St Mark's CofE Primary School

June 6, 2025

6th June 2025 Newsletter – Car Boot tomorrow, Book Fair next week, Wellbeing Week and more

A few things to do, and some reminders

Come to the FOSM Car Boot Sale tomorrow morning, 9-11:30am – now in the main hall due to weather.
The School Book Fair returns next week – details for your child’s year group below.

A note from Mr Applegate

It’s been a brilliant first week back with our Wellbeing Week and Walk to School Week. The theme has been how we connect with others . We’ve had children working in different year groups, samba dancing, Wellbeing Champions saying hi on the gate, Keep Fit exercises with Mrs Trump, and so much more. We even looked at how people’s faith and beliefs support them in their wellbeing. The children have been great! A huge thank you to Mrs Ford and the Wellbeing Team (staff and pupils) for putting this all together 🙂
A massive thanks to Matt Wells for his donation of footballs from his football team 🙂

Have a great week, Mr Applegate 🙂

What is your child learning this half-term?

This Week's Homework & Learning

Listed here for all Yr1-6 children.

Click here

What's your child learning this half-term?

Click here

🐔 Book a Farm visit here 🐰

Book a fun free day out for your family!

Click here

St Mark’s Photo Reel

For Interfaith Day, the children in Year R worked as a team to make a Mandala. Well done everyone!

Smartphone Free Childhood

Changes to school smartphone rules are coming soon! Watch this space!

In the meantime, take a look at this national campaign and sign the pact!

Book Fair

In the coming weeks, we have our school book fair. It’s a chance for children to become excited about books and enjoy reading. There are a variety of books on sale, and the school gets commission for each book sold. This summer you get 3 books for the price of 2 with the cheapest book free!

Each class will visit the book fair stall. If you’d like your child to buy some books, please send them in with an amount between £3 and £12 in cash in a named envelope on the day below. For Year R, the book fair is after school in the Key Stage 1 playground – please can parents/carers attend with your child.

If you would prefer to pay online and not physically visit the book fair, you can do so here by purchasing a voucher.

When is my child visiting the book fair?

Wednesday 11th June

Year R classes– after school with parents (on the KS1 playground weather permitting). Please allow a few minutes for us to set up.

Year 3 classes – during the school day

Thursday 12th June

Year 2 & 5 classes – during the school day.

Friday 13th June

Year 1 classes – during the school day.

Monday 16th June

Year 4 & 6 classes– during the school day

Plus- Children of any year group may visit after school with parents (on the KS1 playground weather permitting). We are hoping to have a card machine available for this after school session.

Thank you for your support!

FOSM Events Update

Hatch Warren Community Centre

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.
Can you help Year R?

The Year R Team are developing their outdoor provision. We are looking for some items which you may have at home and be able to donate to us. The following items are what we are hoping for:

If you can help, please contact the year R team at yearr@stmarksce.org.uk

Thank you so much.
Help us to improve drainage, lighting and more!
Have your contact details changed?
School Office area rules

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?

⭐ Weekly Achievements ⭐

⭐ 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%.

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

Reminder of the new rules

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

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

Helpful Information

FOSM Events
Meals
**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 – Indoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 2

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Year 3

Tuesday– Outdoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 4

Monday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 6

Wednesday – Outdoor PE
**NEW Summer 2 Forest School Days
Forest School from 3^rd June for 7 weeks

Year R Tuesday am:

3^rd June– Parrots

10^th June – Penguins

17^th June – Puffins

24^th June – Parrots

1^st July – Penguins

8^th July – Puffins

15^th July – Parrots

Year 2

2B– Wednesday am

2CL – Thursday am

2G – Friday am

Year 5

5E -Tuesday pm

5P – Wednesday pm

5DS – Thursday pm

Bridge

Friday pm
After School Clubs
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.

Applicants will hear from us when we receive the provision details from Hampshire Music Service.
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…

Music of the Week

River Flows in You by Yiruma

Lee Ru-ma, better known by his stage name Yiruma, is a South Korean pianist and composer.

Being a parent is tough!

Parent Counselling Sessions

Your child’s mental health…

Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager
Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
Understanding the impact of the pandemic on your child
Moving up to secondary school for children with additional needs
Understanding your own trauma

Click here for free online training

Online Parenting Courses

Parental control guides

Monday 9th June 2025

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).

6th June 2025 Newsletter – Car Boot tomorrow, Book Fair next week, Wellbeing Week and more

A few things to do, and some reminders

A note from Mr Applegate

What is your child learning this half-term?

This Week's Homework & Learning

What's your child learning this half-term?

🐔 Book a Farm visit here 🐰

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Smartphone Free Childhood

Book Fair

FOSM Events Update

Hatch Warren Community Centre

⭐ Weekly Achievements ⭐

⭐ Attendance Updates ⭐

Weekly Attendance by Class

School Dates, Lunches, and Clubs

Helpful Information

In worship this week…

Music of the Week

Being a parent is tough!

Parent Counselling Sessions

Your child’s mental health…

Online Parenting Courses

Parental control guides

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