April 19, 2024

19 April 2024 – Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

Spring learning reports have been emailed out today. Please check email and spam/junk folders if you’ve not seen it.

I trust you had a good Easter break, and have just about got going into the routine of school life this week.

Well done to our Year 5 pupils for a great song writing day on Thursday. It was very speecial to have Mr Halls back, an ex-teacher at St Mark’s who also wrote our school song. A very musical day!

Year 1 have loved Forest School this week. Such a delight to see.

It was also great to learn that we will be full for September’s Year R cohort. We look forward to welcoming our new families soon.

Have a great weekend. Mr Applegate :)

Look after our animals!

We need your help!

Click here

What's your child learning next week?

What's your child learning this half term?

Instrumental Tuition LAST CHANCE – by April 22nd

Please complete this form if your child is currently:

taking instrumental lessons and wants to continue
taking instrumental lessons and wants to stop
wishes to begin learning an instrument. (NB only children in Years 3 – 6 next year can apply.)

All information about instrumental lesson options, policies and pricing is within the form. The deadline for applications is Monday 22^nd April.

Click here for the application form for instrumental tuition 2024-2025

Parent Drop-in on Monday

Parent drop in Monday 22^nd April 8.30-9.30. Come and join Mrs Delves and Mrs Elms and the school nursing team to discuss a variety of issues including toileting, eating and sleeping (for all primary school ages). We will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and to introduce you to the school nursing team over a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.

This Thursday!

Don’t forget about our Fosm bags 2 school collection . Bags can be dropped off on Thursday 25th April 3-4pm community centre car park or between 4-6pm in the school car park. Please see the poster for accepted items.

Sports Day!

… is on Friday 24th May. Save the date…

KS2 parents are invited to watch in the morning until lunch
All parents are invited to join children in a picnic lunch
KS1 parents are invited to watch in the afternoon
Children are in a team colour group – we’ll send reminders out next week of which colour group your child is in (as they’ll need a t-shirt that colour).
More details to follow!

Parent Survey Results

Many thanks for taking the time to complete this. You can see the full results here.

100% of parents (297 responses) said that they would recommend St Mark’s to another parent! Great!

St Mark’s PhotoReel

William is an Agent of Change!

Helping out on a beach clean up

Oragami made by St Mark’s, laid at the Children’s Peace Memorial at Hirishima, Japan, by Miss Stonehouse. More to follow!

Cherry Blossom in school

Cherry Blossom in school

Friday 26th April @ St Mark’s

Friday 26th April @ St Mark’s

FOSM Events Reminder

Walking 100km for St Mark's

Two parents of St Mark’s are walking 100km continuously across the Jurassic Coast, fundraising for the school.

Mike is a parent at the school, Aidan is Chair of Governors and a parent at the school. They are both a little addicted to walking!

Can you support their fundraising efforts for our school? Click here to find out more and donate!

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 ⭐

⭐ Quietest Classes ⭐

Penguins & 4C

⭐ 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 96.0%. 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

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

All Summer clubs will begin the week commencing 22 April 2024.

Day	Club	Pick up Time	Pick up place
Monday	Year 2 Choir	4pm	2B
	KS2 Choir	4.15pm	Small Hall
	KS2 Girls Football	4.10pm	3W
	Board Games Club	4pm	1BB
Tuesday	Art Club	4.10pm	3SG
	Authors, Writers and Reporters Club	4pm	5SP
	Dance Live Creative Team	4.10pm	4SB
	Quad Kids	4.10pm	4PR
Wednesday	Pom Pom Wool Club	4.10pm	2G
Thursday	Art & Craft Club	4.10pm	2CL
	Coding Club	4.10pm	Year 6
	Calm Club	4pm	4C
Friday	Cricket	4pm	4PR

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

Hallelujah Chorus: Handel

This composition comes from Handel’s famous works: The Messiah, which was inspired by Jesus being the saviour of the world. This is the chorus from the oratorio, which means a large musical composition on a religious subject.