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26th September 2025 Newsletter – Elections, Parents Evening, Census Day, Disco and more

A note from Mr Applegate

The children were INCREDIBLE today as they took part in our elections. We had ballot papers and boxes, and polling booths! Well done to everyone who put themselves forward, and for the children who were elected.

Year R, 1 &2 pupils – don’t forget to have a school dinner on Thursday please.

It’s a full newsletter this week – thank you for taking time to read it.

Have a great weekend, Charles.

This week’s homework and learning

Agents of Change Home Challenges

Census Day – Thursday 2nd October

Our KS1 dinner numbers on Census Day dictate part of the funding the school is given next year. If you have a child in Years R to 2 we would be very grateful if you would encourage them to have a school dinner please. It can make a difference of ££££ to our school.

The Favourites Day menu will be:

Hot Dog with ketchup or Vegan Hot Dog with ketchup

Served with Baked Wedges, sweetcorn and baked beans

Dessert: Waffle with mixed berry sauce

Parents Evenings

Booking for our Autumn Term parents evenings will open on Monday morning at 8am.

You are invited to book a 10 minute appointment to meet with your child’s class teacher(s) in person. Appointments will run from 3:40pm to 6:50pm on both evenings. You will receive an email with details about how to book online. Bookings will close on Monday 14th Oct at 12pm.

Weds 15th October (1/2) 3:40pm-6:50pm
Weds 22nd October (2/2) 3:40pm-6:50pm

Click here to book.

School Disco

It’s our first FOSM School Disco of the year on Friday 17th October.

The KS1 disco will be 5-5.45pm and the KS2 disco will be 6-7pm. Look out for more information about how to order your tickets in advance which will be sent to you soon.

School Tours for Year R Sept 2026

If you know someone who has a child starting school in Year R in Sept 2026, please share with them this link: www.stmarksprimary.net/join

School Orchestra

Orchestra will resume on Thursday 23^rd October:

Mr Applegate’s half-marathon for FOSM

Mr Applegate and his daughter Hannah are running their first half-marathon in Basingstoke, all in aid of their chosen charities – FOSM and CancerResearch. If you’d like to donate, you can do so here. Thank you!

KS2 Violin lessons – one place still available!

Due to a family’s relocation, we have unexpectedly had a violin space become available. If you would like to take this space, please can we ask you to complete this form asap. Details of the cost are included on the form.

OPAL – Do you have any….

We are still looking for any small children’s push chairs/prams (the ones that children would push around, not big ones!) please bring them in to the office.

Do you have contact with anyone who works in a supermarket? We could love some bread crates (slightly thinner than the ones used for home deliveries).

Do you have any contacts with builders or electicians? We are looking to improve our construction area, so we need cable reels, crates, tubes, guttering etc

Any OPAL questions? opal@stmarksce.org.uk

St Mark’s Photo Reel

💗Love💗

by Mia (4C)

Love can be big or small

Sometimes you don’t feel it at all

If you don’t you might need a friend

They may be round the bend

Can you feel the love?

Do you have a love?

Love is the best!

And here is a joke from Mia too…

Q: What did the policeman say to his tummy?

A: Freeze! You’re under a vest!

Elsie performed for the very first time with The Popstar Academy. She went on stage and performed 7 dances! We are so proud of you Elsie! What a superstar! ⭐⭐⭐

Bring in a food item for our Harvest Worship – Monday 20th October

⭐ 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 98% 🤩

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

Year Group Information Videos
After School Clubs - from 15th September
Meals
Autumn 1 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

Monday – Indoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 2

2CL and 2P Monday – Outdoor until Forest School from 22nd Sept

Wednesday – Indoor

2M Friday – Outdoor until Forest School from 22nd Sept

Year 3

Tuesday– Outdoor PE

Friday – Indoor PE

Year 4

Wednesday – Indoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

Monday – Outdoor PE

Wednesday – Outdoor PE

Year 6

Monday – Outdoor PE

Tuesday – Outdoor PE
Autumn 1 Forest School Days - from 22nd September
Year 2

2CL and 2P Monday

2M Friday

Year 6

6C Tuesday

6P Wednesday

6DS Thursday
FOSM Events
Full School Calendar
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.
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

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?
Have your contact details changed?
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.
September price increases

Breakfast Club:

Early session (7.30am): £5.50
Middle session (8.00am) : £3.00
Late Session (8.20am) £1.50

St Mark’s After School Clubs: Prices of clubs can vary due to the number of resources used. Most are £2.50pw but please check individual clubs when applying.

School Dinners: £3.20

Circle of Security

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).