Half Term

School will break for half term next Friday afternoon 21st October. We will return on Monday 31st October.

Harvest Festival 21st October

Parents are invited to our Harvest Service next Friday morning in school beginning at 9am. We look forward to seeing you there.


Each year we receive fantastic donations of fruit, vegetable and tinned goods for our Harvest Table. Could we once again ask for donations to be sent into school, these should be handed in to your child’s class on Thursday 20th October.

If you know anyone within the parish who you think would like to receive a Harvest Parcel from St. Mark’s could you write their name, address together with your child’s name on a piece of paper and hand it into the school office. All names should be handed in by next Wednesday 19th October. After our service your child will be given a parcel to take home then deliver to their nominated person. All remaining donations will be collected by St. Vincent De Paul. Thank you once again in anticipation of your support.

ATTENDANCE

Below are the Attendance figures for last week.


Reception 98.3%

Year 1    96.0%

Year 2    94.3%

Year 3    96.0%

Year 4   93.3%

Year 5   96.8%

Year 6   97.2%

The overall attendance for these classes was 95.9%. Well done to our Reception class who had the highest attendance, and have earned an extra playtime. Attendance figures are slowly on the increase. Thank you for your support.

Parents Evening

There will be a chance for you to come into school and discuss your child’s progress so far this term with the class teacher on the following dates;


Thursday3rd November 3.30pm - 5.30pm

Monday 7th November 4.30pm –6.30pm

A sheet showing times available will be outside your child’s class.

School Photographs

After our half term break we have arranged for Focal Point Photographers to come into school. Photographs will be taken on Wednesday 2nd November. If you have a child who attends nursery or another school and would like them to have their photograph taken with siblings in St. Marks, can we ask that you arrive in school for 8.30am. Each class will then have individual photos taken as well as with siblings in school. These will be back in time for Christmas as we know they make excellent presents.

Enterprise Week

Next week we begin our Enterprise week in school. This is always a fun time, the children will, I am sure, have a great time making lots of lovely goodies! If any parent’s would like to come in and help , please call in and see your child’s class teacher.


There will be a sale of all the items our children have made next Friday afternoon in school beginning at 1.30pm. All money raised will be sent off to CAFOD, one of the charities St. Mark’s supports.

Thursday 13th October Year 6 ‘Big Sing’

Our Year 6 children are out this Thursday at St. Cuthbert’s High School where they are taking part in the Big Sing along with a number of other schools. Please remember that your child will need their packed lunch with them. The children will be back to school for the end of the school day.

Football Training Sessions

As Autumn seems to be with us now, and the weather as we know can change at any time, football sessions may need to be cancelled occasionally. Mr. Wood will endeavour to give us as much notice as possible. Should a session need to be cancelled we will text and let you know, so please keep your mobile phones switched on. Thank you.

Guitar Sessions

We have had an overwhelming response to Guitar lessons in school. Mr. Patterson our tutor will now have to come into school for an extra session to fit in all our budding musicians. Those children who have just enrolled may have to wait for a week or so until the extra session is arranged. We will keep you posted.

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Look out for our Year 6 children who are in the news this week when they appear in this Thursday’s Newcastle Evening Chronicle Cron page.

Thank you

Cathy Smith, our Reception teacher would like to pass on thanks to those parents who were able to attend the Reading Session held in school last week. I hope you found it interesting having an insight into how we teach your children to read.

Well Done Mrs Elliott

Congratulations to our cook Mrs. Elliott who took part and completed the 26.2mile Kielder run at the weekend. I know that her legs were very very tired yesterday but she still managed to make the children’s lunches with a smile. Well done!

Year 6 Transfer Applications

If any of our Year 6 parents are having difficulty in completing applications for their child’s High School transfer, an Admissions Session is being held at the Outer West Customer Service Centre in West Denton on Monday 17th October from 9.30am. Or you can call into school and we will endeavour to help you with any queries you may have.