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7th July 2023 Newsletter – Non-uniform next week, Breakfast Club Changes and more

Non-uniform and Basingstoke Culture Day

On Friday 14th July, we are celebrating cultures and countries represented at St Mark’s and in Basingstoke. Your child can wear clothes with colours that represent a country you have links to (including the UK!). They’ll be doing a range of activities across the day, too. We ask for a donation of 50p to cover costs. The children will all recieve a special ‘We Are One’ badge, too!

This week’s other top news & reminders

Our breakfast club is changing as of September 1st 2023. Please click here for full details.

Please can you complete our end of year survey – once per child – click here.

Current Year 3 parents – there will be an online meeting for the Year 4 residential on Weds 19th July at 6pm. More details to follow.

Remember, registers are taken at 8:50am, meaning your child needs to be through the gate by 8:48am. 

A reminder that all after school clubs have now finished.

Spend some time with us on Tuesday 18th July straight after school. You can meet your child’s new teacher, and walk around the School Art Exhibition to see your child’s work on display.

Have your financial circumstances changed? Your child might be elligible for various benefits at school. Click here to find out more.

A reminder that Year 2 pupils no longer receive Universal Free School Meals as of September. Those elligible for Free School meals continue to do so.

Farm Update

  • Don’t forget you can book summer slots to look after our animals. We’ve got the summer to fill :)  Click here!
  • Can you be on a backup list for farm bookings in case of emergency? Just email the office to let us know. Thank you!

We say thank you to…

… our FOSM team and all who attended the Summer Fayre. It was amazing! Total raised was £5,500!!! Just incredible!!

… our FOSM team for putting on the Disco tonight, too!

… our KS2 musicians who took part in a Summer Concert on Wednesday. You were great!

… Year 5 pupils who showed impeccable behaviour on their trip to Brighton Hill on Thursday.

… New parents and children who joined our New Year R events recently. We look forward to you joining us in September.

Got any spare wellies?

We are collecting wellies for children across to school to use in our outdoor provision. If you’ve got any spare, please pass them to the office. Thanks!

Staff Updates:

  • We welcome Miss Sullivan to our Office Team.

Parking!

We’ve had a few complaints recently from those in our community. Please can we all try hard to:

  • Avoid parking on driveways or obstructing local residents, and on yellow lines
  • Slow down around the school and where children will be crossing
  • Drive sensibly

This is especially true when school events are on, such as discos. Thank you.

Hatch Warren Summer Festival

A note from the community centre: The Summer Festival is a free entry event aimed at the local community. This year it will be on Saturday 15th July from 12 – 4. We have over 100 events, activities and over 28 local traders arranged for the day. We will also have a variety of hot and cold refreshments, a licensed bar, a dog show, a climbing wall within our Scouts’ fun zone, festival inflatables, crazy golf, indoor seating and outdoor marquee seating, tombola and competitions with some fabulous prizes. There will be live entertainment as well as a DJ. Do join us for an hour or the whole afternoon, you won’t want to miss it! We are encouraging people to walk to the Festival if they possibly can as we are anticipating a heavy footfall on the day.

App/Website for practicing languages

 

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Everyone

July:

  • Weds 12th July (change of date) – Transition Morning – children find out their new classes and an hour with them.
  • Friday 14th – Basingstoke Culture Day, including non-uniform.
  • Tues 18th July – After School – parents meet new teachers & Art Exhibition

Year Group Events

Year 3:

  • Weds 19th July – 6pm – Online meeting about residential in Year 4.

Year 6:

  • Wed 12th July – Year 6 Production @ 6.30pm
  • Thurs 13th July – Year 6 Production @ 2pm and 6.30pm
  • Fri 14th July – Year 6 Leavers’ Disco
  • Thurs 20th July – Leavers’ Service
  • Fri 21st July – last day
  • Foodbank Support

    If your child(ren) usually has free school meals and you would like some support with covering the extra food costs, please contact Vicky Elms (v.elms@st-markscofe.hants.sch.uk) so that we can arrange a food bank voucher on your behalf. 

Music of the Week!

Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

“Flight of the Bumblebee” is an orchestral interlude written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, composed in 1899–1900. Its composition is intended to musically evoke the seemingly chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of a bumblebee.

Secondary School Open Days

BHCC Tour dates postcard 2023-0000
Open day Flyer Autumn 2023

Community News

Local Events

Regular Notices

Latest Posts

Photo credits:

Photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash 

30th June 2023 Newsletter – FOSM Summer Fun Day tomorrow!

