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14th October Newsletter – Harvest Monday, Arbor App, Parents’ Evenings, Playground Equipment, FOSM update and more
This week’s top news & reminders
- We’re holding a harvest worship on Monday 17th October. If you are able, please bring in an item from the Foodbank list which will be given to support those in need.
- Reminder: Non-uniform day on Friday 21st October (please wear PE-suitable shoes if it is a PE day). Spare change donations at the gates.
- Parents evenings upcoming this week – Monday 17th Oct & Wednesday 19th Oct. Remember to log in prior to your video meeting at least 5 minutes before your appointment, or arrive in good time for in-person appointments and head to your classroom. If your child is in a club, see the after-school club changes below on these dates.
Arbor Parents App! Please let us know if you haven’t received your login details. Thank you to those that have logged in already – we are currently at 47% uptake but would love to see all parents using it.- Clubs sign-up for Spring term may only be through Arbor – another reason to make sure you have the app.
- We will be holding a sibling photo session in November – we will confirm the date as soon as we can
- Interested in being a parent governor? Find out more here. Deadline 31st October.
- Thank you to those who park sensibly. We had 3 parents raise concerns about St Mark’s parents parking on the bus stop, causing traffic delays and safety issues.
FOSM Update
Thank you so much for your Christmas Card orders- the online system has worked well. Massive thanks to our FOSM team for organising!
So far we have raised £[therm_r] towards our £[therm_t] target – that’s [therm_%] of the total needed for our outdoor revamp.
What have your donations gone towards, and what are we fundraising for? Find out here.
[thermometer width=350]
Successful Grants for New Playground Equipment
Through grants from the government and the diocese, we’ve been able to order this playground equipment to replace our condemned version on KS2. This is seperate to any FOSM funding but brilliant news nonetheless. On our new version, children from Years R to 6 will be able to enjoy it. The children voted on their favourite items to include. We’re working on installation date and will keep you posted.
Pupil Voice groups
Well done to all our pupils who put themselves forward for one of our pupil voice groups, and especially to those who were elected. We enjoyed a serious election day with genuine polling booths and ballot boxes, too.
Pastoral drop-in session
The St Mark’s pastoral team will be hosting a parent and carer drop-in session every half term, each with a different focus. 
Our first session will be looking at separation anxiety. Mrs Atherton, Mrs Delves and Mrs Elms will be on hand to chat through any concerns, with a cup of tea and a biscuit 🙂.
Please join us on Monday 17th October from 8.30am to 9.30am in the church (younger children welcome too!).
Meet the team here: https://www.stmarksprimary.net/category/ark/
Help us publicise Year R Tours
We are holding Tours for new year R September 2023 – we would be grateful if you could share our facebook post with anyone with a child starting school next year.
Year 1 Arts & Crafts club
We collected leaves to make autumn themed hedgehog pictures. It was great fun finding different sizes, shapes and colours to use.
School Events, Lunches, and Clubs
Upcoming events and trips
Everyone
October
- Parents evenings:
Mon 17th Oct: 3.40pm-7pm
2B only: Tues 18th Oct: 3.40pm-6.30pm
Wed 19th Oct: 3.40pm-7pm 
FOSM Non-School uniform – Fri 21st Oct- No SCL after school club available on Friday 21st October 2022
- Half-term: Mon 24th October – Fri 28th October
November
- FOSM School Disco! Fri 11th November
- Flu vaccinations in school – Wed 30th November
December
- FOSM Non-School uniform – Thurs 1st Dec
- FOSM Christmas Fayre – Sat 3rd December
Year Group Events
Year 4:
-
Residential trip: Wed 14th – Fri 16th June 2023
Year 5:
- Winchester Science Museum Trip: Thurs 20th October
Academic year dates
Inset Days – Tuesday 3rd January 2023, Friday 31st March 2023, Monday 5th June 2023
Term dates for 2022-2023 – Click here for more info
Clubs
Status: changes on Monday & Wednesday this week
Note: Planet Ed clubs will be running on Monday 17th October & Wednesday 19th October. All teacher-led clubs are cancelled for these dates only, due to parents evenings – please see below.
