October 20, 2023

19th October 2023 Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

We celebrated Tanzania Day on Thursday. The children had a great day learning about the country, as well as understanding life in Wasso, Northern Tanzania, where The Mud House Charity supports the children and villagers.

There was also been a great buzz around filling the 37 Christmas Shoe Boxes for the Rotary Appeal. Thank you again for your generosity.

Have a great half-term break.

Mr Applegate :)

Action Required! – Final Chance

Please would you complete our Autumn Term Parents Survey? Click here. Thanks! Once for each child please.

⭐ FOSM Updates ⭐

– Do any parents work for a company who could donate a prize for the raffle?
– Do any parents work for a supermarket and could use their discount to buy some items for the Christmas Fayre? (paid for by FOSM of course!)

Contact FOSM if so! secretary.fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

FOSM Events

Bags2School – Are you having a clear out of clothes? Bring them to school and raise money for school funds! Two drop-off points/times on Thursday 9th November:

3-4pm community centre car park (look for FOSM)
4-6pm school car park

Thank you!
FOSM Christmas Fayre

PE Days for Autumn 2

See below for the updates in green. (just below the calendar)

Help us over half-term please!

Book a farm slot here:

Click here

From last week…

Slides from Key Information Sessions

Light Party

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

We’ll be celebrating this on our return after half-term due to Tanzania Day!

⭐ 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%. Careful!

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

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

Autumn 2
- Year R – Mondays (outdoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 1 – Mondays (outdoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 2 – Tuesday (indoors) and Wednesday (outdoors)
- Year 3 – Mondays (indoors) and Thursdays (outdoors)
- Year 4 – Mondays (outdoors) and either Tues/Weds/Thurs Forest school (outdoors)
- Year 5 – Tuesdays (outdoors) and Wednesdays (outdoors)
- Year 6 – Wednesday (indoors) and Friday (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 worship this week…

Our Christian Voice Ambassadors prepared us for Tanzania Day. They were amazing!

Music of the Week

Jazz Suite No.2 by Shostakovich

Dmitri Shostakovich was a Russian composer writing music in the 1930’s. He wrote a Suite of 3 pieces for jazz orchestra and this is the 2nd of these. It has the most jolly, lively feel of all 3.