FOSM Summer Fun Day

FOSM Summer Fun Day Video

This week’s top news & reminders

Transition morning is Wednesday 12th July. On this morning, the children will find out their new class and teacher, and spend an hour with them. We’ll also email you on the same day along with their end of year report! Year 6 reports come out on Monday 17th July as the SATs results come out later.

Spend some time with us on Tues 18th July After School. You can meet your child’s new teacher, and walk around the School Art Exhibition to see your child’s work on display!

You may be aware that the NEU are taking strike action on 5th and 7th July. As before, we will be in touch if your child’s teacher is taking action and so the class will be closed for the day. Please have arrangements up your sleeve,

Thanks to Steven Pugh for volunteering his skills and time to repaint some of our paving slabs!

Well done Ruby!

Ruby in Year 3 has worked  really hard to achieve her goal of joining a swim academy. As the youngest participant by far, she has had to work extremely hard during the sessions. In the short time that she has been there, she has been an enthusiastic participant and shown great sportsmanship. Keep up the great work!

Well done Arianne!

…for receiving her certificate and belt for her first taekwondo grading which she completed last weekend. She is now a 9th Kup White Belt!

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Everyone

July:

  • Weds 12th July(change of date) – Transition Morning – children find out their new classes and an hour with them.
  • Weds 5th & Friday 7th July – Possible class closures due to strike action.
  • Friday 7th – FOSM Disco
  • Friday 14th – Basingstoke Culture Day
  • Tues 18th July – After School – parents meet new teachers & Art Exhibition

Year Group Events

Year 6:

  • Wed 12th July – Year 6 Production @ 6.30pm
  • Thurs 13th July – Year 6 Production @ 2pm and 6.30pm
  • Fri 14th July – Year 6 Leavers’ Disco
  • Thurs 20th July – Leavers’ Service
  • Fri 21st July – last day
  • Foodbank Support

    If your child(ren) usually has free school meals and you would like some support with covering the extra food costs, please contact Vicky Elms (v.elms@st-markscofe.hants.sch.uk) so that we can arrange a food bank voucher on your behalf. 

Additional Support

Music of the Week!

Hungarian Dance No. 5 – Allegro by Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms: 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. Brahms composed for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, piano, organ, voice, and chorus.

Secondary School Open Days

BHCC Tour dates postcard 2023-0000
Perins School
Open day Flyer Summer term

Community News

Local Events

Regular Notices

Latest Posts

Photo credits:

Photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash 

23rd June 2023 Newsletter – including FOSM Updates – Summer Fun Day is next Saturday!

This week’s top news & reminders

A massive well done to our children who performed at the Anvil on Tuesday and Wednesday night! Our orchestra, choir and dancers were incredible, as were the children from the 15 other schools. Special thanks to Mrs Chapman, Mrs Baird, Miss Stonehouse, Mrs Woods, Mrs Pearce and Mrs Chapman for making it all possible.

You may be aware that the NEU are taking strike action on 5th and 7th July. As before, we will be in touch if your child’s teacher is taking action and so the class will be closed for the day. Please have arrangements up your sleeve.

Summer Concert – 5th July – this is for instrumentalists only, not choir!

FOSM Updates

Raffle Tickets: Have you got any sold stubs/money or unsold tickets? Please return them asap!

Does your company match fund? If so, helping at our FOSM Summer Fun day could raise £1000 extra. Please get in touch if so.

Disco: Friday 7th July – Bookings will open Monday 3rd July – details to follow. Special Guest DJ NikNak will be supplying the ‘beats’! Bookings open on Monday 3rd July!

FOSM Non-Uniform Day

Friday 30th June – in exchange for specific Tombola items (Year 6 who may be away on that day please feel free to bring items in earlier in the week if you’d like to donate!):

  • Bottles of any drink
  • Smellies
  • Small unwanted gifts
  • No food/chocolates please (due to heat!)

FOSM Summer Fun Day

In memory of…

Chris Sturgess was a grandparent of St Mark’s. His family felt it would be fitting to raise money for the farm, following his death, as he loved his grandchildren and was a fan of animals and our school. This plaque will be placed in the farm as a memory of him.

Thank you!

A huge thanks to The Carpet Trade Centre and Downs Carpets for donating carpet samples. These will be used on the farm when interacting with our rabbits and guinea pigs.

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Everyone

June:

  • FOSM Non-Uniform Day. Friday 30th June – in exchange for specific Tombola items: Bottles of any drink, Smellies, Small unwanted gifts, No food/chocolates please (due to heat!)

