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St. Mark's Saturdays Classes This Weekend
Winter SM Saturdays classes will meet this Saturday, February 11. The final SM Saturday for the trimester is February 25. As a reminder, Saturday classes meet from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., and School Meeting begins the day at 8:40 a.m.
V Form Required Wellness Event this Friday Night, February 10
The St. Mark's Wellness Team asks that all V Formers attend the required wellness event tomorrow, February 10, at 7:45 p.m. One Love, who has worked with St. Mark's in the past, is coming to campus Friday evening to talk about healthy relationships. One Love is a national leader in educating young people about relationship health; they equip young people to identify and avoid abuse and to love better in all of their relationships.
Class of 2024 Mock Admission Program, Saturday, February 11
We invite V Form parents and guardians to join us for our Saturday class this Saturday, February 11, from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. in the Hinkle Room. Participants will get a peek behind the curtain of the college admission process by reviewing applications and joining an admission committee. (Students will be doing the same exercise.)
Judges Needed for Worcester Regional Science and Engineering Fair, March 10
St. Mark's students in the Taft STEM Fellowship are working hard to prepare for the upcoming Worcester Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Friday, March 10, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The fair is back in person for the first time since 2019, and organizers are eager to expand the judging pool. As fair organizers explained:
"Students spend months researching, designing, and carrying out original research projects spanning a range of topics. The highlight of the program is the in-person fair experience. Students love the opportunity to talk with local scientists and business leaders and get personalized feedback on their project and presentation."
If you are currently working in a STEM field and can volunteer as a judge from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on March 10, please register here. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to judging@wrsef.net for more information. Thank you for considering, and please help us spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested!
Student Summer Opportunity: Volunteer at Brantwood Camp
St. Mark’s students have been volunteering at Brantwood Camp for over 100 years! Brantwood is a sleep-away camp in Greenfield, NH, serving children who would not otherwise be able to afford a summer camp experience. Any St. Mark’s student who will be 16 or older by June is invited to apply to be a volunteer counselor for one of the following sessions: June 30-July 14; July 17-July 31; and August 3-August 17. There is no cost to the volunteers, but they do have to arrange their own transportation to and from the camp. Parents and students can learn more about the camp at the Brantwood website; please reach out to Rev. Talcott at barbaratalcott@stmarksschool.org with your interest and questions. Continue the tradition!
Academics
Advisor Conferences
Advisors have been reaching out to advisee families to schedule 20-minute virtual/remote conferences to review progress and feedback from the first semester. If your student's advisor has not reached out yet to schedule a time to connect, please contact Dean of Academics Nat Waters.
Reminder: No Classes / PD Day, February 15
Classes will not meet on Wednesday, February 15, to allow faculty to engage in professional development and curriculum work. Games and other required activities will still take place in the afternoon. Boarding students should plan to be on campus as usual for any required obligations, including being in houses on Tuesday evening, February 14.
Admission
Reminder: Admission and Dean's Office Process for DAY Students Who Want to Be Considered for BOARDING Next Year
Our offices are in the process of making projections for the 2023—2024 school year. For all parents of DAY students currently in the III, IV, or V Form: please let us know if you would like your student to be considered for a BOARDING spot next year. (A few of you have already reached out.) There are a limited number of openings for those who may want to switch from day to boarding. We will gather all requests and review them on both a case-by-case and first-come basis.
To be considered for one of these spots, please have your family send an email or letter to Anne Behnke, Maggie Caron, and David Vachris. Written requests are due by Friday, February 17. Shortly thereafter, we will follow up with your family about your request. Please be aware that if your family decides to have a child switch to boarding, they must remain boarding throughout the tenure of their time at St. Mark's. Thank you.
To all non-graduating families: please stay tuned for important information about the annual re-enrollment process. This process will take place in the second half of March during Spring Break. More details to come!
Chapel
Reminder: Confirmation Preparation at St. Mark’s
Time to sign up for confirmation at St. Mark’s School! The on-campus classes that lead up to our service of confirmation and baptism in Belmont Chapel begin just before Spring Break, and will meet on Tuesdays over a pizza dinner. The service will be on Sunday, April 30, and family and friends are warmly invited. There is no homework, just some good discussion about what it means to choose the Christian faith. Contact the Rev. Barbara Talcott to sign up or to learn more at barbaratalcott@stmarksschool.org or 508-786-6186.
Note: If you would prefer to be confirmed in a Roman Catholic Church, plan to attend classes at St. Anne’s in Southborough beginning in the fall of 2023. St. Anne’s is walking distance from campus, and we excuse students from their St. Mark’s obligations as necessary. You can learn more about their program at https://stannesouthborough.org/confirmation-preparation.
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.
Global Citizenship
Reminder: Lions Roam Applications
As announced at School Meeting last week, the 2024 Lions Roam trip will be to Ecuador and the Galapagos; faculty members Mr. Cifuentes and Ms. Lohwater will lead the trip. St. Mark's is employing a different model this year in which students do not need to take a specific course, but do need to take both Spanish and a Life Science course as they will be learning about Ecuador and the Galapagos in those classes. There will also be a Saturday Class associated with this Lions Roam. Students in the rising IV, V, and VI Form classes may apply for Lions Roam. There are 10 spots available for next year. You can find the Lions Roam Application here. Please reach out to Dr. Warren if you have any questions. A course description follows:
Course Description: Ecuadorian history spans nearly 8,000 years encompassing a range of different cultures and territories that have played a significant part in forming modern-day Ecuador. 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador lie the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago whose endemic species served as a major source of inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. This unique joint offering between the Modern Languages & Science departments seeks to provide an introduction to the rich natural history, culture, history, and economics of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Students of Spanish will examine Ecuadorian history from pre-colonial to modern times, as well as study geography, literature, and food. Through their science course, those same students will explore the unique animal and plant ecology of the Galapagos. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding how the islands’ unique geography and location led to the evolution of such a wide diversity of endemic species and why Unesco identified the Galapagos as one of the places most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Head of School
Reminder: The Search for our Next Head of School Parent Zoom
Parents and guardians should have received an email with a link to a Zoom on February 13, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EST. The Search Committee encourages parents and guardians to participate and provide valuable insights. Please stay tuned to this newsletter for future updates on the Head of School search as it progresses. You can also view updates anytime on our School website here.
Advancement
IV Form Parent Chat, February 11
Join Head of School John C. Warren ’74 and Director of Global Citizenship Laura Appell-Warren for lunch, and hear their thoughts about the St. Mark's IV Form educational journey on Saturday, February 11, at noon in Choate House, 100 St. Mark's Circle, Southborough, MA 01772. Register here.
Parent Hot Chocolate, February 27
Please join us for an informal get together in the Admissions Parlor from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27. We will be serving hot chocolate and cookies while all students are in Chapel. This is a great opportunity to connect with others!
Around the Quad
SALE at the Online School Store
Looking for a St. Mark's gift and can't make it campus? Shop the online St. Mark's School store here. For the month of February, receive 20 percent off long sleeve tees. Plus, orders totaling $50 or more receive free shipping. Happy shopping!
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.
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