March 1, 2024

1 March 2024 – Newsletter – Including FOSM Easter Egg Hunt Booking

A note from Mr Applegate

An intresting week! Lots of illness going around. Thank you for your understanding of the 48hour rule.

Thank you to everyone who has given towards our capital fund. With our aging building and limited funds, it really makes a difference. Remember it’s not to late to give.

We had a Hampshire inspection on Monday. One of the comments from the inspector was, “Pupils learning behaviours are strong. There is a culture of respect and high regard for one another throughout the school. Children enjoy coming to school and are enthusiastic about their curriculum and can articulate how their learning builds over time.” Great!

Year 3&4 parents – don’t miss the email about Easter performance tickets.

We’re sorry to have to postpone our school council’s sports event. The weather was just against us. We’ll let you know of the new date.

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate

What's your child learning next week?

World Book Day – Friday 8th March

This Friday!!!

Dress up and book swap! Details here.

Pastoral Parent Drop-In – Monday 11th March

The next parent drop in will be Monday 11^th March 8.30-9.30 in the church. It will be focusing on managing strong emotions at home. Mrs Delves and Mrs Elms will be on hand to support and chat through any concerns you may have. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available. We look forward to seeing you.

FOSM Easter Egg Hunt – book online

www.stmarksprimary.net/fosm_shop

FOSM Easter Competition

Book a farm slot

Click here

Looking for Easter child care?

Click here for SCL options including 10% discount code.

St Mark’s PhotoReel

Amaya in her Cheerleading uniform

Cheerleading Success

Amaya is on a team called Mini Magik with the WCA (Wolverines Cheer Academy). They performed in Guildford this weekend and got 3rd place. They also performed in Coventry at the end of January and came 2nd in their division. Their routine includes stunting, gymnastics and dance and is very energetic!

Car Parking

Particularly this week with the bad weather we have received several complaints from local residents regarding poor parking at pick up and drop off times. Could you please remain respectful to our residents and follow the usual parking rules even if this means parking further away from school.

What's your child learning for the next 5 weeks?

FOSM Events Reminder

Walking 100km for St Mark's

Parenting course available

From FutureMind….. we have some really great topics coming up for the next few weeks – please be sure to book your free ticket today at www.linktr.ee/futureinmind

Tuesday 5 March – 19.30 Recorded Online Discussing Barriers to Attendance to Education for Neurodivergent Young People – with Autistic Realms and Grove Neurodivergent Education and Mentoring – for professionals and parent carers

Thursday 21 March – 10.15 Basingstoke – Managing Crisis, supporting a young person who may be self harming or having suicidal thoughts with Hampshire CAMHS

Please be sure to read all the full descriptions in the Ticket Tailor for more information available at www.linktr.ee/futureinmind

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!

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ 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 96.1%. 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	4.00pm	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…

We enjoyed watching the Dance Live performance, and also hearing about the school council sports event.

Music of the Week

Palladio No 1 Allegretto by Karl Jenkins

Karl Jenkins is a Welsh composer who is still composing music to this day. He has written a range of choral and orchestral works. This piece was composed in 1995 during the Modern era.