St Mark's CofE Primary School

March 8, 2024

8 March 2024 – Newsletter including Agents of Change class/year group celebrations!

A note from Mr Applegate

Thanks for your support for our World Book Day today. We had a lot of fun together 🙂 If you were wondering, I was a rather scatty Prince Charming from Snow White, our school play performed this morning!

There’s still time to give to our capital fund – just login into SCOPay. Thanks.

On Friday 15th March, we’re joining up 2 activities. Red Nose Day and our School Council Sports event (rearranged). Wear non-uniform with something red, and be preapred to do something sporty. Any money donated will be split between the two groups.

A reminder that the FOSM Easter Egg Hunt tickets need to be booked by 13th March. Also, don’t forget the competition – with a prize per class!

It was great to see 6C visit the residents at Dashwood Manor yesterday. They read stories to them, did some activities together, and handed out Agents of Change badges to the staff. Really wonderful to see.

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate

What's your child learning next week?

Pastoral Parent Drop-In – Monday 11th March

The next parent drop in will be Monday 11^th March 8.30-9.30 in the church. It will be focusing on managing strong emotions at home. Mrs Delves and Mrs Elms will be on hand to support and chat through any concerns you may have. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available. We look forward to seeing you.

Apply for a Blue Peter Book Badge

Find out more here.

FOSM Easter Egg Hunt – book online

www.stmarksprimary.net/fosm_shop

FOSM Easter Competition

Book a farm slot

Click here

Looking for Easter child care?

Click here for SCL options including 10% discount code.

Let’s be really mindful of grass verges please.

Our local roads, residents and verges need our respect. Thank you.

Messy Easter!

St Mark’s PhotoReel

A letter delivered

Y2 art club

What's your child learning from now until Easter?

FOSM Events Reminder

Walking 100km for St Mark's

Two parents of St Mark’s are walking 100km continuously across the Jurassic Coast, fundraising for the school.

Mike is a parent at the school, Aidan is Chair of Governors and a parent at the school. They are both a little addicted to walking!

Can you support their fundraising efforts for our school? Click here to find out more and donate!

Parenting course available

From FutureMind….. we have some really great topics coming up for the next few weeks – please be sure to book your free ticket today at www.linktr.ee/futureinmind

Thursday 21 March – 10.15 Basingstoke – Managing Crisis, supporting a young person who may be self harming or having suicidal thoughts with Hampshire CAMHS

Please be sure to read all the full descriptions in the Ticket Tailor for more information available at www.linktr.ee/futureinmind

Tesco Funding - Vote for St Mark's

From Mid January to March, all of the Tescos in Basingstoke will have tokens available to ‘vote’ for a project – including our very own St Mark’s Farm and Forest School projects. This could be worth up to £10,000!

If you make a purchase in Tesco, don’t forget to vote for us by putting the token in the right box. And perhaps share this with your family and friends!

Agents of Change – Class and Year Group Activities!

⭐ 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 96.1%. Oh no 🙁

Weekly Attendance by Class

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

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

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

Meals
PE Days
Status: running as usual

Spring 2
- Year R – Mondays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 1 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 2 – Tuesday (outdoors) and Wednesday (indoors)
- Year 3 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Thursdays (outdoors)
- Year 4 – Mondays (outdoors) and Fridays (indoors)
- Year 5 – Tues/Weds or Thurs Forest school (outdoors) and Fridays (indoors)
- Year 6 – Wednesday (outdoors) and Friday (outdoors)
What to wear

Children should wear PE kit to school on the days they have PE. When children have gym, please can they bring or wear shorts underneath. PE kit guide:
- Navy or black shorts. Jogging bottoms for outside in cold weather (leggings are fine too).
- PE skirts with cycling-style shorts are acceptable.
- White t-shirt. Please also wear the school jumper to school on PE days. Football shirts are not acceptable as PE kit.
- Trainers for all children.

After School Clubs

Spring clubs will continue week commencing 19th Febuary 2024.

Day	Club	Collection Time	Collect From
Monday	Year 2 Choir	4.00pm	2B
	KS2 Choir	4.00pm	Small Hall
	KS2 Girls Football	4.00pm	3W
Tuesday	Tag Rugby	4.10pm	6B
	Art Club	4.10pm	4PR
Thursday	Art & Craft Club	4.00pm	2CL
	Board Games Club	4.00pm	1BB
	Coding Club	4.10pm	Year 6

Music Info
Full School Calendar
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…

We presented our class and year groups Agents of Change activites!

Music of the Week

Méditation by Massenet

Méditation” is from the opera Thaïs by French composer Jules Massenet. It was written in 1894 during the Romantic Era.