St Mark's CofE Primary School

December 6, 2024

6 December 2024 – Newsletter – Getting ready for Christmas…

A note from Mr Applegate

Thank you so much FOSM team, staff and helpers for putting on the Christmas Fayre last week. It was a great event! Thank you to the elves for looking after Santa, too. On behalf of the school community, thank you FOSM 🙂
Can you help with the Farm over Christmas? Just needs 1 person/family per day, Thanks.
INSET days for 2025/2026 are below.
I look forward to seeing you at our various Christmas performances starting next week.

Mr Applegate 🙂

Reminders…

Years 3, 4, 5, 6: Complete this form to confirm your child’s attendance (or not) at the evening Christmas Performances. Deadline 6th Dec.
Reminder of Christmas dates and activities here
Year R Christmas performances have been rearranged to the following week as per the email.

Got any mobile phones lying around?

We’re after quality second-hand mobile phones to use as cameras in the school. We’re after 1 per class. We’ll fully reset the phone, too. We reckon there’s a few lying around St Mark’s family homes perhaps….?!

This Week's Homework & Learning

Listed here for all children.

Click here

Remaining INSET Days for 2024 2025

Monday 6th January 2025
Friday 4th April 2025
Monday 2nd June 2025

INSET Days for 2025 2026

Weds 3rd September 2025
Friday 24th October 2025
Monday 5th January 2026
Friday 27th March 2026
Monday 1st June 2026

⚠️Lost books! Please help!📚

Please can everyone have a check at home for any SLS (School Library Service) library books.

These books should have a label on the spine like this:

We still have over 100 books missing and must return these ASAP to avoid being charged £700! We would really appreciate it if you could have a good look and return these as soon as possible as this money could be much better used on things that our children need.
*UPDATED* 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?

Look after our farm animals

Thank you!

Click here

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quietest Classes ⭐

4PR & 1M

⭐ 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 95%.

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

FOSM Events
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

Somewhere in my Memory by John Williams

John Williams is one of the most famous composers alive today. He wrote the scores for Star Wars and Harry Potter. This piece of music is from the popular Christmas film: Home Alone.

Being a parent is tough!

Your child’s mental health…

Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager
Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
Understanding the impact of the pandemic on your child
Moving up to secondary school for children with additional needs
Understanding your own trauma

Click here for free online training

6 December 2024 – Newsletter – Getting ready for Christmas…

A note from Mr Applegate

Reminders…

Got any mobile phones lying around?

This Week's Homework & Learning

Remaining INSET Days for 2024 2025

INSET Days for 2025 2026

Look after our farm animals

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quietest Classes ⭐

⭐ Attendance Updates ⭐

Weekly Attendance by Class

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

In worship this week…

Music of the Week

Being a parent is tough!

Your child’s mental health…

Online Parenting Courses

Parental control guides

Community News

Opportunities to work in education

Regular Notices

Does your child need after school care?

How to talk to your child about online safety

Going to be absent?

Quick Links