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This Week
A Second Evening of Lessons and Carols Tonight, December 8
Please join the St. Mark's School Choir and Orchestra tonight in the Chapel at 6:15 p.m. for a second evening Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas. For those unable to join us in person, click here for links to watch the livestream and to download the program.
Winter Athletic Festival with Admission, December 9
On Friday afternoon, December 9, prospective applicants are invited to attend the Winter Athletic Festival with Admission. Please RSVP (https://www.stmarksschool.org/events) to help us plan. This is an informal opportunity to meet admission representatives, connect with coaches, and cheer on the St. Mark's teams.
Ornament Decorating Party at Choate House, December 9
It's time to get crafty, eat cookies, and sip hot chocolate! St. Markers, join your friends at Choate House this Friday night for the Warrens' annual Ornament Decorating Party. For safety, the Smartliners will transport students to and from the party. The shuttles have been arranged by House, so students should view the schedule Ms. Kosow sent earlier this week.
Reminder: Practice ACT 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 to sign up for the exam. This letter from Eric Monheim, which was sent to IV Form parents, contains more information.
Winter Break Orah Passes Due December 11
Orah passes for Winter Break are due this Sunday, December 11! Any special requests for early departures or late returns must be directed to Ms. Caron.
Food Trucks on Campus
The Dogfather food truck was on campus yesterday serving up some great afternoon snacks. While our dining services team works to bring the Lion’s Den Cafe back online, we will be offering food trucks as an alternative between meals. Be on the lookout for another food truck this Wednesday, December 14, and grab a snack to fuel your studies.
Academics
Reminder: Assessment Week, December 12—15
Each December, St. Mark's conducts an assessment period which accommodates the diverse needs of advancing coursework before Winter Break. The assessment period starts this Monday morning, December 12, and runs through Thursday afternoon, December 15. Each student's class has been allotted a two-hour block of time for meaningful academic engagement. Depending on the course, class work may be in the form of a cumulative test, project-based work, writing workshop, or some other activity or assessment. Please also note that we build a reading block into the schedule on Wednesday morning to allow students time for preparation and extra help. Students may depart for Winter Break following their final academic or athletic commitment.
To view the Assessment Week Schedule, click here.
Reminder: Winter St. Mark's Saturdays Classes
Winter SM Saturdays classes will begin after Winter Break in January. Classes will meet five times throughout the trimester: January 7, January 14, January 28, February 11, and February 25.
College Counseling
Feedback From VI Form Parents and Guardians
Class of 2023: The College Counseling Office, in partnership with the Office of Institutional Research, seeks feedback from VI Form parents and guardians about our office and work. Be on the lookout for an email with a link to a quick survey. We are excited to learn from your feedback.
V Form Parent and Guardian Zoom, January 18
Class of 2024: A reminder that the V Form Parent and Guardian Zoom will take place on Wednesday, January 18, at 7:30 p.m. Join us in welcoming admission officers from Davidson College, Johns Hopkins University, and Rice University for a panel discussion on the current landscape in selective college admission.
Community and Equity
Weekly Reflection
Greetings from the Community and Equity Affairs Office!
Here is this week's prompt: Critically acclaimed essayist, novelist, playwright, and poet, James Arthur Baldwin states, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
With that line in mind, consider the following: What things do you have the power and agency over to change that you have not faced? Why have you procrastinated being the catalyst for change?
Community Life and Student Engagement
Reminder: Winter Break Departure and Return
Students may depart for Winter Break following their last scheduled commitment on Thursday, December 15. Houses close on Friday, December 16 at 1:00 p.m. Students participating in athletic tournaments over the weekend must still check out before 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, and they should be in touch with coaches and the Athletic Department regarding lodging plans. Boarding students return by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3. Classes resume with a special schedule on Wednesday, January 4.
