A Message From Miss Quarmby
I can’t believe we’re here! What a super half term this has been – and what a fantastic week to end it on. We’ve enjoyed so many wonderful events: EYFS Nativity, KS1 Nativities, Diamond and Platinum Parties, Pre-School Christmas Celebration, Christmas Dinner, Movie Afternoon and even a visit from the Grinch…! We definitely don’t do Christmas by halves at Whitkirk. Thank you to everyone who has supported us at our events. It’s always wonderful to see so many of you there, and your involvement makes these occasions truly special. An extra special thank you goes to our PTA, who have been incredible this term. From the Christmas Fair and Elf Run to providing refreshments at our nativities, they’ve gone above and beyond. On Thursday, they even surprised us with a generous delivery of food for our staffroom fuddle on behalf of all Whitkirk parents – such a thoughtful gesture and so appreciated. As we head into the Christmas break, we want to say how proud we are of all our children for their hard work and achievements this term. Thank you to our amazing staff and families for your continued support. Here’s to a happy, healthy and successful 2026 for all of our Whitkirk community. Thank you all – and a very Merry Christmas!
Attendance
This week, finishing in first place with 100% are 6NT. In second place are 1LR, with 98.28% and in third place are RLE, with 96.25%. The whole school attendance this week is 92.55%: can we beat this next week? The only way to do that is if we all come to school as often as we can. Please remember look at the NHS guide Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk) This is used to determine which reasons for absence will be authorised or unauthorised.
let's take a look at what each year group has been up to this week!
EYFS
This week pre-school had their first ever school trip - a visit to Temple Newsam house to see Santa Claus! They represented our school wonderfully and made us so proud. We explored the house, searching for beautifully decorated Christmas trees along the way and took part in a craft workshop, making our own decorations. We danced, sang and played musical instruments in the picture gallery then finished our trip with a magical story and visit to Santa’s grotto. We would like to say a huge thank you from the EYFS team to our wonderful family volunteers, for helping to bring the magic of Christmas to Whitkirk!
What a super Christmassy week in Reception! On Tuesday, the children performed their very first nativity and we could not have been prouder. The children were so brave getting up on the stage in front of their families, speaking their lines clearly and singing beautifully. Seeing their confidence grow and watching them perform with such big smiles was a truly special moment for us all. For many, this was their first time ever performing on a stage and they did an amazing job! Alongside enjoying Christmas dinner and their first Christmas party at Whitkirk, it has been a really magical week. We are so proud of every single reception superstar!
LOWER school
Year 1 filled our hearts with joy as they performed their Christmas nativity! Their enthusiasm, confidence, and big smiles truly brought Christmas to life. Back in the classroom, we’ve been busy finishing our history topic, learning all about old and new toys. Have a wonderful Christmas boys and girls!
What a wonderful week it has been in Year 2, from showcasing our knowledge of the Victorians to performing two amazing nativity shows! The children were a true bundle of joy, and we are so proud of their confidence and acting skills. Thank you for all your support, and we hope you all have a very lovely Christmas!
We have had an exciting week in Year 3! In English, we have been writing Christmas poetry and in Art we finished our animal mosaics. We finished the week with a superstar Christmas performance at the Community Centre. What an amazing way to finish the Autumn term!
UPPER school
Well done for settling into Year 4 and taking everything in your stride. We have had an exciting final week, writing our letters to Scrooge and continuing our work on the area of shapes in maths. In history, we put ourselves to the test by designing our very own Roman towns, thinking carefully about the lasting legacy of the Romans. We also enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner on Wednesday, which was a lovely way to celebrate the end of term together. We hope everyone has a relaxing break and wish you all a very Merry Christmas. See you in 2026!
We we've ended with a flurry of activity in Year 5. In between making the ubiquitous Christmas cards and calendars, we've completed our History topic on the Anglo-Saxons and Viking by writing a report explaining what effect they had on our lives. In maths we've learned how to add and subtract fractions with different denominators and even moved onto adding and subtracting mixed numbers.
This half term, Year 6 have been digital animators in their Art lessons. Last week, the children have worked in teams to sculpt models of the characters using plasticine. This week, they used iPads to put together a stop-motion animation, based on the work of Nick Park. The children really impressed us with their perseverance and teamwork. Great work Year 6!