Menu

Mr Applegate

About Mr Applegate

Posts by Mr Applegate:

Year 4 News

We’ve had a wonderful couple of weeks in Year 4, and the children are starting to settle back into school life well. In our topic sessions, the children have been busy learning about the Ancient Egyptians and they will soon be using their knowledge to write their own version of a Mr Benn story where he ventures to the city of Giza. We are looking forward to updating you with some photographs from the term in the next couple of weeks.

 

 
If you haven’t managed to take a look at our Knowledge Organiser and Topic Web yet, then please find them attached. They will give you more information about the content which is being covered this term. 
 
Knowlegde Organiser.png

Topic Web.png

 
Parent Information Session: Change of Date
Please be informed that our Parent Information Session will be moving to Monday 4th October at 4:30pm. 
 
We are currently making enquiries into the very exciting opportunity of a 2-night residential trip for our Year 4 pupils which is to take place in July 2022.  We are hoping to secure a date and venue over the next week, and will be sharing all details and information during our Parent Information Session. A letter will also be sent out following the Information Session.
 
We look forward to seeing you on Monday 4th October at 4:30pm. 
 
 
pdf icon Year-4-Raiders-of-the-Lost-Cities-Topic-Web.pdf
pdf icon Year-4-Raiders-of-the-Lost-Cities-Knowledge-Organiser.pdf

17th September Newsletter – Heroes, School Photographs, Disney+ and more

A note from Mr Applegate

I hope you’ve had a great week. The children continue to work exceptionally hard, as do the St Mark’s team, and I reflect often how fortunate I am to work in our school community. I see ‘Growing Excellence’ all around – from the Year R’s settling into school so well, to the Year 3’s learning the Ukulele, to the Year 6’s quality of writing.

Like me, I’m sure covid is on your mind. To keep you posted:

  • As from last week, we are letting parents and carers know each time there is a positive (PCR) case in the year group.
  • We do liaise with PHE and the health protection team. They are impressed by our existing measures, and have requested that where confirmed cases are 3 or more in a class, that the class operates as a bubble as much as possible (ie seperate to the other 2 classes). We continue to tighten aspects of school to reduce transmission and risk.
  • Please make sure you check Google Classroom for work – it’s always set when children are off for Covid-related reasons.
  • Please wear a mask when onsite- and share this message with anyone who may bring/collect your child.

There are lots of notices below – thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.

Have a great weekend, Mr Applegate :)

Summary

St Mark’s Heroes – Can you make the difference?

Our children need your help! They would massively benefit from an hour, an afternoon, or whatever you can give to help them during school hours. Our St Mark’s Heroes scheme aims to gather as much support as possible to help our children with their learning. It could involve reading with a child, supporting a small group, or generally helping in class. It could be helping out at lunchtimes. It’s also great experience if you’re looking to get more involved in schools. We’ll provide the training! There would be a simple application form to complete, a chat with Mr Applegate, and a free DBS check to complete. Click here to register your interest, and to find out more. Thank you for thinking about this – and for thinking of the difference you could make!

Individual School photographs

On Monday 27th September, our school photographers will be coming to school to take the children’s individual school photographs.
 
Please can we ask that your child comes to school in their St Mark’s sweatshirt or cardigan for the photo.
 
Year 4 children will need to wear their school uniform please, rather than their PE kits. They will not need their PE kits for this week only.
 
We are hoping to arrange a date in the Spring for sibling photos.
 

Timings of pickups and dropoffs

  • Based on surnames
  • Drop-off: A-L 8:30-8:40am, M-Z 8:40am to 8:50am
  • Collection: A-L 3:10-3:15pm, M-Z 3:15pm-3:20pm
  • Map is here.

Disney+ !

  • Do you have Disney+? Have you checked the parental controls? If you’d like to find out more, click here.

Year 6 – Thinking about Year 7

Year 6 – Secondary schools are already gearing up to show you and your child around. Applications for year
7 places for September 2022 (current Year 6s) open on the 13th September 2021 and close on the 31st October 2021. Any later applications are not considered in the first round of school allocation and will be unlikely to be awarded their first choice of school so it is essential that you get your child’s application in on time.

Spotlight Clubs

Dates for your diaries

Year Group Key Information Session – Online, using Google Meet. Make sure you can login to Google Meet before the meeting! It’s a chance to meet the teachers and find out important information about your child’s learning for the year. Links will be posted on the Google Classroom Stream just before the session begins.

  • Monday 27th Sept – Y4 – 4pm
  • Monday 27th Sept – Y6 – 5pm
  • Tuesday 28th Sept – Y2 – 4pm
  • Tuesday 28th Sept – Y3 – 5pm
  • Thursday 30th Sept – Y1 – 4pm
  • Thursday 30th Sept – Y5 – 5pm

Parents’ Evenings will be a 10 minute slot, online. Further details will follow, but dates/times are:

  • Monday 18th Oct, 4-6:30pm
  • Tuesday 2nd Nov 3:40-5:50pm
  • Thursday 4th Nov 4-6pm

School Payments

Just a reminder that we remain a cashless school.

Please pay for Breakfast Club, school dinners, trips and any other items via your ScoPay account. Thank you

Census Day for KS1 School Dinners

On Thursday 7th October, it’s Census Day for all KS1 children who are entitled to Universal Free School Meals (all children in Years R, 1 and 2).

