This week’s Gospel follows closely behind the Gospel read last Sunday. It is the last of three questions put to Jesus, which illustrate the theme of mounting tension between Jesus and the religious leaders in Jerusalem. A Pharisee asks Jesus about the greatest of the commandments. Jesus answers, all of the commandments can be summarized in two commandments: love God and love your neighbor.

Together, we can help the children of St. Mark School to love God and love their neighbors by showing everyday acts of kindness, generosity, and gratitude—our own expressions of our love for God. These acts, small and large, are the expression of what Jesus identified as the two greatest commandments: love God and love neighbor.

© Loyola Press Sunday Connection

As we continue on in this school year with the theme of gratitude, let us be grateful that God has protected our students, and ask for His continued blessings on our families. I wish you all continued good health and God's blessings.

Per our St. Mark School's 2020-2021 Parent and Student Handbook, winter uniform begins Monday, November 2nd. Both the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools and St. Mark School Reopening Documents include no ties for boys during the 2020-21 school year due to the increased risk they pose to carrying and collecting germs.

Therefore, Kindergarten-Grade 8 boys can continue to wear short or long sleeve polos with our St. Mark School logo.

If they so choose, boys can wear a white oxford button down shirt according to the uniform policy, without a tie. However, grades K through 4 boys must wear a knit navy vest with our school name over the white oxford shirt. Grade 5 through 8 boys must wear a zip up navy fleece with our school name.

Girls in grades 5 through 8 must wear a zip up navy blue fleece with school name.

In lieu of a vest or fleece, the addition of a navy blue or white cardigan style sweater without a school logo for girls K through 8 is an option. Boys K through 8 may wear a navy crew neck sweater without a school logo.

Grade 8 boys and girls are afforded the privilege of choosing a pastel or white (short or long sleeve) polo with our St. Mark School logo. Class of 2021 class sweatshirt is an option to wear instead of a sweater or fleece.

Please contact Mrs. Mannino at cmannino@stmarkschool.org with any questions.

Preschool through Grade 8 students are invited to wear appropriate Halloween costumes to school on Thursday, October 29th. We ask that you please use discretion on appropriate costumes for school. Politically motivated costumes are discouraged. As there are young children in our school, costumes should not be scary or offensive.

COVID 19 face masks are required.

Students may choose to dress down in orange/black or Halloween/Fall spirit wear in lieu of a costume.

Please keep the following information in mind:

Please contact Mrs. Mannino at cmannino@stmarkschool.org with any questions.

We would like to remind you to stay current on Connecticut's travel advisory as we begin to enter the holiday months. Please visit the following link for a current list of areas the State of Connecticut has issued as high risk along with the State's current travel guidelines. https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel

Any stay for more than 24hrs in an affected state requires a 14 day self-quarantine upon return or individuals may opt to have a "PCR" Covid test done within 72hrs prior to or upon returning to Connecticut.

This list is updated every Tuesday. If you have any questions or concerns you may reach out to me at fratew@stratk12.org.

As a reminder, please check for the following before sending your child to school every morning:

1.Does your child have any of the following symptoms?

If the answer is Yes to any of these questions, Do Not send your child to school. Instead, begin quarantine of your child and contact your healthcare provider.

Click here for a printable daily screening tool for parents.

Please email our school nurse, Wendy Frate, RN at fratew@stratk12.org with any COVID 19 related questions or concerns.  

As a reminder, St. Mark School's 2020-21 Addendum to the Parent/Student Handbook Related to the Covid-19 Pandemic requires face masks to be worn by adults and students while in the parking lot during arrival and dismissal times. Please do not remove your face mask, or allow your child to remove theirs, until you have returned to your vehicle.

In order to keep all students and families safe during dismissal procedures, adults are asked to gather in (or in close proximity to) the coned off parking spots in front of school doors to pick up your child.

Allowing children to run down the parking lot to their waiting adult poses a significant safety risk to all. Therefore, teachers will not dismiss a student until they feel it is safe to do so.

Please keep in mind, the area is an active parking lot, with cars arriving and leaving. Adults are asked to keep your children close to you, especially our youngest students, and not allow them to run through the parking lot.

New this past summer, returning St. Mark students Grades 1 through 8 were encouraged to participate in the 2020 Governor's Reading Challenge. This year, 20 students participated and read a total of 483 books.

I'd like to congratulate and recognize the following students for their participation:

Our top reader, Aibhlinn in Grade 6, for recording 122 books read. Aibhlinn will receive an e-gift certificate to Barnes and Noble Bookstore and a dress down pass!

Grade 5 for the highest percentage of class participation; they will be recognized with a special treat!

The following students will receive an official certificate and dress down pass for their participation:

Gavin, Grade 1

Caroline, Grade 1

Arthur, Grade 2

Jase, Grade 2

William, Grade 3

Alexandra, Grade 3

Mia, Grade 4

Connor, Grade 4

Maeve, Grade 4

Julianne, Grade 5

Charli, Grade 5

Anna, Grade 5

Marc, Grade 5

Isabella, Grade 5

Amelia, Grade 5

Gigi, Grade 5

Aibhlinn, Grade 6

Ava, Grade 6

Shaelyn, Grade 8

David, Grade 8

Due to the pandemic and COVID safety guidelines, we could not shave heads or cut hair during a school wide assembly this year. However, our students and families kept the spirit of our tradition alive raising $1,913 through the purchase of 51 pink hair extensions for girls, participating in a pink dress down day, and collecting pledges in support.

Over the last 11 years, we are proud to report that we have raised over $23,000 for the Elizabeth Pfriem Swim Cancer Center at St. Vincent's Medical Hospital.

We are grateful to CKC Salon of Fairfield for volunteering their time for a third year in a row in support of this charitable event!

A special thank you to the event chairperson Christine Flaig, the parents who donated their time to make the event happen, and all those who donated to this worthy cause!

This week, 6th grade students took part of their reading block outdoors, listening to their shared read aloud short story, The Landlady by Roald Dahl. Students shared their predictions, discussed the plot and character traits, and continued to build their conclusion of the central theme while enjoying the fall sun and a mask break.

First grade students went on a Fall scavenger hunt; collecting acorns, twigs, leaves and more during science this week. Students selected 2 different color leaves to bring back to their classroom for analysis and discussion. They compared and contrasted their leaves, used them to create leaf rubbings, and labeled the parts of the leaf.

In preschool, our Little Lions stayed in the theme of Fall by practicing number recognition on acorns, sequencing leaves falling from a tree, and building scarecrows!

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.