St Mark's CofE Primary School

March 22, 2024

22 March 2024 – Newsletter – Mud House Video, Prayer Space and more!

A note from Mr Applegate

We hope your child enjoyed the prayer space this week. They responded so well. Huge thanks to Mrs Rosso for heading up the team.

Interested in training to teach? Why not come to our drop-in session, anytime between 9am and 1pm on Friday 26th April? Tracy from SSF SCITT will be there to answer any questions.

Remember, school finishes on Wednesday, as Thursday is an INSET day.

Summer PE days are in the PE section below.

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate

Please complete our parent survey

One for each child. Closes Monday!

Click here

What's your child learning next week?

Instrumental Tuition next year

Please complete this form if your child is currently:

taking instrumental lessons and wants to continue
taking instrumental lessons and wants to stop
wishes to begin learning an instrument. (NB only children in Years 3 – 6 next year can apply.)

All information about instrumental lesson options, policies and pricing is within the form. The deadline for applications is Monday 22^nd April.

Click here for the application form for instrumental tuition 2024-2025

Book a farm slot

We need your help!

Click here

Mud House Children’s Foundation update

Having a spring wardrobe clear out?

Don’t forget about our Fosm bags 2 school collection . Bags can be dropped off on Thursday 25th April 3-4pm community centre car park or between 4-6pm in the school car park. Please see the poster for accepted items.

St Mark’s PhotoReel

Katie at the BMAF Festival

Kara, Millie and Elodie in the Nutcracker

Arianne was awarded her 6th Kup Green belt in taekwondo. Well done!

Friday 26th April @ St Mark’s

Friday 26th April @ St Mark’s

Congratulations

Katie in 3D performed in the Basingstoke Music and Arts festival at the weekend and was given a commendation, only 1 point off a distinction. This was her first public performance since starting to play the flute last summer.

On Saturday Kara from 3W and Millie and Elodie from 6C danced in two performances of The Nutcracker ballet at QMC, with Millie taking on the starring role of Clara. The months of hard work paid off: they all danced beautifully and the performances raised £4,018 for Kidney Care UK and the Dementia Team at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

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!

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!

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quiet Classes ⭐

1BB & 4PR

⭐ 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

Summer 1
- Year R – Mondays (indoors) and Thursdays (outdoors)
- Year 1 – Tues/Weds or Thurs Forest school (outdoors) and Fridays (outdoors)
- Year 2 – Tuesday (outdoors) and Wednesday (indoors)
- Year 3 – Mondays (outdoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 4 – Mondays (swimming) and Wednesdays (swimming)
- Year 5 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Wednesdays (outdoors)
- Year 6 – Wednesday (outdoors) and Friday (indoors)
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
- All Spring clubs apart from Choir have finished this week. Summer clubs will begin the week commencing 22 April 2024.
Monday

25th March
Year 2 Choir 4.00pm 2B

KS2 Choir 4.00pm Small Hall
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…

The children enjoyed Prayer Space at Immanuel Church!

Music of the Week

On hearing the first cuckoo of Spring by Delius

Frederick Delius wrote this beautiful tone poem in 1912 during the Modern era. Listen out for the different instruments imitating the sounds of the cuckoo.