November 5, 2021

5th November Newsletter – Odd Socks, Pupil Opportunities, Book Fair, and children’s successes!

A note from Mr Applegate

It’s been a busy week at St Mark’s. You may have noticed Year 6 Bikeability on, too. The children have been amazing!

See our post about the 📚 Book Fair 📚coming to St Mark’s next week!

Remember, the last chance to complete our parents’ evening survey is Monday.

Last Monday, we were joined in our worship by CSPO John Dullingham. He gave us 3 pointers about being safe in our community – 1) Don’t talk to strangers 2) Tell and adult if you see something that you are worried about 3) Be kind to others. Thanks John!

This Monday, we are telling the children about opportunities to serve in our school. We’re launching our school councillors, Eco-Warriors, Christian Voice Ambassadors, Junior Road Safety Officers and Librarians. In a few weeks time we’ll hold a school election using the Basingstoke Council ballot boxes and booths!

A huge thank you to Brackenwood Windows, who are giving us an amazing deal in replacing one of our external doors and windows. We really appreciate it!

Heard of Squid Games? This page might be helpful in helping you understand it. We won’t be talking about it in school as it’s inappropriate, and are actively discouraging any conversations children may be having about it.

Finally, well done to Parrots class for completing the video permission form first- you’ve won a £10 voucher for Mrs Rushton! There are still about 80 children yet to complete it across the school – we’ll be in touch.

Mr Applegate 🙂

Upcoming Dates for your diary

Book Fair – Nov 10th, 11th, 15th – click here for details
Odd Socks day – Nov 15th – wear odd socks!
Children in Need – Nov 19th – wear something yellow or with spots on – no need to buy anything! Better to give to CIN than to buy something!

Odd Socks Day and Anti-Bullying Week

During the week beginning Monday 15^th November, we will be celebrating Anti-Bullying Week at St Mark’s! The theme this year is ‘One Kind Word. To kick the week off, we will be starting with an Odd Socks Day on Monday 15^th November!

WHAT IS ODD SOCKS DAY? Odd Socks Day is a key part of Anti-Bullying Week! To celebrate that we are all unique, we ask that children wear odd socks to school on Monday 15th November. Last year over 13,000 schools took part in Odd Socks Day and this year, we are joining them!

WHY IS ODD SOCKS DAY IMPORTANT? The day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying and helps us celebrate Anti-Bullying Week in a fun and positive way. We will be completing fun activities during the day and the rest of the week, which will help us celebrate both our differences and our unity within our St Mark’s community.

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?

Make sure your child wears odd socks to school on Monday 15^th November!
Help your child enter our school competition! On Google Classrooms, we would like the children to submit their best ‘odd socks’ photograph! It might be a picture of them wearing odd socks in an usual setting, it might be their pet wearing odd socks, it might be the whole family wearing odd socks together stood in a circle or with their legs in the air, it might be odd sock bunting hanging across your front door! The deadline for entries will be Wednesday 17^th November so that we have time to choose the winners. Winners will be announced on Friday 19^th November in Celebration Worship!

Last Chance!

When we have Parents’ Evenings, we normally ask you to complete a survey. This helps us know how we’re doing and what we can improve on. Closes on Monday! https://www.stmarksprimary.net/survey

Huge Congratulations!

At the weekend Bethany (Y5) competed in the Nationwide Dance Finals 2021 in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. Bethany worked hard and danced her socks off coming first for her category in rock n roll with her dance partner, making them National Champions. She also made it into the semi finals for both her star dance rock n roll and her freestyle pairs. Well done!

Taya (Y4) also competed in the Nationwide Dance Finals in Blackpool. Taya was recalled for several events and after dancing her socks off too, she was placed 1st in her Rock n Roll category. Taya is now UK Champion for her age group in Rock n Roll! What a fantastic achievement for both girls.

