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 1, 2020
Dear St. Mark Families,
 
This fourth Sunday of the Easter season is sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday because the Gospel reading invites us to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Throughout John’s Gospel the Pharisees fail to accept Jesus’ ministry and teaching. They show themselves to be “robbers and thieves” because they try to lead the sheep without entering through the gate, Jesus. Through these metaphors, Jesus is telling his listeners that those who follow him and his way will find abundant life. He identifies himself both as the shepherd and the gate.

Sunday's Gospel also gives us the opportunity to reflect on Christian leadership. Jesus’ words suggest to us that those who will lead the Christian community will be known by their faithfulness to Jesus. The leaders will recognize that Jesus is the gate for all of the sheep and that having a good relationship with Jesus is the primary characteristic of a Christian leader. Jesus’ allegory also suggests that faithful Christian leadership requires a good relationship with the community: the shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him. Christian leaders follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by being faithful to him and by being a good shepherd.
© 2020 Loyola Press

As partner's in your children's faith formation, we are depending on you to carry on the role of shepherd of your own family's faith journey during this difficult time. I cannot tell you how much it breaks my heart that we cannot celebrate First Friday Mass together today. In light of that, I'm asking that we all follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepard, by being faithful to him and attend weekly Mass virtually using the following links:

St. Mark Parish:

Diocese of Bridgeport, weekly Mass with Bishop Caggiano:

Weekly Audience with Pope Francis:

I look forward to celebrating in spirit with you and your family this Sunday. Please know that I continue to hold all of you in my prayers and I hope you will do the same for me and my family. Stay healthy and safe.

Yours In Christ,
Melissa Warner
Calendar Update

Please read carefully and note the following important adjustments to the 2019-2020 school year calendar:

  • Friday, May 8th will be an instructional day, as three extra professional development days for teachers were added to April vacation.

  • Monday, May 25th remains a Federal Holiday, no instruction.

  • Friday, May 29th is the last day of instruction for Grade 8 students, as the second to last week of school is traditionally Grad Week.

  • Friday, June 12th is the last day of instruction for PK-Grade 7.

Please be advised that these dates will be the same whether we are together in the school building or continuing with Distance Learning.
St. Mark School Family Kahoot!!

Congratulations to Avery, Grade 5 for winning St. Mark Trivia!!

Since our St. Mark Trivia Kahoot! was so successful, we have planned another school-wide Kahoot! Disney trivia game. Test your Disney knowledge and engage in a family-fun activity together at 7pm this Friday, May 1.

To play you will need a computer screen to see the Kahoot! questions (broadcasted over a Zoom video conference call) and as many hand-held devices as there will be players. We are limited to 100 participants on the Zoom call, so please limit one Zoom call per family. An unlimited amount of players can play within the family on their devices.

Please click here or check your inbox for our Home School Association email with more information to participate in St. Mark School's Kahoot! Disney Trivia Game.
Virtual Variety Show

The St. Mark School Variety Show is one of our most beloved events of the year and while it can be a lot of work for the coordinators, to see the pride in the children's eyes makes it all worth it.

Due to our current situation, we cannot be together this year to be entertained by our students. In an effort to keep our community bonds and traditions strong, we are planning a Virtual Variety Show. The Virtual Variety Show will take place throughout the day on Friday, May 15 on our school website and Facebook page. We will let you know what time your child's performance will air. We will complete the day with the Gr. 8 farewell to St. Mark act.

Please click here or check your inbox for our Home School Association email with more information to participate in St. Mark School's Virtual Variety Show 2020.
Distant Grandparents & Special Friend Day

St. Mark School Grandparents & Special Friend's Day was planned for Wednesday, May 13. Since we can't be together, we still want to share our love for Grandparents and special friends including aunts, uncles, Godparents, adult siblings, adult cousins, neighbors, teachers and/or family friends.

Our Home School Association has planned several opportunities for St. Mark students and families to participate in our Distant Grandparents & Special Friends Day Celebration.

For more details, please click here or check your inbox for the Home School Association email to participate in St. Mark School's Distance Grandparents & Special Friend Day.
Community Service Opportunities

Food Drive for Greater Bridgeport Area
St. Mark Church Food drive on Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Food donations may be dropped off at the PARISH CENTER ENTRANCE where there will be some members of Knights of Columbus to receive food items from you and deliver them at Sterling House and Blessed Sacrament parish. To make it convenient for you, please put food donations in bags and place them in your car trunk, drive up to the drop off place, open your trunk and our volunteers will collect them and take them to respective places. Your food donation is going to the same food pantries so you can donate your food in either places.

HOPE Cards
Yale New Haven launched a new program to invite the public to send cards, notes, or homemade pictures to the patients in their hospital. The hospital is seeing the impact of visitation limitations on many of their long-term hospitalized patients. Most of the patients are not able to see their family or have any visitors. Your well wishes will bring some much appreciated cheer!

Snack Drive for First Responders 
St. Mark School Snack Drive on Saturday, May 9 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Snack donations may be dropped off in the school parking lot during our Mother's Day Plant Sale Pick-Up. Snacks will be delivered to area First Responders. To make it convenient, there will be collection boxes in front of the playground, please put snack donations in bags and drop off in the designated boxes.

For a list of suggested food or snack items, and mailing address for HOPE Cards, please click here or check your inbox for our Home School Association email.
Save the Date!

Tuesday, May 5th has been designated Giving Tuesday —a global day of giving as an emergency response to the unprecedented need due to COVID19. Stay tuned and check your email and our St. Mark social media pages for more information on our Diocesan Wide Day of Giving:

Giving Tuesday NOW | FOR A BRIGHTER AND STRONGER TOMORROW
For Parish information, visit:   https://www.saintmarkchurchstratford.org/

For important information and updates on COVID-19, visit the
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.
Dates: At A Glance
  • May 8th: instructional day: Zoom classes held

  • May 25th remains a Federal Holiday, no instruction

  • May 29th: last day of instruction for Grade 8 students

  • June 12th: last day of instruction for PK-Grade 7
St. Mark School | 203-375-4291 |  www.stmarkschool.org
500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford, CT 06614
Prayer leads us forward in hope.
Pope Francis