Newsletter 1 - Autumn Term
4th September 2025
Embedded Files
- This Week -
Message from the Headteacher
As we begin this new term, it has been fantastic to see friends, new and old, reconnect as part of our school community. Each day, I see our pupils living out our vision of “life in all its fullness”—whether through their curiosity in lessons, their care for one another, or their experience of wider school life.
Our staff team continue to work tirelessly to provide the very best opportunities for your children, and I am grateful for the strong partnership we share with you as families. Together, we ensure that every child is supported, challenged and celebrated.
In our weekly newsletters, you will find updates on recent achievements, upcoming events, and highlights from across the school.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to all that we will achieve together this year and beyond.
Mr Gates
Thinking of giving your child a phone in Year 5 or 6?
Pupils are not be permitted to bring a phone to school unless families have attended Smartphone Awareness Training. The aim of the training is to explain the school's approach, some emerging concerns about smartphone use for young people and provide key tips about how to keep your child safe online. The training video will run in the Science Lab at key school events and your next opportunity to view this will be at the Parent Consultation Evenings in October, where the training will be on shown on a loop in the Lab. The flowchart below explains the process:
SASM has been working with parent representatives from the Smartphone Free Childhood Movement. You may wish to sign the SASM Parent/Carer Smartphone Pledge , where 117 families have pledged to not give their children a smartphone until at least they are in Year 9.
- Back-To-School Notices -
Smart black shoes or black trainers only, please!
Our school uniform includes smart black shoes or black trainers. We do not permit boots or football boots and shoes should not display a logo.
Black trainers need to have black soles. We may supply your child with alternative footwear if required.
Bikes and Scooters - To be stored behind the MUGA
The property next to the school - 98 Maple Road- is currently being converted into residential flats. We are working with the building company closely to ensure disruption to school life is minimal. However, for a number of weeks in September we will be without a bike/scooter shetler. During this time, bikes and schools can be stored behind our MUGA area. As ever, items are left at the owner's risk.
Clubs
After-school clubs begin from week beginning 15th September. More information about after-school clubs, including how to book a place for your child, will be sent out at the end of the first week of the new school year.
PE days
We're really excited to be working with specialist PE coaches from Moving Matters, who will be delivering PE lessons to many of our pupils next year as well as supporting lunchtime games and clubs. Pupils should come to school in their PE kit on PE days. Next year, some classes will have a PE afternoon, with 2 PE lessons. The PE days for each class are:
3B - Thursday (indoor and outdoor)
3H - Wednesday (indoor), Friday (outdoor)
3N - Tuesday (indoor and outdoor)
4M - Wednesday (indoor), Thursday (outdoor)
4R - Tuesday (indoor and outdoor)
4S - Monday (indoor and outdoor)
5J- Thursday (outdoor), Friday (indoor)
5L - Wednesday (outdoor), Friday (indoor)
5S - Monday (indoor and outdoor)
6G - Wednesday (indoor and outdoor)
6M - Thursday (indoor and outdoor)
6MC - Tuesday (outdoor), Friday (indoor)
-School Reminders-
Healthy School Snacks
For our break time snack, we ensure pupils only have fresh fruit or a savoury snack which is full of goodness and will keep pupils full until lunch!
Whilst our team makes every effort to check and speak to pupils about snacks, our healthy approach places trust in parents and carers working with us to ensure this takes place.
Examples of permitted snacks include:
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Plain rice cakes
Plain breadsticks
Pure fruit, such as 'Yo-Yo Bears'
Plain crackers
Ryvita crackers
Bagels
Cream cheese
Marmite
Hummus
Babybels/Cheese triangles
Examples of snacks not permitted are:
Cereal bars
Cakes, biscuits or sweets
'Lunchbox' chocolate bars
Crisips
'Belvita' biscuits or 'Go Ahead' Bars
PE Kit
School PE kit to be worn only on PE days.
Red PE sweatshirt with the school logo
OR
Plain red PE sweatshirt with NO visible branding.
White t-shirt with the school logo
OR
Plain White t-shirt with NO visible branding.
Red Shorts
Plain black jogging/tracksuit bottoms with NO visible branding.
White or Grey Socks
Black Trainers. NO football studded shoes.
Pupil Premium Grants
All pupils at SASM are entitled to receive a free school lunch. To enable your child to access this, you must book your child's lunch via ParentPay.com.
If you were previously eligible for means tested free school meals or are in receipt of any of the following benefits...
income support
income-based job seeker's allowance
income-related employment and support allowance
the guarantee element of state pension credit
support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
child tax credit (but not working tax credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190
working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
...your child maybe eligible for a Pupil Premium Grant. This will gives your child access to:
This gives your child access to:
A free after school club every half term
A free 'stay and play' session in our Wrap Around Care each week
A free place at Breakfast Club every day
A discount on school residential visits
... and much more!
Please contact the school office if you have any issues with activating an account.
Lost Property
Please remember to label your child’s uniform, lunch box and water bottle. All named lost property will be returned to your child by the next school day. Unlabelled property will be kept for one week only in the school office.
Please send a water bottle with your child...
Its important to ensure that our pupils stay hydrated throughout the day. Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle. To avoid any mix-ups, kindly label the bottle with your child's name. Thank you.
Parking outside SASM
If you are driving to drop your children off or pick them up from school, please park considerately on the surrounding roads. Please don't park over driveways or over the zig zag lines. This helps keep everyone safe.
Whilst the school is not responsible for enforcing street parking, we have advised our local community to report all instances of poor parking or behaviour to the police.
Uniform donations warmly welcomed!
If your child has outgrown their school uniform over the summer break (including shoes, plimsolls or trainers) and they are still in good condition, please consider donating them to our uniform shop. You can drop off any unwanted school uniform or shoes at the office.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
No toys in school please!
No toys in school please!
We would like to remind parents and carers that pupils are not permitted to bring their own toys or collectables into school. Not only do toys provide a distraction from pupils' learning, there is a potential for personal items to be misplaced. Please be aware that any lost toys, collectible cards or other play items are beyond the responsibility of the school.
No jewellery in school please!
No jewellery in school please!
Children can wear watches to school but the wearing of jewellery and earrings of all types is not permitted on safety grounds. Any child wearing earrings to school will be asked to remove them. If they are unable to remove them they will be required to stay inside during break and lunch times and will not be able to participate in any PE or physical activities.
No smart watches in school please!
No smart watches in school please!
Fitness trackers without smart watch capability are permitted but St Andrew’s and St Mark’s accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of these items. Smart watches, including iWatches- are not permitted due to their messaging capabilities.
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