St Mark's CofE Primary School

March 21, 2025

21st March 2025 Newsletter – Comic Relief, World Down Syndrome Day & Cake Sale

A note from Mr Applegate

Thank you for your generosity towards Comic Relief and Stepping Stones Charity today.
Well done to our Year 4 pupils who spent 3 days at Ufton Court this week on their residential. Huge thanks to all the staff invovled, too.
All children can enjoy the Year 6 cake sale next Friday. Details below!

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate 🙂

This Week's Homework & Learning

Listed here for all Yr1-6 children.

Click here

World Down Syndrome Day

People all over the globe celebrated World Down Syndrome Day today! We were so proud to see the children wearing their special socks to celebrate this special awareness day.

Here is a video that we shared with the children in worship today.

Year 6 Cake Sale

Parents’ Evening

Parents’ Evenings for children in Years 1 to 5 will be held on Weds 23rd and Weds 30th April. Please book your appointment here.

FOSM Easter Egg Hunt

Ticket sales for this event are now closed.

Please remember to send in your completed Easter Egg competition entries by the end of the school day on Monday 24th March. Templates for this can be found on the FOSM Facebook page.

**NEW - 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.
**NEW - BAYC- Sing Alongside Event for ages 9-18

Do you love to sing?

Come along to the free Sing Alongside event at BAYC- Basingstoke Area Youth Choir on Thursday 27th March at 5:15-7pm at Queen Mary’s College!

Take part in the choir’s rehearsal, learn some new songs, sing alongside other young musicians, and perform at the end of the session!

Date- Thursday 27^th March 2025

Time- 5:15-7:00pm (Informal performance to parents/guardians at 6:45pm)

Location-Performance space in Charles Butler Building at Queen Mary’s College, RG21 3HF

For ages 9-18

BAYC is a Rock and Pop Choir for children aged 9-18 and they take part in regular performances across the year, including the Anvil in Basingstoke.

Book your place today:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYX38BbwAvSB2OXQ5QzwFV_5MVYrB8jCSDkad4sxwhSAxH-g/viewform?usp=header
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.
School Council - Charity Easter Egg Collection
Help us to improve drainage, lighting and more!
Have your contact details changed?
School Office area rules

🐔 Book a Farm visit here 🐰
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.
What is your child learning this half-term?
_Year R Newsletter Spring 2 2025.pdf

Year 1 On The Move – Curriculum Information.pdf

Year 2 Amazing Me in the UK – Curriculum Information.pdf

Year 3 What’s Inside – Curriculum Information.pdf

Year 4 Vikings – Curriculum Information.pdf

Year 5 Exploring Europe – Curriculum Information.pdf

Year 6 Temples of Doom – Curriculum Information.pdf
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

FOSM Events
Meals
Spring 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 – Indoor PE

Thursday – Indoor PE

Year 1

Monday – Outdoor PE

Tuesday 25^th February ONLY – PE

Year 2

Wednesday – Indoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 3

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Indoor PE

Year 4

Monday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Indoor PE

Year 5

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Friday 28^th February ONLY – PE

Year 6

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE
Spring 2 Forest School Days
Forest School from 3rd March for 5 weeks

Year 1

1BM – Tuesday pm

1M – Wednesday pm

1TM– Thursday pm

Year 5

5E – Wednesday am

5P – Thursday am

5DS–

Friday 7th March am

Friday 14th March am

Tuesday 18th March am

Friday 28th March am

Tuesday 1st April am
After School Clubs
Clubs List Spring Term 2025

When do clubs restart after half term?

Clubs will restart straight away after half term.
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

Spring: Vivaldi

Vivaldi was an Italian baroque composer. The Four Seasons Suite is one of his most recognisable pieces of work that give character to the 4 seasons of the year.

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).