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13th February 2026 Newsletter – Celebrations, World Book Day and more

A few notes from Mr Applegate

It’s been a celebration week at St Mark’s!

Year R enjoyed Chinese New Year fun today
Year 1 had a fantastic morning sharing their Toy Museum exhibits
We’ve learned a lot through Children’s Mental Health Week and Safer Internet Day
Over 80 children performed at a guitar concert on Tuesday
Our DanceLive team have got through to the finals in April
Year 6 sold cakes as part of their Agent of Change project
…and it’s half-term!!

Have a great week, Charles

This week’s homework and learning

Agents of Change Home Challenges

Parent WhatsApp Groups

We kindly remind parents that any WhatsApp groups setup by parents in year groups or classes are not to be used for contacting other parents regarding any possible incidents that may have happened. Please use normal school communication routes, not directly with parents. WhatsApp groups are great for asking about homework and PE kit, but that’s about it! Thanks.

World Book Day – Friday 6th March @ St Mark’s

We are asking children to come either as their favourite book character or as an exciting word or adjective! Click here for more details and free ideas here.

Papaya Webinar for all parents

A really helpful webinar to help parents understand the impact of tech and smartphones on children’s mental health, and how to support them.

Thursday 26th Feb 6pm – 6:45pm – Link here

Safer Internet Day: Top Tips for Parents

This week, we celebrated Safer Internet Day. This year’s learning has been based around the theme ‘Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’. Here is a link to some useful tips and advice for parents.

⭐ 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 Winners

4M, 1C, 5M and 3SP

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

Well done Owen for achieving “Chief Scout’s Acorn Award” – the 1st member of Hatchwarren Squirrels to do so!

We are really proud of Benji’s poem on friendship. Not only has he used inspiration from a text in his Phonics group but he has used new computer skills learnt this half term as well! Amazing!

Year R Celebrated Chinese New Year today and came to school wearing red. They learnt the story of the Chinese Zodiac animals. They made lucky red money envelopes and red lanterns. They sang and performed a song about Chinese New Year and performed a Chinese dragon dance! What a fantastic day!

Thanking a local hero: an interview with Lollipop Lady Lyn by Samuel from 6C

Samuel chose to interview our Lollypop Lady, Lyn, as part of his Agents of Change challenge to find and thank a local hero.

Click here to read the interview. Excellent work Samuel!

Basingstoke Primary Schools Cross-Country Event

On Tuesday Harvey, Andrew and Edward represented St Mark’s at the Basingstoke Primary Schools Cross-Country Event. As expected they did incredibly well – a huge thank you to their parents for attending with them.

In the Year 3/4 boys race, Edward and Andrew were 3rd and 9th respectively – given there were a total of 113 runners, top 10 for both is amazing!

In the Year 5/6 race Harvey finished in 2nd place in a field of 125 runners! Harvey’s result means he has been selected to compete for the Basingstoke district at the County event on 3rd March. Wow! Well done boys! We are so proud of your achievements. ⭐🏅⭐🏅⭐🏅

🚗🚗🚗 Car Parking in Hatch Warren 🚗🚗🚗

No photos to share this week!

Very pleased to say that this week we have had zero complaints from local residents! Thank you so much for considering your impact on our neighbours when you park.

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

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

Helpful Information

Parents' Evenings

Our second and final parents’ evenings of the year will be held in March and April depending on your child’s year group. Please see the dates below. We will send you an email, with details of how you can book an appointment online, in the week before booking opens.

Year Group
Appointments
Booking Opens

Year R and Year 6
Tues 3rd March

Weds 4th March
26th January

Years 1 to 5
Weds 15th April

Weds 22nd April
9th March
INSET Days
**NEW** 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

Friday – Indoor PE

Year 2

Monday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Indoor PE

Year 3

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Thursday – Indoor PE

Year 4

Wednesday – Indoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

Monday – Outdoor PE

Year 6

Wednesday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE
**NEW** Spring 2 Forest School Days - for 5 weeks from 23rd February
Year 1

1B Tuesdays Feb: 24^th, Mar: 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th

1C Wednesdays Feb: 25^th, Mar: 4^th, 11^th, 18^th, 25^th

1BM Thursdays Feb: 26^th, Mar: 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th

Year 5

5F Tuesdays Feb: 24^th, Mar: 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th

5M Wednesdays Feb: 25^th, Mar: 4^th, 11^th, 18^th, 25^th

5E Thursdays Feb: 26^th, Mar: 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th

Bridge

Fridays Feb: 27^th, Mar:6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th
**NEW** After School Clubs -from week beginning 23rd February

Spring Clubs

Starting week beginning: 23rd February

Finishing week beginning: 23rd March

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

School Access: via KS1 gate except for Chill Out Club

Mondays

KS2 Choir – 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

Wednesdays

Chill Out Club– Collect 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
Spring 1 Learning (Spring 2 Learning coming soon...)
Year 1 Spring 1 A Toy's Story Curriculum Leaflet.pdf

Year 2 Healthy Me Happy Me! Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf

Year 3 - From Bean to Bar - Topic Web.pdf

Year 4 - Exploring the UK - Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf

Year 5 Spring 1 Terrible Tudors - Curriculum Leaflet.pdf

Year 6 - Frozen Kingdoms - Spring 1 Curriculum Information 2026.pdf

Year R newsletter Spring 1 2026.pdf
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…

: Children's Mental Health Week

: Safer Internet Day 2026

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

NHS Courses and Videos for Parents

Click here for details:

A free event FOR PARENTS AND CARERS to help families better understand the needs and difficulties that young people can face and how to manage potential issues/concerns they have about their young person.

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).

13th February 2026 Newsletter – Celebrations, World Book Day and more

A few notes from Mr Applegate

This week’s homework and learning

Agents of Change Home Challenges

Parent WhatsApp Groups

World Book Day – Friday 6th March @ St Mark’s

Papaya Webinar for all parents

Safer Internet Day: Top Tips for Parents

⭐ Weekly Achievements ⭐

⭐ Attendance Updates ⭐

Weekly Attendance Winners

4M, 1C, 5M and 3SP

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Thanking a local hero: an interview with Lollipop Lady Lyn by Samuel from 6C

Basingstoke Primary Schools Cross-Country Event

🚗🚗🚗 Car Parking in Hatch Warren 🚗🚗🚗

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Helpful Information

Spring Clubs

Find out all about FOSM here.

In worship this week…

Music of the Week

NHS Courses and Videos for Parents

Community News

Regular Notices

Does your child need after school care?

How to talk to your child about online safety

Going to be absent?

Quick Links

Year Group	Appointments	Booking Opens
Year R and Year 6	Tues 3rd March Weds 4th March	26th January

Years 1 to 5	Weds 15th April Weds 22nd April	9th March