Dear St. Mark Families,

On Sunday, we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This Sunday and next, however, are designated as solemnities—special days that call our attention to central mysteries of our faith. On Trinity Sunday, the Gospel, John 3:16-18, focuses on the mystery of the Holy Trinity. The reading calls our attention to the action of God, who reveals himself in three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father, out of love for the world, sent his Son into the world in order to save it. Through the death and resurrection of the Son, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. As three persons, God acts always as a God of love; he does not condemn the world but acts to save it.

The Gospel also calls attention to the response that is required of us. God’s love for us calls us to respond in faith by professing our belief in God’s son, Jesus, and the salvation that he has won for us. This profession of faith is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. © Loyola Press Sunday Connection

I wish you all God's Blessings and Grace.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Warner 

Please do not reply to this email. If you ever have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at any time.

End of Year Dates

With the approval of the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools, Office of the Superintendent of Schools, the last day of the 2022-2023 school year for Kindergarten through Grade 7 will be Thursday, June 15th, 2023.

Early Dismissal Days in June

Wednesday, June 14th, 11:25 Dismissal, PK3 through Grade 7

Thursday, June 15th, 11:25 Dismissal, K through Grade 7

Little Lions Preschool Program (PK3 & PK4)

The last day of Little Lions Preschool (PK3 & PK4) Program will be Wednesday, June 14th, 2023. Please note that the day is an early dismissal at 11:25am and there is no After School Program. We will celebrate our PK4 students moving up to Kindergarten with a Graduation Celebration on the last day of the program, Wednesday, June 14th at 9A. Siblings of PK4 graduates will be welcome to attend. Please inform Mrs. Mannino and your child's classroom teacher via email or send a note to school.

If your child is in PK3 and does not attend school on Wednesdays, their last day of school would be Monday, June 12th or Tuesday, June 13th.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten Graduation will be celebrated on Thursday, June 15th at 9A. Please note that the day is an early dismissal at 11:25am and there is no After School Program.

After School Program

The last day of St. Mark School's After School Program will be on Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 for all grades, PK3 through Grade 8.

Social Media 

The best advertising our school can do is through parents and supporters of St. Mark School. Please like and share our St. Mark School Facebook and Instagram posts.  

Summer Work

Studies show that when students don’t engage in learning activities over the summer months they could lose up to two months of math and reading skills. Keeping students engaged in fun learning experiences over the summer months will set them up for success the following school year.

Classroom teachers in Kindergarten through Grade 7 will share information with parents for recommended summer work to maintain students' academic skills over the summer including:

• 30 minutes of work on each Edmentum Personalized Exact Path (Mathematics, Reading, Language) per week for current 2nd through 7th grade students.

• 30 minutes of work per week on Reading Eggs and Math Seeds for current Kindergarten and Grade 1 students.

• participation in the CT Governor's Reading Challenge. Student Summer Reading Journal can be found here. Visit the Connecticut Reads website by clicking here for more information and click here to learn how to find "just right" books for your child and recommended book lists.

• Daily reading with a parent, family member, or independently.

Summer Learning information will be sent home with students via backpack mail on his/her last day of school, depending on grade level (please see End of Year Dates, above). Links to summer work will be posted to our school website under the students tab on the homepage.

Students in Grades K-7 will receive a 9 x 12 manila envelope with the following items included:

• Report card in the 22-23 report card signature envelope
• Summer work introduction letter
• Math choice boards for students entering Grades K through 5
• Math review packets for students entering Grades 6 through 8
• Reading choice boards for students entering Grades K through 8
• Edmentum/Personalized Learning Informational Resource Parent Pack 
• 2023 Governor’s Reading Challenge information and Reading Log

Math and Reading Choice Boards

Please note that Math choice boards for students entering Grades K through 5 are built upon math skills students have been taught in the current school year. Therefore, students will be provided an opportunity to strengthen their skills and reinforce the foundation established this year in order to continue to grow their academic success in the next grade level. Students entering Grades 6 through 8 will be provided a math skills review packet.   

Reading choice boards do not specify specific books for students to read. Students are encouraged to choose engaging books of high interest that they can read and comprehend independently.

There is no minimum amount of choice board squares to complete. Students are encouraged to complete as much as they can, and will be asked to return summer work to their teacher in September.