July:

  • Tuesday 11th (change of date) – Transition Morning – children find out their new classes and an hour with them.
  • Weds 5th & Friday 7th July – Possible class closures due to strike action.
  • Friday 7th – FOSM Disco
  • Friday 14th – Basingstoke Culture Day

Year Group Events

Year R:

  • Friday 30th June – Bucklebury Farm trip

Year 2:

  • Friday 23rd June – Hillier Gardens trip

Year 3:

  • Monday 26th June – Roman Worship Day

Year 6:

  • Thurs 29th/Fri 30th June – Secondary school transition for most children (full uniform)
  • Wed 12th July – Year 6 Production @ 6.30pm
  • Thurs 13th July – Year 6 Production @ 2pm and 6.30pm
  • Fri 14th July – Year 6 Leavers’ Disco
  • Thurs 20th July – Leavers’ Service
  • Fri 21st July – last day
  • Foodbank Support

    If your child(ren) usually has free school meals and you would like some support with covering the extra food costs, please contact Vicky Elms (v.elms@st-markscofe.hants.sch.uk) so that we can arrange a food bank voucher on your behalf. 

Excellent Free Resources for you!

Click here for more info

Music of the Week!

The Four Seasons: Summer in G minor by Antonio Vivaldi

Vivaldi was an Italian baroque composer. The Four Seasons Suite is one of his most recognisable pieces of work that give character to the 4 seasons of the year.

Secondary School Open Days

BHCC Tour dates postcard 2023-0000
Perins School
Open day Flyer Summer term

Community News

Local Events

Regular Notices

Latest Posts

Photo credits:

Photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash 

16th June 2023 Newsletter – FOSM Fun Day, Guinea Pigs, Rabbits and more!

This week’s top news & reminders

We’re very keen to find the countries and languages represented by the children and families at St Mark’s! Complete this form by the 20th June if you have a strong link to a country other than England, or a language other than English.

Please make sure you’ve completed this form regarding class buddies – Thinking about classes for September (one per child please)

Our Year 4 pupils are currently on their 3 day/2night residential, and have had a great time!

Have fun with your kids by looking after Pip and Sparkles. Our 2 rabbits and 3 guinea pigs arrive this weekend too. Click here to book a slot!

We’ve been alerted that some Nivea Suncream products contain almond oil. This would be harmful to children with allergies. More info here.

FOSM Summer Fun Day

FOSM Non-Uniform Day

Friday 30th June – in exchange for specific Tombola items – details to follow next week!

FOSM Disco

Friday 7th July – Bookings will open Monday 3rd July – details to follow. Special Guest DJ NikNak will be supplying the ‘beats’!

 

Meet our new farm animals!

Arriving this weekend!

PomPomNamed
BlossomNamed
BellaNamed
ToffeeNamed

Farm Thanks

We want to thank all those who have helped in getting our farm up and running. It looks amazing and we really appreciate the help of all of the volunteers who have given their time and energy to come and help. We would particularly like to thank Rich Minter and James Naylor for their efforts moving the chippings over several days in the pouring rain. You are all agents of change!

Thank you also to Mrs Barbour, Mr Calver and Mr Parker for their efforts in making the farm possible. And did I mention Mr Calver’s amazing sign he has made?

Book Fair Reminder

Each class will visit the book fair stall. If you’d like your child to buy some books, please send them in with an amount between £3 and £12 in cash in a named envelope on the day below. For Year R, the book fair is after school in the Key Stage 1 playground – please can parents/carers attend with your child.

If you would prefer to pay online and not physically visit the book fair, you can do so here.

Monday 19th June

  • Year 4 & 6 classes– during the school day
  • NEW- Children of any year group may visit after school with parents (on the KS1 playground weather permitting). We are hoping to have a card machine available for this after school session.

 Thank you for your support!

Basingstoke Day – can you help?

