November 8, 2024

8 November 2024 – Newsletter – Remembrance Worship, Odd Socks and more

Headlines

A very special Remembrance Worship today, with the Old Basing Band playing The Last Post – you may have heard it being played this morning. Video below! NB We had Remembrance worship this morning due to Year 6 children going on PGL Residential on Monday.
We celebrate Anti-bullying Week next week …. don’t forget to wear Odd Socks on Tuesday! More info below.
Our Christmas Fayre is on Saturday 30th Nov from 12-3pm. Booking for Santa’s Grotto is now open. See below in the FOSM section for more details.
You can read the results and summary of the October parent survey here.
About 30 staff from Tadley Primary School visited our classes today to see how we teach Maths and English. Your child may talk about our visitors!

Have a great weekend, Charles

This Week's Homework & Learning

Listed here for all children.

Click here

**NEW** What is your child learning this half-term?

Look after our farm animals

Thank you!

Click here

Anti Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day - Tuesday 12th Nov

During the week beginning Monday 11th November, we will be celebrating Anti-Bullying Week at St Mark’s! The theme this year is ‘Choose Respect’. On Tuesday 12th November, we will celebrate Odd Socks Day.

WHAT IS ODD SOCKS DAY?

Odd Socks Day is a key part of Anti-Bullying Week! To celebrate that we are all unique, we ask that children wear odd socks to school on Tuesday 12th November. Last year over 13,000 schools took part in Odd Socks Day and again this year, we are joining them!

WHY IS ODD SOCKS DAY IMPORTANT?

The day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying and helps us celebrate Anti-Bullying Week in a fun and positive way. We will be completing fun activities during the day and the rest of the week, which will help us celebrate both our differences and our unity within our St Mark’s community.

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?

*Please just make sure your child wears odd socks to school on Tuesday 12th November!*

⭐ FOSM Events ⭐

Bag2School - Thursday 21st November
Christmas Fayre - Saturday 30th November 🎅 Book Santa

It’s the Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30th November, 12-3pm. Full of fun games, stalls, activities, refreshments and Santa’s Grotto! The fayre is free to enter and visits to Santa cost £4 per child and include a small gift. Grotto visits must be booked in advance by 25th November via the FOSM online shop: Click here to book your visit to meet Santa.
More FOSM dates for your diary

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Remembrance at St Mark’s this morning

Ayla treated us to a wonderful Irish dancing performance this week in Worship. We were so impressed with her dancing skills.

Foodbank Friday!

Many local supermarkets host a permanent donation point where people can leave the donations they purchase during their visit but we would also like to set up a station in school where children can feel that they are making a difference to help others.

We are encouraging children to occasionally bring in an item of food, which they can put in a box near reception.

We will update the list each week or you may prefer to download the Bank the Food App. This will update it weekly on the items we’re running low on. It’s a great app and you only need to download it and select Basingstoke Foodbank as preferred. You can also activate notifications which means you’ll get a reminder when you visit the supermarket, so you never forget to donate. It lets you know the items they most need.

⭐ 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 96.7% 😮

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

Reminder of the new rules

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

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

Meals
**UPDATED PE Days**
PE Uniform details can be found here. Remember, football shirts, hoodies, or general day-to-day clothing are not acceptable as PE kit.

Year R
- Monday – Indoor PE
- Thursday – Indoor PE
Year 1
- Tuesday – Outdoor PE
- Thursday – Outdoor PE
Year 2
- Wednesday – Outdoor PE
- Friday – Indoor PE
Year 3
- All classes – Fridays – Outdoor PE
- 3SG – Tuesday – Indoor PE
- 3D – Wednesday – Indoor PE
- 3P – Thursday – Indoor PE
Year 4
- All classes – Monday – Outdoor PE
- 4SB – Wednesday – Indoor PE
- 4C – Thursday – Indoor PE
- 4PR – Friday – Indoor PE
Year 5
- Tuesdays – Outdoor PE
- Wednesdays – Indoor PE
Year 6
- Monday – Indoor PE
- Wednesdays – Outdoor PE

After School Clubs

When do clubs start? Clubs started last week. You will have received an email to confirm your place in club.

Day	Club	Pick up time	Pick up place
Monday	Forest School	4:45	2B
	Chess Club	4:00	6B
	KS2 Choir	4:15	Small Hall
	Board Games Club	4:00	1TM
	Lego Coding Club	4:10	6C
	KS2 Girls’ Football	4:10	3P
Tuesday	Art Club	4:10	2CL
	Art/Craft Club	4:10	4PR
	Calm Club Yrs 5&6	4:00	3SG
	Recorders Club	4:00	3D
	Dance Live	4:10	Small Hall
Wednesday	Cookery Club	4:10	Office
	Multi-Skills	4:10	Small Hall
	Calm Club Yrs 3&4	4:00	3SG
Thursday	Photography Club	4:10	5P
	Scratch Coding Club	4:00	5DS
Friday	Netball	4:10	Small Hall
	Year 1 & 2 Choir	4:00	1TM

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

Hymn to the Fallen by John Williams (1932 – )

This piece of music composed by John Williams was written for a film called Saving Private Ryan which was set in World War 2. It is a beautiful piece of music written to remember all those who lost their lives in war.

Being a parent is tough!

Online Parenting Courses

Parental control guides

Community News

Red Riding Hood

The Parish of Basingstoke Down is delighted to offer you a family treat this festive season! We have invited Saltmine Theatre to bring their production of ‘Red Riding Hood’ to Hatch Warren Community Centre on Saturday 23rd November, 6-8pm. This modern-day twist on a classic fairy tale with a positive message about belonging is now open for booking. Do join us!

We are charging a small fee for tickets- £3 for individuals and £10 for a family of up to five. All of the money that we raise will be shared between the charities supported by St Mark’s School (in the case of St Mark’s it will go to the Mud House Foundation) and Kempshott Juniors (in the case of Kempshott Juniors it will go to the Lily Foundation). See you there!

Click here to buy your tickets!