Family Weekend is Here
We are happy to welcome our St. Mark’s families to Southborough!
Important Note: Before attending any event, please visit the family lounge in the Hinkle Room to check in and make a name tag.
Family Weekend Expectations & Sign In/Out Procedures
REMINDERS:
- Students may stay off-campus with their guardians starting Friday, October 15, and returning Tuesday, October 19, by 7:00 p.m.
- Students are expected to meet all academic and athletic commitments including practices, classes, and competitions on Friday, October 15, and Saturday, October 16. A missed practice, class, or competition is an absence.
- Students who sign out on Friday, October 15, are allowed to meet their team at Saturday competition sites. (Please inform your coach if you will be taking advantage of this option.)
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There will not be athletic practices on Monday, October 18.
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Varsity athletes should check with their coaches for practice times on Tuesday, October 19. JV, Thirds, Fall Play, and wellness programs will not meet on Tuesday.
Sign In/Out Procedures:
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Students departing school on Friday or Saturday should have completed the regular Overnight request on Orah no later than Thursday, October 14 at 1:00 p.m.
- Requests must be approved by the family and Dean’s Office before students leave school grounds.
- Any changes in plans Saturday-Tuesday should go through the administrator on duty. The administrator can be reached at (508)380-8667.
- Students must sign back in with the house faculty member on duty when returning to school.
Check-In Times:
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Friday, October 15 Check-in for all Forms is 9:30 p.m. From 7:30-9:30 p.m. students should be in-house, signed out with guardians, or at the Art Exhibit/Fall Concert. Students should not be roaming campus during this time.
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Saturday, October 16 Check-in for all Forms is 11:00 p.m.
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Sunday, October 17 Check-in for all Forms is 10:00 p.m.
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Monday, October 18 Check-in for all Forms is 10:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, October 19 Check-in for all Forms is 7:00 p.m. for quiet hours. No library sign-outs.
Academics News
NEW: No Homework This Weekend
The Academics Office has declared this weekend a "No Homework Weekend" so that students can use the extended weekend to rest and recharge.
NEW: Student Progress Reporting
As students begin to receive assessment results back in classes, and supportive feedback conversations take place in Family Weekend conferencing on campus, a reminder that we make cumulative grade reports available through our NetClassroom portal following the close of each window. Faculty compose narrative comments to accompany grades at the close of Windows One and Three only. Families will receive a summary of each student's overall life at school in the form of a remote advisor conference at the close of the first semester in January, and a summative advisor letter in June. Window One will conclude on November 5, with grades and comments posted to the Parent Portal on November 22.
NEW: Questions? Contact Your Student's Advisor
All questions regarding your student's day to day progress in academic courses should be directed to the advisor. As a school, we believe that the advisor serves an integral function in the life of the student, acting as a coach and the primary communicator with that student's family about that student's progress. The advisor's communication with families is crucial, as the advisor is able to provide meaningful context, goal-setting, and guidance alongside raw feedback, integrating the information from all parts of a student's life into a meaningful whole.
REMINDER: Experiential Learning
St. Mark's Saturdays classes will not meet tomorrow, October 16. As a reminder, the remaining Saturday class dates are October 30 and November 13 and 20.
College Counseling News
REMINDER: Family Weekend Meetings & PSAT
Classes of 2024 & 2025 Parents and guardians College Counseling meeting on Saturday, October 16, 2:00-2:45 p.m. in the Class of ’45 Hall, Putnam Family Arts Center
PSAT The PSAT will be offered on Saturday, October 16, for the IV and V Forms. We have ordered enough tests for all members of both classes; students do not need to register. Detailed instructions will be shared with students prior to test day, but for scheduling purposes, students should plan on arriving at the Athletic Center (IV Form in MFAC, V Form in Elkins) at 7:45 a.m. The test will conclude by 11:30 a.m.
Please contact the College Counseling Office with questions.
REMINDER: AP Exams
Students in advanced classes will be hearing from their teachers in the coming days regarding AP exams scheduled for next May and should be on the lookout for an email from Joelle Gilmore, our testing coordinator, with instructions regarding exam codes. Please contact Ms. Gilmore (joellegilmore@stmarksschool.org) with any questions.
Admission News
NEW: Admission Athletics Fall Festival, October 20
from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Do you have a prospective student interested in applying to St. Mark's for 2022-2023? Join us for an afternoon outdoors to connect with admission representatives, athletic coaches, and watch games on campus. Games that afternoon will include football, soccer, and field hockey. We will also have coaches available to chat with you about our winter and spring sports.
Please RSVP here to help us plan.
Athletic News
NEW: Team of the Week: Varsity Field Hockey
The Varsity field hockey team picked up two wins last week, defeating BB&N on Wednesday 4-1 and earning a non-league win against Cushing, 2-1. On Wednesday, the team hopped out to an early lead with goals from Judy Rodolakis '24 and Caroline Sullivan '22. BB&N was able to capitalize on one opportunity early in the fourth quarter, but the team quickly responded with two more goals by Caroline Sullivan '22 and Molly Lefebvre '23. The team continued on their win streak with a comeback win over Cushing Academy with an equalizer from Avery McInerny '22 and the game-winner from Sullivan. In net, Abby Griffin '22 made some outstanding saves to counter fast breaks down the field.
NEW: Student-Athlete of the Week: Erin O'Keefe '22
Senior captain Erin O'Keefe led the varsity girls' soccer team to a 2-0 win against Cushing last Friday. O'Keefe opened up the scoring in the seventh minute with an unassisted goal after putting pressure on the Cushing defense. The Lions had multiple opportunities to score, and finally found the back of the net in the 70th minute on a direct kick. O'Keefe played a beautiful ball to Emily Svingen '24 in the box, who headed the ball in to seal the win for St. Mark's.
