Our latest newsletter is available below. Select the text and then use the 'Google Translate' button on the top right hand side (first icon within the red button bar) to be able to read the newsletter in your first language.
Happy Monday to you all!
The Spring Term has begun well and our children have returned with such positive mindsets and are working well within their classes. Two weeks already into our new year and what a great start it has already been!
A ‘special welcome’ goes out to any new and returning families joining our school this term. As a school that fully endorses all British values, we do hope that you will see these values in action at Whitehall Junior School and that you will be made to feel welcome.
As the Senior Management Team, we are always in the playground at the beginning and end of the day should you wish to ask any questions. Have a wonderful week and remember to wrap up warmly!
Achievements
Attendance
We value attendance highly at Whitehall Junior School. We record the attendance and punctuality of each class on a daily basis.
Our school’s target for this academic year has been to raise the level of attendance so that it is above 97% by September 2019 and reduce lateness.
Each class’s attendance for this week is as follows:
Year 3 Bees 98.1%
Year 3 Ladybirds 84.3%
Year 3 Dragonflies 77.7%
Year 3 Caterpillars 88.1%
Year 3 Overall 87.05%
Year 4 Bears 97.6%
Year 4 Tigers 95.6%
Year 4 Elephants 98.1%
Year 4 Overall 97.1%
Year 5 Penguins 98.9%
Year 5 Eagles 93.6%
Year 5 Owls 90.8%
Year 5 Swallows 93.6%
Year 5 Overall 94.2%
Year 6 Dolphins 95.6%
Year 6 Sharks 91.4%
Year 6 Whales 94.4%
Year 6 Turtles 98.3%
Year 6 Overall 95%
The class with the best attendance this week is: **Class 5P**
Well done, Class 5P, for having had the best attendance this week! Your teacher should be proud of you.
Let’s all strive for 100% attendance next week!
Late arrivals in the morning
Increasing numbers of children have been arriving late over the last few weeks. Whilst I appreciate the odd traffic jam or bus being delayed, we have noticed that some children are consistently late, often unaccompanied, impacting on their first session of learning. Arriving on time allows your child a smoother start to the school day.
General
Music News:’Voice in a Million’
As a school, we pride ourselves in providing rich learning experiences for our learners beyond the classroom. It is with great excitement that our school choir is once again looking forward to their trip to the Wembley SSE Arena on Wednesday 20th March 2018. Rehearsals are now underway and I am sure that it will be an amazing evening.
After-School Clubs
We are fortunate to be running a full programme of before and after-school clubs again this term and these will begin next week.
As each club has a limited number of spaces allocated, it is important that your child commits to the club that they have signed up for.
If your child misses 2 sessions or is late in being collected on 2 occasions, he/she will no longer be allowed to attend that club.
School Uniform
“Think Smart, Dress Smart”
Being the New Year, it has been pleasing to see how smart our pupils are looking, especially when they are wearing the correct school uniform.
For the benefit of all, I would like to remind you that our school uniform is as follows:
Girls: grey or black skirt, pinafore or trousers, the school’s red jumper, white shirt/polo shirts, grey or white socks or tights (no footless leggings) and plain black school shoes (no boots or trainers).
Hair accessories: these are to be in school colours, should be of a sensible size. Religious head scarves are to be of school colours.
Strictly no nail polish or jewellery, other than a pair of stud earrings.
Boys: grey/black trousers, the school’s jumper, white shirt/polo shirts, grey socks and plain black school shoes (no trainers).
Wearing boots to school should your child happen to wear boots on the way to school, we expect that they change into their school shoes once they arrive. We do not allow children to wear boots around the school. These can be placed into a carrier bag for safe-keeping.
Thank you, in advance, for your support in this regard. Staff will continue to monitor this in each class.
Labelling uniform
There are often items of clothing that cannot be returned to their rightful owners as they are not labelled. It would be advisable that
you label your child’s uniform for easy identification. Any unclaimed items of clothing will be placed in the `red, lost property box’ in the
playground.
Cold Weather Procedure
To ensure that we provide the best practice of health and safety, we regularly review our school’s health and safety policies. Having
recently reviewed our cold weather procedures, we are pleased to mention that in the case of extreme weather conditions, parents should assume that the school is open unless otherwise informed. If information needs to be shared about the school not being able to open, we will
contact you via the school’s messaging system and /or via email.
E-Safety: Online Newsletter
I am delighted to share with you the latest version of DITTO, the free online safety magazine for schools and parents. There are a diverse range of topics in this month’s edition, including:
Strip Fortnite
Captology - computers as persuasive technologies
Parents - scare or prepare?
Reporting harmful content - a new service
Secrets
Internet safety at pre-school
Passwords
Fortnite scams
Click HERE to download or copy the
following link into your web browser:
https://www.esafety-adviser.com/latestnewsletter/
Year 5 & 6 More Able Maths Day
As a school, we are keen to develop each of our learners and present many exciting challenges for all. Last Friday, a small group of our
mathematicians went to Colham Manor Primary School to take part in an ‘Able Maths’ Day. The children thoroughly enjoyed the day and did incredibly well using their reasoning skills to solve some very tricky problems.
Celebration Class Assemblies
Parents and carers are invited in to school to join in the sharing of the children’s learning each term. Assemblies start at 9am on a Friday morning but may occasionally be held on a Thursday. Please wait at the white door leading into the hall.
18th Jan Class 6 Sharks, 25th Jan Class 6 Dolphins, 01st Feb Class 6 Whales, 08th Feb Class 6 Turtles, 17th Feb Class 4 Bears.
Term Dates
School Term Dates 2018 – 2019
Spring Term 3
Monday 7th January 2019 –
Friday 15th February 2019
Spring Term 4
Monday 25th February 2019 –
Friday 05th April 2019
Summer Term 5
Tuesday 23rd April 2019–
Thursday 23rd May 2019
Summer Term 6
Monday 3rd June 2019 –
Tuesday 23rd July 2019
Please ensure that you have now accessed the ‘2019-2020’ dates emailed out to you today. This will hopefully help you to book your holidays and non-urgent appointments within our many breaks to avoid unauthorised absences.