Like our French Culture Day, we’re having a celebration of the diversity of ethnic cultures within Basingstoke. This will help the children understand that they are part of a wider and fascinating world, and celebrate the amazing cultures we have in our town. We’re calling it “Basingstoke Day”, and it will take place on Friday 14th July. We would love to hear from any parents and families from a variety of cultures, and would be prepared to get involved. We know from the success of our recent French Day that language, art, music and food might all play a part in this – but there is so much more that we might explore, and we would love to invite local people into the school to share their culture and country. There is a huge diversity of cultures now in Basingstoke, which has enriched our community so much in recent years. If you think you might be able to help, please let us know via adminoffice@stmarksce.org.uk
 

Wellbeing Week Winners

During our Wellbeing Week we had a fabulous Whole School event which included a competition!  The focus for the day was about connection!  The children connected together to create a poster all about the five steps to Wellbeing!    The top 20 were then chosen and from these classes voted for their top 3! In Worship on Monday the top three posters were announced!  Well done to EVERYONE though as it was a fantastic day and children demonstrated all of their learning behaviours and made some new connections (friends) too. 

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School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Everyone

June:

  • Friday 30th June – Non-uniform day – bring in something for the Tombola for the FOSM Summer Fun day

July:

  • Weds 5th – Transition Morning – children find out their new classes and an hour with them.
  • Friday 7th – FOSM Disco
  • Friday 14th – Basingstoke Culture Day

Year Group Events

Year R:

  • Friday 30th June – Bucklebury Farm trip

Year 2:

  • Friday 23rd June – Hillier Gardens trip

Year 6:

  • Thurs 29th/Fri 30th June – Secondary school transition for most children (full uniform)
  • Wed 12th July – Year 6 Production @ 6.30pm
  • Thurs 13th July – Year 6 Production @ 2pm and 6.30pm
  • Fri 14th July – Year 6 Leavers’ Disco
  • Thurs 20th July – Leavers’ Service
  • Fri 21st July – last day
  • Foodbank Support

    If your child(ren) usually has free school meals and you would like some support with covering the extra food costs, please contact Vicky Elms (v.elms@st-markscofe.hants.sch.uk) so that we can arrange a food bank voucher on your behalf. 

Excellent Free Resources for you!

Click here for more info

Music of the Week!

River Flows in You by Yiruma

Lee Ru-ma, better known by his stage name Yiruma, is a South Korean pianist and composer.

Secondary School Open Days

BHCC Tour dates postcard 2023-0000
Perins School
Open day Flyer Summer term

Community News

Local Events

Regular Notices

Latest Posts

Photo credits:

Photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash 

9th June 2023 Newsletter

This week’s top news & reminders

Would you like to visit our hens Pip and Sparkles? We have lots of slots available. Just click here! Rabbits join them next week, and guinea pigs soon after :)

Well done to our Year 4 pupils who took their 12×12 Multiplication Test this week. Learn more about how we teacher times tables here.

It’s going to be hot in the days and weeks to come – please remember sunscreen, hats, water bottles and comfortable uniform.

Thank you to our 5 volunteers from VirginMediaO2 who helped us on our grounds this week. Could your company lend us one of your vounteering days? Let us know.

 

Mr Applegate says…

… a huge thank you to Kat Long for being our fantastic IT Technician over the past few years. Today was her last day, and we’re grateful for how she has supported us and moved us forward in tech across the school.

… thank you to our volunteers who answered our plea for help to complete the farm. It’s 95% there!! Look what you’ve helped to create (and FOSM & parents of course!).

What’s next? We’ll be working on our wooded areas including Forest School and hedges at the back, as well as our Year 3 Reflection Garden.

Finally, I’m so proud of our children, staff and community. Leading our school is a real privilege.

Have a great weekend.

Class Buddies for September

Please make sure you’ve completed this form – Thinking about classes for September (one per child please)

Book Fair

In the coming weeks, we have our school book fair. It’s a chance for children to become excited about books and enjoy reading. There are a variety of books on sale, and the school gets commission for each book sold. This summer you get 3 books for the price of 2 with the cheapest book free!

Each class will visit the book fair stall. If you’d like your child to buy some books, please send them in with an amount between £3 and £12 in cash in a named envelope on the day below. For Year R, the book fair is after school in the Key Stage 1 playground – please can parents/carers attend with your child.

If you would prefer to pay online and not physically visit the book fair, you can do so here.

When is my child visiting the book fair?

Wednesday 14th June

  • Year R classes– after school with parents (on the KS1 playground weather permitting). Please allow a few minutes for us to set up.

Thursday 15th June

  • Year 1 & 2 classes – during the school day.

Friday 16th June

  • Year 3 & 5 classes – during the school day.

Monday 19th June

  • Year 4 & 6 classes– during the school day
  • NEW- Children of any year group may visit after school with parents (on the KS1 playground weather permitting). We are hoping to have a card machine available for this after school session.

 Thank you for your support!

Anime? What’s that?

What parents and carers need to know – find out here!

