November 10, 2022

St. Mark's Prepares for Saturday's Groton Games

Groton Day is this Saturday, and our St. Mark's Lions

have been busy getting ready to face off against the Zebras

and earn back the coveted raccoon coat. School spirit was on full display this week, as students, faculty, and staff participated in daily

dress themes leading up to the big games. Go, St. Mark's!


Here is a link to more Spirit Week photos on SmugMug.


Read on to learn what is happening Inside the Pride.

Above: Ms. Behnke and Ms. Jones on Red Day (L). Students dressed for warm weather and sunny skies on Summer vs. Winter Day (R). Photos by: Sandra Levandowski

The St. Mark’s Theater Department Proudly Presents…

 

Men on Boats

A play by Jacklyn Backhaus

 

Wednesday through Friday, November 16, 17, and 18 at

7:00 p.m. in the Black Box Theater

  

Please email Mr. Kent to reserve tickets. It's free!

 

There is limited seating (for 100 lucky people) available each night.


All visitors should adhere to the St. Mark’s visitor policy. Please arrive on time. No late admission.

What's the story?

Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. Men on Boats, 

a play by Jacklyn Backhaus, is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. Along the way, they make friends, get on each other’s nerves, suffer loss, doubt, struggle, and name mountains after themselves. They posture and pretend,

they quit while they’re ahead, and they repeatedly

brave dangerous rapids to reach the other side. 

This Week


Grades and Comments: Register in the New Portal by Tomorrow!

As previously shared, summative grades and comments for each class will be available on Monday, November 21. In order to view grades and comments, families need to register ahead of time in the new portal.

A reminder to please register in the portal by tomorrow, November 11


Helpful tips on how to register:


  • Review this email reminder for registration sent on November 8.
  • Follow the instructions sent on November 9 in the email From: "St. Mark's School" <stmarksschool@myschoolapp.com> Subject: Connect to St. Mark's School, which outlined instructions for how to register and login to the new portal.
  • Note: grades will now be accessible through a new platform, Education Management powered by Blackbaud, so these instructions are prompting you to set up an account by creating a Blackbaud ID.


If you have trouble setting up your account, please contact helpdesk@stmarksschool.org or call 508.786.4001. Thank you!


Winter St. Mark’s Saturdays Course Registration Opens Monday

The Experiential Learning Office is excited to share this course catalog for the winter trimester of St. Mark's Saturdays. Over the next few days, please spend some time reviewing the course descriptions. Course registration will begin at 10:15 a.m. this Monday, November 14, and will end on Friday, November 18. 

 

Please note the following:

  • V Form Students will NOT register for an elective. They will automatically enroll in the V Form College Core.
  • VI Form students will NOT register for an elective UNLESS they are participating in Lions Roam or a Global Trip (Costa Rica, Los Angeles, or Camping) during Lion Term. Students not participating in Lions Roam or a Global Trip will automatically enroll in the VI Form Lion Term Core.


Lastly, as a reminder, the winter trimester of St. Mark's Saturday will begin on January 7, 2023. Classes will meet five times throughout the trimester: January 7, January 14, January 28, February 11, and February 25.

 

Please reach out to Ms. Nicks (jilliannicks@stmarksschool.org) or Ms. Bates (caseybates@stmarksschool.org) if you have any questions about the winter trimester.


Don't Forget: COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Clinic, November 11

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Mobile Vaccine Unit through Project Rise will be at St. Mark's School on Friday, November 11, from 3:00—5:00 p.m. to offer COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Vaccine to eligible adults and students. Those who registered for the clinic should go to the Hinkle Room at their appointment time in order to receive the vaccine.


St. Mark's Saturdays Classes Will Meet November 12

SM Saturdays classes will meet this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please note the earlier start time on Groton Day! School Meeting will follow classes. Next Saturday, November 19, will be the final day of SM Saturdays classes for the fall season.


Chapel


Evening Chapel and Seated Meal This Monday, November 14

A reminder that seated meal and evening Chapel will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. this Monday, November 14. Chapel dress is required. The remaining seated meal and evening Chapel dates for the year are: January 30, February 27, April 27, and June 7. 


Lessons and Carols, December 6 and December 8

Please join the St. Mark's School Choir and Orchestra for a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas! This year, St. Mark's School's beloved Service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas will take place on two nights: December 6 and December 8. Students and families will attend one of the two services, and more information on which service your student is scheduled to attend will be provided after Thanksgiving Break. 


College Counseling


Practice ACT Exam for IV Form Students, December 10

The Department of College Counseling will be offering a practice ACT exam on the morning of December 10. We expect all IV Form students to take advantage of this practice testing opportunity. Students received a Google Form last week to sign up for the exam. This letter from Eric Monheim, which was sent to IV Form parents, contains more information. Please reach out to testing coordinator Joelle Gilmore (joellegilmore@stmarksschool.org) with any questions.


