February 9, 2024

9 February 2024 – Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

Remember, parents’ evening bookings open on 20th Feb – email has gone out today.

Monday’s Worship was led by our fantastic Wellbeing Champions. They launched this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week. They shared some key messages, helping children understand how their ‘voices matter’.

Thank you for supporting Safer Internet Day. Not had a chance to look at the family agreement? Download the KS1 and KS2 versions here.

Over 60 children performed at our guitar concert yesterday, led by Mr Macycock. They were great!

Good luck to our 80 DanceLive children who are performing at Portsmouth Guidhall on tonight :)

Enjoy the half-term! Mr Applegate

Book a farm slot

Click here

Heads up! World Book Day - Friday 8th March

Hatch Warren After School Club

Reminders

PE days change after half-term. See the PE section below.
Year 5 have Forest School in Spring 2.
School returns Monday 19th Feb 2024.

FOSM makes a difference (again!)

Thanks to FOSM and your generosity, we’ve been able to purchase additional Chromebooks, new bikes for Year R and new table tennis bats for KS2. This will make a real difference to children, and we simply couldn’t do this without you. Thank you!

Nelson Mandela

Year 6 were inspired by Mandela, and Ellie wrote this in her own time. A great summary of aspects of his life. Click here to read it!

FOSM Events Reminder

Walking 100km for St Mark's

Parenting course available

Tesco Funding - Vote for St Mark's

From Mid January to March, all of the Tescos in Basingstoke will have tokens available to ‘vote’ for a project – including our very own St Mark’s Farm and Forest School projects. This could be worth up to £10,000!

If you make a purchase in Tesco, don’t forget to vote for us by putting the token in the right box. And perhaps share this with your family and friends!

Looking for half-term child care?

St Mark’s PhotoReel

Wellbeing Champions

PupilSafetyFirst Petition

We had over 600 signatures on our petition, which has now been submitted to Hampshire County Council. We’ll be presenting to the council in June when they take decicsions on funding. Many thanks for Cll Reid for his support and help, too.

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quiet Classes ⭐

1TM & 5E

⭐ 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 96.2%. 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

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

View the full calendar here. Subscribe on either Chrome/ Android or Apple

Meals
PE Days
Status: running as usual

Spring 2
- Year R – Mondays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 1 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 2 – Tuesday (outdoors) and Wednesday (indoors)
- Year 3 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Thursdays (outdoors)
- Year 4 – Mondays (outdoors) and Fridays (indoors)
- Year 5 – Tues/Weds or Thurs Forest school (outdoors) and Fridays (indoors)
- Year 6 – Wednesday (outdoors) 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

Spring clubs will continue week commencing 19th Febuary 2024.

Day	Club	Collection Time	Collect From
Monday	Year 2 Choir	4.00pm	2B
	KS2 Choir	4.00pm	Small Hall
	KS2 Girls Football	4.10pm	3W
Tuesday	Tag Rugby	4.10pm	6B
	Art Club	4.10pm	4PR
Wednesday	Pom Pom Wool Club	4.10pm	2G
	Cookery Club	4.10pm	Food Tech Room
Thursday	Art & Craft Club	4.00pm	2CL
	Board Games Club	4.00pm	1BB
	Coding Club	4.10pm	Year 6

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.
- 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…

Music of the Week

Flower Drum Song from Feng Yan

This is a Chinese traditional folk tune originating in the Ming Dynasty. It is now a staple of the Chinese New Year “soundtrack.