The amount of funding we receive as a school, depends on how many dinners are ordered on that day.

Could you please encourage your child in Year R-Year 2 to order a school dinner on this day. The menu options have been changed to:

Red: Fish & Chips

Green: Pizza

White: Jacket Potato with vegetarian sausages

Thank you :-)

Flu Vaccines

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

Consent forms will be sent home shortly.

Star Learners

Well done to:

  • Year 1: Sienna, Thompson, Luke

  • Year 2: Harry, Oliver, Henry

  • Year 3: Joseph, Dollie-Mae, Jack T

  • Year 4: Florence, Chloe Ma, Callum

  • Year 5: Sam L, Harry A, Imogen

  • Year 6: Sienna, Stanley, Lexie

Rock Stars 

Tournament Results: Winning classes
Year 3 – 3T
Year 4 – 4T
year 5 – 5F
Year 6 – 6S
 
Best Effort of the Week:
Year 6 – Ryan R, Millie C, Harry B, Igor L, Chelsea P, Jessica R 
Year 5 – Irebami A, Iremide A, Anaya O, Isla B, Eddie H, Liam M
Year 4 – Jack D, Elizabeth B, Gabriella D, George P, Olivia N, Jeffrey C, George H
Year 3 – Emily H, Freyja O,  Amber S, Jack T, Benjamin T, Ewan B
 

Numbots best effort:

  • Year1: Ella, Milo, Oliver
  • Year 2: Ben G, Maya, Olivia H

Bug Club Awards:

  • Year 1: Gracie H, Harry B, Owen, Eva B, Max H, Abbie
  • Year 2: Arianne, Edward, Jackson, Elizabeth, Mia

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.
  • Oct 7th Year R Info Zoom – 5pm Link here
  • Nov 15th Year R Info Zoom – 6pm Link here

Onsite Tours:

  • Please register here.
  • Oct 12th Year R Tour – 6-7pm
  • 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.

The Costello School Open Evening

Brighton Hill Open Evening

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.

Regular Notices

Latest Posts

New EYFS framework & Reception Baseline Assessment

Dear Parents and carers,

At St Mark’s, we embrace changes that are going to have a positive impact on the children’s learning and education. As you may already be aware, the DFE have introduced a new EYFS framework, commencing September 2021.

What does this mean for your child?

Your child will follow the updated EYFS framework and will work towards the final assessment at the end of the Reception year, using the new ELGs (Early Learning Goals). These goals are short statements that teachers assess your child against at the end of the year. These statements will be shared with you all at the first parent’s evening. The 7 main areas of learning remain the same. These are:

  • Communication & Language
  • Physical Development
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Expressive Arts and Design
  • Understanding The World

As part of the changes to the new framework, it also means that there is less emphasis on recording paperwork, meaning we, as adults, can spend more time with your child getting to know them and having those quality interactions. The new framework is also more aligned with the KS1 curriculum, further ensuring your child’s educational journey from reception to KS1 is building upon previous knowledge.

Reception Baseline

In addition to the informal, play based activities we have always done at St Mark’s in order to get to know your child and find out their starting points, a new statutory Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) will also be completed with your child during their first six weeks of school.

The RBA is a short, interactive and practical assessment of your child’s early literacy, communication, language and mathematics skills when they begin in school. It will be undertaken 1:1 with your child by one of their familiar Year R adults and will provide a snapshot of where your child is when they start in Reception. The data gathered from these assessments will only be accessed by the DFE.

Once your child has reached Year 6 and completed their SATS the DFE can then measure your child’s progress from Reception to Year 6. This informs them of how well we as a school have supported your child’s cohort throughout their time with us.

If you wish to read further on the reception baseline, then you can find a parent booklet here;

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1004560/2021_Information_for_parents_reception_baseline_assessment.pdf

You can find out more about the data which will be collected about your child here RBA pupil data privacy notice

Many thanks for your continued support,

Mrs Baird, Mrs Hearn and Mrs Rushton

Welcome to Year R!

Welcome to St Mark’s!

It was so wonderful to be able to visit each of your children at home last week and start getting to know them, and you, in person. Thank you for extending such a warm welcome to us during these visits. The value of these visits was demonstrated on the children’s first ‘stay and play’ visits when many of your children initiated conversations with us with “you were at my house!” They really have helped the children to feel safe and secure during their first week, and we hope that you found them useful in getting to know us too.

Your children have been wonderfully resilient as they’ve come in for their ‘stay and play’ sessions and their part time sessions this week. They have enjoyed getting to know each other and us, and exploring their new environment. We have been so impressed with how well they have settled already, and how quickly they are picking up the new routines of school.

Please find below our curriculum newsletter for this half term. We will send one of these every half term to keep you up to date with what your child will be learning. Our topic this half term is ‘It’s good to be me!”

Year R newsletter Autumn 1 2021

Please could you watch the videos below. We hope that you will find them useful in explaining how we teach Reading, Writing and Maths at St Marks. 

English in Year R at St Mark’s (10 minutes)

Maths in Year R at St Mark’s (6 minutes)

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to speak to us. 

Mrs Baird, Mrs Hearn and Mrs Rushton

 

«‹ 45 46 47 48›»