Dates for clubs are from: w/c 26th September and run until (& inc) w/c 28th November
Monday
- Planet Ed: Year 1 Multi-Skills (3.30-4.20pm)
- All other clubs are not running today (17th Oct)
Tuesday
- Year 1 Construction/Games Club (3.30-4.15pm)
- Year 2 Homework Club (3.30-4pm)
- Planet Ed: Year 2 Dodgeball (3.30-4.20)
Wednesday
- Planet Ed: Year 3/4 Dodgeball (3.30-4.20pm)
- Year 2 Story Telling Club (3.30-4.10pm)
- All other clubs are not running today (19th Oct)
Thursday
- Year 1 Arts/Crafts Club (3.30-4pm)
- Year 3 Gardening Club (3.30-4pm)
- Year 4 Art Club (3.30-4.15pm)
- Planet Ed: Year 5/6 Boys Football (3.30-4.20pm)
Friday
- Planet Ed: KS2 Capture the Flag (3.30-4.20pm)
Meals
Status: running as usual
w/c 17th Oct: Week 2
PE
Children can wear PE kit to school on the days they have PE. When children have gym, please can they bring or wear shorts underneath.
- Year R – Mondays (gym) and Fridays (outdoor)
- Year 1 – Wednesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (gym)
- Year 2 – Mondays (outdoor) and Wednesdays (dance)
- Year 3 – Tuesdays (gym) and Fridays (outdoor)
- Year 4 – Wednesdays (outdoor) and Thursdays (dance)
- Year 5 – Tuesdays (dance) and Thursdays (outdoor)
- Year 6 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (dance)
⭐ Star Learners ⭐
Star Learner Awards:
Year R
Puffins – Sadie, Parrots – Brooklyn, Penguins – Declan
Year 1
1P – Rachel, 1M – Aimee, 1CL – Harry
Year 2
2B – Milo, 2G – Sam, 2BB – Zachary
Year 3
3C – Alba, 3T – Oscar, 3SB – Daisy
Year 4
4W – Charlotte, 4S – Olivia, 4PR – Isabelle
Year 5
5SP – Ella , 5DS – Zac, 5F – Ethan
Year 6
6P – Eleanor, 6B – , 6C –
Star Reader Awards:
Year 1
1P – Edward, 1M – Finley, 1CL – Rex
Year 2
2B – Alisha, 2G – Arabella, 2BB – Enrique
Year 3
3C – Stanley, 3T – Mackenzie, 3SB – Claudia
Year 4
4W – Annabelle, 4S – Aaron, 4PR – Luke
Year 5
5SP – Aleiya , 5DS – Jack, 5F – Sebastian
Year 6
6P – Matheus, 6B – , 6C –
Rock Stars
Amazing effort:
Year 3
3SB –Daisy, 3T – Bailey Rose, 3C – Jackson
Year 4
4PR – Jacob, 4W – Summer, 4S – Lottie
Year 5
5SP – Seth, 5DS – Elizabeth, 5F – Aimee
Year 6
6P – Leighton, 6B – Emilia, 6C – Alastair
Bridge: Tyler (6P)
Most active class in each year group:
Year 3: 3SB
Year 4: 4W
Year 5: 5F
Year 6: 6B
NumBots best effort:
Year 1: Ezra (1CL), Jack H (1P), Isaac (1M)
Year 2: Alfie J (2B), Marco (2BB), Kieran (2G)
Supporting Online Safety at Home: A Webinar for Parents and Carers of Primary Aged Pupils
Music of the week!
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
This piece of music by French composer Debussy means ‘moonlight’.
The ‘Friends of St Mark’s’ (FOSM) was formed early in the life of the school. All parents are automatically members and our committee organises social events for children and adults and fund-raising events such as Key Stage discos, Easter Egg Hunts and Summer Fun days.
Over the last few years the ‘Friends’ have donated money that has contributed towards extra resources to benefit the children at St. Mark’s which has included playground equipment, books for the school library, and general school funds. We are now a registered charity, too. Charity number: 1188879
Join our Facebook group here.
- 25th September 2026 Newsletter – School Elections, Parents’ Evening, Census Day, Disco and more
- 18th September 2026 Newsletter – School Elections Deadline, Photographs on Monday, FOSM dates and more
- 11th September 2026 Newsletter – Key Info Sessions this week, School Elections, FOSM AGM and more
- 4th September 2026 Newsletter – Key Info Sessions, Permission Forms, FOSM AGM, Agents of Change and more
- 22nd July 2026 Newsletter – Have a wonderful Summer!
- 17th July 2026 Newsletter – Parent Survey, End of Year, Arbor Pay, Lions and more