2023-2024 Student Supply Lists

2023-2024 student supply lists will be posted on our school website under the students tab on the homepage in August, prior to the start of school.

Lunch

Please note there will be no hot lunch served on Monday, June 12th or Tuesday, June 13th per Sodexo Food Services. Please send your child to school with lunch from home, not a restaurant or fast food delivery.

There will be no lunch waves on Wednesday, June 14th or Thursday, June 15th due to the scheduled early dismissals at 11:25A.

Room Parents- LAST CALL! 

Are you interested in being a Room Parent for your child’s class for the 2022-2023 school year? If you would like to be considered for the role, please email Ms. Zenowich no later than June 15, 2022. If you are selected to be a Room Parent, an invitation email will be sent to you mid-summer.

End of Year Mass

Students in Grades 1 through 7 will attend mass on Thursday, June 15th at 8A. All are welcome to join us as we end the 2022-2023 school year as a faith-filled community.

Students in Grades 1 through 7 who have siblings in Kindergarten will be welcome to attend the Kindergarten graduation at 9A, after Mass has concluded. Please inform Mrs. Mannino and your child's classroom teacher via email or send a note to school.

Best Wishes to the Class of 2023

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate St. Mark School Class of 2023! You have learned and grown so much this past year. May God guide you and direct you to a bright and blessed future. We will miss you!

St. Mark Pet Policy

We understand that Spring weather brings an opportunity for families to walk to school for morning drop off and afternoon pick-up. As a gentle reminder, families are asked to adhere to St. Mark School's pet policy to ensure student and staff safety.

Pets and non-service trained domestic animals are not permitted on school grounds during school hours and during school events, except when in a vehicle. Pets are not permitted to leave a vehicle without prior permission of school administration or parish officials.

Parent Pick-Up

For the safety of all our students, parents who are picking up their child at dismissal time are asked to give clearance and stand clear of the buses and vans when students are being loaded onto the bus and dismissed. 

PK3 parents are asked to please watch for buses pulling into the bus lane when you are approaching and leaving the PK3 pick-up door and PK4 parents are asked to not walk in-between vans when picking up your child from the PK4 door.

Parish News

Eucharistic Procession at St. James Church

The five (5) Catholic Churches of Stratford are having a combined outdoor Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 11th. There will be a celebration of the Holy Mass at 3:00 p.m. at St. James presided by Bishop Frank Caggiano, followed by a procession. This is a public demonstration of our faith in the Eucharistic Lord. I encourage many parishioners from St. Mark to participate in this event. In a special way, Father Birendra is encouraging parents of our First Communion children to bring their children in their beautiful white dresses and handsome suits. Parking is available at St. James church/school and at the Baldwin Center.   

Food Needed

Fr. Skip from Blessed Sacrament Church, Bridgeport, is desperately in need of non-perishable food items. He distributes over 400 large grocery bags full each week! And that amount will increase substantially over the summer as children are out for the summer recess and will not be getting their breakfast and lunch at school. To help, we will be holding a food collection “drive-through” in the school parking lot on Saturday, June 24^th, from 9: a.m. till noon in front of the Parish Center. Please stock up and bring as many items as you can. Fr. Skip and the poor from Blessed Sacrament thank you so much!  

Vacation Bible School

We are proud to announce that Vacation Bible School is back at St. Mark! Bible School runs from July 10 thru July 14, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon in the Parish Center. For children in rising grades K-4. Cost is $75 per child. Information and registration forms can be found at www.stmarkstfd.org.  

The Power of Prayer

If you have a prayer intention, please submit your request to St. Mark School's prayer line by clicking here. Your intention will be remembered during our Afternoon Prayers and Announcements.

• Monday, June 12th: No Hot Lunch Served

• Tuesday, June 13th: No Hot Lunch Served

• Tuesday, June 13th: Last Day of After School Program

• Wednesday, June 14th: Early Dismissal, 11:25A

• Wednesday, June 14th: PK4 Graduation, 9A

• Thursday, June 15th: Early Dismissal, 11:25A

• Thursday, June 15th: Kindergarten Graduation, 9A

• Thursday, June 15th: Last Day of School, Grades K through 7

God gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will, and to do it fully.

St. Ignatius of Loyola