Dear St. Mark Families,
October is an enjoyable time of the year in New England. The autumn season manifests itself with wonderful fall foliage and the temperatures are cooler. It is perfect for outdoor activities, football, nature walks, and apple or pumpkin picking.
At St. Mark School, October is an important time of the year for community service. Our faculty, students, and families have a deep understanding that e
very action gives faithful, informed, regular service to address needs within our communities can embody the very spirit of Christ. That joyful ministry of service can be a measurable benefit both to the people who are helped, and to the volunteer helpers. Some ways we have put the Gospel Value of Service into action include:
- St. Mark students and families donated 25 Halloween costumes, 30 treat bags, and assorted Halloween accessories to the Sterling House Community Center, to bring a little extra Halloween fun to local children.
- The 10th Annual St. Mark School Cut-A-Thon raised over $1,550 this year! To date, St. Mark School has donated over $21,000 to the Elizabeth Pfriem SWIM Cancer Center at St. Vincent's Medical Hospital. I would like thank the St. Mark student heroes who participated by cutting their hair and having their head shaved for this special event. A special thank you to the event chairperson, the parents who donated their time to make the event happen, CKC Salon of Fairfield for volunteering their time for a second year in a row, and all those who donated to this worthy cause!
- The St. Mark Home School Association (HSA) hosted a shoe drive to benefit Zappos Soles for Souls program. The drive was extremely successful and the HSA collected 415 pairs of shoes!! The shoes will be distributed to the impoverished across the United States and to countries around the world. Thank you to all who donated shoes to this important cause.
Looking ahead, a few important reminders:
Wednesday, October 23rd, we will host evening conferences from 5-8pm for families who are scheduled to meet with our faculty and staff. Parent/teacher conferences are an opportunity for you and your child’s teacher(s) to discuss his or her academic, social/emotional, and spiritual growth. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday evening.
Friday, October 25th is the annual St. Mark Monster Mash in the Parish Center. This event is for the enjoyment of St. Mark students only. Children in attendance must be accompanied by an adult: no drop offs, please. Costumes with fake blood, weapons, and/or masks are not permitted, as these costumes may be harmful or frightening to other children.
Decorate your car trunk and join us for some fun activities on Sunday, October 27th, 4:00‐5:00pm in the school parking lot at St. Mark School Trunk or Treat. St. Mark Father's Club (SMFC) will be hosting a pumpkin painting contest from 3:00-4:00pm prior to trunk or treat. Bring your own pumpkin; paint will be provided. In lieu of an entrance fee, SMFC is collecting Halloween candy to be sent overseas to men and women serving in our Armed Forces. In the case of inclement weather, trick or treating will move inside the school. Students will parade through the building, as parents line the hallway and pass out candy. The parade will end in the Church Hall where refreshments will be sold and pumpkin painting will take place.
Save the date for St. Mark School Pre-K and Kindergarten Open House on Sunday, November 10th, 10am-1pm. I hope that you will help spread the word to prospective families, neighbors, fellow parishioners, and friends to come and see what St. Mark School has to offer:
Academic Excellence
Faith
Community
A reminder of the St. Mark School uniform policy. Students are not permitted to wear sweatshirts during school on non-gym days. An exception to this policy is the Grade 8 class sweatshirt, which is a privilege. If a student wears a sweatshirt as outerwear to school or during recess time, they will be asked to remove it when they settle into class. Please see the St. Mark Student and Parent Handbook for the full uniform policy. Winter uniform begins on November 1st.
Finally, please visit our school website regularly at www.stmarkschool.org. Important school updates including copies of notices, newsletters, HSA links, and school calendars can all be accessed on the website. You can even see updates from our Facebook Page!
Yours in Christ,
Melissa Warner
