St. Mark School
A 2009 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.

December 10, 2021
Dear St. Mark Families,

The theme of the season of Advent is sometimes described as a period of waiting for the birth of Jesus. However, the Gospel reading on the third Sunday of Advent suggests something different. John the Baptist did not tell the crowds to wait for the Messiah. He told them to prepare for the Messiah through acts of repentance. If Advent is a time of waiting, it is like the waiting we might do when preparing for dinner guests, a busy time of preparation. The challenge is to not make this season a frenzied time, but rather a time of joyful anticipation and making ready for God who comes to dwell among us and changes our lives with the gift of salvation.
I encourage all our St. Mark community members to discuss how Advent is a time for making ourselves ready to receive Jesus in our lives within your own family.
© Loyola Press Sunday Connection

I wish you all continued good health and God's blessings.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Warner 

Please do not reply to this email. If you have questions, comments or concerns please email me directly.
Quarter 2 Progress Reports and PlusPortals

PlusPortals is the Diocesan Student Information Web Portal System available to all parents, Grades K-8. PlusPortals provides parents access to student grades, attendance, announcements, and teacher emails.

A feature has been added to parent's PlusPortal dashboard this year: e-locker. Today, December 10th, parents of students in Grades K-8 can find a PDF copy of the 21-22 Quarter 2 Progress Report in the e-locker. Please note that Quarter 2 progress reports will not be sent home via backpack mail.

For our new families and Kindergarten families, you should have received an email from PlusPortals with an activation link to the primary email address provided on your child's emergency contact form in September. If you did not receive an activation link email from PlusPortals, please email Mrs. Mannino at cmannino@stmarkschool.org.

Any returning family that needs PlusPortals activation resent, please email Mrs. Mannino at the email address above.
Facilities Update

I am proud to share that in accordance with St. Mark School's 2020-2023 Long Range Strategic Plan, our classroom door handles and locks have been replaced in the upper school wing. Lower school wing will be completed for when school resumes in January. The enhanced security features in the new door handles allow teachers to lock classroom doors from the inside.
Student Quarantine Reminders

If your child is quarantining at home due to COVID-19, please contact his or her homeroom teacher directly to arrange for pick-up of textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials. Please be advised that student learning materials will be ready for pick-up after 3:30pm on the next school day.

Students who are quarantining, and feel well enough, are expected to turn in classwork daily to their teacher in order for their attendance to be marked "present" for the day.

If you have any questions regarding quarantine expectations, please contact your child's teacher directly.
Morning Drop Off Reminder

For the safety of all, we ask that adults please cross with the crossing guard and heed their directions if you are walking your child across to the Parish Center entrance. We appreciate your cooperation by waiting for the crossing guards to indicate it is safe to cross, as they are sometimes waving on cars to pass and parents are darting out in front of traffic.
Christmas Concert

St. Mark School is proud to announce the return of our beloved Christmas Concert tradition presented by students in Grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 on Tuesday, Dec. 14th, at 7:00pm in our Church (snow date, Thursday, Dec. 16th). This year’s Christmas Concert theme will be Legends of Caroling. Please click here for more information. We hope you enjoy!
Winter Weather

While outside temperatures have dropped, all teachers in Preschool through Grade 8 take their class outdoors for recess and mask breaks when the temperature is above freezing (32 degrees).

We ask that all parents ensure that your child(ren) come(s) to school with proper winter attire so that they are comfortable when participating in outdoor recess with their peers.
Snow Days and Weather Related Cancellations

As we enter the winter weather season, please be advised that when Stratford Public Schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather, St. Mark School will also be closed or delayed.

The first day school is closed due to snow will be a "traditional" snow day, with no virtual learning for all students PK-8.

In the event that there is a large storm resulting in multiple days in a row of school closure, the first day will be a traditional snow day. The consecutive day will be a virtual learning day for students in grades K through 8. Virtual learning days will begin at 8am and end at 12pm.

For the 2021-2022 school year, St. Mark School will observe 2 "traditional" snow days with no virtual learning. After 2 traditional snow days have been recorded, the remaining snow days will be virtual learning. Therefore, 2 days at most, will be added to the end of the school year. Virtual learning days will not be added to the end of the school year calendar.

Please be assured that classroom and specials teachers have been preparing students for the possibility of virtual learning snow days during class time.

As a reminder, our emergency alert system was tested in early November. In the case of a school cancellation, delay, or unplanned early dismissal, you be contacted by our emergency alert system via phone call, text message, and email to the primary contact information provided to the Main Office. Please contact Mrs. Mannino cmannino@stmarkschool.org with any updates to your contact information.

If there is a delayed opening St. Mark School will open at 9:30 a.m. with class beginning at 9:45 a.m.

If school closes early for weather related reasons, dismissal will be at 11:25 a.m. Parents will be alerted through our emergency alert system. Our After School Program will not be held when there is early dismissal due to weather or emergencies.
Breakfast with Santa

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Breakfast with Santa co-chairs, Mrs. Rouse and Mr. Tsichlas for planning, setting up, and carrying out a fantastic event for our school and parish community. Over 200 guests enjoyed The Polar Express theme, visiting with Santa Claus, and taking home a Polar Express Train craft. The cookie bake sale and themed basket raffles were a big hit!
In Our Classrooms

This week, we will be featuring exciting and engaging learning opportunities happening in Grade 4. In Reading this week, Fourth Graders took on the role of detective, cracking the case of who kidnapped Rudolph using text structure, context clues, and cause and effect relationships within a text.
In Art Class, Grade 4 got into the Christmas spirit by drawing Silly Santa stuck in the chimney!
Students in Grade 4 stayed out of the cold and enjoyed some socialization during in-door recess this week.
This week, the students completed their class Nativity bulletin board outside their classroom.
St. Mark Basketball Sponsorship Opportunities

Are you looking to promote your business or brand?

The St. Mark Basketball program is currently looking for sponsors for our upcoming season. We would love to promote local businesses at upcoming HOME Fairfield County Basketball League games that run from December 2021 through March 2022 and at our annual basketball tournament, which will takes place in February and March 2022. This is an excellent way to get new customers while supporting local youth sports programs!

Click on links below for more information or contact St. Mark School Athletic Director, Michael Sciallo, at michael.sciallo@stmarkschool.org.

In Our Community

One of our many beloved traditions at St. Mark School is our Annual Christmas Tree Raffle.

As a reminder, there is still time to purchase tickets. Please send completed tickets and payment via backpack mail to the Main Office by Friday, December 17th, 2021. When completing the raffle ticket be sure to check off which Christmas Tree you are entering to win! The raffle will take place during school on December 17th. 

#10 Patriotic Tree
#9 Animal Tree
#8 Sports Tree
#7 Gingerbread Tree
#6 Winter Tree
#5 Cartoon Tree
#4 Snowman Tree
#3 Santa Tree
#2 Candy Tree
#1 ABC Tree
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.

Don't use social media? Not to worry...Our social media posts feed to our school website home page!
  • Monday, Dec. 13th-Friday, Dec. 17th: HSA Holiday Spirit Week

  • Tuesday, December 14th: Christmas Concert, 7:00pm

  • Thursday, December 16th: Christmas Concert Snow Date

  • Wednesday, December 22nd: HSA Snack Shop postponed for December. Returning in January.

  • Thursday, December 23rd: Early Dismissal, No After School Program

  • Friday, December 24th: No School, Christmas Eve

  • Saturday, December 25th: Merry Christmas!

  • Monday, January 3rd, 2022: School Resumes
St. Mark School | 203-375-4291 | www.stmarkschool.org
500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford, CT 06614
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.
Helen Keller