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4th November Newsletter
This week’s top news & reminders
- Find out what your child is learning about this half-term and how we are covering the curriculum – take a look at our knowledge organisers here
- Year 6 children and staff have had a wonderful week at their residential trip to Windmill Hill. Thank you to the staff that attended and well done to the children for representing the school so well.
- A reminder that our Bags2School drop-off times are this Thursday 10th Nov and our FOSM school disco is this Friday 11th Nov – click here for info
- Don’t forget to book tickets for the Christmas performances. Booking closes on Sunday 13th November. Click the following to book! We will confirm tickets w/c 21st November
- Gates reminder – the gates open at 8.30pm and close PROMPTLY at 8.50pm. We politely request that parents/carers have left the school premises by 8.50am thank you
- School car park – our car park is small and easily becomes congested. We operate a permit system and ask all permit holders to clearly display their ID. We do request those without a permit and/or permission to use the car park to use alternatives please
- Arbor app – we now have 86% of parents using our Arbor app! It has really helped us to keep our information up-to-date. Thank you to those that have used it and sent us data change requests. If you haven’t logged in yet and need any help please do let us know.
Odd Socks Day and Anti-Bullying Week
During the week beginning Monday 14th November, we will be celebrating Anti-Bullying Week at St Mark’s! The theme this year is ‘Reach Out’. To kick the week off, we will be starting with an Odd Socks Day on Monday 14th November!
WHAT IS ODD SOCKS DAY?
Odd Socks Day is a key part of Anti-Bullying Week! To celebrate that we are all unique, we ask that children wear odd socks to school on Monday 14th November. Last year over 13,000 schools took part in Odd Socks Day and again this year, we are joining them!
WHY IS ODD SOCKS DAY IMPORTANT?
The day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying and helps us celebrate Anti-Bullying Week in a fun and positive way. We will be completing fun activities during the day and the rest of the week, which will help us celebrate both our differences and our unity within our St Mark’s community.
WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?
- Make sure your child wears odd socks to school on Monday 14th November!
- Help your child enter our school competition! On Google Classrooms, we would like the children to submit their best animal ‘odd socks’ photograph by Thurs 17th November! The deadline for entries will be Thursday 17th November so that we have time to choose the winners. Winners will be announced on Friday 18th November in Celebration Worship!
Help us publicise Year R Tours
We are holding Tours for new year R September 2023 (click here to book) – we would be grateful if you could share our facebook post with anyone with a child starting school next year.
Friends of St Mark’s (FOSM) PTA
Visit our page here: Friend’s of St Mark’s page
Visit our shop here!
Get in touch: fosm@stmarksce.org.uk
Notices:
Our Christmas fayre is only 4 weeks away! 
Saturday 3rd December! . We have stalls, games, Santa’s Grotto (pre-book, info coming soon), food, drinks and a choir performance.- Would you like to hold a stall at our fayre?? Please contact us ASAP: secretary.fosm@stmarksce.org.uk
- Advent candles are now for sale – first come first served! Order Here
- Please contact us if you can help at the school disco on 11th Nov, we are still short on helpers – thank you!
- Let’s Glow Crazy! Book your disco tickets here! Please see the FOSM page for drop-off and pick up info
Upcoming FOSM events:
- Thurs 10th Nov – Bags2School drop-off points: 3-4pm HW Community Centre / 4-6pm School Car Park
- Fri 11th Nov – School Disco KS1 5-5.45pm, KS2 6-7pm
- Thur 1st Dec – Non-School Uniform (tombola donations)
- Sat 3rd Dec – Christmas Fayre 12-3pm
Book fair is coming
In the coming weeks, we have our school book fair. It’s a chance for children to become excited about books and enjoy reading. There are a variety of books on sale, and the school gets commission for each book sold.
If you’d like your child to visit the book fair stall, please send them in with an amount between £3 and £10 in cash in a named envelope on the day below. For Year R and Year 1, the book fair is after school in the Key Stage 1 playground – please can parents/carers attend with your child.
If you would prefer to pay online and not physically visit the book fair, you can do so here.
When is my child visiting the book fair?
Wednesday 9th November
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2B, 2BB, 2G during the school day
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Year R after school with parents (on the KS1 playground weather permitting)
Thursday 10th November
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5SP, 5F, 5DS, 4PR and 4W during the school day
Friday 11th November
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3SB, 3T, 3C during the school day
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Year 1 after school (on the KS1 playground weather permitting)
Monday 14th November
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6C, 6P, 6B and 4S during the school day
Thank you for your support!
Agents of Change – Litter Picking
Our agents this week have been hitting the streets and cleaning up. Well done agents Zoe, Sophie, Liam. They even cleared up the entrances to the school. Thank you, agents, for making the world a better place.
School Events, Lunches, and Clubs
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Everyone
November
- Fri 11th Nov – FOSM School Disco!
- Mon 14th Nov – Odd Socks Day – please wear odd socks today
- Fri 18th Nov – Children in Need- remain in school uniform though!
