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27th June 2025 Newsletter – Hot Weather, FOSM Summer Fun Day, OPAL and more

A few things to do, and some reminders

Please support our FOSM Summer Fair on 5th July by volunteering for a slot here. FOSM are really struggling to find ways to run the stalls and activities without your help.
Order your class photos by 6th July. Details below.

Hot Weather Uniform Adjustments

The weather is hot next week, so we have some optional uniform adjustments.
Light, cool clothing that is still uniform. This could be PE kit even when it’s not your child’s PE day.
If your child does Forest School, please wear the normal Forest School requirements.
We’ll adjust break and playtimes as required to reduce time in the direct sun.
Please apply any sun lotion before school; we’re unable to do this at school.

A note from Mr Applegate

We can’t wait for OPAL to start on Monday – a new way to do playtimes. Children spend 20% of their week playing, and it’s vital for all sort of development and fun. We’re upgrading break and lunchtimes with a programme called OPAL – think of all the fun children have in Year R through their play and learning, and expand that to the whole school. That’s OPAL!
Good news – the diocese are funding drainage improvements to our school paths (with the 10% parent contributions also being used – thank you!). Work takes place over the summer.
Can I remind parents that any class Whatsapp groups are not to be used for discussing a child or children. Please do so directly with the school if needed. WhatsApp groups are for admin things – PE days, uniform, last minutes forgets etc. Thanks!
Finally, we’re going to enjoy the Women’s Euro Football competition as a school. Each year will have a country to support. Good luck everyone :)

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate :)

Are you having a clear out?

Thank you for any items that you have already donated. We are continuing to look for some urgent donations to top up some of our playtime supplies to help make playtimes more exciting. We would like:

buckets and spades & trowels
toy cars
dinosaurs
Lego/Duplo/Megabloks etc

Please drop it in one of the buckets on the playground side of the office or hand them to a member of staff at drop off or pick up. Thank you. 🙂

OPAL – Outdoor Play and Learning

OPAL 450 x 300 Playtimes and lunchtimes at our school are getting a big boost! We start on Monday with a pilot launch, and in the coming months, we’ll be introducing more play equipment and creating a wider variety of play areas to make outdoor time more fun and engaging for all children. As part of this, we’re rolling out the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, which helps schools improve play by encouraging creativity, cooperation, and active fun.

This change is guided by feedback from our recent parent, pupil, and staff surveys, where many shared great ideas and a strong desire for more exciting play opportunities. At the heart of our approach are the principles of inclusive, imaginative, and child-led play—because we believe every child deserves joyful, meaningful play every day.

This Week's Homework & Learning

Listed here for all Yr1-6 children. *UPDATED*

Click here

🐔 Book a Farm visit here 🐰

Book a fun free day out for your family!

Click here

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Well done to Mrs Parsons and Mia who walked for 4 hours, raising £220 for WWF charity!

Izzy and Amaya together at their cheer competition in Bournemouth. Well done girls!

Jess has received an Achievement Award for her successes in the Hampshire Girls Youth Football League! Amazing Jess, well done!

Well done Armaan!

Mental Health Focus Week - CAMHS Training for parents

Summer Reading Challenge

Class Photos – Order by 6th July

Please note the closing date for class photo orders is Sunday 6th July. Please order here before this date to secure your free delivery to school. Any orders made after this date will incur a delivery charge and photos will be sent to home addresses.

Parent Pastoral Drop-In

The next pastoral parent drop in will be held on Monday 7^th July in the church between 8.30am and 9.30am. The focus of the session will be how to support children through the transition to their next class or school. Younger children are welcome to attend, and teas and coffees will be provided.

Holiday Camps and Schemes incl SCL

Please see information about Holiday Schemes below:

Summer 2025 – SCL Summer Holiday Club

Summer 2025 – SCL Summer Holiday Club DISCOUNT

Summer 2025 Basingstoke Holiday Schemes

Chalk Ridge Primary School x ActiveMe 360 – Summer 2025 Holiday Scheme

Manor Field Junior School x ActiveMe 360 – Summer 2025 Holiday Scheme
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 ⭐

⭐ 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

Helpful Information

FOSM Events
Meals
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
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.

Applicants will hear from us when we receive the provision details from Hampshire Music Service.
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

Flight of the Bumblebee by 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.

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).