Message from the Head

SUMMER 2020

NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTE

R TITLE

Dear Parents and Carers,

And so we come to the end of an academic year…and of all the strange things that have

happened for school recently, this feels the most marked – the end of a school year is usually a

loud raucous occasion where everyone laughs, claps (and some even cry) – the whole

community comes together to say Thankyou,, Well done ! Then Goodbye and Good Luck – whilst

we have all tried some things, it has not had anything like the volume it would normally.

I am so proud of the leaving Year 6 – they have achieved amazing things and been complete

role models to the rest of the school – I am extraordinarily sorry that they haven’t had the public

acclaim that they should, I can’t wait to see how they get on in their new schools.

I also want to say a thank-you and well-done to all of you – teaching is hard enough in a school

with all of the experience and resources we have – to continue that at home shows a love and

commitment to your children which will help them in their learning next year and onwards.

In September we have an amazing new curriculum which I know you and the children are going

to love, as well as plans to help make sure the children accelerate back to the level they were at

before lockdown (or even higher!).

Finally I would like to thank my entire staff – like you some are anxious, some have vulnerable

relatives or young children – but all have worked conscientiously throughout the whole lockdown,

as a fantastic team that I am proud to say I lead.

Have a good summer – Look after yourselves -

I have never meant it as much as I do now when I say - I look forward to seeing everyone in

September.

Matthew Irving

Headteacher

Whitelands Park Primary School

What’s included:

Message from the Chair of

Governors

Class News

Dates for your Diary

NEWSLETTE

R TITLE

As I write this I am acutely aware that many of you will have suffered personal tragedies over the

last few months, so I pause as my thoughts are with each and every one of you who has been

affected, either directly or indirectly by COVID-19.

What an extraordinary year we have had and how things have changed since September. Few,

if any of us, would have thought we would be home schooling our children, supporting them as

they learn through Google classrooms, or attending Zoom meetings, but these and many other

situations have become the norm over recent months. Normally at this time of the year, I am

reflecting on the many extra curricular activities I have had the honour to attend throughout the

year and I am saddened that so many children (and adults) have not had the opportunity to

experience these events this year.

As Chair of Governors, I am proud to be associated with a school that has continued to provide

high quality education and support in extenuating circumstances and make no apologies for

taking this opportunity to thank Mr Irving, all staff, parents, children and last but by no means

least the Governors who have worked tirelessly to support the school throughout the year.

Finally, despite everything that has changed, some things remain the same. July will see the start

of the summer holidays for all children and I wish you all a happy and healthy break. 36 of you in

year 6 will leave Whitelands Park Primary and move to secondary school in September and I wish

every one of you success in your new schools and hope you have fond memories of primary

school to take with you. I also look forward to welcoming our new foundation stage children

who will be joining us in September and am sure you will find our school welcoming, supportive

and full of new experiences.

Nigel Margeson

Chair of Governors.

Message from Chair of Governors

Foundation

CLASS NEWS

Our Foundation stage

children enjoyed some

Sports Day activities in

the sunshine.

Year 1 & 2

Pirate Week We had a visit from Billy Bones, an

ex-pirate, who helped us learn

about what life was like during

the Golden Age of Piracy.

Year 1 & 2

Dinosaur Week

We imagined we were paleontologists and created our very

own fossil dig-sites. We used pasta, cotton wool and a lot of

glue and paint to make fossils of our favourite dinosaurs.

Year 2

Phone: 555-555-5555

Fax: 555-555-5555

E-mail: someone@example.com

Usually, Year 6 would attend a day of activities at Douai Abbey in the summer term but as

this was cancelled we brought Douai Abbey to Whitelands! Year 6 had a fantastic day try-

ing out a range of new skills such as: circus skills, ballet, archery and coding! In the after-

noon we watched video containing messages from all the head teachers in Thatcham. Mr

Irving’s message was our favourite!

Year 6

Douai Abbey Day

Phone: 555-555-5555

Fax: 555-555-5555

E-mail: someone@example.com

The Year 6 children had a brilliant PGL day this week climbing, fencing and playing

aeroball.

Despite not being able to go away for PGL, we tried to recreate some of the activities at

school so that the children had a similar experience. We are all very proud of the

children for trying something new and for overcoming many fears!

Year 6

PGL Day

The new menu will be available

on the website at the beginning

of the new Autumn term.

CLASS MESSAGES

Dear Oak Class,

I hope you have a lovely summer and

enjoy the sunny weather. I will see you

all very soon!

Miss Charles

Hi Year 1! Thank you so much to all the children and their

grown ups for all of their hard work on Google Classroom

this year! It has been a challenge to get used to a new

way of learning and I am so proud of how hard you guys

have been working. Thank you for all your support at

home grown-ups - you have been fantastic! I hope you

enjoy all of the Summer Activities that we have given

you for the days where you are stuck! Have a brilliant

Summer and take care!