- Wed 30th Nov – Flu vaccinations in school
December
- Thurs 1st Dec – FOSM Non-School uniform
- Sat 3rd Dec – FOSM Christmas Fayre
Year Group Events
Year R:
- Wed 9th Nov – Book Fair after school (KS1 playground)
- Nativity Performances – Thurs 1st Dec @ 10am / Fri 2nd Dec @ 10am
Year 1:
- Fri 11th Nov – Book Fair after school (KS1 playground)
- Christmas Shows – Tues 6th Dec @ 10am / Wed 7th Dec @ 10am / Wed 7th Dec @ 2pm
Year 2:
- Wed 9th Nov – Book Fair (cash in named envelope please)
- Christmas Shows – Tues 6th Dec @ 10am / Wed 7th Dec @ 10am / Wed 7th Dec @ 2pm
- Hillier Gardens – 23rd June 2023
Year 3:
- Fri 11th Nov – Book Fair (cash in named envelope please)
- Christmas Carol Service – Mon 12th Dec @ 2pm / Tues 13th Dec @ 7pm / Wed 14th Dec @ 10am
Year 4:
- Thurs 10th Nov – 4PR & 4W Book Fair (cash in named envelope please)
- Mon 14th Nov – 4S Book Fair (cash in named envelope please)
- Christmas Carol Service – Mon 12th Dec @ 2pm / Tues 13th Dec @ 7pm / Wed 14th Dec @ 10am
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New Barn residential trip: Wed 14th – Fri 16th June 2023
Year 5:
- Thurs 10th Nov – Book Fair (cash in named envelope please)
- Christmas Carol Service – Mon 12th Dec @ 7pm / Tues 13th Dec @ 2pm / Wed 14th Dec @ 2pm
Year 6:
- Mon 14th Nov- Book Fair (cash in named envelope please)
- Christmas Carol Service – Mon 12th Dec @ 7pm / Tues 13th Dec @ 2pm / Wed 14th Dec @ 2pm
- Fri 11th Nov –
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Status: running as usual
w/c 7th Nov: Week 2
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Status: running as usual
Dates for clubs are from: w/c 26th September and run until (& inc) w/c 28th November
Monday
- Planet Ed: Year 1 Multi-Skills (3.30-4.20pm)
- Year 2 Choir (3.30-4pm)
- Year 3 Wellbeing Club (3.30-4pm)
- Year 4 Running Club (3.30-4pm)
- Year 5 Drama Club (3.30-4.15pm)
- Year 6 Chess Club (3.30-4pm)
- KS2 Choir (3.30-4.15pm)
- KS2 Girls Football (3.30-4.10pm)
Tuesday
- Year 1 Construction/Games Club (3.30-4.15pm)
- Year 2 Homework Club (3.30-4pm)
- Planet Ed: Year 2 Dodgeball (3.30-4.20)
Wednesday
- Year 2 Story Telling Club (3.30-4.10pm) (starting 12th October)
- KS2 Embroidery Club (3.30-4.10pm)
- Planet Ed: Year 3/4 Dodgeball (3.30-4.20pm)
Thursday
- Year 1 Arts/Crafts Club (3.30-4pm)
- Year 3 Gardening Club (3.30-4pm)
- Year 4 Art Club (3.30-4.15pm)
- Planet Ed: Year 5/6 Boys Football (3.30-4.20pm)
- Orchestra (3.30-4.15pm)
Friday
- Planet Ed: KS2 Capture the Flag (3.30-4.20pm)
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Status: running as usual
Children can wear PE kit to school on the days they have PE. When children have gym, please can they bring or wear shorts underneath.
- Year R – Mondays (dance) and Fridays (outdoor)
- Year 1 – Wednesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (outdoor)
- Year 2 – Mondays (outdoor) and Wednesdays (gym)
- Year 3 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (outdoor)
- Year 4 – Wednesdays (outdoor) and Thursdays (gym)
- Year 5 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Thursdays (outdoor)
- Year 6 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (gym)
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Inset Days – Tuesday 3rd January 2023, Friday 31st March 2023, Monday 5th June 2023
Term dates for 2022-2023 – Click here for more info
⭐ Star Learners ⭐
Star Learner Awards:
Year R
Puffins – Zander, Parrots – Charlie, Penguins – Rebecca
Year 1
1P – Jake, 1M – Dominic, 1CL – Alyssa
Year 2
2B – Rudi, 2G – Max, 2BB – Jessica
Year 3
3C – Lucia, 3T – Sienna, 3SB – Karthik
Year 4
4W – Joshua, 4S – Ruby, 4PR – Willow
Year 5
5SP – Jas, 5DS – Gabriella, 5F – Henry
Year 6
None this week due to residential trip
Star Reader Awards:
Year 1
1P – Evie, 1M – Harry, 1CL – Lily
Year 2
2B – Charlie, 2G – , 2BB – Zac
Year 3
3C – Layla, 3T – Robyn, 3SB – Mason
Year 4
4W – Oscar, 4S – Luke, 4PR – Leelan
Year 5
5SP – Charlie, 5DS – Kristina, 5F – Ellecia
Rock Stars
Amazing effort:
Year 3
3SB – Alyssa, 3T – Jenson, 3C – Jackson
Year 4
4PR – Isabelle, 4W – Oscar, 4S – Lottie
Year 5
5SP – Charlie, 5DS – Jeffrey, 5F – Olivia
Most active class in each year group:
Year 3: 3SB
Year 4: 4PR
Year 5: 5DS
NumBots best effort:
Year 1: Finn (1P), Anneliese (1P), Ruth (1P)
Year 2: Ayaan (2G), Lucas (2BB), Sophia (2B)
Music of the week!
Music for the Royal Fireworks by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Music for the Royal Fireworks is a group of five pieces for orchestra composed by German George Frideric Handel in 1749. He was asked by King George II to write the music because the king wanted some music and fireworks to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (the end of a war). This piece of music is baroque.
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.
Please visit our website page here too! Friend’s Of St Mark’s Page
Wishing Theodore from 5F the best of luck with his performances in Shrek! Theodore will be performing on the following dates:
Saturday 12th Nov (2pm)Wednesday 16th Nov (7pm)Friday 18th Nov (7pm)Saturday 19th Nov (7pm)
