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Newsletter – 23rd March 2020
Message from Mr Applegate
Dear parents and carers,
Isn’t is great to have the sunshine in the midst of all the uncertainty!? And the rainbows on windows are lovely to see. They remind me that there is always hope. Whatever your source of hope – faith, other people, friendship, family, there is always hope. Circumstances at the moment are challenging and uncertain, but at some point – soon hopefully – things will turn for the better.
This weekend I have seen our St Mark’s team show an outstanding spirit in the face of adversity. Building a plan for how we put together provision for the forseeable future for key worker children was hard, but we are there, and everyone is pitching in, in some way or other.
All children – at home or at ‘school’ – will have the home learning activities to complete. These are posted online in the year group pages on our website. Notifications also come through on email and Facebook. Please don’t feel you need to do all of it. We know it is especially challenging where there are multiple children at home, or even adults having to work at home at the same time. Do what you can and keep it manageable. There are also the year group emails you can use to liaise with a teacher (emails can be found on the year group page). Staff will answer emails as quick as they can, between the hours of 9am and 4:30pm. As a rough guide, the work set is approximately 1hour’s worth for KS1 children and 2 hours for KS2 children, although it may be completed faster!
Finally, a huge thank you to those in our school community who are part of our key workers, serving our town and nation in this difficult time.
Best wishes to you all, Charles Applegate
Daily Videos for children (adults, please check for suitability)
Try a child friendly PE workout every morning with The Body Coach
Or keep up your phonics with a daily RWI lesson (like we do at school!) – see here!
Writing Competition Winners
A huge well done to all our pupils who took part in the Basingstoke Music & Arts Festival Creative Writing Competition. So many children took part from across the town, and our St Mark’s entries were brilliant. We even had quite a few winners! Well done All!
The Charles Lamb Cup for articles:
- 1st place – Amber
- 2nd – Bethany
The Marion Greup for letters (Yr5/6):
- 1st place – Sam
- 2nd place – Millie
- 3rd place – Amalie
The Charles Lamb Award Cup for poetry Y1/2:
- 1st place – Ellie
- 2nd place – Alfie
- 3rd place – Zoe
The Sadler Hall Cup for poetry Y3/4:
- 1st place – Alexis
- Joint 2nd – Neve and Alfie
The Garland Cup for poetry Y5/6:
- 1st place – Amalie
- 2nd place – Bhaswati & Grace
The David Anderson Rotary Cup for short stories KS2:
- 1st place – Adam
- 2nd place – Sienna
Notices from last week
Regular notices
Hire our Facilities!
St Mark’s boasts a large hall, a smaller hall, a kitchenette, a very large field and playgrounds. Our hire rates are very competitive. Our facilities can be hired for:
- birthday parties
- fitness classes
- sport events
- celebrations
- training events
- meetings
- and more!
SCL Afterschool Club
Did you know? Our after school club has great features, including:
1. No deposit required. Simply pay as you go.
2. Bookings are online, quick and easy: www.stmarksprimary.net/scl
3. You can book the night before – no need to book weeks in advance, but you can do that too!
4. Children can attend after school clubs, and then go to SCL when they finish – and also pay a reduced rate.
5. There is plenty of space, and the club is financially secure. It’s here to stay.
6. An afternoon snack and meal are provided.
7. Activities at SCL are varied and fun.
8. Cost is £12/session, or £9 if attending later because of a school club.
9. Hours are 3:20pm to 6pm.
10. Child care vouchers are accepted!
SCL INSET Day Childcare
There is great SCL provision at St Mark’s for our INSET day on Friday 3rd April. Click here to book.
What’s my child learning this term?
- Year R newsletter Spring 2 2020.pdf
- Y6 Temples of Doom Project Leaflet.pdf
- Y6 Temples of Doom Knowledge Organiser.pdf
- Y5 European Identities Project Leaflet.pdf
- Y5 European Identities Knowledge Organiser.pdf
- Y4 Who should I follow Project Leaflet.pdf
- Y4 Who should I follow Knowledge Organiser.pdf
- Y3 Whats Inside Project Leaflet.pdf
- Y3 Whats Inside Knowledge Organiser.pdf
- Y2 Me and You Project Leaflet.pdf
- Y2 Me and You Knowledge Organiser.pdf
- Y1 On The Move Project Leaflet.pdf
- Y1 On the Move Knowledge Organiser.pdf
Zones of Regulation
Your child may have been talking about feeling ‘red’ or ‘yellow’. What does this mean? Well, St Mark’s are adopting a really helpful way for children to identify and talk about their emotional state- even when they are angry or anxious! Identifying the colour helps children to know how to move towards a more settled state, which may not always been straight to green. It also enables them to know ‘it’s ok to feel this way’, although we are still responsible for our actions. Why not talk through it with your child?
INSET Days – 2020/2021
- Thur 3rd Sept 2020
- Fri 4th Sept 2020 (School starts Monday 7th Sept)
- Mon 4th Jan 2021
- Thur 1st April 2021
- Mon 7th June 2021
Music Rehearsals and Performances for KS2 children only
March 2020
Wed 18th: 4.15pm – 5.30pm Part A Choir rehearsal and Chamber Choir at Bishopswood Junior School
Fri 27th: 4.15pm – 5.30pm Part b Choir rehearsal and Narrators at Bishopswood Junior School
May 2020
Wed 6th: 4.15pm-5.30pm Chamber Choir rehearsals at Bishopswood Junior School
Thurs 7th: 4.15pm – 5.30pm Orchestra rehearsals at Costello School
Wed 13th: 4.15pm-5.30pm Chamber Choir rehearsals at Bishopswood Junior School
Fri 15th: 4.15pm-5.30pm Orchestra rehearsals at Costello School
June 2020
Mon 1st: 9.30am-2.30pm All day choir rehearsal at St Mark’s CofE Primary School (Children still need to attend, even though it is an Inset Day)
Fri 5th: 9.30am-2.30pm All day Orchestra and Dancers’ rehearsal at Christ Church Chineham
Tues 9th: 9.30am-2.30pm All day rehearsal for whole concert at the Anvil
Tues 9th 7pm Concert at the Anvil
Wed 10th: 7pm Concert at the Anvil