News from the St. Mark's Dean of Students, Dean of Academics, and Dean of Faculty |
|
NEW: Celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth with St. Mark’s on Social Media #BHMatSM
Follow along as we celebrate Black heroes, provide C&E educational videos, and feature members of our community on social media this month! Select the links below view this week’s posts:
Save the Date! C&E Day is Wednesday, February 24
|
|
Academic News
NEW: Window Two and Semester One Grades Are Now Available
Window Two grades are now available in the parent portal. As a reminder, faculty will compose narrative comments to accompany grades at the close of Window Three. View Grades.
Advisor Conferencing
In place of the traditional midyear advisor letter, we have decided to offer a second round of advisor conferencing, in line with the opportunities for connection that we offered this fall. Advisors will reach out to families of their advisees to schedule a 20-25 minute virtual conference in the following windows of time: February 10 or 11, or between February 16 and 19. We ask that conferences not be scheduled during the upcoming four-day weekend (February 12-15) to ensure it remains meaningful rest for all in the community. This meeting is an opportunity to hear updates on your student's progress and share information with advisors. Ultimately, these conversations can inform action plans and support for your student in the weeks ahead, and allow us to deepen our partnership in care for your child. For those that cherish the advisor letter as a record of your student's experience, please be reassured that we are planning for a year-end advisor letter to celebrate the growth and learning that each student experienced over the course of this unique academic year.
NEW: Academic Support
St. Markers may access writing help, peer tutoring, and more via this document, which is posted in the Canvas Community Hub.
NEW: Lingoscope
The first monthly issue of Lingoscope is here! Lingoscope is a multi-language, student-run online platform where students learning foreign languages can engage with each other and publish their work. On our inaugural issue of Lingoscope, 18 submissions in eight languages written by students attending 10 schools in four countries were published.
Global Citizenship Virtual Exchange Program
The Global Citizenship Program had a very successful virtual exchange with students from our partner school in Gwalior, India. The Scindia School students and the St. Mark's students who participated in the two-week exchange program had the opportunity to visit each other's classes, to go to various activities on each other's campus, and to learn from each other about their cultures and how COVID has affected them and their countries. Final ceremonies were held on Sunday, January 31, and the students gave presentations that highlighted their time together. The next exchange will be in April with our partner school in Chile, The Grange School.
|
|
Parents' Association News
Parent Events
NEW: Recording of the Learn & Lead: Educating St. Mark’s for the 2020 Election
On February 2, 2021, St. Mark’s History and Social Sciences Department faculty member and Mr. and Mrs. George O’Neill Chair David Lyons, and alumnus
Rwick Sarkar ’19, who worked as an organizer for the Iowa Democratic Party, discussed how St. Mark’s students were exposed to, and educated about, the 2020 election. Watch the recording of the program here.
NEW: Recording of the III Form Parent Chat
On February 3, 2021, Head of School John C. Warren ’74 and Dr. Laura Appell-Warren met virtually with III Form parents. They gave parents a virtual tour of their home and discussed the III Form student experience in the second half of the year. Watch the recording of the program here.
February 8 - Parent Speaker Series - Supporting Student Wellness, 7:00 p.m. EST
Members of the Dean of Students Office will share new and continuing programs supporting student wellness. If you have not done so already, please register and submit your questions here.
A Zoom link will be sent to registrants an hour before the event. A recording of the meeting will also be shared in the Deans’ Weekly.
February 10, 2021 - St. Mark’s Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club
Other book titles suggested by members, in no particular order:
-
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
-
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
-
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
-
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
-
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
NEW: February 11, 2021 - Battle of the Brews/ Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day
The Parents’ Association is looking for parent volunteers to write "thank you" cards to St. Mark's faculty and staff. If you can help out, please contact Claudia Liberatore at claudia.liberatore@me.com, or 617.901.9599. Thank you!
NEW: February 11, 2021 - IV Form Parent Chat, 7:00 p.m. EST
Head of School John C. Warren ’74 and Dr. Laura Appell-Warren will give IV Form parents a virtual tour of their home and talk about the IV Form student experience. Chief Financial and Operations Officer Rob Kuklewicz and Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic will also join the conversation. Our virtual doors will open at 6:50 p.m. so parents can connect with each other before the program begins at 7:00 p.m.
You can also submit a question here.
NEW: February 17, 2021 - Stump Trivia, 7:00 p.m. EST
Following the success of our fall Pop Trivia night for St. Mark’s parents, we are now offering it again to our entire adult community! Join current parent Amy Frederick P’21 as she leads a fun and interactive evening of trivia. Please register here by February 16.
|
|
College Counseling
NEW: V Form Panel Discussion and Q&A Recording Now Available
Thank you to those who were able to join us on January 28 for the V Form Panel Discussion and Q&A. The event featured the following wonderful friends and colleagues: Thyra Briggs, vice president for enrollment & financial aid at Harvey Mudd College, Ken Sawada, associate director of admission at Syracuse University, and Leigh Weisenburger, dean of admission and financial aid at Bates College. A recording from the event is now available below.
|
|
Campus News
NEW: Lunar New Year Celebrations
The Asian Student Alliance (ASA) will be hosting the annual lunar new year celebration on Friday, February 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST. While we, unfortunately, can’t host a full dinner as with past years, we will have dim sum for students on campus and virtual games for everyone interested! Seats are limited (especially if you’re on campus and want dim sum) so please sign up with this google form to let us know you’re coming!
The deadline for sign-ups is Friday, February 5, and if you want to perform, the deadline to send in ideas or videos is Wednesday, February 10.
NEW: GSA Honoring Black History Month
February is Black History Month. GSA wants to honor this month by sharing some information with the SM Community! We have some media for you to look at, including links to websites that are good resources to learn about the intersections of the Black LGBTQ+ community. These each highlight different aspects of Black LGBTQ+ culture and history.
RESOURCES:
MOVIES:
- Moonlight
- Pariah
- Bessie
- Rafiki
- Blackbird
- Naz and Maalik
- Paris is Burning
- Kiki
- The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson
ARTICLES:
Great website with some overviews of intersectionality:
Profiles on Black Queer activists and trailblazers:
About whiteness of queer spaces and traditions:
About Sports:
REMINDER: School Pictures - February 11, 2021
Coffee Pond Photography looks forward to taking your student's school pictures on February 11 in the Lower Center. Each student will be photographed in several poses and will have several images from which families may order prints. Each family will receive a private password via email that will be used to access JUST their child’s images on our website. Our website contains easy to follow instructions for ordering a variety of package options. Below is important information that will give you access to your child's portrait.
Our EProof program will notify you via email when your child’s portrait proofs are ready to be viewed online. When you receive the email with a private password you can go directly to our company’s secure website www.coffeepond.com to place your order online. Coffee Pond accepts all major credit cards.
If you do not receive your child’s password within a few weeks after picture day, please be sure to contact our Customer Care Department at the email address below or by phone at 1-800-632-2323 x 0.
|
|
Reminder: Remote Student Portraits for the Yearbook
|
|
|
|
Label your photo:
lastname_firstname_graduationyear.jpeg
|
|
February 8 - Parent Speaker Series - Student Wellness | Register Now
February 10 - St. Mark’s Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club
February 11 - IV Form Parent Chat, 7:00 p.m. EST | Register Now
February 11 - Picture Day, Lower Center
February 11 - Battle of the Brews/Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day
February 12 - Lunar New Year
February 15 - Presidents' Day, No Classes
February 24 - Community & Equity Day
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
