April 26, 2024

26 April 2024 – Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

Summer term is definitely well on the way, even if the weather isn’t quite there. From Year 6 pupils working hard for their SATs, to our Year 1 pupils loving Forest School, all children continue to make us proud.

Look out for an email regarding your child’s sports day colour. We ask that they wear a t-shirt of this colour (or as close to it as you can). Details about sports day are below.

Thank you to…

Everyone who donated clothes for Bags2School today. 766 kilos gave us £306.40!
The 10 volunteers from Virgin Media who helped with various site improvements on Monday
The Estlea family for donating football goals (arriving soon)
The Healey family for kinex
The Hunter family for a big box of lego.
A legacy gift of £1000, given by a lovely St Mark’s family, to go directly to The Mud House Children’s Foundation.

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?

Check out the Times Tables progress!

Well done Jess in year 4! Your hard work in learning your timestables has really paid off. We are all proud of you :)

Measles and whooping cough

Please see a letter from the Director of Public Health here.

Agents of Change – Send in your nominations

If you feel your child has done something that bit extra special that has made our world a better place, please let us know. Simply email the office or your child’s year group email.

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 – an email has been sent out today about this.
More details to follow!

St Mark’s PhotoReel

Forest School – Den Building

Forest School – Crafts

Forest School – Fairy Gardens

FOSM Events Reminder

Walking 100km for St Mark's

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 ⭐

2B & 6C

⭐ 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

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	6F
	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

Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams is an English composer. This famous piece was composed in 1914 during the Modern era. It was inspired by a poem of the same name by George Meredith.