Such joy in looking after Pip and Sparkles!

Make a booking here!

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Image (1)
Image

Basingstoke Day – can you help?

Like our French Culture Day, we’re having a celebration of the diversity of ethnic cultures within Basingstoke. This will help the children understand that they are part of a wider and fascinating world, and celebrate the amazing cultures we have in our town. We’re calling it “Basingstoke Day”, and it will take place on Friday 14th July. We would love to hear from any parents and families from a variety of cultures, and would be prepared to get involved. We know from the success of our recent French Day that language, art, music and food might all play a part in this – but there is so much more that we might explore, and we would love to invite local people into the school to share their culture and country. There is a huge diversity of cultures now in Basingstoke, which has enriched our community so much in recent years. If you think you might be able to help, please let us know via adminoffice@stmarksce.org.uk
 

FOSM Updates

Please check your child’s bookbag for our Summer Fayre raffle tickets.

Regular FOSM Information

Kids Pretty Mudder

Well done to Daniel in Year 2, who completed a mudder for Cancer Research – raising over £175! An Agent of Change badge is coming your way :)

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Everyone

July:

  • 5th – Transition Morning – children find out their new classes and an hour with them.
  • 15th – Basingstoke Culture Day

Year Group Events

Year R:

  • 30th June – Bucklebury Farm trip

Year 2:

  • 23rd June – Hillier Gardens trip

Year 4:

  • Wed 14th – Fri 16th June – New Barn residential trip

Year 6:

  • Thurs 15th June – Winchester Cathedral Service (school jumpers needed)
  • Thurs 29th/Fri 30th June – Secondary school transition for most children (full uniform)
  • Wed 12th July – Year 6 Production @ 6.30pm
  • Thurs 13th July – Year 6 Production @ 2pm and 6.30pm
  • Fri 14th July – Year 6 Leavers’ Disco
  • Thurs 20th July – Leavers’ Service
  • Fri 21st July – last day
  • Foodbank Support

    If your child(ren) usually has free school meals and you would like some support with covering the extra food costs, please contact Vicky Elms (v.elms@st-markscofe.hants.sch.uk) so that we can arrange a food bank voucher on your behalf. 

Music of the Week!

Contradanze by Vanessa-Mae

Vannesa-Mae is a Singaporean-born British violinist. Her music style is self-described as “violin techno-acoustic fusion”, as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style with the classical style.

Star learners

Star Learner Awards:

Year R
Puffins – Oscar, Parrots – Sergio, Penguins – Kiret

Year 1
1P – Lena, 1M – Charlie, 1CL – Riley

Year 2
2B – Lewis, 2G – , 2BB – James

Year 3
3C – Amber, 3T – Amaya, 3SB – Armaan

Year 4
4W – Charlotte and Abi, 4S – Max, 4PR – Hannah and Isobel

Year 5
5SP – Florence, 5DS – Marianna, 5F – Sebastian

Year 6

6P – Betsy, 6B – Zach , 6C – Zion and Freya

Quietest Class!

KS1: Puffins

KS2: 6B

Star Reader Awards:

Year R
Puffins – Liam, Parrots – Luca, Penguins – Rebecca

Year 1
1P – Rachel, 1M – Emily, 1CL – Lettie

Year 2
2B – Gracie, 2G – , 2BB – Charlie

Year 3
3C – Aria, 3T – Mimi, 3SB – Ruby

Year 4
4W – Eli, 4S – Grace, 4PR – Amber and Reece

Year 5
5SP – Charlie, 5DS – Laila, 5F – Sofia

Year 6 
6P – Georgia, 6C – Eddie, 6S – Darcy

Rock Stars

Amazing effort:

Year 3
3C – Jackson, 3T – Benjamin, 3SB – Ben

Year 4
4W – Emily, 4S – Jack , 4PR – Amber

Year 5
5SP – Rhoda, 5DS – Elizabeth, 5F – Cullen

Year 6
6P – Irebami, 6B – Riker, 6C – Aidan

 

Most active class in each year group:

Year 3: 3C

Year 4: 4W

Year 5: 5DS

Year 6: 6B

NumBots best effort:

Year 1: Harry (1CL), Dominic (1M), Emily (1M)

Year 2: Thomas (2B), Zoe (2G), Alfie (2G)

Secondary School Open Days

Perins School
Open day Flyer Summer term

Community News

Local Events

Regular Notices

Latest Posts

Photo credits:

Photo by Denisse Leon on Unsplash 

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