Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin 352

Friday 12th June 2026

A Message from Miss Siddall:  Last Friday, the children had the wonderful opportunity to participate in our 'Thinking About Thinking' SMSC day.  The day gave our pupils valuable time to reflect, explore their own perspectives, and develop their understanding of themselves and others.  Thank you to the teachers for planning a wonderful range of activities.   Looking ahead to this week, we're keeping our fingers firmly crossed for dry weather on Tuesday 16^th and Wednesday 17^th June for our rescheduled sports days. After the recent wet weather forced us to postpone, we're really hoping the sunshine will be on our side so that the children can showcase all their hard work and sporting talents. We're looking forward to welcoming many of you to cheer on the children and celebrate their achievements together.  Thank you for your support.

Attendance: Top 3 classes with the best attendance for week ending 5^th June 2026

                               Foxes (98%)  Jaguars (97%)  Lions (97%)

                                          Whole School Attendance: 94%

If your family is experiencing difficulties that may affect attendance, please contact the school office. We are committed to supporting every child and family to ensure children attend school regularly and thrive.  Thank you for your continued support in helping every child make the most of their education. 

Remember: Every Day Counts!

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:

Healthy Start

Did you know that if you are pregnant or have children under four years of age, you may be eligible to receive help to buy healthy food, milk and vitamins for your family through the Healthy Start program?  To check if you are eligible and for details of how to apply, see the following link: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/

Celebrating our Children

Our children have been extremely busy so, this week, we are very excited to celebrate four of our children.  Firstly, we have Kira from Year 3.  Kira has been working very hard in training for her gymnastics and recently took part in a Mini Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics competition in London. Kira came an amazing 3^rd place in her category!  We are all so proud of you Kira, and all the dedication and progress you have made!  It is lovely to see your confidence growing!

Next, we are thrilled to celebrate Millie from Year 6. Millie has been playing football for a while now and has had an amazing season! At her recent presentation night, Millie was thrilled to be awarded the Manager’s Player for 2025/26.  She has now also taken on the role of Captain of her team.  Amazing job Millie! 

Callum, from Year 6, loves football and has had a great season with the Ipswich Valley Rangers U11 team this year and attended their recent presentation.  We were very impressed to hear he received the Clubman of the Season, which was presented for working hard, always being available, being helpful and for having good energy in the team and with the coaches.  Callum, this is amazing and we are very proud to hear of your award.  Well done!

Lastly, for this week, we are celebrating Isla, from Year 3.  Isla performed in the SADPA Dance Show last weekend at the Ipswich Regent along with some friends who also attend Whitehouse.  She performed one ballet dance and one tap dance.  We are very proud of your efforts and talents Isla, well done!  It really is wonderful to see our children following the Whitehouse Way throughout all they do and achieve!

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. 

Attendance: Duck Race Winners

Well done to the winners of our Duck Races the week before half term:

Accelerated Reader

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

ROMLIT Project

Over the last couple of years, Whitehouse have been excited to be a key player in the ROMLIT project, run by a team from the University of East Anglia. This is a literacy project which aims to support Roma children by celebrating their heritage through inclusive, community driven literacy practices.  The project was recently shortlisted for an Outstanding Social or Cultural Impact Award and so our Roma families were invited to visit the University campus just before the ceremony at the end of May. It was a fantastic afternoon, which included a tour of the campus and the art centre, meeting university staff and participating in a range of activities.  The children had a chance to weave a head wreath, to take part in creating a textile graffiti, to act out a traditional Roma book, to write their own story and even to read them out to the audience in the conference room!  Of course, there was also plenty of party food!  We are very pleased to have been able to have collaborated with the university and for the positive impact it has had on our Roma community.  A big thank you to Mrs Moore who has led the work at Whitehouse.

Helping Hands Event

We are pleased to let you know we have three Helping Hands events coming up between now and the end of the school year.  Our first event will be on Thursday 18^th June 2026 in our Blue Meeting Room between 2.00pm and 3.00pm.  Please do come along: Mrs Gotts will be available, with the kettle on, and there will be a selection of store cupboard staple foods available as well as a selection of school uniform.  We hope to see you there!

