11 minutes ago

23rd May 2025 Newsletter – A few updates and reminders!

A few things to do, and some reminders

We’re a bit short on farm sessions over the weekend and half-term. Click here to book- free and fun!
Years R-5: Class Lists for September 2025: Please complete this form by Monday 2nd June at the latest. Remember about the 3 different names!
Walk to School Week 2025: this year, we will be promoting walking to school in the first week back after half term.
New Summer 2 PE and Forest School days – see below.
There will be a new school lunch menu from June. We’ll be updating the website over half-term.
Class Photos will be taken on Wednesday 4th June.
PE Kit should be PE kit, not casual wear. See our uniform policy.
Our apologies that at present, we can’t cater for gluten free diets at Breakfast Club.

A note from Mr Applegate

What an incredible Sports Day today! Well done to KS1 Orange and KS2 Yellow teams. Thank you for making it such a positive and fun day.
Don’t forget – INSET day on Monday 2nd June. We return Tuesday 3rd June.

Have a great week, Mr Applegate :)

What's your child learning this half-term?

Click here

🐔 Book a Farm visit here 🐰

Book a fun free day out for your family!

Click here

St Mark’s Photo Reel

These children all won an award in the Year 4 Swimming Lessons for going above and beyond. Well done Superstars!

Last weekend the Scouts held their Annual Beastly Festival in Dummer. 1600+ members of the Scouts and Guides organisation attended from the region including many from St Mark’s. The newly formed 3rd Hatch Warren Beavers had the honour of leading the procession of Standards carried by Benji (1BM).

A fantastic action packed day was had by all; fire starting, axe throwing, archery, 2m lego walk, sports, arts and crafts as well as team building challenges.

A special shout out to all the parents and staff from St Mark’s that were part of the army of volunteers that helped make the event possible!!

FOSM Events Update

Click here to book online

Child Care Vouchers

For those of you who have access to childcare vouchers/tax free accounts, please note that these funds can only be used for childcare before or after normal school hours, e.g breakfast club and after school clubs, but not for day trips/residential trips. This is the government directive. Both SCL and HWASC accept the vouchers.
Can you help Year R?

The Year R Team are developing their outdoor provision. We are looking for some items which you may have at home and be able to donate to us. The following items are what we are hoping for:

If you can help, please contact the year R team at yearr@stmarksce.org.uk

Thank you so much.
Help us to improve drainage, lighting and more!
Have your contact details changed?
School Office area rules

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 in our School Office.

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.
Illness - should I keep my child off school?

⭐ Weekly Achievements ⭐

These will be carried over to the first week back.

⭐ 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 96%.

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
**NEW Summer 2 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 – Outdoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 1

Monday – Indoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 2

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Year 3

Tuesday– Outdoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 4

Monday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 6

Wednesday – Outdoor PE
**NEW Summer 2 Forest School Days
Forest School from 3^rd June for 7 weeks

Year R Tuesday am:

3^rd June– Parrots

10^th June – Penguins

17^th June – Puffins

24^th June – Parrots

1^st July – Penguins

8^th July – Puffins

15^th July – Parrots

Year 2

2B– Wednesday am

2CL – Thursday am

2G – Friday am

Year 5

5E -Tuesday pm

5P – Wednesday pm

5DS – Thursday pm

Bridge

Friday pm
After School Clubs
Music Tuition Info
Children in (or due to be in) KS2 are invited to apply to learn to play an instrument.

Applications open each April.

This year’s applications for instrumental tuition have now closed.
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

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.

Being a parent is tough!

Parent Counselling Sessions

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

Online Parenting Courses

Parental control guides

Community News

Regular Notices

Going to be absent?

We’ve moved our absence request form online. This is for absence requests such as holidays, weddings, funeral, special events, and more. You don’t need to use this form for sickness or self-isolation (but please email/phone the office if they are unwell).