Finally, Ano (Y5) has been selected by British Gymnastics for the Development Squad, which includes competing internationally for GB. Ano is working at an elite level – a future Olympic gymast perhaps?!

Well done to Ano, Bethany and Taya – we are very proud of you!

Year 6 – Save The Date!

Year 6 SATs information evening – Monday 22nd Nov, 5pm, on Google Meet (via Google Classroom)

Poppy Appeal

Our local British Legion office has supplied St Mark’s with some poppies and a limited number of other ‘goodies’ for the children to receive in return for a donation. This will be done over the next couple days within the individual classes, to preserve our current Covid bubbles.

Below is the poster showing what will be available, and the suggested donation, but we are expecting not to have enough of everything for every child, so it will be dealt with on a ‘first come first served’ basis to keep it fair.

If you would like your child to be able to get a poppy and/or any of the other items, please send the donation in an envelope marked with your child’s name.

Star Learners

Well done to:

Year R: Rachel, Finley, Emily G
Year 1: Enrique, Thomas, Sophia
Year 2: Connie, Edward, Emilia, Phoebe
Year 3: Thomas H, Hayley, Isabelle C, Poppy
Year 4: Freddie, Noah, Elodie
Year 5 : Scarlett D, Noah H, Isla, Neve
Year 6: Daisy C, Lottie H, Poppy

Rock Stars

Top player in each class:

Year 6 – Madison P, Sophia M, Adam

Year 5 – Sophie G, Noah W, Mikey, Anaya

Year 4 – Chloe Ma, Chloe Me, Harry B, Elizabeth

Year 3 – Ewan, Tomasz, Lucas, Abigail

Numbots best effort:

Most improved accuracy

Year1: Eva G, Noah, Callie
Year 2: Olivia H, Benjamin M, Bailey

Star Reader Awards:

Year 1: Sophie, Konrad, James
Year 2: Stanley, Jamie, Amaya
Year 3: Nathan, Alfie, Finley
Year 4: Peter, Oscar, Max B
Year 5: Charlie T, Liam, Kalel
Year 6: Toby, Bethany

Year R Tours for September 2022

Are you thinking about your child joining us in September 2022? Come and find out more about us at our online and onsite sessions!

Zoom Information Session:

No need to book! Both Zooms are the same.
Nov 15th Year R Info Zoom – 6pm Link here

Onsite Tours:

Please register here.
Please also attend the Zoom Information Session above!
Nov 9th Year R Tour 5-6pm
Dec 2nd Year R Tour 5-6pm
Come along to the main entrance and we’ll direct you.

🎵 Music of the Week 🎵

Music for the Royal Fireworks is a group of five pieces for orchestra composed by German George Frideric Handel in 1749. He was asked by King George II to write the music because the king wanted some music and fireworks to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (the end of a war). This piece of music is baroque.

Hire our facilities!

We’re opening up again, so why not hire our hall, field or facilities for a birthday party, fitness class or training event? Click here to find out more.

Flu Vaccines – Update

The School Nursing Team will be here on Wednesday 17th November to administer the Flu Vaccine for all children Year R-Year 6.

The link to complete the consent form has now been sent home. Please complete as soon as possible, even if you do not give consent, as you can specify this on the form. Thank you

Learn about Mary Prince

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.

We need your help! FOSM can’t run without parent support and effort. Please consider how you can help! We’re a friendly group of people wanting to give that bit extra to St Mark’s. Contact us below:

General email – fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

Cherie Parker – Chair – chair.fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

Mandy Mullen – Treasurer – treasurer.fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

Emma Bryant – Secretary – secretary.fosm@stmarksce.org.uk

Regular Notices

Covid Reminders

Use the email covid@stmarksce.org.uk if you have questions or need to report symptoms or a positive case.
Please keep us updated – for example, of test results.
NHS Symptoms Check
If a child is off school but able to work, then Google Classroom work is available – and it should be completed. Teachers spend a lot of time making sure this work is available so no-one misses out!