NEW: Alumni in the News: Faith Jennings '19
Faith Jennings '19 and the Bowdoin Polar Bears defeated Williams College 3-2 this past Sunday in an exciting NESCAC match-up. Jennings assisted Bowdoin's first goal at the two-minute mark and just six minutes later, scored a goal on her own. Bowdoin secured its first win in Williamstown since 2014. While at St. Mark's, Jennings was a captain of the field hockey and ice hockey teams. She was All-League and All-NEPSAC in field hockey, earned the Frey Prize in ice hockey, and received the Scholar-Athlete Award in her VI Form year.
NEW: Highlights:
- Varsity field hockey, 7-2 win over Lawrence; 4-1 win over BB&N; 2-1 win over Cushing
- Varsity girls' soccer, 2-0 win over Cushing
- JV girls' soccer, 4-4 tie with Lawrence
- Varsity boys' cross country, 21-36 win over Rivers; 22-33 win over BB&N
- JV boys' cross country, 28-29 win over BB&N
- Varsity girls' cross country, 18-43 win over Rivers
Weekend Activities
NEW: Weekend Activities for October 16-19
What's up this weekend? T
his weekend's campus activities include: trips to Boston, Witch's Woods, Assembly Row, HMart, Asian Supermarket, and Haunted Happenings in Salem, along with pumpkin painting & decorating, make your own sushi, movies and more on campus.
Thanksgiving Break Transportation & Departure
REMINDER: Thanksgiving Break Transportation Reservations
St. Mark’s School will organize bus transportation to New York City and shuttles to the airport for Thanksgiving break. Please see the transportation dates and times below. The deadline to sign up is Friday, November 12, at 4:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Stacie Allen (stacieallen@stmarksschool.org).
Saturday November 20, 2021: 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
- Departures to Logan Airport
Saturday, November 20, 2021: 12:30 p.m.
- Departure to Connecticut/New York
Monday, November 29, 2021: Noon, 2:00, and 4:00 p.m.
- Departures to Logan Airport
Monday, November 29, 2021:
- Bus return from New York/Connecticut to St. Mark’s
Please note charge to Lion Card: $100 each way to CT/NY; $35 each way to Logan Airport. 24-hour cancellation notice please, or you will be charged.
REMINDER: Thanksgiving Break Departure Date & Time
Please make a special note that Thanksgiving break departure on November 20 will be after our final St. Mark's Saturdays class meeting of the fall that morning. Students will be dismissed by 11:30 a.m.
As a reminder, the Saturday schedule includes School Meeting from 8:30 to 8:50 a.m. and Saturday classes from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Chapel News
REMINDER: Confirmation and Baptism
Christian confirmation and baptism preparation is held on campus beginning in late February. This preparation leads up to a service in our own Belmont Chapel in late April. Students from all grades and denominations are welcome to participate, and it is usually a pretty diverse group in both respects. If you and your child are interested in this program, contact the School’s head chaplain at barbaratalcott@stmarksschool.org.
Roman Catholic-specific preparation is held at St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, walking distance from campus, beginning in September. It leads up to a service in Worcester in late spring. If you and your child are interested in this program, contact Dan Doyle at dan@stannesouthborough.org or (508) 485-0141. Students will be excused from school commitments to attend these classes as necessary.
Messages from Head of School John C. Warren ’74
Health and Safety & COVID-19 Updates
In case you missed it, below is a link to important messages from Head of School John C. Warren ’74:
10.13.21 - St. Mark’s Return to Green Phase - View Email
10.6.21 - St. Mark’s Moving to Yellow Phases - View Email
REMINDER: 9.24.21 - Visitor Policy Update - View Email
Yearbook News
REMINDER: VI Former Senior Portraits & Baby Pictures Needed by October 31
Say cheese! Senior portraits and baby photos of VI Formers need to be submitted to the Yearbook by October 31, 2021. To submit your photos, please send an email to Yearbook Advisor Lauren Kelly (laurenkelly@stmarksschool.org) with your photos attached.
Photo Submission Guidelines:
- All photos should be at least 1 MB in file size.
- All photos should be portrait-oriented (vertical).
- Senior portraits should only feature your student (no other people in the photo).
- Families can decide to have the portraits taken professionally, or take them yourself with a phone or camera.
REMINDER: Picture Day is October 26
Coffee Pond Photography will be on campus to photograph students from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on October 26, 2021. Below is a message from Coffee Pond:
Each student will be photographed in several poses and will have multiple images from which families may order prints. Each family will receive a private password via email that will be used to access JUST their child’s images on our website. Our website contains easy to follow instructions for ordering a variety of package options.
Our EProof program will notify you via email when your child’s portrait proofs are ready to be viewed online. When you receive the email with private password you can go directly to our company’s secure website www.coffeepond.com to place your order online. Coffee Pond accepts all major credit cards.
If you do not receive your child’s password within a few weeks after picture day, please be sure to contact our Customer Care department at the email address below or by phone at 1-800-632-2323 x 0. Please be sure to have your spam blocker set to accept emails from our customer care email lifeguards@coffeepond.com.
Parents’ Association News
Wednesday, November 10
San Francisco Bay Area Reception at EPIC Steak
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Please join Head of School John C. Warren ’74 for an opportunity to connect with him and gather with other St. Mark’s parents and alumni.
Wednesday, November 10
Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EDT via Zoom.
The Zoom link will be emailed the morning of Wednesday, November 10.
November Book Selections:
Other suggested titles:
The December book will be selected at the November meeting by those in attendance.
Saturday, November 13
Groton Games, St. Mark’s School
Tuesday, November 16
Virtual Parent Speaker Series via Zoom
More details about these events will be emailed to parents soon.
Media of the Week: SM Saturdays Special Olympics