Ipswich Family Bank

Did you know that Ipswich has a Family Bank, which offers support to families with young children and babies?  They are able to help with clothes, nappies and sometimes equipment such as prams.  You are able to self-refer, or we can complete a referral for you.  The link to make a self-referral is: https://ipswichfamilybank.com/.  If you need any support, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Gotts.

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/.

Year 6: Crucial Crew

This week, Year 6 visited Crucial Crew, as part of their PSHE learning.  It was a busy morning with lots of informative sessions to help the children understand how to keep themselves and others safe from harm.  The classes learned about criminal exploitation, healthy relationships, internet safety, drug and alcohol awareness and fire safety.  Our children were all very well behaved and many of them gave intelligent contributions to the sessions, demonstrating maturity and an awareness of risks that they might face as children and young adults.  Well done Year 6.

Summer Fair / Non-Uniform Day

It is not long now until our Summer Fair, which is taking place on Friday 3^rd July after school.  If you are able to help with raffle prizes please pass these to the school office.  This is always a very popular event and we look forward to seeing you on the day!

In preparation for the fair, we will also be holding a non-uniform day next Friday, 19^th June 2026, where we would ask children to bring a small donation of chocolate or sweets, which will be used in our tombola.

***Job Vacancies at Whitehouse CP School***

We currently have three job vacancies within the school, detailed below:

Cleaner – Required for 4 days per week, 2 hours per day, to be worked from 3:30 – 5:30pm, 44 weeks of the year. Closing date 15^th June.

Lunchtime Assistant – Required for 5 days per week, 1 hour 15 minutes per day, term-time only.  Closing date 15^th June.

Teaching Assistant - – Required for 5 days per week, term-time only. Closing date 24^th June.

Please see our website for full details including an application form: www.whcps.org/vacancies/. If you require a paper copy of the application form, please ask at the school office.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 15^th June 2026 – Family Breakfast 8.00am

Tuesday 16^th June 2026 – Nursery Sports Day - 9.00am to 9.30am

Tuesday 16^th June 2026 – Reception Sports Day – 9.45am to 10.45am

Tuesday 16^th June 2026 – Years 1 and 2 Sports Day – 11.00am to 12.00pm

Tuesday 16^th June 2026 – Year 3 Sports Day – 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Wednesday 17^th June 2026 – Year 4 Sports Day – 9.45am to 10.45am

Wednesday 17^th June 2026 – Year 5 Sports Day – 11,00am to 12.00pm

Wednesday 17^th June 2026 – Year 6 Sports Day – 2.00pm to 3.00pm

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

Thursday 18^th June 2026 – Helping Hands (pm)

Friday 19^th June 2026 – Non-Uniform Day (bring chocolate / sweets for the fair)

Monday 22^nd June 2026 - Family Breakfast 8.00am

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

Tuesday 23^rd June 2026 – Year 3 River Deben Trip – Owls Class (Rearranged Date)

Wednesday 24^th June 2026 – Transition afternoon

Thursday 25^th June 2026 – Transition morning

Monday 29^th June 2026 - Family Breakfast 8.00am

Tuesday 30^th June 2026 – Year 4 Victorian School – Squirrels Class

Tuesday 30^th June 2026 – Year 1 Felixstowe Trip (Rearranged Date)

Thursday 2^nd July 2026 – Year 4 Victorian School – Hedgehogs Class

Thursday 2^nd July 2026 - Helping Hands (pm)

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

Monday 6^th July 2026 - Family Breakfast 8.00am

Monday 6^th July 2026 – Year 5 Ipswich Tudor Walk

Thursday 9^th July 2026 – Year 4 Victorian School – Foxes Class

Friday 10^th July 2026 – Reports home to parents

Monday 13^th July 2026 - Family Breakfast 8.00am

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

Thursday 16^th July 2026 - Helping Hands (pm)

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