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11th Feb – World Book Day Details and Safer Internet Day Reminder
A note from Mr Applegate
- The children really enjoyed safer internet day! Don’t forget to talk about and sign the family agreement (download here). We would ask that you share this document with your children and spend some time reflecting on its content. Rather than returning the form, please display it where it can be seen and not forgotten so that you can refer back to it regularly. Complete this google form to say you’ve done it – the first class to complete it wins their teacher a prize! Deadline is Monday.
- Has your job or financial circumstances changed? Your child may be entitled to Free School Meals, and additional funding for the school. Find out here. It’s easy for us to check!
- A huge thank you to Jacob’s family in 3C who reached out with a contact from Zeal Live, who will be helping out with our lights in the hall- generously saving us £1200. Thank you!
Have a great weekend. Mr Applegate
World Book Day
World Book Day takes place at St Mark’s on Thursday 3rd March for YR, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6. Y1 will celebrate World Book Day on Friday, 4th March because of a trip on the Thursday. We hope you’ll join us as we come together to encourage every child in school to be a reader and love books.
To celebrate World Book Day, we will have plenty of fun activities taking place throughout the day including:
- inviting children to dress up as their favourite book character. You can find lots of creative ideas at worldbookday.com/dressing-up-ideas (for children who are not comfortable dressing up, they could make and wear a badge which highlights a favourite book character)
- children bringing in a book they would like to swap for our Big Year Group Book Swap
- opening our school day with a special worship all about the joy of reading. Children will take part in a fun quiz to see if they can identify ‘The Masked Reader’
- running a competition for children to take a photo of themselves as a masked reader (photos will be submitted on Google Classroom and further details will follow)
- decorating class doors or windows inspired by a fantastic book
- thinking about which three book characters the children would like to invite to their house to have tea together. Why would they choose these characters? Would they get along?
- enjoying an afternoon session of Teatime Tales where a story is shared with the children as they enjoy a special afternoon drink and snack in their class
- after enjoying some teatime tales, each class will be introduced to their class’s take-home book pack – another opportunity to promote the love of reading at home
- giving every child their £1 book token to take home – this can be swapped for a free book in local bookstores or used to get a £1 off a book of a higher value.
£1 World Book Day book token
(These will be given out on World Book Day)
Getting a free £1book for your child is easy – simply take your £1 book token to your nearest bookseller and swap it for a World Book Day £1 book OR get £1off any book or audiobook costing £2.99 or more. You can help your child choose their £1 book by showing them the exciting ‘Look Insides’ at worldbookday.com/books
Bookshops and supermarkets are a big part of what makes World Book Day special and thousands will be taking part in World Book Day 2022, with many putting on special events to celebrate World Book Day. Your local bookseller might be on the high street or could be a supermarket. Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco all stock the £1 books.
There are also lots of fun reading ideas and resources for you to enjoy with your child at home on the World Book Day Family Hub as well as brilliant book recommendations for all ages.
We’re looking forward to celebrating World Book Day in school and hope you will join in too with your child at home.
World Book Day could not happen without the support of parents and carers – thank you, you make it happen!
Year 1’s Act of Kindess
Year 1 have made valentine’s card’s for the residents at Pemberley House. Just lovely!
Children’s Mental Health Week
A lovely activity to do with your child at home!
FOSM Readathon!
Click here to download the sponsorship form!
Parents’ Evenings
We’ll be sending out booking details on 14th Feb.
Parents’ Eve (1/3) – Weds 16th March – 4-6:30pm
Parents’ Eve (2/3) – Weds 23rd March – 3:40-5:50pm *
Parents’ Eve (3/3) – Weds 30th March – 4-6pm
* Note that 6C’s second session will be on Thursday 24th March, not 23rd March
Do you live near Old Down Park? Vote for it to become a local nature reserve!
Star Learners
Star Learner Awards:
- Year R: Eva, Noah, Harley
- Year 1: Anabelle, Sophie, Amaira
- Year 2: Daisy Bro, Max, Jamie
- Year 3: Sophie, Evie, Henry
- Year 4: Charlie E, Jack Daw, Bethany
- Year 5: Jack, Bethany W, Charlie T
- Year 6: Charlotte C, Sophie, Ethan
Rock Stars
- Year 3: Olivia, Poppy, Isabelle Ru
- Year 4: Harry B, Olivia N, Jack Daw
- Year 5: Finley, Kalel, Irebami
- Year 6: Joseph H, Madison P, Chelsea
Most active class in each year group:
- Year 3: 3SB (Overall joint winner 73% active players!)
- Year 4: 4PG (Overall joint winner 73% active players!)
- Year 5: 5SP
- Year 6: 6C
Special mention to Olivia M in Year 3 who has spent over 2 hours practising and who has answered 2,628 questions correctly this week alone on TT RockStars!
- Year1: Joshua W, Oliver, Thomas
- Year 2: Mia, Amy, Elise
Star Reader Awards:
- Year 1: Vinelle, Logan, Louie
- Year 2: Amy, Maicie, Alex
- Year 3: Lucas W, Effie, Isobel
- Year 4: Florence, Jas, Alfie
- Year 5: Scarlett E, Oliver B, Jaiden
- Year 6: Samuel F, Erica, Oscar
INSET Days
2021-22:
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Friday 8th April 2022
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Monday 6th June 2022
2022-23:
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Thursday 1st September 2022
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Friday 2nd September 2022
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Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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Friday 31st March 2023
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Monday 5th June 2023
Music of the week!
Gabriel Fauré was a French composer in the Romantic period. One of his music teacher’s was Saint- Saën who we heard from last term.
In worship this week…
We’re thinking about making a difference in our world.
FOSM – Support Our School!
The ‘Friends of St Mark’s’ (FOSM) was formed early in the life of the school. All parents are automatically members and our committee organises social events for children and adults and fund-raising events such as Key Stage discos, Easter Egg Hunts and Summer Fun days.
Over the last few years the ‘Friends’ have donated money that has contributed towards extra resources to benefit the children at St. Mark’s which has included playground equipment, books for the school library, and general school funds. We are now a registered charity, too. Charity number: 1188879
Join our Facebook group here.