St Mark's CofE Primary School

December 19, 2025

19th December 2025 Newsletter – Merry Christmas!

A few notes from Mr Applegate

It’s been an amazing few weeks of celebrating the run up to Christmas together – well done children for all you’ve done, and thank you parents for your support.
Your generosity at the Christmas events raised a massive £761.21 for The Mud House Children’s Foundation in Tanzania!
For Spring PE and Forest School Days, see below (yellow section in every newsletter). Don’t forget the new lunch menu here.
Clubs will start from the week beginning 12^th January except for KS2 choir which will start on Monday 19^th January. See below for times and pick up locations (yellow section in every newsletter).
We trust you and your family have a restful and enjoyable Christmas break. See you on Tuesday 6th Jan 2026!

Agents of Change Home Challenges

Our Careers Fair Is Coming! Feb 2026

Can you help? Sign up here.

OPAL – Helmets

Do you have any spare bike helmets around? If so, please send them in! Thank you

INSET Days for 2025 2026

Monday 5th January 2026
Friday 27th March 2026
Monday 1st June 2026

INSET Days for 2026 2027

Tuesday 1st September 2026
Friday 23rd October 2026
Monday 4th January 2027
Thursday 25th March 2027
Monday 7th June 2027

⭐ 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 97% 🙂

Weekly Attendance Winners

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

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Emily won the Gild Medal at her TeamGym competition yesterday! Congratulations Emily!

Well done to our Forest School team and children, who raised over £350 for Naomi’s house!

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

View the full calendar here. Subscribe on either Chrome/ Android or Apple

Helpful Information

**NEW** Spring 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

Tuesday – Indoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 2

Monday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Indoor PE

Year 3

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 4

Wednesday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

Monday – Indoor PE

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Year 6

Wednesday – Indoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE
**NEW** Spring 1 Forest School Days - for 5 weeks from 12th January
Year 3

3D Tuesdays Jan: 13th, 20th, 27th, Feb: 3rd, 10th

3SP Wednesday Jan: 14th, 21st, 28th, Feb: 4th, 11th

3BR Thursdays Jan: 15th, 22nd, 29th, Feb: 5th, 12th

Year 4

4M Mondays am Jan: 12th, 19th, 26th, Feb: 2nd, 9th

4SB Mondays pm Jan: 12th, 19th, 26th, Feb: 2nd, 9th

4C Fridays Jan: 16th, 23rd, 30th, Feb: 6th, 13th

Bridge

Fridays Jan: 16th, 23rd, 30th, Feb: 6th, 13th
**NEW** After School Clubs - Spring -from 12th January

Spring Clubs

Starting week beginning: 12th January except for KS2 Choir which begins on 19th Jan

Finishing week beginning: 23rd March

Finish Times: 4:10pm unless otherwise stated below.

School Access: via KS1 gate except for Dance Live and Chill Out

Mondays

KS2 Choir – starts 19^th Jan – Collect from: Small Hall

KS2 Drawing Club – Collect from: 5E

Y1&2 Construction Club – Collect from: 1BM

Tuesdays

Y1&2 Board Games & Colouring Club – Collect from: 2M

Y3&4 Recorder Club – Collect from: 3D

Mindfulness Club– Collect from: 2P

Dance Live – Collect at 4:45pm from: Main Hall via external doors/gates

Wednesdays

Chill Out Club– Collect at 4:00pm from: Church via Foyer

Y1&2 Boom Whackers Club – Collect from: 2P

Thursdays

Y1 Creativity Club – Collect from: 1C

Y3&4 Netball Club – Collect from: Year 6

Y5&6 Netball Club – Collect from: Year 6

Y4&5 Lego Coding Club – Collect from: 5F

KS2 Orchestra – Collect from: Small Hall

Fridays

KS1 Choir – Collect from: Small Hall

Football Club- Collect from: 2P
**COMING SOON** Spring 1 Learning...
Year Group Information Videos
FOSM
Full School Calendar
Meals
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).