19 hours ago

15 November 2024 – Newsletter – Sibling Photographs, Parking, Toy Appeal and More

Headlines

The School Photographer is in on Monday for absentees and siblings. See below for details.
Remember to drop off your FOSM Bags2School on Thursday 21st November. See below for drop-off locations.
School Council Toy Project – details below – donations by Friday 29th November.
Book now for Santa’s Grotto at our Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30th Nov. Click here!

Have a great weekend, Charles

This Week's Homework & Learning

Listed here for all children.

Click here

Look after our farm animals

Thank you!

Click here

Y6 PGL Residential

Year 6 have been INCREDIBLE on their PGL residential week in Osmington Bay. It’s our new favourite PGL centre with great staff, accomodation, activities, food and weather. The Year 6 childrens’ manners have been impeccable! Our own staff have put in everything to make it a really successful week. Thank you everyone.

Parking Issues

We’ve had lots of issues with parking recently, particularly where it is making roads and paths unsafe for those walking to school. The police, traffic wardens and PCSOs will be patrolling. Let’s make safe and legal decisions when parking. Parking on paths makes people walk on the road which could be dangerous. Thank you.

⭐ FOSM Events ⭐

Bag2School - Thursday 21st November
Christmas Fayre - Saturday 30th November 🎅 Book Santa
More FOSM dates for your diary

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Navyln and Nathan represented St Mark’s at the Basingstoke Remembrance Service on Sunday.

Here are some of our amazing well-being ambassadors delivering worships to Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 all about anti-bullying week. What superstars!

School Photos - siblings and absentees
- The School Photographer is in on Monday 18th November to take photos of children that were absent for the Individual Photos on Monday 23rd Sept. Photos of siblings who attend St Mark’s will also be taken. Please ensure they wear school polo shirts and jumpers/cardigans. Further details have been sent via email.

Toy Appeal School Appeal

As a school council, we would like to support The Community Furniture Project with their Christmas toy appeal (see attached flyer for further details).

We are therefore asking for any unopened and unwrapped gifts or toys to be donated.

If you are able to, please can your child bring in a toy or gift to school. This could be a soft toy, a book, or a toy car. They often lack toys for babies and teenagers so it would be great to have more toys or gifts appropriate for these ages if possible. Please note that donations should not be perishable.

A donation of a toy or gift would be preferable, however if you are unable to, then please feel free to donate £1 which we will put towards buying donations.

Please send in your donations by Friday 29th November. They will then be collected and sent to The Community Furniture Project.

Little gestures make a big difference.

Thank you

St Mark’s School Council

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.

What is your child learning this half-term?

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quietest Classes ⭐

1BM, 3D, 5SP

⭐ 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 97% 😊

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
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

Nocturne No.20 in C-Sharp Minor by Frederic Chopin (1810 – 1849)

Chopin was a Polish composer in the romantic period. All of his compositions involve the piano.

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!