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22nd May 2026 Newsletter – Class Photographs, Summer 2 Forest School & PE days and more

A few notes from Mr Applegate

What a wonderful Sports Day today! Well done to KS1 Light Green and KS2 Orange teams. Thank you for making it such a positive and fun day.
Huge thanks to FOSM, Roasting Party and all who bought coffees and drinks – we raised over £2000 – incredible!!
Please see the yellow section below for Summer 2 PE days and for a reminder of Summer 2 Forest School days.

Don’t forget – INSET day on Monday 1st June. We return Tuesday 2nd June.

Have a great week, Charles

Thanks to Dave Payne for this amazing drone shot taken at Sports Day today!

Class Photographs – Wednesday 3rd June

Children will have their photos taken with their classes during the morning of Wednesday 3rd June.
All children must wear formal school uniform on the day, with their green school jumper or cardigan.
Year 6 children will also have a year group photograph taken and should not wear their Year 6 leaver’s hoodie that day.
Classes with PE will not have PE on this day.
Classes with Forest School will still be having Forest School. Please send children into school wearing their formal uniform, with clothes for Forest School in a bag to change into.

Robins appear…

We are delighted to share this most beautiful and poignant piece of artwork created by Sian Storey, as the perfect addition to our Graham Robins Reflection Garden. Thank you so much Sian!

This week’s homework and learning

Agents of Change Home Challenges

⭐ 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 95.9% 😮

⭐ This Week’s Attendance⭐

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 Shout Outs ⭐

Well done to Samuel who won his first gold medal in a swimming competition last weekend. Congratulations 🥇

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

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

Helpful Information

Year Group Information Videos
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** 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 – Outdoor PE

Thursday – Indoor PE

Year 2

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 3

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 4

Wednesday – Outdoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

5E – Monday – Indoor PE

5F & 5M – Friday – Indoor PE

Year 6

Wednesday – Outdoor PE
**NEW** Summer 2 Forest School Days
Year 2

2P – Tuesdays: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th June

2M – Wednesdays: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 1st July

2CL – Thursdays: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, 2nd July

Year 5

5F – Tuesdays: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th June

5M – Wednesdays: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 1st July

5E – Thursdays: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, 2nd July

Bridge

Fridays
**Updated** Summer After School Clubs - continue straight after half term

Summer Clubs

Clubs information has been emailed to parents whose children have been allocated a space.

Continuing straight after half term

Finishing week beginning: 29th June

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

School Access: COLLECTION IS VIA KS1 GATE

(except for Forest School)

Mondays

KS2 Choir – Collect from: Small Hall

KS2 Drawing Club – Collect from: 5E

Y2 Tennis Club – Collect from 2M

Tuesdays

Y1&2 Construction Club – Collect from: 1BM

Y3 Mission Movement – Collect from: 3SP

Y1 Forest School Club – Collect from Dandelions Gate at 5pm

Y3&4 Recorder Club – Collect from: 3D

Y4-6 Cricket Club – Collect from 3SP

Wednesdays

Y5&6 Dance Club – Collect from: Small Hall

Y5&6 Lego Coding Club – Collect from: 5F

Thursdays

Y1 Creativity Club – Collect from: 1C

Y3&4 Netball Club – Collect from: 2CL

Y5&6 Netball Club – Collect from: 5M

KS2 Orchestra – Collect from: Small Hall (later collection of 4:15 until after BPSM)

Y4 Cookery Club – Collect from: 3D

Y1&2 Computer Club – Collect from 1BM

Fridays

KS1 Choir – Collect from: Small Hall

Football Club- Collect from: 2P
Coming soon...Summer 2 Learning
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 for our current Year 2 – Year 5 pupils.
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?
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

Witherslack Group Parent Support Webinars

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).

22nd May 2026 Newsletter – Class Photographs, Summer 2 Forest School & PE days and more

A few notes from Mr Applegate

Class Photographs – Wednesday 3rd June

Robins appear…

This week’s homework and learning

Agents of Change Home Challenges

⭐ Attendance Updates ⭐

⭐ This Week’s Attendance⭐

⭐ St Mark’s Shout Outs ⭐

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Helpful Information

Summer Clubs

Find out all about FOSM here.

In worship this week…

Music of the Week

NHS Courses and Videos for Parents

Witherslack Group Parent Support Webinars

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