Reminder: Winter Break Transportation
St. Mark’s is once again arranging bus transportation to Logan Airport and New York City for Winter Break. Students planning to travel on busses arranged by the School should register directly with Jeanmarie Morey (jeanmariemorey@stmarksschool.org). The deadline to sign up is tomorrow, December 9, at 4:00 p.m. Here is the flyer from Ms. Morey which details the transportation schedule. Your seat is reserved as long as you receive confirmation, and charges will be billed to your Lion Card.
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.
Casino Night Volunteers Needed, January 7
We hope you can join us and volunteer at one of the most memorable events of the year: Casino Night on Saturday, January 7, 2023, from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m.! Each year, a highlight for our students is the presence of parents at Casino Night. We are looking for volunteers to work as dealers at the various tables (all training will be provided by the vendor an hour before the start of the event, so no previous knowledge is necessary!). Please reach out to Director of Student Life Caitlin Kosow at caitlinkosow@stmarksschool.org if you and/or your spouse are interested in volunteering.
In addition to volunteers, we are looking for donations of prizes for the event. Ideal prizes include gift cards (preferably cards that boarding students can easily use like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, etc.) as well as snack baskets and items from the bookstore. Donations can be mailed to the School c/o Caitlin Kosow or dropped off when students come back from Winter Break. Thanks for considering and for your support!
E&R Laundry Updates
For students living in Patterson-Sculley House, the E&R laundry drop-off and pick-up location is within the laundry room on a student's particular floor. Beginning on January 9, 2023, E&R will be shifting their pick-up and drop-off days to Mondays and Thursdays, respectively.
Finn Fridays
Every week, Ms. Caron's golden retriever, Finn, comes by the office for Finn Fridays! Students are reminded via email of his weekly visit so they can swing by during a free period or during the schoolwide x-block. Going over weekend passes has never been so much fun! Our last Finn Friday of 2022 is tomorrow, December 9.
Athletics
St. Mark's Athletic Council and Fay Student-Athletes Meet
This past Monday, student-athletes from the Fay School visited campus for a roundtable discussion with members of our athletic council and two of our captains. The students discussed various topics, including the importance of serving as a captain, establishing a positive team culture, leading by example, and handling challenges as a team leader. We enjoyed our time together and look forward to partnering in athletics in the future.
Assessment Week Athletic Schedule
During the upcoming Assessment Week, only varsity practices will be held in the afternoons once exam blocks are done for the day. The Athletic Department will be offering open spaces for all students to use in between the exam blocks. As a reminder, Houses close on Friday, December 16, at 1:00 p.m., and students who are competing in athletic tournaments will not be permitted to stay on campus the night of December 16.
Reminder: Winter Practice Schedule
This Winter Practice Schedule document is the general schedule for winter teams and wellness activities. Due to the nature of the winter season, practice slots will change from time to time due to games and school events, so please have your student double-check the weekly schedule that Mr. Chiasson sends out at the beginning of each week.
Advancement
Last Call for the Exam Bake!
Our Annual Exam Bake is on Tuesday, December 13, at 4:00 p.m. in the Hinkle Room. Parent volunteers are encouraged to help bake, decorate, or volunteer for the event. Please sign up here.
Around the Quad
St. Mark's Participates in the NAIS People of Color Conference
From November 30 through December 3, 14 St. Mark's community members attended the 2022 NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) in San Antonio, Texas. This year's theme: "Reunited in Purpose; Elevating Our Worth, Our Agency, and Our Excellence" brought approximately 8,000 participants together to connect in person at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center after a two-year disruption due to the pandemic. See the photo below, and read the news story here.
Flash SALE at the Online School Store, December 12—13
Looking for a St. Mark's gift and can't make it campus? Shop the online St. Mark's School store here. There will be a flash sale on Monday, December 12, and Tuesday, December 13. For two days only, receive 20-percent-off products and logos. THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SALES OF THE YEAR!
USE Promo Code: 22HOLIDAYS. Happy holidays and 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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