Community and Equity


Weekly Reflection

Greetings from the Community and Equity Affairs Office


Here is this week's promptThe late and former U.S. Senator and Attorney General Robert Kennedy is credited as saying, “Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.”


With that line in mind, consider the following: When reflecting on your own progress, can you identify your own “enemies” of change, and how might you develop methods to challenge them in order to improve and move forward?

 

Community Life and Student Engagement


Weekend Activities

Want to know what's happening this weekend? Check out the Weekend Activities Google Doc for on-campus events and trips to off-campus locations.


Register for Thanksgiving Break Transportation by Tomorrow!

St. Mark’s is arranging bus transportation to New York City and shuttles to airports for Thanksgiving break. Please see the transportation dates and times on this flyer. The deadline to sign up is Friday, November 11, at 4:00 p.m. In order to register, you must email your name and phone number directly to Jeanmarie Morey (jeanmariemorey@stmarksschool.org). Your seat is not reserved until you receive confirmation. Thank you!


Thanksgiving Break Departure and Return

As you finalize your plans for Thanksgiving break, remember that students are free to leave School after SM Saturdays classes on November 19. Students may leave as early as noon and must depart by 5:00 p.m.

Please refer to this helpful November Break Departure and Return Information form.

 

Also, keep in mind that St. Mark's does not excuse any early departures or late returns around our major school vacations (Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring Break). While we understand that travel convenience is a plus during these busy times, and that family engagements are important, we must do all we can to preserve our class and community time. We thank you in advance for referencing the school calendar, which you can find on pages

2—4 of the Student Handbook.


Patterson-Sculley House Move-In Plan and New Slideshow

If you have not done so already, please read this important email from Dean of Community Life David Vachris, which was sent to all families on Tuesday, November 1. It outlines important information about the opening of St. Mark’s new residence hall, Patterson-Sculley House, later this month and includes specific details and dates for packing and moving.


A few notes about packing for the move:

  • Students should take and pack three small boxes and one medium box. Boxes must be color-coded and labeled. Don't worry, the moving company will move more than the four boxes! Packed bags (duffel, not garbage), closed containers, suitcases, standing lamps, and refrigerators that are properly labeled will make the trip with the movers. 
  • Local families whose students will be moving into the new building are encouraged to bring extra, unneeded items home with them in the next week. Please do what you can to reduce our "moving imprint" by taking items home (or to a local friend's house) this weekend. 
  • More updates, including this slideshow, were shared in a student information session on Monday, November 7.
  • Questions can be directed to Maggie Caron and David Vachris.


Athletics


St. Mark's Hosts Cross Country Championships this Saturday

St. Mark's is hosting the Division II New England Cross Country Championships this Saturday, November 12. We will have over 1,000 people on campus for this terrific event!

 

Important Reminders:

  • No parking spots will be available in the Day Student Lot and Athletic Lot on Saturday morning. Day students should carpool if possible and should park behind the Annex off of Main Street. 
  • Faculty and staff who commute to campus should park by the Grounds building or the Thieriot Lot. 
  • Students: please put away belongings in your locker in the locker rooms or take things home/back to your dorm room. Our visitors will be using nearly every space in our athletic building.
  • Please avoid West Campus between 12:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. as there will be more than 700 runners on our championship course during that timespan.

 

Alum Spotlight: Caroline Peterson '18

Caroline Peterson '18 was featured in the Boston Globe last week for her leadership as captain of the Providence College women's hockey team! The Friars are currently ranked #10 in the most recent USCHO Division I poll as they have started the year 9-2-1 overall and 6-1-1 in Hockey East play.


Read the Boston Globe article here.  

Caroline's full bio can be found here.


Advancement


Save the Date: Parent Phonathon

The phonathon will be Tuesday, November 15, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. It is National Philanthropy Day! Parent volunteers will be calling you, so please take the call and connect with another parent to support St. Mark's!


Please Register for the New York City Regional Reception

Gather with St. Mark’s alumni and parents, and connect with Head of School John C. Warren ’74 at the Harold Pratt House in New York on Tuesday, December 6. Register here.


Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for parent volunteers to help organize our parent contributions and staffing for the upcoming Exam Bake on December 13. Please contact Stacie Allen (stacieallen@stmakrsschool.org) if you would like to help lead this popular program.


Around the Quad



For St. Mark's Swag, shop the SALE at the Online School Store

The online St. Mark's School store is currently having a 20-percent-off sale on hoodies for the month of November. Shop the sale here.


For More on What's Happening Inside the Pride


Check out photos from campus on our School's SmugMug page.


View the latest news stories on our website.

Calendar Highlights:

Nov. 11 Groton Night

Nov. 12 SMS; Groton Day

Nov. 14 Evening Chapel & Seated Meal

Nov. 16 Fall Play

Nov. 17 Fall Play

Nov. 18 Fall Play

Nov. 19 Thanksgiving Break Begins at noon

Nov. 29 Return from Thanksgiving Break

Click to View the Online School Calendar 
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