28th May Newsletter – Happy Half-Term!

Half-Term is here!

Yet another busy half-term has gone by, A huge thank you to you as parents and carers for your support towards our school and your child’s learning. Given their experience of the past year due to lockdowns and the uncertainty of it all, we think they have coped remarkably well. It’s not been easy, but they have shown our learning behaviours throughout.

Thank you to our FOSM team who continue to take charge in raising much needed funds for our school. Can I plant a seed – they are in much need to support to join the committee and for parents and carers to take an active part in planning and organsing events, not just helping. Many of the committee will be finishing soon because their children will be leaving in July (you have to have children in the school to be on the committee). This basically means if we don’t have more committee members, FOSM won’t be able to run. It really is that stark. Please do consider if you can plug this gap. Email us or conact us if you’d like to find out more.

Following on from the poem I shared last week, I include below a brilliant diagram and video below. It shows that when we approach our children with a relationsihp-based focus and not a behaviour-based focus, we begin to build secure attachments with our children. We teach and parent best when we are attuned to their needs – we listen, we notice, we respond with love, kindness and wisdom, not threat, consequence or harsh words. The diagram actually applies irrespective of the chid’s age! I hope it provides a helpful reflection for you as it has done for me.  As the short video below states,“The need for attention is actually a need for connection.” 

What will September look like? Will we still have class bubbles? Will school return to pre-covid normality? These are questions we just don’t know the answer to. Government guidance has not changed, and the variants around make things uncertain for us all. Please rest assured of our continued intention to look after your children in the best way possible, whatever the restrictions in place. 

Finally, we said an emotional farewell to Mrs Gatfield this week. Having worked with us for almost 13 years, it was clear to see the impact she has had on staff and children over that time. Listening to Year 6 children share about their memories of her from when they were in Year 1 was just lovely. An LSA’s impact on a child can never be underestimated. Mrs Gatfield, we wish you all the best – you will be much missed at St Mark’s!

Have a wonderful break – and enjoy the promised good weather! Mr Applegate

SCL INSET DAY Club

SCL will be running an INSET day club on Monday 7th June. Click here for details.

FOSM News