Mr Applegate

About Mr Applegate

Posts by Mr Applegate:

February 20, 2024

Enjoying the banquet! Tues Evening

February 19, 2024

9 February 2024 – Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

Remember, parents’ evening bookings open on 20th Feb – email has gone out today.

Monday’s Worship was led by our fantastic Wellbeing Champions. They launched this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week. They shared some key messages, helping children understand how their ‘voices matter’.

Thank you for supporting Safer Internet Day. Not had a chance to look at the family agreement? Download the KS1 and KS2 versions here.

Over 60 children performed at our guitar concert yesterday, led by Mr Macycock. They were great!

Good luck to our 80 DanceLive children who are performing at Portsmouth Guidhall on tonight 🙂

Enjoy the half-term! Mr Applegate

Book a farm slot

Click here

Heads up! World Book Day - Friday 8th March

Hatch Warren After School Club

Reminders

PE days change after half-term. See the PE section below.
Year 5 have Forest School in Spring 2.
School returns Monday 19th Feb 2024.

FOSM makes a difference (again!)

Thanks to FOSM and your generosity, we’ve been able to purchase additional Chromebooks, new bikes for Year R and new table tennis bats for KS2. This will make a real difference to children, and we simply couldn’t do this without you. Thank you!

Nelson Mandela

Year 6 were inspired by Mandela, and Ellie wrote this in her own time. A great summary of aspects of his life. Click here to read it!

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

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!

Looking for half-term child care?

St Mark’s PhotoReel

Wellbeing Champions

PupilSafetyFirst Petition

We had over 600 signatures on our petition, which has now been submitted to Hampshire County Council. We’ll be presenting to the council in June when they take decicsions on funding. Many thanks for Cll Reid for his support and help, too.

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quiet Classes ⭐

1TM & 5E

⭐ 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 96.2%. 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	4.10pm	3W
Tuesday	Tag Rugby	4.10pm	6B
	Art Club	4.10pm	4PR
Wednesday	Pom Pom Wool Club	4.10pm	2G
	Cookery Club	4.10pm	Food Tech Room
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…

Music of the Week

Flower Drum Song from Feng Yan

This is a Chinese traditional folk tune originating in the Ming Dynasty. It is now a staple of the Chinese New Year “soundtrack.

Community News

Regular Notices

2 February 2024 – Newsletter

A note from Mr Applegate

A busy week ahead!

Children’s Mental Health Week – various fun activities which help children to look after themselves and others. Our Wellbeing Champions will launch the week during our Monday Worship

Safer Internet Day on Tues 6th Feb; this will be non-uniform. Wear something orange and/or blue No donation required. Family agreement to be sent home. Click here for more details. Looking for advice around safe internet at home? Click here.

Y6 Great Cake Giveaway on Weds, as part of their class Agents of Change activity. Details here.

DanceLive – good luck to our 80 children who are performing at Portsmouth Guidhall on Friday night! You’ll be amazing!

In other news….

Hatch Warren After School Club is reopening on Monday 19th Feb 2024. Click here for details.

Well done Year 3 – SUPERB behaviour on their cinema trip, and fab manners when questionning parents about jobs. Thanks for your help too 🙂

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate

What's your child learning next week?

Heads up! World Book Day - Friday 8th March

Mudhouse Charity & Massai Families say “Thank you St Marks!”

Looking for half-term child care?

Click here for SCL options including 10% discount code.

Do you know an electrician?

Do you know a friendly electrician who may help us out and save the school some money? We’ve got lighting ballasts to replace in our hall, requiring scaffolding to reach approx 5-6m high. We’d really appreciate any help. Email us here.

National Gallery - wow!

Last summer term, some children from years 3,4 and 6 worked together in an after-school club to complete a project for the National Gallery “Take One Picture” programme. The aim was to create work inspired by Henri Rouseau’s painting, “Surprised!” After a visit to the gallery to see the artwork first hand, the children planned and created a collaborative piece using a combination of 3D sculpture and painting on different surfaces. The whole process was enjoyed by the children and staff, and although the work will not be exhibited at the gallery, it does not diminish the value of this experience for all involved.

“My favourite part was when we all saw the final product and when we all had huge smiles on our faces. We all felt so proud of ourselves. When we were finishing up I felt like I was in the jungle with my friends and I could hear all the animals like birds, parrots, snakes and so much more, it was amazing. I’m so grateful I got to be part of this project, it was a great experience.” Isabelle

Book a farm slot

Click here

FOSM Events Reminder

School Car Park Reminder

If you have permission to use the school car park or are using it to collect children during the school day and can not find a marked bay to park in, could you please make sure that you park on the LEFT side of the car park. This ensures that there is always space for emergency services to use the car park in the event of an emergency.

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

1. Free Webinar – Understanding Sensory Processing and Integration in Children – click here – watch anytime!

2. Free Webinar – Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Wednesday 31st January – click here

3. Free Youtube video – What is Co-regulation, and why does it matter? Click here.

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!

St Mark’s PhotoReel

2CL are Agents of Change

Year3 Enjoy Forest School

Year3 Enjoy Forest School

Year3 Enjoy Forest School

⭐ Star Learners ⭐

⭐ Star Readers ⭐

⭐ Quiet Classes ⭐

2CL & 6B

⭐ 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 96.2%. 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 1
- Year R – Mondays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 1 – Tuesdays (indoors) and Thursdays (indoors)
- Year 2 – Tuesday (indoors) and Wednesday (indoors)
- Year 3 – Mondays (outdoors) and either Weds/Thurs/Fri Forest school (outdoors)
- Year 4 – Mondays (indoors) and Fridays (indoors)
- Year 5 – Tuesdays (outdoors) and Wednesdays (indoors)
- 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

Spring 1 clubs will begin week commencing 8th January 2024.

Day	Club	Collection Time	Collect From
Monday	Year 2 Choir	4.00pm	2B
	KS2 Choir	4.00pm	Small Hall
	KS2 Girls Football	4.10pm	3W
Tuesday	Tag Rugby	4.10pm	6B
	Art Club	4.10pm	4PR
Wednesday	Pom Pom Wool Club	4.10pm	2G
	Cookery Club	4.10pm	Food Tech Room
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…

Music of the Week

Playful Pizzicato by Britten

Benjamin Britten was an English composer. He wrote this piece in 1933 during the Modern era. ‘Pizzicato’ means to pluck the strings of the instrument with your finger instead of using the bow.