 – Last day of the Summer Term for the children

Monday 20^th July 2006 – PD Day (School closed to the children)

Tuesday 1^st September 2026 – PD Day (School closed to the children)

Wednesday 2^nd September 2026 – PD Day (School closed to the children)

Thursday 3^rd September 2026 – First day of Autumn Term for the children