St. Mark School E-Newsletter

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.

May 28, 2021

Dear St. Mark Families,

As we enter the Memorial Day holiday weekend, please join me in offering a prayer for all who have died in service to our nation.

God of power and mercy,

you destroy war and put down earthly pride.

Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,

that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters.

Keep in your mercy those men and women

who have died in the cause of freedom

and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

-borrowed from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers

Please do not reply to this email. If you have questions, comments or concerns please email me directly.

From the Nurse's Office

Updated guidance from the State of Connecticut Departments of Education and Public Health regarding school events and end-of-year activities clearly distinguishes between indoor and outdoor school gatherings. Specifically, schools operating indoor events either inside the school building or at another indoor venue off-campus should continue to incorporate the layered mitigation strategies that have been incorporated throughout the school year in the interest of protecting in-person learning. This guidance is applicable to Class Night 2021, Graduation, and all indoor End of Year class activities. Click here for more information from the CSDE and DPH.

Models In Christ

St. Mark School's Models in Christ social and emotional learning program is based on the Catholic Theological Virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Students in grades K through 8 are recognized for demonstrating the character trait that is highlighted each month such as respect, kindness, responsibility/accountability, citizenship, perseverance, and trustworthiness.

Our vision is that this program will teach students the value of strong moral character and the positive impact of their actions do not go unnoticed. Our faculty and staff would like to recognize students who embody the ideals of St. Mark School through actions and attitude; those students who go above and beyond inside the classroom and school community to show they are models of Christ.

Today, the following students were recognized by having their name announced and presented with an award and commemorative gold cross pin.

Grade 8 Spotlight

Congratulations to 8th Graders, Shaelyn and Sydney, for their outstanding participation in the Knights of Columbus Connecticut State Council 2021 Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest.

Shaelyn's poster design was chosen as the state winner in the Drug Awareness category (age group 12-14). Sydney's poster design was chosen as the state winner in the Alcohol Awareness category (age group 12-14).

St. Mark Parent Appreciation Day

Today, Friday, May 28th is St. Mark Parent Appreciation Day. Thank you for the support and patience shown this school year! We had successes and some challenges, yet despite all, we continued the work that needed to be done to ensure the safety and educational needs of our students. Together, we are stronger!

Visit our St. Mark School website, www.stmarkschool.org to see our parent appreciation posts on our Facebook feed.

In our Community

This past Friday, St. Mark students were treated to a day of activities, games, and fun for Field Day 2021. Thank you to Ms. McCone, PE Teacher, Mrs. Christoffersen, HSA Vice-President, and every parent volunteer who invested their time and enthusiasm to ensure a successful event!

On Friday evening, students from Preschool through Grade 8 performed in our annual St. Mark Variety Show -"The Show Must Go On". A big thank you to all who volunteered their time to make this show a success. This was the final performance for our 8th graders, as they will be graduating in 2 short weeks. Our St. Mark faculty and I are proud of all their accomplishments and wish them nothing but God's blessings in their future.

On Tuesday, May 25th, 39 students in Grades 6 through 8 were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. In addition to their successful scholarship, these students were recognized for their service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Thank you to Ms. Veith, faculty advisor, for her effort in planning a beautiful induction ceremony.

The Power of Prayer

If you have a prayer intention, please submit your request to St. Mark School's prayer line by clicking here. Your intention will be remembered during our Afternoon Prayers and Announcements.

For Parish information, visit: https://www.saintmarkchurchstratford.org/

For important information and updates on COVID-19, visit the

Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools website

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.

Visit our social media pages for updates on our school community.