21st October Newsletter

This week’s top news & reminders

  • Have you completed our parent survey yet? We value your feedback! It closes Friday 28th October and only takes a couple of minutes? Click here to start survey. The class to have every child complete it by then will win a prize! Don’t forget to complete one for each child. Thank you!
  • See PE days for Autumn 2 below – look for the orange box.
  • Interested in being a parent governor? Find out more here. Deadline 31st October.
  • Take a moment to read our school poem. Just brilliant :)
  • Thank you so much for your generosity at our non-uniform day today. Click here if you’d like to donate online. You gave a huge £687.54 which will go towards our outside area. And thanks to Paul Cartwright for counting it!
  • Wishing you all a good half-term break. We’re back to school on Monday 31st October

Harvest Thanks

 

Friends of St Mark’s (FOSM) PTA

Have you visited and bookmarked our page? Friend’s of St Mark’s page

Here you’ll find more info including who the team are, contact details and news as well as info about nearly new uniforms!

Get in touch: fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

Notices:

  • Advent candles are now for sale – first come first served! Order here (and please note that christmas card ordering is closed): Order Here
  • Christmas Fayre 3rd Dec – would you like to hold a stall? Please contact us ASAP
  • Can any willing volunteers (thank you!) for the 11th Nov school disco get in touch please and let us know what times are you available? Thank you!
  • Please also get in touch if you’d like to help for a future event so we can update our lists

Upcoming FOSM events:

  • Fri 11th Nov – School Disco KS1 5.45pm, KS2 6-7pm
  • Thur 1st Dec – Non-School Uniform (tombola donations)
  • Sat 3rd Dec – Christmas Fayre 12-3pm

Enjoy!

The pumkin party is being run by the Parish of Basingstoke Down and being held in the main school hall.

All attending members need to book a ticket here: Book Tickets

Pumpkin Party A5 flyer-0000

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.

School Events, Lunches, and Clubs

Upcoming events and trips

Everyone

October

  • Half-term: Mon 24th October – Fri 28th October

November

  • FOSM School Disco! Fri 11th  November
  • Red Nose Day – remain in school uniform though!
  • 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: back after half-term as usual

Dates for clubs are from: w/c 26th September and run until (& inc) w/c 28th November

 

PE

Status: Updates for after half-term are below. Days are unchanged!

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 (dance) and Fridays (outdoor)
  • Year 1 – Wednesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (outdoor)
  • Year 2 – Mondays (outdoor) and Wednesdays (gym)
  • Year 3 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (outdoor)
  • Year 4 – Wednesdays (outdoor) and Thursdays (gym)
  • Year 5 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Thursdays (outdoor)
  • Year 6 – Tuesdays (outdoor) and Fridays (gym)

Meals

Status: running as usual after half-term

w/c 31st Oct: Week 3

A note regarding portions!

Our wonderful catering firm Pabulum do not want hungry children after lunch! Children are permitted seconds if they show clean plates from first sitting. However there are a few rules to promote healthy habits as follows:
 
– a second portion will comprise a carb and vegetables in the first instance and children will be encouraged to revisit the salad bar.  Seconds protein will only be given if this is eaten first
– dessert seconds will ALWAYS be fruit, even if a student has chosen fruit to start with
 
We welcome feedback on our school lunches – please don’t hesitate to contact us!

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

Star Learner Awards:

Year R
Puffins – Ruby, Parrots – Amelia, Penguins – Olivia

Year 1
1P – Esme, 1M – Sienna, 1CL – Max

Year 2
2B – Luke, 2G – Elliana, 2BB – Kylara

Year 3
3C – Jamie , 3T – Emilia, 3SB – Elise

Year 4
4W – Jack, 4S – Brogan, 4PR – Jai

Year 5
5SP – Owen, 5DS – Abigail, 5F – Sebastian

Year 6
6P – Lucas, 6B – Amelia , 6C – Samuel & Aidan!

Star Reader Awards:

Year 1
1P – Conor, 1M – Laura , 1CL – Evie

Year 2
2B – Harrison, 2G – Noah, 2BB – Finley

Year 3
3C – Jackson, 3T – Jenson, 3SB – Alfie

Year 4
4W –  Freyja, 4S – Thomas, 4PR – Dollie

Year 5
5SP – George, 5DS – Edward, 5F – Ethan

Year 6
6P – Emily, 6B – Harry , 6C – Charlie

Rock Stars

Amazing effort:

Year 3
3SB – Maya, 3T – Benjamin, 3C – Reuben

Year 4
4PR – Lucas , 4W – Freyja , 4S – Olivia

Year 5
5SP – Rhoda, 5DS – Elizabeth & Kristina, 5F – Olivia

Year 6
6P – Isla, 6B – Elsie, 6C – Alastair

Bridge: 

Most active class in each year group:

Year 3: 3SB

Year 4: 4S & 4W

Year 5: 5F

Year 6: 6B

NumBots best effort:

Year 1: Ezra (1CL), Isaac (1M), Edward (1M)

Year 2: Marco (2BB), Cooper (2G), Reeva (2G)

Music of the week!

Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Saint-Saens was a French composer. Danse Macabre means Dance of Death. Can you hear the harp at the beginning of the piece of music playing a single note 12 times? This is to represent midnight.

Supporting Online Safety at Home: A Webinar for Parents and Carers of Primary Aged Pupils

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpFspt6fgfg

Support a local show and Mrs Boyle!

Did you know that Mrs Boyle is helping back-stage at this show? She has made many of the props and you will even find 3SB chairs there too! Tickets are available now for shows this weekend! Book your tickets here: https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on/event/baos-seussical

FOSM - Support Our School!

About FOSM

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.

Please visit our website page here too! Friend’s Of St Mark’s Page

👍 Community News

October Half-Term

Regular Notices

Latest Posts