St Mark's CofE Primary School

December 12, 2025

12th December 2025 Newsletter -Christmas Reminders, FOSM thanks and more

A few notes from Mr Applegate

A huge thank you to the FOSM team for putting together the Christmas Fayre last week – it raised an incredible £5,303! THANK YOU!
We head into our final Christmas week – see the important reminders below.
Have you lost anything at school? Our lost property box will be emptied next Friday! We have unnamed coats, jumpers, wellies, gloves, bottles and much more!
Parking on local roads continues to be challenging. Thank you to the overwhelming majority of parents who are respectful and kind to our local residents. We will share photos of poor parking, as well as encouraging residents to contact the police and council where needed.

KS2 Carol Services next week….

Children must wear Formal Uniform (with a school jumper/cardigan).
Members of the KS2 Choir should wear a collared white shirt.
Use Eventbrite to cancel any unwanted tickets for others to use.
We’re collecting money for The Mud House Children’s Foundation in Tanzania. We hope to have a card machine for donations, too.

Christmas Week🌲🎅

Monday 15th December – Christmas Postbox Opens

Cards may be sent in from Monday. Cards should have the recipient’s NAME and CLASS on them. We have a St Mark’s post box!

Wednesday 17th December – KS2 Musical Spectacular

On this day, some of our musicians in KS2 will present a special musical concert called the Christmas Musical Spectacular! This is an internal performance for KS2 children only. You will know by now if your child is performing – please remember they will need to bring in their instrument on the day.

Thursday 18th December – Christmas Activities Day

Christmas Jumper or Christmas Party Clothes – Children are able to wear a Christmas jumper, top or party clothes to school. Please remember to choose play-proof clothes.

Christmas Lunch – If you haven’t ordered a lunch you will need to supply a packed lunch please.

Christmas Party – The children will have a Christmas party. This will either be held as a class or as a year group.

Friday 19th December – Christmas Around the World

We learn about and celebrate how different countries and cultures celebrate Christmas. We’d love to hear how your family does Christmas – find out more here.

This week’s homework and learning

Agents of Change Home Challenges

Christmas Around the World – click below…

Christmas at St Marks – click below!

15. Monday 15th December 2025

St Mark’s Photo Reel

Our fabulous KS2 Choir treated the residents of Dashwood Manor Care Home to a festive Christmas Concert this week. The children sang beautifully and even gave each of the residents a handmade Christmas Card. Well done Choir – we are so proud of you for spreading joy at Christmas. Thank you to all our staff and volunteers who made this visit possible.

Jenson wanted to share that he has now completed 21 junior park runs!! This is the equivalent of running a whole marathon! 😮 He was awarded with a wrist band. Wow Jenson, we are very proud of you!

Crossing Patrol

Please remember that the School Crossing Patrol Officer for the “chicane crossing” at the Hatch Warren Playing Fields end of Woodbury Road, has now resigned. There is currently no cover at this site.

Should you wish to apply for the post please click here for more information.

Our Careers Fair Is Coming! Feb 2026

Can you help? Sign up here.

⭐ 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 97% 🙂

Weekly Attendance Winners

Well done to 3BR, 4SB and Puffins who have had the highest attendance this week.

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

Helpful Information

Year Group Information Videos
After School Clubs - Autumn 2
Meals
Autumn 2 Learning...
_Year R newsletter Autumn 2 2025.pdf

Year 1 – Polar Explorers – Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf

Year 2 – Fire Fire – Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf

Year 3 – The Mystery of Metal – Curriculum Informatin Leaflet.pdf

Year 4 – Raging Rivers – Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf

Year 5 – American Road Trip – Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf

Year 6 – Keep Calm and Carry On – Curriculum Information Leaflet.pdf
Autumn 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 – Indoor PE

Thursday – Indoor PE

Year 1

Monday – Outdoor PE

Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 2

Wednesday – Outdoor PE

Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 3

Tuesday – Outdoor PE

Last 2 weeks of the term after Forest School Ends:

3SP & 3D: Monday – Outdoor PE

3BR: Friday – Outdoor PE

Year 4

Friday – Outdoor PE

Last 2 weeks of the term after Forest School Ends:

4SB: Tuesday – Outdoor PE

4C: Wednesday – Outdoor PE

4M: Thursday – Outdoor PE

Year 5

Monday – Outdoor PE

Wednesday – Indoor PE

Year 6

Monday – Outdoor PE

Wednesday – Indoor PE
Autumn 2 Forest School Days - for 5 weeks until 8th December
Year 3

3SP and 3D Monday

3BR Friday

Year 4

4SB Tuesday

4C Wednesday

4M Thursday

Bridge
FOSM
Full School Calendar
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.
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

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?
Have your contact details changed?
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.
September price increases

Breakfast Club:

Early session (7.30am): £5.50
Middle session (8.00am) : £3.00
Late Session (8.20am) £1.50

St Mark’s After School Clubs: Prices of clubs can vary due to the number of resources used. Most are £2.50pw but please check individual clubs when applying.

School Dinners: £3.20

Circle of Security

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).