December 12, 2020

Latest Newsletter

Message from Mr Applegate

We enter into the last week of term- a strange end in many ways. We would normally be enjoying the children’s Christmas performances, listening to them sing, and gearing up for Christmas activities. This year, we look forward to watching the performances virtually – the messages of Christmas don’t change, even if the delivery does! We’ll email out the links to the videos in the coming week.

At the end of this term, we sadly say goodbye to Claire Hacker, who has been part of our cleaning team for several years. Claire is a very hard worker, and always has a smile and encouraging word to pass on. Sarah Russell will also be finishing at St Mark’s; having been with us for a term, working 1 day a week in Year R, Sarah has been a huge help in Penguins class, and we will miss her. We wish them all the best in the future.

I know you will join me in thanking each member of staff for all that they have given this term. It has been challenging, but they continue to work hard, enthuse the children, and make school an enjoyable and safe place to be. I am very proud to be their head teacher.

I wish you and your family rest, peace and much enjoyment this Christmas break.

Best wishes, Mr Applegate

Key Dates

From 14th Dec – Children’s Christmas videos will be available. We’ll send an email out some point next week.

15th Dec – Last day for Staff gifts (see below)

17th Dec – Non uniform, Christmas Lunch and afternoon party – with a massive surprise! Buckets for collection will be on both gates. This is a FOSM fundraiser.

18th Dec – Last day of term – normal finish times

Sponsored walk to the North Pole – all sponsorship forms and money need to be in school by 18th December.

4th Jan – INSET DAY

5th Jan – Term starts for children

Staff Gifts: There is never any expectation or pressure to buy staff Christmas presents. However, if you would like to, please bring them in by 15th Dec to allow for quarantine. Thank you.

Christmas Lunch – Thursday 17th December

Please note your child’s Christmas Lunch must have been ordered in advance, An email was sent to all parents in November. if you haven’t already placed an order, please send your child in with a packed lunch that day. They will still be able to join in with all of the fun activities.

If this will be difficult for you, please contact the school office.

No Inset on 18th December

You may have heard in the news recently that the government have ‘given’ schools the choice about moving forward one of their INSET days to the 18th December. Whilst this initially sounds promising, it’s full of problems for schools, and therefore we won’t be doing this.

Reminder – please avoid coming into the office

We’re trying to keep everyone safe, so please avoid coming into the office for any reason unless requested to do so. We are also finding a lot of items being forgotten and then later dropped in by parents/carers. Please do your best to avoid this. Thank you :)

Track and trace during Christmas break

In some instances, positive tests at the beginning of the Christmas holiday could have an impact on school bubbles and require people to isolate. We need to know immediately if your child tests positive during the Christmas holiday. Please complete the form below if:

– Your child has Covid symptoms on Saturday 19th and/or Sunday 20th December and then subsequently receives a positive test, or

– Your child receives a positive test before Thursday 24th December without any symptoms, or

– Your child or a member of your child’s household/Christmas bubble tests positive during the second week of the Christmas period.

If any of these apply to you, it’s important you complete this form asap as we may need to contact other children from their bubble.

Covid Notification Form

Self-isolation change from 14 days to 10 days

The Chief Medical Officer announced on Friday that on Monday 14 December, the change to the isolation period for household/contacts of a positive case will change from 14 to 10 days. There is no change to the length of time a person who tested positive needs to isolate for (this is 10 days too).

FOSM News

The school lottery winner this week was Mrs M. The total funds raised for St Mark’s so far through the lottery is now £336.40!

We are planning on another bags to school in February – if you could please hold onto unwanted clothes etc that would be amazing. Details to follow once we’ve booked a slot. .

Raffle – due to the current situation and not being able to host a Christmas Fayre…the Christmas raffle has been postponed this year to Easter. We have some amazing prizes so far including a hot tub kindly donated by B&Q.

One of our lovely parents nominated FOSM in their companies ‘let’s get giving’ competition and we won £500.

Nearly New Uniform – we have a new email address. If you would like to purchase any Nearly New Uniform, please email your request to: uniform.fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

Star Learners Last Week!

Well done to:

Year R: Sam, Phoenix, Will
Year 1: Emily, Amy, Henry
Year 2: Ruby, Effie, Leelan
Year 3: Reece, Cullen, Jakob
Year 4:Lewis, Trinity, Logan, Max
Year 5: Ryan, Aidan, Evie
Year 6:Ruby, Hannah, Ed E, Jack L

Train to teach with Apsire

Regular Notices

Sign-up for our school prayer points mailing list

Would you like to join our prayer points mailing list? In conjunction with Immanuel church, this is a new opportunity to receive by email a half-termly prayer point list for our school. Click here to find out more.

SCL After school care and Half Term Child Care

Click here for Half-term child care booking! Held at Hatch Warren Community Centre.

Click here for regular after school care at St Mark’s.

Covid Reminders

Use the email covid@stmarksce.org.uk if you have questions or need to report symptoms or a positive case.
Please keep us updated – for example, of test results.
Read this letter from Public Health England about symptoms and testing.
NHS Symptoms Check
If a child or parent is at home because of symptoms, please keep the siblings off too. IE the whole household needs to isolate, and the person with symptoms needs to get a test.
We are moving online with homework, spellings and Google Classrooms. If you need help with technology, please do let us know by emailing the office.
If a child is off school but able to work, then Google Classroom work is available – and it should be completed. Teachers spend a lot of time making sure this work is available so no-one misses out!

Do you have a spare laptop you don’t need?

Do you have a laptop lying around, which we can use to support children at home? Doesn’t need to be new or quick. We blitz it, and install all the software necessary. That way a child who doesn’t have access to a laptop for home learning can really benefit. If you can help, please email the office.

What is your child learning this term?

Read the following for your child’s year group to find out more! It includes information about homework, reading, general expectations and more. The Knowledge Organiser helps you to know the knowledge the children should be learning for their project. Test them and see how they are getting on!

Online Forms

Absence Request form – going to be absent (e.g. wedding, funeral, holiday etc)? Use this form
Pupil Premium Form – have your work/benefit circumstances changed? Complete this form so we can check if your child is elligible for free school meals and other support at school.
Getting Home Arrangements – tell us how your child gets home each day.
Mobile Phone Request – for older children needing to bring a phone to school

Going to be absent?

We’ve moved our absence request form online. This is for absence requests such as holidays, weddings, funeral, special events, and more. You don’t need to use this form for sickness or self-isolation (but please email/phone the office if they are unwell).