Mrs Zakaria

Dear Holly Class, Thank you for being so

amazing this year. It has been very different

but you have all been great. I will miss you all

but know you will have lots of fun in year 1. I

hope you all have a great Summer . Sending

lots of hugs,

Mrs Swan

Hello Cherry Class! I am so proud of

you all for the learning you have

been doing at home. Now, it is time

for the summer holidays! Make sure

you have lots of fun with your families.

Enjoy yourselves. I am looking forward

to seeing you in your uniform in Year

3. I know you will be awesome.

Love Mrs Hennah

Well done Pine Class for all of your

amazing hard work over the past

few months. I hope you have a

brilliant summer holiday, and I

can’t wait to come and say Hi to

you all when you are in Year 3. Mr

Blaber is very lucky to have you in

his class.

Love Mrs Troman-Brown

Hi Maple Class, It was great being your

teacher this year and I’ve thoroughly

enjoyed the time we’ve spent together.

Enjoy the summer holidays, stay safe. All

the best to each of you in Year 4 and I’ll

see you around in September.

Mr Blaber

Dear Willow Class,

I have had a fantastic time with

you all this year and had great

fun! I hope you all have a lovely

summer and have lots of fun

with your family. You are all

going to be fabulous in Year 1.

Miss Fletcher, Mrs King and

Mrs Maule.

CLASS MESSAGES

Hello Sycamore Class!

I have absolutely loved teaching you

throughout this year. You have all worked so

hard and achieved so much—you should be

very proud of yourselves. I hope you have a

wonderful Summer, you deserve it! Wishing

you all the very best of luck and success at

Secondary School.

Miss Cronin

Hi Birch Class! I have loved

teaching you this year and thank

you all for your hard work on

google classroom during this

strange time! I have been so

impressed with the effort you

have put into each piece of

work and it has been lovely to

be able to have kept in touch

with you to see how you are

doing. I hope you have a

restful but enjoyable holiday

and I will see you around

school in September!

Miss Conlen

To my dearest bambinos!

Thank you so much for a truly wonderful year. I loved

working with you and helping you progress. I will

treasure the time we had together. The laughter, the fun

and the learning. I loved inventing with you, playing

tennis with you, speaking French with you and all the

fantastic experiences that I had with you. I am so proud

of all that you have achieved and know that you will

have a great Year 5 where you will carry on learning

new, exciting things. Remember who you are and that

if you work hard, you can achieve great things! Have a

lovely summer! Lots of Love,

Mrs Dawson

Dear Year 4,

Sadly, this has been our final week of home learning,

however, we have still added some activities that we

thought that you might like to do over the summer.

We would like to say that we are very proud of you all

for the way that you have approached your home

learning. We know that it might not have always

been easy but you continued regardless and

produced some fantastic pieces of work. We must

also say a huge thank you to parents who have

supported and encouraged your children to continue

with their school work, we couldn’t have done it

without you, Have a fantastic summer and we look

forward to the time when we will all meet again in

September.

Have a lovely Summer

Spruce class and enjoy the

sunshine (which is hopefully

here to stay!). Im glad that I

have managed to see most

of you over the last few

weeks. See you in

September when you are in

Year 6.

Mrs Grimes

Hello Larch Class. I have

absolutely loved getting to

know you all this year. You

are such a bright, kind,

funny group of children who

are just bursting with

personality and uniqueness.

Thank you for being such a

great class and I’m excited

to see you all back in

September! Have a fab

summer!

From Miss Smith

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Don’t forget to visit the school Facebook page for up-

dates, pictures and events! Search for Whitelands Park

SEPTEMBER:

1st & 2nd September: Inset Days

3rd September: Start of Autumn Term

14th – 17th September: Bikeability

18th September: Start Day for all Foundation

21st – 24th September: Bikeability

22nd September: School Photos

OCTOBER:

16th October: Flu Immunisations (all year groups)

23rd October: Inset Day

26th – 30th October: Half Term

31st October: Deadline for Secondary School Applications

NOVEMBER:

2nd November: Start of Winter Term

DECEMBER:

18th December: Last Day. Finish at 2pm.

Please see the school website for current dates and events:

http://www.whitelandsparkprimary.co.uk/special/calendar/

Coping Guides for children, young people and families during

coronavirus

To support the wellbeing of children and young people during the coronavirus pandemic,

there are three concise guides for parents and carers and for children and young people

themselves.

https://www.berkshirewestccg.nhs.uk/patient-information/coping-guides-for-children-and-

young-people/

Film age ratings

Gaming Age Ratings

Media Ratings