St. Mark School E-Newsletter - January 19, 2020

St. Mark School

A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

St. Mark School is a Christ-centered learning environment that teaches Gospel values and fosters academic excellence. Aware of the dignity and uniqueness of all students, we are committed to the spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical development of each child.

Grade 7 using Ozobot, a tiny line robot, to learn coding in a hands-on and engaging way during Innovation class. Students use different color markers that correspond to directional movements to create a path for Ozobot to follow.

January 19, 2020

Dear St. Mark Families,

Each year, Christian churches all over the world celebrate a very special week of prayer called the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. During the week of January 18th- January 25th, 2020, I invite you to pray together as a family unit that all people who believe in Jesus will spread his Good News of love wherever they go:

Spirit of Unity, show us the path to Christian unity. Help us to be welcoming to all, teach us to respect everyone we meet, and guide us to treat all people with unusual kindness, as Jesus would have us do. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Melissa Warner

Grade 7 using Ozobot, a tiny line robot, to learn to code in a hands-on and engaging way during Innovation Class. Students use different color markers that correspond to directional movements to create a path for Ozobot to follow. Click on the video above to see our students and Ozobot in action!

Personalized Learning Information Session

Please join us on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7pm in the Parish Center for a Personalized Learning Information Session presented by Stacy Clements, Personalized Learning Coach for Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools.

We are excited to share what Personalized Learning means for classroom instruction, demonstrate growth made by our students, and share how targeted use of technology plays a role in our classrooms. Ms. Clements will present information on topics including how to interpret the data collected through the Exact Path Diagnostic Assessments, how data collected impacts classroom instruction, and next steps.

In order to address as many questions as possible during this presentation, please click here to submit your questions in advance. there will also be an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.

No child care will be provided at this meeting, but children are welcome to attend.

Grade 8 History Class, students are working in cooperative groups to match pictures from the Unit on the Roaring 20's with the appropriate caption.

Dr. Cheeseman, Superintendent of Schools, Visits St. Mark

Superintendent of Schools (and Alumni Parent), Dr. Steven Cheeseman, recently stopped in for a visit to see all the exciting and engaging learning happening at St. Mark School. Dr. Cheeseman visited with students in several classrooms and stopped into Grade 8 to discuss their plans for their future.

2019-2020 Annual Fund Update

This year, we have set a goal to raise $12,000 for St. Mark School through our Annual Fund. Currently, we are 2/3 of the way to reaching that goal, with a little more than $8,000 raised to date.

Because of the generosity of our current parents, grandparents, faculty/staff, and board members, students continue to benefit from opportunities to learn, grow, and excel.

To help us reach our goal, please click here to visit our school website and give online.

Gifts to St. Mark School are tax deductible to the extent provide by law and are eligible for matched giving.

Percent of Annual Fund Participation

Grade

Grade 8 - 25%

Grade 7 - 14%

Grade 6 - 7%

Grade 5 - 18%

Grade 4 - 7%

Grade 3 - 10%

Grade 2 - 4%

Grade 1 - 7%

Grade K - 4%

Grade PK - 4%

Constituents

School Advisory Board - 100%

Faculty/Staff - 81%

Current Parents - 15%

Grandparents - 7%

The Annual Fund makes a difference in the lives of our students. It's not the size of the gift that matters, it's your participation. Thank you!

Grant Award

St. Mark School is the proud recipient of a $500 Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance School Grant. Thank you to Preschool parent, Steven Pastir, for nominating our school through Global Companies.

Catholic Schools Week

January 26th-February 1st

National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States.

This year’s theme is

Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.

This theme encompasses the core products and values that can be found at St. Mark School and in Catholic schools across the country. Not only are we teaching students to become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples and enriched citizens in our communities, we, as educators, are growing with them. In Catholic schools, we are all learners, servants and leaders.

At St. Mark School we will be celebrating our students, faculty and staff, parish, and community through a variety of special events, service projects, and fun!

Schedule of events:

Sunday, January 26th: Open House, 10am-1pm

Monday, January 27th: Silly Sock/Silly Hat Day Wear a silly hat and/or socks. Donate a warm winter hat or socks to benefit the homeless and less fortunate.

Tuesday, January 28th: Care and Share student service project

Wednesday, January 29th: Student Appreciation Day

Thursday, January 30th: Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day

Friday, January 31st: Color Wars

Friday, January 31st: Grade 8 vs. Faculty Volleyball Game at 1pm

Friday, January 31st: PJ Party, 6:30-9pm, Grades PreK-5

Open House

Help us promote our Open House by posting a sign! If you have a business or association that will host a yard sign, please let us know and we’ll post it. Please reach out to Mrs. Mannino or stop by the Main Office to pick up your yard sign today!

In an effort to promote our Open House, we are asking families to post a promotion on their social media page(s). We are happy to customize the post with a school picture of your child(ren). Please click here and complete the following and your customized post will be emailed to you within 24 hours. THANK YOU!

Bishop's Scholarship Fund

Bishop’s Scholarship Fund (BSF) provides tuition assistance to help families afford a Catholic Education.

Applications Open Feb 1st!

All families with students in next year's grades Kindergarten-Grade 8 are eligible to apply. Families apply online via FACTS Grant & Aid, making certain to complete all questions regarding BSF, submit supporting documentation and the $30 FACTS processing fee.

Application requires the entire 2018 IRS Federal tax return along with 2019 W2s. If applicants do not receive W-2s, then they must submit 2019 tax return.

Deadline to apply - March 15 for current families; April 15 for new families
Award notifications - Early May for current families; Late May for new families

For more information visit: www.foundationsineducation.org/bishops-scholarship-fund

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

St. Mark School will be closed on Monday, January 20th, 2020 in observation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. King. For the past 25 years, MLK day has been designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. I encourage all our students and families to find a small, yet meaningful way, to make a difference in the community this month in dedication to the important role Dr. King has played in our country's history. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.

St. Mark School's Scholastic Book Fair will be held on January 22nd-26th. During this time, your child will have the opportunity to shop an extensive variety of books from Scholastic, Inc during school. Be sure to check your child's backpack, or click here , to check out St. Mark School's Scholastic Book Fair Webpage and browse the Book Fair Flyer.

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.

Please also visit our social media pages for updates on our school community.