October 6, 2023

6th October 2023 Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

We’ve had a great week at St Mark’s. On Tuesday, we had a local authority inspection, and the inspector was blown away by the children and their attitudes to learning. She was also impressed by the quality of the children’s writing across the school.

We look forward to meeting parents on Wednesday for our first of two Parents’ Evenings.

A reminder for our Year 6 pupils – all Secondary School applications need to be completed by 31st October 2023!

Finally, we’re celebrating Tanzania Day on Thursday 19th October. Come dressed in the colours of the flag!

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate :)

Harvest Festival

This Monday (9th October), we’ll be having our Harvest Festival worship.

There is no pressure to bring anything, but if you are able, Foodbank are asking for any of the following items (and not other items).

If you bring them in on Monday, we of course will transport them to Foodbank afterwards.

Foodbank Items

Taken from the Foodbank website:

WE URGENTLY NEED:
Tinned Fruit
Tinned Meat (Hot, E.G. Chilli, Hot Dogs, Stewing Steak)
Tinned Spaghetti /Ravioli
Cooking Sauces
Long Life Fruit Juice
Hot And Cold Desserts
Biscuits And Snacks
Ladies And Gents Deodorant
Ladies Shampoo And Conditioner
Nappies (Size 6, 7 & 8) Plus Pull Ups
All Household Cleaning Products
Reusable Shopping Bags
Cleaning Sprays And Surface Cleaner
Washing Pods
We Are Running Low On:
Tinned Rice Pudding
Hot Chocolate
Instant Mashed Potato
Powdered Milk
Sweet And Savoury Spreads
Peanut Butter
Toilet Rolls
Tinned Veg
Tinned Carrots
Sweets, Chocolate And Other Sweet Treats
Feminine Hygiene Products
Washing Up Liquid

We Have Plenty Of The Following In Stock So Please Choose Other Items above. Thank You:
Pasta
Rice
Tinned Soup
Tinned Baked Beans
Pulses
Tea And Coffee
Hot And Cold Cereal
Non-dairy Milk
Sanitary Products
Baby Food And Formula
Hand Soap
Mens Shampoo
Dog & Cat Food

FOSM Disco
FOSM Events
FOSM Christmas Fayre
Spare jars for FOSM?

Want to book a farm slot?

Click here

From last week…

Parents' Evening
You will have received an email from school about booking a parent’s evening slot. Bookings have already opened, and close on Oct 9th at 12pm. All sessions are in person, at the school. No online sessions this time! Contact us if you have any questions.
- 11th October (1/2) 3:40pm-6:50pm
- 18th October (2/2) 3:40pm-6:50pm
Slides from Key Information Sessions
What's your child learning this term?
Rotary Shoebox Appeal

Roatary Shoebox Appeal

We’ll be collecting for the Shoebox appeal this year, as part of being Agents of Change at St Mark’s. School Council are leading this initative.

Classes will be creating 2 boxes each to send out via the Rotary Club (details here).

We also have spare boxes if you’ve like to do one as a family and hand back to us. Just ask at the office or email in and we’ll send it home. What a great way to get into the Christmas Spirit!

Animal Visitors to Forest School

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quietest Class ⭐

2CL and 5SP

⭐ Best Attendance ⭐

Penguins, 1M, 3SG

⭐ Attendance Updates ⭐

Our target over the year is 97%. Last year’s attendance was 95.8% – above national levels, but we’d like it to be much higher.

Our current attendance percentage is 96.9%. Oh no!

Weekly Attendance by Class

What's the impact on missing school?

Categories	Learning days lost
Acceptable sickness & unforeseen absences.	98% = 4 days
	97% = 6 days
	96% = 8 days
Attendance below 95% is of concern to the school & you will be contacted automatically.10 days unauthorised absences for holidays over the year mean you will only achieve 95% attendance. Sickness & medical appointments, although usually unavoidable & authorised, will add further to your child’s absence record.	95% = 10 days
	94% = 12 days
	93% = 14 days
	92% = 16 days
Poor attendance Attendance below 90% is a serious concern. Your child has now missed nearly 4 weeks’ education. You may be referred to the Early Help team at the local authority.	91% = 18 days
	90% = 20 days
	89% = 21 days
	88% = 23 days
	87% = 25 days
	86% = 27 days
Very poor attendance	85% = 29 days
	84% = 31 days
	82% = 35 days
	80% = 39 days

Well done!

Congratulations to Joey, Leo, Tommy, Charlie, Zach and Thomas for all taking part in the Destination Basingstoke Phillips Law 1 Mile Fun Race. They all absolutely loved it and we’re so proud of you all!

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

View the full calendar here. Alternatively, subscribe to our online calendar to keep up-to-date on your mobile. Click on either Chrome/ Android or Apple depending on your phone/computer.

Meals
PE Days
Status: running as usual

Which days?
- Year R – Mondays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 1 – Mondays(outdoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 2 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Wednesdays (indoors)
- Year 3 – Mondays (outdoors) and Thursdays (outdoors)
- Year 4 – Mondays (indoors) and Fridays (indoors)
- Year 5 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Wednesdays (outdoors)
- Year 6 – Fridays (outdoors) and either Tues/Weds/Thurs Forest school (outdoors)
What to wear

Children should wear PE kit to school on the days they have PE. When children have gym, please can they bring or wear shorts underneath. PE kit guide:
- Navy or black shorts. Jogging bottoms for outside in cold weather (leggings are fine too).
- PE skirts with cycling-style shorts are acceptable.
- White t-shirt. Please also wear the school jumper to school on PE days. Football shirts are not acceptable as PE kit.
- Trainers for all children.
After School Clubs
- When do clubs start? KS1 and KS2 choirs start week beginning Monday 11th September. Planet Education clubs start week beginning Monday 18th September. All other clubs start week beginning Monday 18th September.
Music Info
Full School Calendar
Information - breakfast and afterschool clubs, uniform etc
- Breakfast Club – just show up – details here.
- SCL after-school club – click here for full details.
- Hatch Warren Community Centre after-school club– click here for full details.
- Uniform – click here for details, including Skoolkit ordering
- School bags – can be ordered here
- Absence – Please report absences via phone or email here by 9am. If you need to request a future absence, please use this form.
- Are you eligible for Free School Meals and further funding for the school? Check online here.
Foodbank Support

In KS2 worship this week…

We learned about Elsie Owusu – and we nominated her for an Agent of Change badge!

Music of the Week

The Swan by Saint-Saens

The Swan is the 13th animal to be represented in ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ by Camille Saint-Saens. He composed this work in 1886 during the Romantic era.

6th October 2023 Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

Harvest Festival

Want to book a farm slot?

From last week…

Roatary Shoebox Appeal

Animal Visitors to Forest School

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quietest Class ⭐

⭐ Best Attendance ⭐

⭐ Attendance Updates ⭐

Weekly Attendance by Class

Well done!

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

In KS2 worship this week…

Music of the Week

Community News

Regular Notices

Does your child need after school care?

How to talk to your child about online safety

Going to be absent?